“What is troubling you?” asked Mr. X. I grumbled. After
patiently listening to my complaints he said, “When I was your age, I spent so
many years living for myself, seeking self pleasure and self glory. Now that I
am saved and old I wish I was young again. I wasted so many precious years. So
whatever it is Kwenda, serve the Lord. Twenty thirty years from now you will
not regret it.” Deep down my heart I was like, “Lord, take my life and let it
be concentrated Lord to thee. Now is the time to serve you.” But many young
people shy away from this noble task for obvious reasons.
The first observation which hinders this whole heart service
is fear. There is firstly the fear of missing out. As young people we love to
explore. We want to figure out things. We are always asking, “what’s new on
market?” What’s the latest car, phone or
music video? Have you seen this and that? We fear that if we spend time doing
the work of the Lord we will miss out on the latest music, fashion and
games. There is also the fear of losing
the best. We all want the best. No one does anything with the intention of
getting the worst of results. There is a desire to succeed and get the best.
Get the best job, the best car, the best house, the best wife or husband, the
best family and so on and so forth. But the question is this, who gives us the
best of things? Who provides for our needs? Is it not God? The problem is that
the best is defined according to worldly standards. According to the world the
best is that latest phone or car. Some have gone to the extent of saying if you
don’t have that then you are probably not God’s child. God’s children must have
the best of things. Well, Jesus was the son of a carpenter. He, as the Son of
God, chose to be in that form. Did that make him cease to be God’s eternal Son?
No! Instead it was God’s best choice for his Son. For through that, he would
die for people’s sins and rescue them from hell. Do you see the wisdom of God?
There are certain things you may consider useless and without benefit as you
serve God but those same things may actually be God’s best for you. You cannot
see it now but later on you will appreciate it. Ask Job, he will tell you.
The second observation is love for comfort. “Oh I just want
to be in that Jacuzzi! I want to sleep and wake to find the fridge, the stove
and everything else is in place. I want that 100 inch 4D flat screen on the
wall. I want! I want! I want!!!” Isn’t this a familiar thought pattern? No
distress, no disturbance, no hardships. Many young people love comfort. Many
would say, “I am too young to be allergic to comfort.” Oh poor soul! It was
during captivity in Babylon when Daniel greatly represented the LORD. It was
while David was still a youth that he fought with Goliath and was persecuted by
Saul. Remember Joseph as lad being thrown into the ditch and then sold as a
slave and later in prison for three years?
My fellow youths, now is the time to serve the LORD. Why
should you regret having wasted your energy twenty thirty years from now? You
do not have to become a Pastor in order to serve God. That beautiful voice God
has given you use it to glorify his name. That poetic brain can write hymns
that the church will use to sing to their God. If you are sensing the call to
ministry do not be scared. Now is the time! Now…is…the…time!! Remember this only applies if you are already God's child.