The exceptional youth – Part 1

The most and critical stage in life is the time of youthfulness. It is crucial because it encompasses the widest opportunity for becoming great in life. It is critical because it is the time the devil struggles most using diverse men in order to deceive people and sap the strength of their potentials. In order words, those who at this time release themselves for God’s use normally have a wonderful encounter in God’s hand while those who give their time to Satan are very busy as tools in devil’s hand. To be exceptional is to be outstanding. Anyone who wants to be exceptional must be ready to shun some things many people do and to do some things many do not do.

To progress in this study, therefore, we shall ponder on qualities that make a youth exceptional. To start with, Ecclesiastes 12:1 says, “Remember also your creator in the days of your youth…” Many youths constantly remember their peer group members and sin partners. They spend much time with them, discussing and chatting concerning so many of their physical wants. But remembrance of God is farfetched in their diary of events. It looks fashionable to them moving around the streets with peer groups and sin partners but not with brethren of the household of God. The discussions about biblical issues is archaic matter to them but sports and political news are always seasoned. But, the remembrance of the youths were instructed from the holy book to observe is the remembrance of God. If Joseph had remembered other things and forgot God, his matter could have been forgotten conclusion as the carcasses of Mrs. Portiphar, but even today and tomorrow he is serving as the good point of reference.

Obviously, many youths under their boss have chosen the way of insubordination in getting their needs met instead of the fear of God. Every opportunity they envisage physically appears to be the last to them, hence must be grabbed by crook or by hook. But listen to Joseph before the great opportunity of usurping authority by enjoying sex with his boss wife at a platter of gold, “… so how could I do such a great evil and sin against God? (Gen. 39:9). He remembered God and that was why God made a way for him to the palace in a foreign nation.

Exceptional Youth is a vision dispenser and prophetic propeller. We know this because it is written, “And it shall come to pass in the last days, God says: I will pour out my Spirit on everyone. Your sons and daughters will prophecy, your young men will see visions and your old men will dream dreams” (Acts 2:17). Remember that God is faithful even when we are grossly unfaithful. He who said he will pour out his Spirit has already done that.

Great things have already started happening in the lives of some who received this Spirit but to those who reject Him, the power behind the outpouring eludes them. If you want to be exceptional Youth, be filled with Holy Spirit. Some youths erroneously believe that when one drinks much liquor he gains morale to achieve his goal but unfortunately, this liquor has send many to untimely grave. What one needs to become exceptional Youth is the Holy Spirit who imparts vision and prophecy into the young people. And the young knows without vision, the people perish but with vision the people progress. Without the divine down-to-earth prophecy, the world becomes gloomy by so many divinations of the false prophets but when the Spirit releases prophecy, our journey here on earth and the way towards eternity becomes blissful and hopeful.

Exceptional Youth! This is one who cannot neglect the gift that is in him. Note that a journey of a thousand mile starts with a step. The great people we know or see today all have some humble beginning impeded in the philosophy that God has made a place for them by what He deposited inside of them. If you want to be exceptional Youth, discover your gift and fertilise it without minding the obstacles around. A boy who must be a Medical Doctor must start having interest and invest time in scientific studies and a girl who must be a Bank Manager must love studies involving calculation of figures. The ingredients to manipulate all these studies are deposited right inside of us by God. So Paul instructed Timothy, “No one should despise your Youth; … Do not neglect the gift that is in you” (1 Timothy 4:12-14).
His Grace The Most Revd. Chimezuo O. N. Nwankpa, Archbishop of Uyo Archdiocese, Methodist Church Nigeria.