Catch Them Young for Jesus Christ - For the Benefit of Every one and Every Thing
Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these…Mat 19:14 (NIV)”
My son Sakthi Stephen received Jesus at the right age of 16 years. From childhood I had watched him and I was really worried about him for he was highly sensitive, touchy, emotional and explosive. When he was 14 years old, his elder brother Karthik had scolded him for not studying well and hit him lightly to create a sense of fear and obedience to him. But it turned out to be other way. He left the house at midnight and did not turn up the whole night. We searched him every where in the night and rang up to many of our/ his friends to trace him but all in vain. Finally he was located next day morning in a nearby area and brought him home. Adolescent and teenage is the prime age when they pick up bad habits like smoking, drinking, telling lies, some one getting introduced to drugs, secret pleasures, eve teasing, movies, violence etc. Bad and evil things are always attractive and youngsters in High Schools
S. THAYAPPAN 55 and colleges easily tend to fall a prey to these vices. They need to be protected, guided, loved and cared for properly at this vulnerable age. I was really happy and felt totally relieved when Stephen received Jesus and had grown in faith and Christ, involved himself more in church activities, took interest in having fellowship with other believers, regularly fasted, prayed and studied Bible. These things protected him from all the evil attractions and drag net of the Satan. Jesus Christ has totally changed all his attitudes, behaviour, temperaments and he has become very much sober, soft spoken, god fearing and even tempered. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom (Pro 9:10)! His college colleagues had tried many a times to lure him for going to movies but he had politely avoided them. He disliked seeing any serials, movies or programs in TV. Sometimes he used to listen to News or he would switch over to GOD channel to listen to gospel messages. As he had grown very strong in faith, word of God and received the anointing of the Holy Spirit, I have complete confidence now that no evil things however attractive they may be, can touch him. Psalmist also says in 119:9 that “How can a young man keep his way pure? Only by living according to the Word of God” Isn’t it? Ecclesiastes 12:1 also warns us to “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, I find no pleasure in them”. Youth power is an important, all powerful, dynamite and explosive power. If guided properly, it not only can do wonders for the establishment and development of a lovely, peaceful home, a good society and a good, progressive, forward looking developed nation but can also prove to be a very good instrument to arrest the growing terrorism, unrest and agitation among youth. In my opinion, Bible teaching and Christianity is the only best tool for shaping, moulding and correcting the characters, behaviours and thinking of youth who will be tomorrow’s generations and leaders. This must start at an early age in home and primary school itself and be made compulsory as a subject in High schools and colleges. CHRISTIANITY AND THE TEACHINGS OF THE BIBLE CAN
ALONE PROVIDE LOVE, TOLERANCE, PEACE, HARMONY AND HEALTHY CO-EXISTENCE IN HOME, SOCIETY AND NATION! Hallelujah!