To the church youth who has never really “gone bad”

No, you do not need to go through a “rebellious” phase in order to experience a real conversion. There, I said it.

Whether you’ve spent your whole life involved in church ministries, or whether you’ve spent your whole life on the streets.  You still need Jesus. We all need Jesus to the same degree.

I know that for some reason those testimonies that involve a “detour from the right way” sometimes seem more “real and convincing”. In fact, sometimes it seems as if the “darker” the past, the “more real” the conversion.  But please, do not buy into the idea that in order to experience the real thing with Jesus you need to go astray first.

Have you ever felt like your testimony is no big deal because you were born and raised inside of church? Well guess what? it is. Not because of you, but because of the Savior who poured out His precious blood for all sinners alike.

Just because you were born and raised in church it doesn’t mean that you don’t need to go through a process of conversion. It doesn’t matter whether you have been in church for as long as you can remember or whether you heard about Jesus for the first time well into your retirement years. The process of conversion is still necessary and unique for everyone.

Dear friend…

Your life is a testimony to both older and younger generations. According to the Bible, we are open letters to the world. And whether your process of conversion was preceded by a “very dark past”, or by a “Christian upbringing”, your testimony is of great benefit to those who can relate to it. And there will always be someone who can relate to it.

If you are a young man or a young lady who has never really “gone bad” and sometimes wonder how it would feel like to do so, please put those thoughts aside. You can save yourself the troubles and sorrows that make up the consequences of rebellion.

I know that sometimes when you are young, it feels as if you’ve got plenty of time to “venture a little out there” and later on come back to Jesus, but tomorrow is never promised. Also, now is when you have the most strength and energy you will ever have. Strength and energy that you can use for Jesus.

It is true that God will always be glad to take you back. But wouldn’t it be better to give Him the best years of your life?

I encourage you to continue being an example to the world. That through your words and actions, others may be drawn to Jesus Christ. Don’t ever forget that according to 1 Peter 2:9 you are “a chosen people, and a royal priesthood”. You are the light of the world, and salt of the earth. So let your light shine wherever you go 🙂