C124 1/26/58 Youth Sunday Adapted from E15
© Project Winsome International, 2000

IF I WERE 'SWEET' SIXTEEN
Dr. John Allan Lavender
Genesis 13:14-18

It is exactly 12 years ago that one night, along about midnight, I stood in the corner drugstore of a small town in California where I was preaching. The Holy Spirit had really blessed the service that night and a number of fine young people had responded to the invitation. By the time I had counseled with all of them about their great decision, it was very late.

I stopped at a little cafe to get a bite to eat and then went next door to the corner drug store to purchase the morning paper so I could read myself to sleep. As I glanced over the magazines in the rack, one of the covers caught my eye. It showed the picture of a curly-haired little boy about four-years-old, looking wistfully off into the distance. His arms were folded thoughtfully and there was something about his whole mood and manner which was very striking as he gazed out from the cover of the magazine. Beneath the picture was this caption,
"America's Last Hope For The Future."

Only six words, but in those six words the editor of that magazine had captured a whole realm of truth, "America's Last Hope For The Future." That night as I stood in that small town drugstore, my eyes fixed to the face of that sweet little boy, I suddenly came face-to-face with the fact that America's great hope does not lie in her military leaders. It does not lie in her statesmen. Her educators. Her engineers. Her builders. Her philosophers. Her social leaders. Her financiers. It does not lie in any of these who had made and molded our world these many years. They have had their chance. And a panic stricken world sitting precariously on the cutting edge of terror is the measure of their success.

The broken homes and bewildered hearts, the crumbling world powers and tottering social systems, the twisted forms of men and women caught in the clutches of demon-alcohol, the gaping mouths of little children withered and weak from hunger, the fear and frenzy gripping the souls of America today, all of these rose up before me that night as a silent monument of evidence to the fact the people who have made and molded our wold these many years have not been God's prople doing God's work in God's way. And so, a bewitched, bothered and bewildered world turned at last to its children as its final hope for the future.

Well, as I have said, that was twelve years ago. That four-year-old boy who gazed out from the cover of that magazine is now sixteen. He is no longer a child, but a rapidly maturing adult. He is the contemporary of many of you young people here before me this morning. You are our last hope for the future. It is you to whom America and the world are looking. But unless you, in turn, look to God -- unless you bind yourself inseparably to Jesus -- unless you crucify sin and self in your soul America and the world will look in vain. For youth with its passions and powers is the hope for the future, but it must be youth for Christ.

It always gives me a thrill to talk to teenagers about Christ, for when a youngster comes to Jesus not only is a soul saved, but a life is won. A life with its time and talent. A life with its opportunities and powers. A life with all it has to offer. A life that God can use. That God can direc. That God can bless.

One night D. L. Moody came back to his home and his wife asked him how his meeting had gone. He said, "Thank God, we had 2 ½ converts tonight." His wife said, "Do you mean you won two men and a boy to Jesus?" Mr. Moody answered, "No, two boys and a man."

That's the secret. That's what I am getting at. That's the only true hope for the future. For youth without Christ is paradise lost. It is no better than that which already exists. But youth with Christ is a power which, if put to the test, can capture this whole generation for Jesus.

So I preach to Christian youth this morning and I urge you to head the challenge. The urgent and thrilling summons of your Savior as it is expressed in our text:
"Lift up now thine eyes and look from the place where thou art,
northward, southward, eastward and westward, and all the land
which thou seeth will I give unto thee."

If I were sweet sixteen -- if I were a teenager today -- I would very soberly and sincerely listen to God's call. God's appeal for

A Forward Look.
Our text says:
"Look from the place where thou art."

I am so glad it is possible for Lucille and me to bring my father and stepmother back to Chicago for Christmas. I have told you so much about him and I wanted you to meet him to capture some of his spirit and to help you understand one of the reasons for the spiritual success which you and I have enjoyed together as a pastor and people. A day never passes but what my father holds this church up before the throne of grace.

While he and I were talking one day about the Mission which he founded and carried on for so many years, dad poured out many of the things he would still like to see done. Many of the plans he would like to accomplish for Christ. Then he stopped and with something with a tear in his eye he said, "Oh, son, if only I were young again."

"If only I were young again." How often we have heard those words coming from the lips of those who look back upon their lives and see time and talents wasted, opportunities for service cast aside, crying out, "If only I were young again. How different it would be."

Well, young people, you need not engage in such words of sadness. You are young still. Before you are the opportunities. Before you are the plans. Before you are the time and youthful vigor to bring them through to completion. And you must have a forward look. For you are young still.

