One of the best ways to show love for children is to set strong guidelines for them. This results in security for the child knowing what the boundaries are. When a child has no limitations, it results in insecurity.
Such is the case with most criminals. Studies show that most had no regular spiritual training while growing up. Strong families, attentions and love were missing from their upbringing.
God calls himself a Heavenly Father. Those who have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior are His children. As a good Father He has set down strong commandments for us to follow. These are with our best interest in mind. He is not some cosmic killjoy who sits in Heaven thinking up rules and regulations that will ruin our "fun". God knows the addiction and devastation that many sins of society lead a person into. He wants us to be free from the consequences of an ungodly life-style. If we are ignorant of His wisdom and commandments, and calamity comes into our lives as a result, its not His fault, but ours!
Issues Teenagers Face Today
The following are issues that teenagers face today and God's advice concerning them. He shows His love to us by addressing these issues outright and not in a "wishy-washy, do whatever you want" type of way.
Drugs
Galatians 5:19-21 says, "Now the works of the flesh are manifest which are these ... idolatry, WITCHCRAFT, hatred ... they which do these things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." The word WITCHCRAFT comes from the Greek word, "Pharmakeia", whereby we get the English word, "Pharmacy". It means literally, "an enchantment with drugs" or a "spell giving potion." This same Greek word is translated with the word "sorcery" in Revelation 9:21; 18:23; 22:15. In Revelation 21:8 it says, "But the fearful, and unbelieving ... and sorcerers (drug users) ... shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."
Alcohol
"Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." Proverbs 20:1 "Be not among wine bibbers ... for the drunkard ... shall come to poverty and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags." Proverbs 23:20-21 "Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? Who hath babbling? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine..." Proverbs 23:29-30.
Sex
"For this is the will of God ... that you abstain from fornication", 1 Thessalonians 4:3. Fornication is an "all-inclusive" word. It means all sexual relationships outside of marriage. Those who disobey face God's judgement! Hebrews 13:4 says, "Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers, God will judge."
Sometimes God judges sexual sins with diseases. The sodomites in Genesis 19 were struck by God with blindness. Romans 1:27 says, "And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving IN THEMSELVES that recompense of their error which was meet."
Much of the venereal diseases prevalent in our society are simply a fulfillment of what God said would happen in Proverbs 5:11, "And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed."
Abortion
Concerning the prophet Jeremiah, the Bible gives us this insight, "Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb, I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." God knew him in the womb and had a plan and purpose for his life! Notice Psalms 139:13-16 "For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them."
Moses said in the law, "If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life ..." (Exodus 21:22,23) The Ten Commandments state, "Thou shalt not kill," in Exodus 20:13! Twenty seven times in the Bible a pregnant women is described as being "with child."
Marriage
"Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." Genesis 2:24. The monogamous family is God's first divine institution on earth. That is: one husband for one wife for one life time! Jesus said, "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." Matthew 19:6
Work
"For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that I any would not work, neither should he eat." 2 Thessalonians 3:10
Parents - Authority
"Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." Exodus 20:12. "Children, obey thy parents in the Lord, for this is right." Ephesians 6:1
"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil." Romans 13:1-3.
Money
"For the LOVE OF MONEY is the root of all evil." I Timothy 6:10. There is nothing wrong with having money. It is loving money that the root of all evil. A safe rule to live by is to control your money, don't let it control you!
Salvation
"And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, an this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; THAT YE MAY KNOW THAT YE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE ..." I John 6:11-13.
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31.
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13.
Teenage friend, have you called on the Lord from a repentant, broken heart over your sins and accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour? If not, do it right now! God loves you and wants what is best for you in your life!
Pray with all your heart, "Heavenly Father, I ask Jesus Christ to be my Saviour today. I acknowledge that He died on the cross and shed His blood in my place for my sins. Thank you that He rose from that grave that I might be justified. Please forgive me of all my sins and come into my heart and life and show me what is best for me. In Jesus name. Amen."
Conclusion:
There are numerous other subjects in the Bible that will interest you. God addresses all of them. This message is by no means complete even on these subjects we've discussed.
These commandments are not to bring us into the bondage of a bunch of "do's" and "don'ts". They are rather the wisdom of a loving father, who knows more than we do, who wants us to be free from addictions, diseases, broken lives, broken homes, unwanted babies, etc.
Keep these scripture references. Consult them often. Exercise good discipline and character in your teen years and you will enjoy the fruit of it throughout your life!
