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You can LIVE the Christian life! It's not impossible
— to learn and then live according to the principles
of Jesus Christ. Sure, the college scene presents
some staggering temptations. The statistics are
against you. It seems like everybody is practicing some
kind of sin or dabbling in some other weird evil behavior.
Partying, booze, illicit sex, rebellion — it's all around
you. But your Bible can be, and should be, your
defense... "There hath
no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:
but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted
above that ye are able; but will with the temptation
also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear
it." (1 Corinthians
10:13)
But
You Definitely Need Help!
It's not always easy to find that way to escape
that God promises. Remember, your Lord Jesus Christ
said, "Take heed that no man deceive
you." (Matthew 24:1) Our society promotes a cavalier
attitude toward life — a daring, reckless sense
of personal independence: "I'm my own man." "I'm my
own woman." "I can make it on my own." Oh, really? Truth
is, we need God, and one another! God
made us that way!
The Bible tells
of a powerful man from Africa, a high ranking official
"of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians."
But that man didn't have a cavalier attitude. The evangelist
Philip saw him reading the writings of the prophet Isaiah
and asked, "Understandest thou what thou readest?" The
Ethiopian then replied, "How can I, except some man
should guide me?" Then he invited Philip to come up
and sit in his chariot. After hearing the message of
the fulfillment of the Old Testament through Jesus Christ,
that man returned to his homeland as a Christian. (Acts
8: 26-39)
Whether your hometown is here in Syracuse or far away in some foreign land, you are on a life-journey. And the path is not only confusing, it can be HARD. In fact, some will say it's too hard! They will look at the tide of sinfulness and cynicism surrounding them, and just give up. "Nobody really believes anymore," they'll conclude. "Maybe morality is relative after all. Or the Truth is so muddled by conflicting opinions, that we can no longer know it." Ah, but such is not the case. People — even young people — still believe; morality is Absolute; and Truth is alive and well at the beginning of the 21st Century.
Let
Us Give You a Hand
Don't be ashamed to say, "I need someone to guide
me." At Living Word Church in Syracuse, we're constantly
seeking the Lord's guidance for our lives. We don't
know it all, but we know the One who does. And we know
we can help you to know Him as well. We're confident
in the promise of Jesus Christ, who said,
"I will build my church; and
the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
(Matthew 16:18)
 It's
a sad reality that for many young folks, today's college
campuses represent the very gates of hell. They
come from Christian homes or at least from somewhat
sheltered, disciplined environments and are hit with
the pressure to just break loose when they get
to college. Instead of "holding
faith and a good conscience", they cast those
things they have learned aside... "which some having
put away concerning faith have made shipwreck." (1 Timothy
1:19)
Don't become a shipwrecked soul. Your college
years can be a wonderful time of growth and wholesome
development. There is much that is good to learn and
experience. Just beware that you don't "depart
from the faith" the way some will do in the
last days... "giving heed
to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils."
Since we are living in the Biblical last days, there
are tons of false doctrines floating around besides
all the temptations to sin. So, don't be careless, don't
get hard-hearted — lest you find yourselves among those
who wind up "having their conscience
seared with a hot iron," unable to think
sensibly, no longer feeling the moving of the Spirit
within. (1 Timothy 4:1,2)
If God has led you to the Syracuse area, have faith
that He has made provision for you to not only endure,
but to excel in your Christian walk. Come visit
us at the Living Word. We have regular services on Sunday
at 10:00 a.m. and on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at
7:30 p.m. See map for directions. There is also a well-established
hearty group of students from the congregation who would
love to make contact with you. For more information
or to arrange for a ride, leave a message at 437-6774.
— your friends in
Christ
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