"Look from the place where thou art." You say, "Pastor, where am I this morning? As a Christian young person just where do I stand?" Well, it is safe to say that if you are a Christian, if you are a child of God, then at least you are beyond the cross. Behind you is the life of sin. Behind you are the days for service of satan. Behind you are the cross and the cleansing stream that flows from Calvary. Yes, if you are a Christian this morning, you are beyond the cross. You stand within the border of the Society of Saints. But believe me, young people, you can't afford to stay there.

I may have told this story before, but I love to tell it because it is so expressive of what I am trying to say. I don't know where I first heard it. It must have been when I was very young, because it has been with me nearly all my life. It's about a little boy whose parents had the happy habit of putting him to bed and listening to his prayers each evening. One night, after he had said his nighty-night prayers, they went down stairs and were talking over the things of the day.

About an hour later they heard a thud on the floor. They ran upstairs and found their little lad climbing sleepily into bed. As the father tucked his boy under the covers he said, "Son, how did you fall out of bed?" The little boy was almost back into dreamland, but he rubbed his eyes sleepily and said, "I don't know, daddy, I guess I stayed too close to where I got in"

I think that's the trouble with far too many Christians. Whether we are young Christians or old Christians, we've stayed too close to where we got in. Instead of looking forward to a life of crusading for Christ, we have been satisfied to be just under the covers. Just inside the fold as it were, spiritually speaking. And soon, the tug of the old habits and habitations became too much for us to bear and we began casting wistful glances over our shoulders at the past "winking at the world" and before we realized it, we were out of fellowship with Christ.

Oh, we didn't lose our salvation. That's impossible. You don't gain salvation by works and you cannot lose it by works. But oh, young people, it is possible to lose your power. It is possible to lose your victory. It is possible to lose the sense of joy and peace and contentment which come from real Christian living. And if I were sweet sixteen -- if I were a teenager today -- I would very soberly and sincerely listen to God's call for a forward look. You cannot be satisfied for the mere quantity of life that you have in Christ. You must strive for that glorious new quality of life you can have through Christ. You must look forward to a life of service.

And that brings me to my second point, for if I were sweet sixteen, if I were a teenager today, I would listen to God's call for

An Outward Look.
Our text says: "Look from the place where thou art, northward, southward, eastward and westward, and all the land which thou seeth will I give unto thee."

There is only one limitation to this promise from God. Like all of the promises of God it is the limitation you place upon it yourself. God says he will give you the world if you will only take it. He will give you what? As much as you see! In other words, your conquest for Christ will be limited to the degree of your vision. If you see much, if you believe much, if you attempt much God will give you much. But the bible says, "without a vision the people perish." God is not in the business of doing big things through small people of little vision.

Young people, the time to begin reaching out for Christ is while you are young. God is always working through young people.

Thomas Helwys was scarcely 30 years old when he became the founder of the First Baptist Church in England.
Roger Williams was no older when he established the historic Rhode Island Colony and laid down the great principle: "For any man to be punished for any matter of his conscience is persecution."
Adoniram Judson was 24, Anne Haseltine, his heroic wife, only 23, when they went to India as missionaries.
Hudson Taylor began his work in China at the age of 21.
Charles Wesley composed some of his greatest hymns when he was still in his teens.
John Stone was only 26 when he gave the world that stirring hymn: "The Church's One Foundation Is Jesus Christ Her Lord."
Abel, Jacob, Joseph, Gideon, Samuel, Sampson, David, Daniel, John the Baptist, John the Beloved, Mark, Stephen were all young men who took an outward look in their youth.
Even Christ himself was young. As a matter of fact, he was two years my junior when he died upon the cross.
God needs young people an outward look. With a world vision. With a pioneering spirit . And he needs them now.
Some of you are searching for a purpose in life. A reason for living. A goal toward which to strive. Well, I know of no better reason for living, no more satisfying aim in life, no greater purpose to which you can yourself than to reach outward into the lives of other people with the message of Jesus Christ.

When Robert Hutchens was at the University of Chicago, he was teaching a class in history one day. In the course of his lecture he asked the class,
"What has been the greatest force for good in history?"
The students called out their answers: Democracy. The printing press. The wheel. Fire. Dr. Hutchens rejected them all and turning to the blackboard he wrote one word:
"Martyrdom."
Then he turned to his class and said,
"People who die for what they believe give immortality to their ideas and inspire the rest of us to greatness. If you want to become important to this world, be a martyr. Give yourself away."

Well, it isn't necessary that you die for Christ to fulfill God's call for an upward look. In fact, it strikes me that the great need of the world today is for young people who will endure a kind of living martyrdom, who will give themselves away for something greater than themselves, who will give themselves away for the cause of Christ and for the sake of others.

