Ecclesiastes 12:1, “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while
the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no
pleasure in them.”
Ah, to be young. A time of great opportunities and challenges, but also a time of great danger. The books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes have more to say to youth than any other book in the Bible. Someone may ask, “Why should I remember my Creator while I am young?
Because Of The Strength That Comes From Being Young. Proverbs 20:29, “The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the grey head.” Youth will often stand up for their convictions when others sit down. This is seen in the lives of Daniel and his friends. Though they were young and strangers in a foreign land, they stood up for their beliefs and overcame their trials, Daniel 1:5f.
Because Of The Weakness That Come From Being Young. Psalm 25:7, “Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O Lord.” It is easy, especially in youth, to get caught up in the “here and now” and not be concerned with the “there and then”.
Because There Are Great Blessing In Being On God’s Side. 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” God through His word can guide youth through the pitfalls and traps, trial and temptations, of life. It has been said that “practice makes permanent.” What that is saying is, the way we are training our minds and hearts to think today is the way we will always think. Remembering God in youth means that good habits are formed early, allowing His word to shape attitudes, thoughts, words, and deeds into what God wants them to be. How do I remember God in my youth? Consider the following:
Delight In Studying and Meditating on God’s Word. Psalm 119:97, “O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.” Study and meditation of God’s word should be a daily practice for the child of God.
Spend Time In Prayer To Our Heavenly Father. 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18, “Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” A regular prayer life should be a daily practice for the child of God.
Do Not Be Ashamed Of The Gospel. Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Spreading the Gospel to friends, family, teachers, and acquaintances should be a daily practice for the child of God.
What a blessing it is to be young! However, with great blessings comes great responsibility.
Solomon warns that “that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment” (Ecclesiastes 11:9). Remembering God now will save you from the worst heartaches both in this life and certainly in eternity.

-Jerry Sturgill

Paul said in Philippians 1:17, “…I am set for the defense of the gospel.” Paul used the term apologia here and in verse 7, from which we get our term apologetics. Though Paul may have had a broader application in mind, when the term apologetics is used in Christian circles today it refers particularly to the defense of the existence of God, the deity of Christ, and the inspiration of the Bible.
Whereas years ago in this country the great majority of people would have acknowledged these truths, it is not uncommon for members of the church in the United States to come in contact with people who deny them. Many colleges and universities of our nation are responsible for fomenting much of the skepticism in regard to these foundational truths of Christianity. More of our young people attend schools of higher education than a century ago and are exposed to teaching that undermines the inspiration of the Bible, the deity of Christ, and even sometimes the existence of God. Thus, we cannot presuppose these truths when dealing with every individual outside of the church. Some people will need proof that God exists, that Christ is God, or that the Bible is God’s word, and solely quoting a verse of scripture will not convert someone who does not believe the Bible.
From studying the Scriptures, it is evident that Paul was an educated man. Unlike many today, Paul’s much learning did not make him go crazy, as Festus accused (Acts 26:24), but was a tool for spreading the gospel. The Holy Spirit saw fit to use Paul’s knowledge of Cretian prophets in his letter to Titus (Titus 1:12) and Stoic and Epicurean poets in his discussion at the Areopagus (Acts 17:28). Thus, the Holy Spirit shows there is a use in studying other belief systems in order meet people with their own belief systems to bring them to the truth. In keeping with that example it is good for Christians to know, for example, what the general theory of evolution involves and the alleged evidence upon which it is based. If Paul by the Spirit of God could enter into an intelligent discussion on what certain poets and prophets of a different worldview said, then certainly as a Christian I can learn the theories and viewpoints of unbelievers today in order to answer them.
We should not fear proper education, nor hide our heads in the sand, so to speak, in regard learning what unbelievers teach in regard to the Bible. Truth never suffers from an open investigation of the facts. We can help fortify our own faith and improve our impact on the world by giving time to studying apologetics.

-Mark Day