Posted on 11/04/2020 8:40:00 AM PST by Pilgrim's Progress
“When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble” (Proverbs 4:12 KJV).
In 2008, Ryan Kennelly broke the world record for bench-pressing at 1075 lbs. Now, I guarantee you that he did not do this two days after he picked up the hobby of weightlifting. He had practiced his sport for years by increasing a little more each day until he had trained his body to overcome the obstacles and win the record.
In 2018 Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya set the world record for running a 26-mile marathon in 2:01:39. This did not happen a week after he picked up the sport of distance running. He was 33 when this happened.
Just so, a man does not generally become a Paul just days after he is saved. Often it takes a few years of disciplined Christian living, and most of the time it happens to the man that has grown up in a strong, vibrant Christian home where he had a faithful father and mother that trained him up from a child. Timothy had his mother Eunice, and his grandmother Lois, which brought him up to the point where he became the companion and yokefellow of Paul, pastored churches, and strengthened the faith of young converts.
“It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth” (Lamentations 3:27 KJV). For, when he becomes an adult, the weight of life is not overwhelming. Many well-meaning men saved late in life just do not have the stamina and moral courage to face the challenges of full-time Christian service and many fall by the wayside. It does not have to be that way, it just takes a total commitment that not all men possess.
This is a true challenge to parents to live the life, walk the walk, and talk the talk. It is a warning not to live one life in the church among other believers, and quite the different behind the closed doors of your castle. The greatest investment you can make in this life is that of our children.
Young man, as Timothy, from a child, you must begin to bear the weight of responsibility, and you’ll find strength that will amaze you as you step out to serve the Lord whether in the ministry or as a Christian businessman. Learn as a youth to tap into the only true strength you will ever know, for through Christ we can truly do all things.
“He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:29-31 KJV).
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