For Representational Purpose: Image by Ortrun Lenz from Pixabay
Rev Dr Zotuo Kiewhuo
Teenage phase is a transitioning phase where significant changes take place in a person’s physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional development. The decision a person makes during the teenage years are crucial because this is a time when emotions are strongest in a person’s life. It influences the path they take towards the future. This is the time when they must be trained and disciplined to live a life worthy of the gospel.
Through this column I want to draw our attention to teenagers in the Bible who displayed exceptional faith and integrity to create history down the ages.
Joseph was a teen when he was sold by his own brothers (Gen 37:28). However, Joseph did allow the situation to deter him from God’s truth. He was a man of integrity, faithful to his duty, feared God, and fled away from sexual immorality when Potifar’s wife tried to seduce him (Gen 39:12). I consider Joseph to be Mr Perfect! Once sold as a slave, he went on to become the finest administrator and leader in a foreign country. When his family came to seek help, he forgave them. He took the situation very positively and said; “you meant evil against me but God meant it for good, I order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” He apparently he became the provider for his family in times of famine.
In another incident, Daniel and his friends were taken as captives when they were teenagers. They were taken to a foreign land unknown to them. And yet again, Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s delicacies or wine. Daniel and his friends chose to obey God rather than men. Daniel’s friends chose to be burnt in the fire rather than bowing down to a lifeless statue the king had made. Daniel refused to deny his faith even when he knew the lion’s den would be his destination. This brought them God’s favour. In all matters of wisdom and understanding they superseded the other magicians and astrologers. The foreign kings seeing their exceptional devotion and genuine faith in God came to acknowledge Yahweh as the living God.
Esther’s story is one that continues to reign through the ages because of her obedience and incredible boldness. She was an orphan raised by her uncle Mordecai. Esther showed incredible obedience to her uncle who taught her in the way of the Lord. When confronted with the enemies who intended to wipe out her people, she devoted herself to prayer and fasting to find favour in the sight of the king and saved her nation. Her parents named her Hadassa (myrtle tree) but the Persians named her Esther, meaning The star of the Persians. Once an orphan, Esther rose to become a queen in a foreign nation.
In the New Testament, Timothy was appointed as a young pastor in Ephesus. Paul exhorted him that no space be given for people to look down on him because of his age. He said, “be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in spirit, in faith, and in purity” (1 Tim 4:12). This might seem ironical to the societal norm where parents or older people are seen as examples and models to follow. Timothy however, was prayed over as a young boy by his mother and grandmother. He was further trained and disciplined by Paul to become a pastor as a young man. Thus, he led a life that set an example not only for young people but for all believers. One can be a teenager and still influence and lead people when we have Jesus in our lives.
Solomon on the other hand made a grave mistake. He was also a young man when he was enthroned as king. He is known to be the richest and wisest king of all times. However, Solomon misused the blessings and wisdom God gave him. He had to die regretting a life that failed to honour God. That’s why he exhorts the young people to remember the Creator in the days of their youth in Ecclesiastes 12:1. It was too late for him by the time he realised the mistakes he made. Thus, we see that it is very crucial to ingrain and imbibe the fear of the Lord in children at a young age.
Teenage years is a hero worshippers age. Meaning, they admire and choose celebrities as their heroes. With the rampant development of technology and influence of social media, many of our children are tragically buying the lie that superheroes are TV stars they see on social media. Therefore, there is a clarion call to the parents and churches to teach and equip our teenagers with the living word of God. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Children should be taught to look at Jesus as their Hero of their lives and destiny.
Dr Kip Rio, Founder and Director of Teenagers Evangelism of the Nations (T.E.N) has been wise enough to introduce this auspicious occasion to us. This burden and movement was a result of the Billy Graham Crusade in November 1972 and Revival Movement that swept across the state in 1974-1979. The first Teenagers was observed in Botsa Baptist Church on Second Sunday of March, 1977. Very soon, we will be celebrating the Golden Jubilee. I therefore, encourage all the churches to observe Teenagers Day every second Sunday of March to educate, train, teach, exhort and train them to be disciples of Jesus, our Hero. The month of March reminds us to march forward for Jesus, and hence what a better month than to pray over our teenagers and help them march along in the holiness and righteousness of God.
Jesus himself as a teenager continually remained in the temple learning and interacting with elders of the synagogues. This is why he grew up to teach people again with much wisdom and authority. “He matured in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men” (Luke 2:52). As Paul said in 1 Cor 11:1, Imitate me as I imitate Christ,” let us train up our children to love God, to obey, to grow, to follow, and to lead like Jesus.
The author is Founder and Sr Pastor, Koinonia Baptist Church and also Principal, Kohima Bible College
