It’s hard to believe, but a new year is coming upon us. Most of us, therefore, have read the copy and listened to the analysts so that we are fairly well reminded as to what the future may hold as of now.

A moment of review might be good. First of all, there is breaking upon us a new year. The year 2003 is what they are calling it, and it promises really to be something. Just by taking a quick look around, we will be reminded that everything is to be a little faster, a little brighter, a little more fun, and considerably more dangerous. It will take increasing consciousness of things just to remember where we are going and how surprisingly fast we are getting there. Teenagers used to read books and break bread at home. Today, they are contemplating another trip for spring break, swimming with the dolphins, or going into outer space. Yes, it’s a roaring round of activity out there as of now.

“What should I know about living life so I don’t get overwhelmed by the tide of our times?” There is a multi-faceted answer to that question, but it is already apparent that the time has come to stop and think. Yes, if you stop and think, you may soon discover that you are smarter than you ever imagined. Albert Einstein stopped to think at the age of 16 and soon became smarter than anybody.

But that is not all. There’s a thousand new unsullied years that are now a part of this package called “the future.” The time to become a true futurist is now.

Is there anything special we ought to think about before the new things break upon us in such a proliferation that it will be supremely difficult to keep up with it all? To be lost in the shuffle can be a very bad thing and now it’s more complicated because the shuffle is getting faster. You’re used to getting stuff on your computer with one press of a button. Not long ago, it was a day’s work, remember?

I hope that you are, by this time, saying, “Dave, it makes me rather nervous. What should I be planning, contemplating, and deciding in order to put my brains in the right place for the days to come?”

I am delighted that you have asked that question. This because, despite the fact that it looks complicated, it is a relatively easy world to live in. That means it is easy if you remember the basic principles, without which living successfully in this world is practically impossible. There are three presiding principles to keep in mind in life. That is, there are three major, infinitely important decisions that every one of us will make before life is done—and life itself grows out of them. What are they?

My Life's Occupation
The first major decision in life is, “What will my life’s work be?” Happily, there are a thousand answers to that question. Practically every legitimate occupation known to man is available to you. Take one look at the things that are possible and begin to imagine how in today’s world there are professions to discover, languages to master, machines to operate, nations to visit, and a thousand other legitimate, marvelous occupations that are before you, and they are just waiting for the touch of your talented hand.

So, be thinking. Don’t drift down the street to the first “help wanted” sign and assume that that will be the place for you. Even right now, remember that education produces opportunity.

My Life's Partner
The second most important decision that you will make answers the question, “Who will be my life’s partner?” Believe me, this question is far more serious and more productive of a great future than most people have ever contemplated. It is really sad that in our time the whole matter of the blessing of human love has been treated with stupidity or even worse, contempt. Few things are more beautiful than true love and happy marriages. Conversely, few things are more sad than carnal associations. They bring sadness, disease, depression, ruined lives and shattered homes. Heaven weeps over idiotic young people who let lust ruin their lives. Man’s greatest ability is being able to say no to sin and yes to God. Beware of the lust of the flesh, it often masquerades as love. On this subject, take a moment to read I Corinthians Chapter 13. The Bible says, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” The surest way to an unhappy life is to simply marry someone in response to a wave of libido. You will never achieve the mastery of life without some help from a faithful wife, a responsible, loving husband. Really, it could not be otherwise.

Most earnestly, therefore, we would recommend that, above all else, you take the time to pray about this whole matter of a life’s partner. Remember, beauty and brains can be two different things, just like sex and love. To forget this can be disastrous. The third great decision that we will make in life centers on the question, “What will the faith of my life be?”

My Faith
Above all others, this is the important decision in life. No one of us is smart enough to make it without God. The lives of too many millions of people are a living disaster because they were never smart enough to take the Lord into their decision. Love, courtship and marriage were all put together by God Himself. The key to happiness and significance in life is to have a wife—a husband—who says “Amen” to your thoughts and ideas. Communication leads to success and no other formula will really work. Above all else, make sure that God is the captain of your life—that you have taken Christ to be your personal Saviour. If you trust in God with all your heart and do not lean to your own understanding, the Bible says, “He shall direct your paths” (Prov. 3:6 NKJV). Otherwise, life is a wandering, leaderless proposition.

The big suggestion that I have concerning these three necessities is to make sure that you have the third one settled first. Before you decide upon the profession of your life, before you decide anything else, make sure that you know the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible makes us a promise by saying, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31). You’ve heard that the Bible says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). This is not simply a lovely verse in the Bible, but it is the key to life. To believe in Christ means to trust in His sacrifice at Calvary to take away your sins. Believing that, receive Him and you will begin that marvelous program called “everlasting life.” God Himself will make you His responsibility. He will work in your life to bring every happiness to pass and, as you trust Him, it will get better and better.

When you are a Christian, both time and eternity will work on your behalf. In time, in the days of our flesh, God has promised salvation and the supply of every need. There is no human source that is to be compared with the marvelous provision of God that He will pour into your life every day that you live. He has invited you to trust Him and then He has promised that He will fulfill the will of God in our lives.

Then the day will come when we will move out into eternity. In eternity, the Christian goes to heaven. He lives in a place where the streets are gold and the palaces are ivory and the people are marvelous. We will live in a place called heaven and the Bible says, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, Neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him” (I Cor. 2:9). The most marvelous thing in all of eternity is the beautiful joy of being in heaven where everything is wonderful beyond description. It’s absolutely thrilling, therefore, to remember that we are invited to go to heaven. Jesus Christ calls on us to believe in Him and then everlasting life becomes ours.

Your Conversations
Let me suggest also that there is another happy opportunity that God gives us when we become His children. That opportunity is to tell somebody else about Him. Christ came into the world, both to save you and also to make you a witness for Himself. You know lots of young people who aren’t saved. Many of them are ready to accept Christ within a minute if they only knew what the Gospel was and how Jesus is available to them. The best way for them to know is to hear your testimony. So look, make it a habit to include in your conversations a word about God, about Christ, about His power to save. God may use you to produce a result for eternity by winning another guy, another girl to the Lord Jesus.

While we are talking about prayer, don’t forget to pray for our government in America. The Bible says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Ps. 33:12). and it also says, “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God” (Ps. 9:17). No nation can finally survive and prosper apart from the blessing of God. Remember also, you could be a young, forceful Christian leader even now. Allow for that possibility. Remember, God put you in this world to accomplish a great purpose—starting now.

Taken from the writings of Dave Breese
Edited and Revised by the Christian Destiny Staff