Basic HTML Version
Youth and the Drug Syndrome, May 11
Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in
the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the
sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will
bring thee into judgment.
Ecclesiastes 11:9
.
Satan was the first rebel in the universe, and ever since his expulsion
from heaven he has been seeking to make every member of the human
family an apostate from God, even as he is himself. He laid his plans to ruin
man, and through the unlawful indulgence of appetite, led him to transgress
the commandments of God. He tempted Adam and Eve to partake of the
forbidden fruit, and so accomplished their fall, and their expulsion from
Eden. How many say, “If I had been in Adam’s place, I would never have
transgressed on so simple a test.” But you who make this boast have a grand
opportunity of showing your strength of purpose, your fidelity to principle
under trial.... Does God see no sin in your life? ...
On every side, Satan seeks to entice the youth into the path of perdition;
and if he can once get their feet set in the way, he hurries them on in their
downward course, leading them from one dissipation to another, until his
victims lose their tenderness of conscience, and have no more the fear of
God before their eyes. They exercise less and less self-restraint. They
become addicted to the use of wine and alcohol, tobacco and opium, and
go from one stage of debasement to another. They are slaves to appetite.
Counsel which they once respected, they learn to despise. They put on
swaggering airs, and boast of liberty when they are the servants of cor-
ruption. They mean by liberty that they are slaves to selfishness, debased
appetite, and licentiousness....
Satan is determined to have the human race as his subjects, but Christ
has paid an infinite price that man may be redeemed from the enemy, and
that the moral image of God may be restored to the fallen race.... Fallen
men may through Christ find access to the Father, may have grace to enable
them to be overcomers through the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour.
[140]
142