It seems like one of the joys of youth is the sense that so much of life lies ahead, yet untapped, waiting to be explored, experienced, and embraced. And, Lord willing, that will be true: you may enjoy a long and fruitful life.

But sometimes I worry that this sense of vast potential in the distant future may leave some teens assuming that what they do right now doesn’t matter that much. That they can live for themselves now and get serious about this Christianity business later. They wrongly assume that it doesn’t really count until you’re in college, or have a job, or move out, or are married, or whatever. Not so. C.T. Studd (1860-1931) was a missionary to China, India, and Africa. He has some thoughts that may help us think rightly:

“Only one life
‘Twill soon be past;
Only what’s done for Christ
Will last.”

“I had known about Jesus dying for me, but I had never understood that, if He had died for me, then I didn?t belong to myself. Redemption means buying back, so that if I belong to Him, either I had to be a thief, and keep what wasn’t mine, or else I had to give up everything to God. When I came to see that Jesus had died for me, it didn?t seem hard to give up all for Him”

Before you dismiss C.T. Studd as an over-zealous missionary, know that he is reflecting God’s instructions in Ephesians 5:15-16:

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”

Wisdom would be: ask you parents, “Am I walking as wise, making the best use of my time? Are there any areas you see in my life where I’m being unwise in how I live?”

Categories: five15 blog