Young people, you'd be surprise how many of your friends are going through life without any aim or ambition. They are not happy. They are filled with uncertainty and frustration and fear. When they see a guy or gal who knows what life is all about and, in a wholesome way, is enjoying life to the hilt, they are impressed! When they see someone who lives, not for himself or herself but for others, who is literally giving himself or herself away, they are willing to listen to what that kind of person has to say.

And, young people, you will be happily surprised when you discover the tremendous power you can be in blessing others if you simply let the joy of salvation flow into every facet of your life.
I do not mean to suggest you must become a missionary or a minister, although God desperately needs young men and women, who, in obedience to the outward, look will give their lives to Christ in a church-related profession.

But he also needs Christian salesmen. Pipe fitters. Filing clerks. Dress designers. Secretaries. Businessmen. What he wants is your life. Nothing more is necessary, and nothing less will do. He wants to take you where you are, be that at home or in the office, in the shop or at school, and he wants to use you to do a task that no one else but you can do.

That's what I mean when I say If I Were Sweet Sixteen -- if I were a teenager -- I would obey God's command to take an outward look. All about you are fields ripe unto harvest. There are areas of life that desperately Christian influence. There are people who need your friendship. Your love. Your Christian concern.

Yes, young people, God needs you. He needs your life. Your present and your future. Young men, God needs your passion and your power. Young woman, God needs your personality and your presence. God needs young people with an outward look. a world vision, a pioneering spirit. The days of conquest are not passed. The statement is still true that:
"The world has yet to see what God can do with one young man
or woman who is completely yielded to his will."

How about it fellow? Will you be that man? How about it, girl? Will you be that woman? Will you adjust your vision, your sight, to encompass the world? Will you heed God's command to take an outward look? Will you attempt something really great for God?

And then, if I were sweet sixteen -- if I were a teenager today -- I would be especially conscience of God's call to

An Upward Look.
Our text says: "Lift up now thine eyes and look . . . "

And, young people, there is the secret of your strength. There is the place you must turn for power. For the forward and the outward looks will wither and fade away into nothing unless empowered with an upward look.

When Yogi Berra came up with the Yankees, they really didn't know what to do with him. His legs were too short to be an outfielder. He was too clumsy to be a good infielder. But he was such a terrific hitter they felt they had to use him. So they decided to make a catcher out of him.

But he had trouble handling wild pitches and was charged with a lot of "pass balls." They got Bill Dickey, one of the greatest catchers of all time to coach him, and, throughout the season, he developed until eventually Yogi Berra led the Yankees into the World Series where he caught flawlessly without a single "pass ball."

After the World Series some reporters were talking to him about this and they said, "Yogi, how did you overcome the problem of wild pitches so easily?" Yogi said, "Whenever I saw a bad ball coming I remembered something my coach said:
'When you see a wild pitch coming, get down on your knees.'"

Young people, if you take Christ seriously, if you dedicate yourself to the forward and upward looks, life will hand you some wild pitches. There will be times of temptation. There will be periods of tribulation. There will be hours of loneliness. And, if you try to tackle them alone you will go down to defeat. But if you get down on your knees -- and look up -- you'll find a great big smile of reassurance on your savior's face.

You see young people, Jesus understands your struggles. He understands your trials and your temptations for you see, he, too, was young.

A poet has put it this way:
"Because he, too, was young, he knows each snare along the way.
He knows what youth must dare!
He, too in Nazareth's narrow little street
Found hidden nets to trip his youthful feet.
And such forbidden music as you hear
Fell, strangely alluring on the young Christ's ear.

"The broad way then, as now was gay with song
And laughter; and the straight way lone and long.
The same foes lurked beside his humble way
That thwart the golden dreams of youth today,
And all the dark temptations that you know
He was acquainted with long, long ago.

"Tell him your longing. He will bend to hear.
Bring him your heartaches, and the skies will clear.
Share your dreams with him! He speaks the
Tongue of youth. He, too, was eager, glad and young.
Tell him! He is a comrade, loyal and true,
Whom you can trust in all you think or do."
How about it, fellows and girls? Does the challenge of the forward look and the call of the upward look seem to much for you to bear? Do you feel insufficient to the task? Are you afraid to try for fear of failing?

Then, accept God's call to an upward look. Lift up your eyes, and, looking unto Jesus, you'll hear him say:
"Fear thou not for I'll be with thee,
I will still thy pilot be,
Never mind the tossing pillows,
Here, take my hand and trust in me."