Words for Young People Nowadays

Let us learn something from the epistle of Paul to Timothy. Timothy was a special recipient of Paul's epistle, because Paul considered him as his child, spiritual child. In the first epistle, Paul wanted to reveal God's economy concerning the church. There are some things having misaimed, turned aside to vain talking (1 Tim. 1:6), therefore, Paul sent this epistle to Timothy, to encourage him to keep of the faith in facing those turned teachings. In the second epistle, Paul showed us the decline of the church; not just the church, but also the condition of the age was (is) worsening. In 2 Tim. 3:1, it is said that in the last days difficult times will come. Continuing in verse 2 to 13, Paul mentioned one by one, all the problem everyone had in this age.

2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, unthankful,

When people read this verse, mostly they skipped it. But now, let's contemplate deeply into each word, each phrase. Lovers of self, am I? Lovers of money, am I? We have to read this under the light of God. Disobedient to parents? How many times did I not hear what mom said? Am I really the person Paul tried to describe in here? Am I that bad?

I encourage you to pray every word that touches you. You might have to repeat the word, change the subject, receive light, and confess. This kind of pray-reading works on me. It helps me much in stepping deeply into the truth. The truths are too precious, I won't let it just pass away when I read them. I want the truths to be constituted in me, substituted me.

3 Without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, savage, not lovers of good,

4 Traitors, reckless, blinded with pride, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

5 Having an outward form of godliness, though denying its power; from these also turn away.

Timothy was a young one when he received this message. Implicitly it means that Timothy represents today's young people. We are today's Timothies. The apostle Paul wanted us to see this worsening condition, and realize that we should not be part of the decline. To walk in a right way alone when others walk in the false way is difficult. To be different is difficult, but it is righteous in the sight of the Lord. What do you care about? Do you care about what people will think about you if you're the Lord's follower? Or do you care about what the Lord desires you to be? If you do care to please the Lord, you have to be today's Timothy and receives this word. Now, let's move to verse 14.

14 But you, continue in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from which ones you have learned them,

The word 'but' in bible always shows something contrary. It distinguishes the last statement with the new statement. In the last verse you've read, it is mentioned all the bad condition. In the verse 14, we see the word 'but you'. They are hypocrisy, but you. They are without self-control, but you. They are unthankful, but you. "But you".

15 And that from a babe you have known the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

"But you" from a babe, have known the sacred words. How about this? This epistle is sent to Timothy, the young people who had known the sacred writings since he was a babe. If we read the old Scripture, in the book authored by Solomon, there are many advice to know God before everything is too late. So as this epistle. These words are not for those who have not read bible, but for he who does.

Now we are entering the main point, what was Paul trying to tell Timothy.

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for conviction, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

Why Timothy had to be prepared to know the holy words since he was a babe? Because the holy words, the Scripture, is God-breathed and has many functions. See them? Those functions are (1) teaching. Moreover, teaching in this context actually refers to revelation. When we read the bible, a certain matter may be hidden from our view. This is caused by veils that covered our eyes. Therefore, here, teaching or revelation is the opening of a veil so nothing can block our view in seeing the Triune God.

The Scripture is also functioned for (2) conviction. What is conviction? Conviction is being reproved or rebuked. How could the Scripture rebuke us?

The reason for this is that no one can see something of God without being reproved by what he sees. (LSM, Raising Up the Next Generation for the Church Life)

When we read the Scripture under the light of God, we'll realize our mistakes, wrongdoings, shortcomings, and our sins. This reproof comes from the revelation we receive. Many young people did not receive any lights when they read the bible, therefore, their conditions are worsening each day. Why? Because they barely realize their mistakes. They feel right. Once again, "but you."

Reproof is followed by (3) correction. Correction is a matter of setting right what is wrong, turning. Seeing the world is turning wrongly each day, we have to be people who are corrected by the Lord's word.

After we have been corrected, we'll receive the proper instruction - (4) the instruction of righteousness. Righteousness is a matter of being right.

All these functions we may experience in different ways and aspects. We may be wrong in our relationship with God, with church, with our parents, with our brothers and sisters, with our friends, even with ourselves. We may be wrong in the way we spend our money, our time, our gadget, or in the way we dress, or in the way we style our hair. Because we may be wrong in so many different things, we are rebuked by the revelation we get when we read the Scriptures.

This is the way to be sanctified, to be different, not to be same with this crooked generation. May the Lord have mercy on us. Even though days are difficult for us, even though we're living in the world with such conditions, we have to be today's Timothies that read the bible and getting the benefits from it.