Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of God. — Hebrews 12:2

I had a very powerful conversation today. First, let me tell you what I know about our young people today. I have preached to enough youth groups and at enough youth camps that there is this common theme among them. Our enemy, the devil, seeks to devour them. The Bible calls him a roaring lion. In the nature shows that I have seen, the lion gets to eat the weak, the slow, and the feeble. If a lion runs into a pack of food, and you are the food, just don’t be the weakest link and you will live.

“I did love being at church. I was so convicted about the things I’ve done and I’ve been doing. But I have to tell you, I left church and still did things that I know are wrong. I’ve asked God into my life, but I just don’t think it is doing anything. I don’t want to do those things, yet I still do them.”

Before I move on, really think. What would you say to a young man who just had enough courage to sit with you, look at you, and tell you these things? What would you do with this kind of honesty?

“Look, man, do you think after I got saved, that I did everything right? Do you think I haven’t partied Friday and Saturday, drank too much, slept with my girlfriend, taken His Name in vain, cussed, acted like I was not His kid, and then gone to church on Sunday only to feel guilt as it felt like the preacher was preaching only to me? I’ve been there. I know what it is like to try harder and fail even more miserably. Here is all I know . . . for the past 28 years, I’ve just held on to Him. I’ve never let Him go. My only advice is to keep going to church, keep reading the Word, keep praying to Him. Be honest about everything. Bring all your sin to Him. Talk to Him about it. Over time, He changes you. You will eventually conquer these sins only to run into new sins you’ve never thought of when you get older. Just never let Him go. Never stop believing. He is the author and finisher of our faith. He does the work. Very rarely does He do the work quickly, but over time, you will know that He is working in your heart, mind, and life.”

After a long pause I felt like the Lord showed me a newborn baby in the floor all alone. I said, “The Bible says we are born again when we give our lives to Him, how much help does a little baby need to survive?” “A lot,” he says. “You are just a newborn; you have good people around you that want to help you grow.”

Think about how Jesus has worked in your heart, mind, soul, and life. Aren’t you glad His mercy is so great? Aren’t you glad that His truth endures to all generations? Talk to the young people in your life. Tell them that God is for them and so not against them. Tell them the way He works. Pray with them and for them. Above all else, no matter what they’ve done or what they are doing . . .

Tell them to never let go. He will do all the work. He is the author and the finisher of our faith. He endured the cross joyfully, don’t miss that . . . joyfully! He did it so all the work for our salvation will be done. He paid the price. We just never let go.

Spend some time with Him today.

He is such a great God!