Over the last several months, several teenagers in our church have made difficult decisions to prioritize their commitment to Christ and his church over other opportunities in their lives. Some have chosen to prioritize church over special sports opportunities. Others have missed out on social commitments to choose Christ’s church. A few chose to not play particular sports because doing so would take them away from their church on a regular basis.
Most of these students made decisions entirely on their own volition. A couple of guys emailed a coach to explain they had a commitment to their church and needed to make different workout arrangements. Several have turned down travel sports opportunities to cling to their church. At least one student decided not to pursue a school sport opportunity because doing so would keep her away from church on Wednesday nights.
I am so proud of these kids.
I write to encourage teenagers to choose Christ today, and to continue choosing Jesus. I am thankful for sports and extracurricular activities. I believe they are healthy for our students, but nothing matters more than Jesus.
Consider Paul’s words to Timothy:
for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
1 Timothy 4:8
Teenager, keep choosing Jesus.
The headwinds against you are strong. Others will tell you that you need to do this, or you have to do that. Some adults with work to convince you that your entire future hinges on your willingness to attend this camp or be a part of this special team or commit your entire year to a dance program.
Keep choosing Jesus.
Filter everything through the lens of Christ, his word, and his church.
When Jesus and the church are your priorities, some things might not fit. But, if everything else is a priority, you can be sure that Jesus and his church will get pushed out.
You can’t do everything. You will always have to choose. Jesus can’t be your priority if baseball, dance, cheer, band, or football is your priority. You must choose, and most of you already have–even if you don’t realize it.
Your god is that which you think most about. Your god is that which you are most willing to sacrifice for or accommodate your life around.
Who or what is your god?
The decisions are hard, but you are not the first to be confronted with hard choices. When Joshua was nearing the end of his life, he stood before the children of Israel with these words:
And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Joshua 24:15
You have a choice. You can choose to follow the gods of your culture. The gods of pleasure or sports or success or prestige. You can choose to follow the gods of your generation or the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You can choose the gods of the culture, or you can submit to Jesus Christ and give your entire existence to him.
You must choose. If you refuse to choose, the winds of culture will carry you along toward idolatry and destruction. If you choose Jesus, you will have to swim against the tide and run into the wind. But the reward is eternal.
So, teenager, keep choosing Jesus. It is costly today. I know. You will feel pressure. You may feel it from a parent, a coach, or even teammates. Choose Jesus anyway.
He is the author of life, and he alone can give you the satisfaction, joy, and salvation you need. Choose Jesus and bring others along with you. You may just change the world.
