The goal of Christian life is to cross the finish line and win the crown of life. It is simply not enough to begin walking in the light of God, we must continue walking in the light until the end of our life or the Rapture.
Sadly, we see the salvation decision as a final faith destination for so many students. They’ve been invited to church, they hang out a shift a few weeks or months, and when they come to that crucial decision point, they decide to receive Jesus. Then there they sit, just saved enough to miss hell, but having entirely escaped the concept of lordship.
Preaching as hard as we may, it’s a difficult thing to inspire a student to live a Christian life long beyond their youth group experience. Pastor Rob and I have, at most, three hours a week with your student. In those three hours we pour as much Jesus into them as we possibly can. Our highest priority is to touch each student’s life with the love of Christ, and to inspire them to live sold out for Him.
We have three hours a week to impress this message on their hearts. How many hours a week do you have?
A life long Christian walk needs to be modeled daily. My prayer is that you have not set the decision to follow Christ as a destination, but rather the starting blocks on a lifelong journey with and for Him. Let your student see your faith grow. Allow them to catch you reading your Bible. Invite them to pray with you about their problems, and yours. Pause to give praise to God when a prayer is answered.
Above all, share with your student the importance of finishing strong. This is not a race we run merely to cross the finish line. No, we are running as if to capture the prize. Give God a hundred percent, and express your hope in your teenager to do the same.
“…and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1
Still Running – Anna Thoreson
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