The words of Psalm 78:6-7 are brought to my heart and mind as I look back to what God has done this past week. The Psalmist writes, “That the generation to come…might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments.” Although these words were penned with Hope to what God might do, I believe I had the privilege this past week of catching a glimpse of what God can do.
This past week I had the joy of preaching a College Days youth rally held at Indiana Baptist College, in Greenwood, Indiana. During these meetings I was able to preach to teenagers from four or five different states, and I am still rejoicing in the work God has done. The tenderness and expectancy of the teenagers for God to work in their hearts during the week was an open invitation for God to do His work, and work He did. The altar was filled each evening with teenagers and college students alike, dealing with the sin and surrender issues that God had revealed to them.
After the final service the teenagers were given an opportunity to share how God had challenged them and of the decisions they had made for Him. The overwhelming majority of the testimonies focused on FULL Surrender. Many mentioned that they had considered God in their life plans, but that He was almost always given the leftovers, once their plans had been made. Some made the statement, “I had not even considered God, but now He has first place.” To God be the glory!
The sad reality is that many Christians have not ‘considered’ God will. When Paul wrote in 1Corinthians 6:19, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” and then went on to say in verse 20, “Therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s,” he did not seem to give Christians the option of an unsurrendered life. In other words, while God does not call every Christian to ‘full-time Christian work’, He does call every Christian to be a ‘full-time Christian’.
What a thrill it was to join forces with Indiana Baptist College during their College Days youth event and witness their burden to see young people go on for Christ. Although there was an encouragement to prepare there for God’s service, the staff and students alike urged the teenagers to follow Christ solely and completely, wherever God led them. I am glad to be able to stand with and behind Indiana Baptist College, and highly recommend it to anyone training for God’s service.