Confessions of a Church: Young Man

 The Psalm writer wrote:  Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law. As we come before a Holy God and hear his word, may we have eyes open to the wonderful and fearful things from his law. May it move us to repent and seek forgiveness, fear disobedience, and live in light of the grace we have received.   This is the word of God.  It is eternally true and applicable for all of life.  

Proverbs 4: 20-27  My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your sight; Keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life to those who find them And health to all their body. Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth And put devious speech far from you. Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil.

The life of a young man is replete with mines, pitfalls, hairpin turns, and dead ends. The world will seek to entice you with the promise of wealth, and prosperity. Satan will attempt to make you believe that God has been withholding good things from you. Your own flesh will rage against you, leading you to lust after that which God has forbidden. There will be times in your life when it seems as if you are being squeezed on all sides. Sin before you, disobedience behind. Temptations all around. Can you relate? Young men, as the days of your life tick by, do you believe yourself to be at war with the world, flesh, and Satan? Do you walk with a sense of purpose, a mission, or is your life merely a series of laughs, parties, fun, and entertainment, with peace and tranquility as your goal? The Proverb today gives us a handful of admonitions which are meant to give “ life to those who find them and health to all their body”.
 
Do not allow God’s sayings to depart from your sight.
Watch over your heart with all diligence.
Let your eyes look directly ahead.
Let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
Watch the path of your feet.
The condition of your heart before God, it’s focus, and the path you are walking on, make up the thrust of these instructions to us.
  Are you trusting in Him with all your heart? Do you find God’s Law delightful? Have you tasted and seen that He is good? Have you come to realize that His yoke is easy and His burden is light? Have you been born again? Jesus said that “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3) and later “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Young brothers, are you are simply trying to do better, struggling to appease mommy and daddy, and fighting against the world, flesh, and Satan in your own strength and wisdom? You labor in vain. Have you fallen into a pattern of being religious: bowing your head at prayer time, stumbling through your bible reading, giving all the correct answers about the Christian faith when asked? Psalm 64: 5 states “They hold fast to themselves an evil purpose; they talk of laying snares secretly; they say ‘who can see them?’”. Young men, if your aim is to live outwardly as a Christian, but inwardly you are at ease with sin, scheming about folly , know this: you do not fool God. God knows the condition of your heart, that it is evil continually (Gen 6:5). Examine your heart young man. What is it’s orientation towards God? Are you a child of God, or at war with Him?
Perhaps you are a Christian. You have been born again. Where are your feet taking you? What path do you find yourself on? Maybe you have stumbled into sin and wonder, “How can I get back onto the right path? How can I right this course I am on?”.
 
Repent, and in your repenting, set the Word of God before your eyes. “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:1-2). Young men, having God’s Word in your heart and on your lips will act as a mirror for your soul, showing you the sin that is present, giving you a clear picture of who you are before God, and will serve to direct your steps as you move through this life and the pitfalls that await. In your meditating on God’s Word, don’t just read it like some novel or comic book: hide God’s Word in your heart that you might not sin against Him (Psalm 119:11). King David praised God for training his hands for war. The study and meditation of the Holy Scriptures does this very thing: it prepares you to make war with the world, flesh, and Satan.
Psalm 119:105 says “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path”. Jesus says that “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27). Young brothers, He guides us onto paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Do you desire to follow Christ? Do you long to walk on a path that is leading to eternal life? You must resolve with King David to allow no worthless thing before your eyes (Psalm 101:3), instead, looking unto Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith. We accomplish this by pursuing Him through the only medium He has given us to know His will: the diligent, Holy Spirit led, study of His revealed Word.
Do not allow God’s sayings to depart from your sight.
Watch over your heart with all diligence.
Let your eyes look directly ahead.
Let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
Watch the path of your feet.

Only a Spirit filled heart can take heed of these instructions. Only one who has been born again would even care to. Is this you today? Do you find yourself adrift, longing for Christ, longing for that peace which passeth all understanding? Repent, and look unto Jesus today, for today is the day of salvation. If able, let us kneel together and lift our thoughts and prayers to our Heavenly Father.
 BLESSED LORD JESUS,
 No human mind could conceive or invent
        the gospel.
      Acting in eternal grace, thou art both
  its messenger and its message,
  lived out on earth through infinite compassion,
  applying thy life to insult, injury, death,
  that I might be redeemed, ransomed, freed.
Blessed be thou, O Father, for contriving this way,
Eternal thanks to thee, O Lamb of God,
  for opening this way,
Praise everlasting to thee, O Holy Spirit,
  for applying this way to my heart.
Glorious Trinity, impress the gospel on my soul,
  until its virtue diffuses every faculty;
Let it be heard, acknowledged, professed, felt.
Teach me to secure this mighty blessing;
Help me to give up every darling lust,
  to submit heart and life to its command,
  to have it in my will,
    controlling my affections,
    moulding my understanding;
  to adhere strictly to the rules of true religion,
    not departing from them in any instance,
    nor for any advantage in order to escape evil,
      inconvenience or danger.
Take me to the cross to seek glory from its infamy;
Strip me of every pleasing pretence of righteousness
  by my own doings.
O gracious Redeemer,
  I have neglected thee too long,
  often crucified thee,
  crucified thee afresh by my impenitence,
  put thee to open shame.
I thank thee for the patience that has borne with me
  so long,
  and for the grace that now makes me willing to be
  thine.
O unite me to thyself with inseparable bonds,
  that nothing may ever draw me back from thee,
  my Lord, my Saviour. It’s in Jesus Name we pray, amen.
(From The Valley of Vision, titled “The gospel way”)                                        
 Listen now to the comforting assurance of the grace of God, promised in the gospel to all that believe: 

Titus 3:4-7 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

 To all those who thus repent and seek Jesus Christ for their salvation, your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Lift up your hearts!   


(From the 9/1/19 liturgy of Sovereign King Church by Aaron Sabie.)