Covenant Youth Mission
April 24, 1995
Time’s–A–Wastin’
When you are in school life seems long, the days drag and it seems like you will never be old enough to do all the things you want to do. All the good stuff is somewhere off in the future and there seems to be an endless supply of time.
I graduated from high school in 1982 and although it seems like yesterday 13 years have already flown by!
James 4:14
Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
Romans 14:12
So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
The truth is that God has created you and He has given you a purpose to fulfill.
I know that you have been told at school that you descended from apes, and I have to admit some of you show signs of that ancestry, but the fact is that God is your Father and you are created in His image.
How do you find the purpose you were created for?
You ask the creator!
Now here is the kicker:
Ecclesiastes 3:1
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven
Not only has God created you with a purpose in mind; He has allowed you the time you need to accomplish it.
Ephesians 5:15-17
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
As the old saying goes; “If you have time to burn, you’ll never give the world much light.”
Psalm 90:12
Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Killing time isn’t murder; it’s suicide.
1. Don’t waste your free time.
Young people are notorious wasters of free time. If it isn’t scheduled time it is probably going to be burned watching television, listening to music, or just lying around waiting to eat again.
You need to use that time to grow and to become secure in your walk with God.
During your free time read that bible! Lay a sure foundation for your life; spend at least some of your free time in prayer learning to recognize God’s voice.
This phase of your life is designed by God to be a time of transformation.
Romans 12:1-2
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
2. Don’t waste your church time.
I don’t know what your individual reason for being at church tonight is. Some are here because your parents insist on it. Some are here because of interest in someone of the opposite sex. Some of you are here because your friends come or you like the gym or the camping trips and retreats.
Every Monday night you listen to me preach, many of you show up on Sunday as well and hear Pastor Vince. Are you bored?
If you are bored then you are in the wrong Church because there is nothing boring about the gospel!
You are here anyway, you might as well apply yourself and get equipped for life!
When I was a member of the Shiloh Youth Mission out at Rock Church before I went to Bible School or thought of going into the ministry, a lot of my friends and I were just “playing Church” and hoping to hook up with the girls. Then I decided to get serious, I started hanging around with the Youth Pastor and soon my buddies started calling me “Bruce’s little buddy”.
They didn’t know I had quit wasting my time and started moving into God’s purpose.
I have never regretted that decision, and neither will you.
You are not too young!
1 Samuel 3:1-4
The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions.
One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. Then the LORD called Samuel.
3. Don’t waste your school time.
When it comes to school doing just enough to get by is not enough. You may think you are getting away with something, fooling everyone and passing from grade to grade with little or know effort; but what you are really doing is eliminating your options.
This fallen world is not an easy place and things will not fall magically into place for you or anyone else. People who enjoy “the good life” for the most part work very hard to possess it.
You are in for a rude awakening if you your plan is to be a Doctor but you really don’t like to read.
Are you hoping for a “Brain Surgery made Easy” video to come out? It’s not going to happen!
Proverbs 23:12
Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.
4. Don’t waste time in bad relationships.
I think in my years as a Youth Pastor I have seen more young people shipwreck their faith over a bad relationship than anything else under the sun.
All the emotional turmoil, all the foolish fantasy, the Romeo and Juliet thing when someone’s parents forbid the “love”; and let’s not forget the nightmare of pre-mature sexual activity, it’s enough to make me want to drink the poison. Here’s the deal; if I see one person a camping trip this summer moping around in that atmosphere of pure fun because he/she doesn’t love me I will drag you home behind the bus instead of inside it. Are we clear?
You have work to do, a life to live, and some of you have lost ground that needs to be made up so let’s get going; because, time’s a wastin’!
