The world is not becoming better. If we are feeling its hostility against us today, expect to have more of it tomorrow. We Christians, as part of the 21st century Church, are commissioned to cry out to the hostile world and expound the HOPE and WARNING from God and also to PREPARE a PEOPLE such as ourselves who have the potential to be part of the first harvest. We are expected to carry that BATON OF RESPONSIBILITY through the most difficult time in history—the END-TIME. But the question now is, ARE WE CAPABLE OF FULFILLING THAT RESPONSIBILITY? Our persecuted and martyred brethren had one thing in common. They had zeal. They had that powerful driving force and passion in doing their responsibility no matter what. Zeal is what we need. Zeal is one of the most important ingredients that would enable us to accomplish our task effectively even through the most difficult times.

So knowing all these things, how can I, as a young man in the Church, answer the call to stir up zeal and a sense of urgency in the Church?

Lack of years is often associated with weakness and treated as a liability. To many points that is true. But it is NOT an excuse for not doing the things that we know is RIGHT AND FITTING. In terms of answering our “call of duty,” I came to this idea. Because of my age, not much is still expected from me by the people around me. I am not expected yet to accomplish great deeds done by older people. But God is my judge and not them. So what hinders me now if I strive to go beyond their expectations and show forth a light into a greater intensity that is uncommon for my age? In other words, one way I can positively impact the Church is by starting in my own life, stirring up godly zeal on me and showing forth an example.

“Action speaks louder than words.” If I want to be a great example, I should go first and start at the basics of my life. As Paul commands young Timothy, “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).

In my word

This has to do with saying and not saying. The not saying part is the basic of it. It has something to do with gossips, idle expressions, bad words, and many more in different forms and ways. But saying truthful, edifying words is a must for us! To stir up zeal I must always initiate the talk about the things that would spiritually recharge us especially during the Sabbath fellowship since we have the tendency to deviate from what is the “proper conversation” for the Sabbath (Isaiah. 58:13). I should always bear in mind that God is in our midst, listening and writing a book of remembrance, as we meditate on His name (Malachi 3:16). Another point is in terms of talking with the people in the world. We have a common weakness to conform to the world especially on the way it speaks. Yes we are in the world but we are NOT OF IT! As TRUE Christians we should not allow ourselves to be negatively influenced by people around us but, if possible, we should practice leadership in terms of influencing them towards the right side and not us being influenced towards the wrong side.

In my conduct

Our conduct should always be honorable and worthy of the gospel of Christ. If I were to be an example in my conduct, then I should start working first within me because what is seen in me is coming from what is inside me. As an ambassador of God I should always bear in mind that I am representing God’s name to the world and if I am not careful with my conduct I might blaspheme His name to the unbelievers. I can effectively preach God to them and expound His warning if they are seeing that I am living it.

In my love

The perfect definition of TRUE LOVE is the way of GIVE. But we should also watch our attitude in doing this. To be an example in my love I should not only focus on serving and giving but I should carefully watch my attitude. Am I loving and serving others to serve myself? Or am I doing these because God first loved me and I am just merely responding to that LOVE through others? I know it is impossible for us humans to love unconditionally if we haven’t felt to be loved like that before. We are not ignorant about God’s love for us and the sacrifice that serves as an evidence to that. It is just a matter of how we recognize that LOVE, how we value it and how we ACT IT!

In my spirit

Since I am not yet baptized, I should be vigilant enough to guard myself from being spiritually passive. I may find it a reason for compromising what I believe in. I should always instill in my mind that even though I am not yet baptized, I am NOT exempted from the application of the THINGS I KNOW. True Christianity is not measured on rituals alone. It is measured on how each individual fulfills his or her commitment to God made during that process. Even though I may not still have that “portfolio” of baptism, I can inspire others, even the baptized ones, to be more zealous by provoking them through the example of spirituality at my young age by actively using the Holy Spirit that is with me through my sanctification.

In my faith

Faith has two sides—first the knowledge, and then the translation of that knowledge into action. Since I am still young, I lack much wisdom and understanding. So I should keep on learning more. I know that much challenges and trials awaits me in this arena of powers. I should prepare for it now. I should dig into the Wisdom of the Ages as written in the Bible and, as much as possible, learn from them. And application should always follow to make my faith valid. I can be an example in my faith by doing the things which are right and proper and shunning the things which are ungodly amidst all the pressure, always bearing in mind God’s unseen promises. I should always understand that life is full of choices and it is just a matter of prioritizing.

God is oftentimes allowing us to experience all these things to see His rank in our life, whether He is our first priority or we tend to compromise since we fear humans more than God. Let us always remember that once you get attached to someone or something like school, job, and other things which is somehow overlapping God in your life, PREPARE, for God will soon test you regarding that matter!

In my purity

Young as I am, I should now start practicing being pure mentally and physically. If I want to prevent the effect, I should stop the cause. The physical act is just the reaction to the thought that is sown in the mind. To prevent the action, I should strive to be mentally pure always. I should not make my mind a fertile place for bad seeds to grow by always thinking pure thoughts and meditating on God’s ways always.

To my fellow youths: Treat your age as an asset. Give much time in learning God’s ways. Be conscious about your spiritual appearance. Be serious in your character building. Don’t make your age as a hindrance in accomplishing great deeds for the sake of God’s glory to help stir up the much needed zeal in the Church. We should always bear in mind that the BATON OF RESPONSIBILITY will in time be passed on to us by our elders. There are many possibilities in our generation. We might form the era of the Church that will usher in the final preaching of the gospel into the world. It’s just up to us if we will end up Philadelphians or Laodiceans. We should now realize the veracity of our role today and the heaviness of our responsibility tomorrow. Let’s now ask the question how well are we preparing to be worthy and capable of that responsibility? The world is not getting better especially for TRUE Christians. But all of these sufferings and trials we are experiencing and shall be experiencing are not worthy to be compared to the reward waiting for us IF we overcome.

When all is said and done, which statement would you like to hear from Christ? “Depart from Me you unfaithful servant…” or, “Well done, good and faithful servant, you are faithful in doing your responsibility even from your youth, enter into My rest?” YOU CHOOSE!