One common thing that I've noticed among youths who come to the youth group is the struggle they go through in order to abandon the friends they've made in the world. This is typical of them.
I tell you, they manage to stop using drugs, they forgive those who hurt them, they begin doing better at school, but when it comes to 'friends' they say, "Ah, I know them for too long. How can I turn my back on them?", or something like, "If I stop hanging out with them then who will be my friends?".
These youths fail to understand that unless they leave their friends behind they won't grow spiritually. Yes, they won't. The Bible says:
"Don't become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That's not partnership; that's war. Is light best friends with dark? Does Christ go strolling with the Devil? Do trust and mistrust hold hands?"
2 Cor 6:14 (The Message)
Let me break it down to you for a better understanding. What they literally do is to come to the YPG (light), receive help and guidance and then after that go back to their worldly peers (darkness) because they can't 'live' without them.
Who does that? Who, after years living in darkness, finding the light that brings direction to them, goes back into darkness again? This makes non sense!
Okay. Some youths might say that they go back out there to help them out. I've heard youths saying that because now that they know the truth they should tell their so called friends of the new life they've found. Yes, the same friends who never came to terms with their conversion and their notorious changes.
I question for you: what is easier, for a basket full of good oranges to make the one rotten orange among them good or for the rotten one to spoil the entire basket? You know the answer to this question.
Friends, let's be wise. I'm not being radical. I'm just saying that there's a right time for things to happen. If you've just started attending the YPG now I advise you to pray for your friends in the meantime.
I know God will soon provide a way for you to meet them and invite them to come to the church with you. Get strong first. Leave them behind. It's either them or God.
"Blessed is the man who walks
not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and in His law he meditates day and night."
Psalm 1:1-2 (NKJV)
At the end of the day, who's got your back?
P.S. - Follow up on this message about friendship. There's more coming.
Pr Luke Castro
