Man, generally, have had cause to choose who to admire and look up to. This is a prevailent characteristic of youths. They have role models they aspire to be like and for the ambitious ones they do all they can to tread in the shoes of such and break records to excel beyond them (their role models).
Their attraction to these ones could be their lifestyle (dressing, oratory ability, etc); proficiency or prowess in any field of specialization (football, music, academics, politics, entertainment, etc); physical appearance, leadership ability (diverse peer groups - human rights activities, ‘approved’ or unapproved touts operating at the bus-stops, airports, immigration offices, ports, etc on different levels, religious groups, etc).
Many youths go about wearing shirts and rings displaying their attachments to football stars or clubs, others, carry the hair-dos of musicians, dress-code of their spiritual leaders, sing and talk about them. Evidently their lives, career, perception are moulded and modelled to a large extent towards those of their models (cons. Act.22:3; 22:25,27,28) and some youths become great and famous, while some fall out just like those they have looked up to.
The achievements may be accepted and applauded by man but God’s measurement looks for GOOD SUCCESS which carries with it completeness in all areas. This is the reason the Lord is bringing to us His choice of model. He is not just a model but an incomparable model, one in time and beyond time, trend, technology, who discoveries and circumstances cannot outwit (Matt.2:13-16; 27:62-66; 28:1-6). He is a model from the foundation of the world and approved through eternity (cons. 1Pt.1:20; Gen.3:15; Rev.5:1-14).
He is the Lord JESUS CHRIST into whose shoes and path any youth who desires life and peace today, tomorrow and eternally must step into and thread. So, let’s hear and learn more about Him.
This Jesus! Who Is He?Any youth who walks into the waiting hands of Jesus has one thing or the other to say about Him experientially (Read More On Have You Crossed the Rubicon Today?). God is indescribable and so His son is actually indescribable (Is.46:5; 40:18,25,28; 55:8-9; cons. 1Kgs.19:9-13; Rom.11:33). In a nutshell, note that - He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, the first and the last ( Rev.1:8,11,17; 22:13; Is.44:6). Popular saying one may say, but these are the declarations of a FINAL authority, the ‘descriptive’ summary of His personality and one who has accomplished all task and not one who is still on course or competing for recognition or victory while alive or dead (Rev.1:8,17,18; cons. 1Kgs.20:11). What does this mean? Imagine being enveloped by this Jesus and He in-dwelling you.
His birth, death and purpose was talked about from the time the enemy thought he had twarted God’s purpose altogether (Gen.3:15). Through the passage of time, it looked as though it would not be but the Lord kept renewing the information (Deut.18:15,18; Ps.2:1-7; Is.7:11,14; 53:1-2; Lk.1:30-31). At the appointed time, the child came amidst glorious incidents having the eternal mandate of the Lord God on Him (Is.9:6-7; Lk.2:8-11,13-14,25-38) with testimony of COMPLETE development (mental/intellectual, physical, spiritual and social) (Lk.2:52). What does this mean? Walking In His Steps guarantees the fulfilment of God’s eternal mandate and purpose for that youth notwithstanding the passage of time, milestones and obstacles (Is.46:9-11).
This Jesus, a man with virtues that endeared Him to God and man and brought spirits and circumstance to bow at His feet with testimonies of His works bearing witness to who He is (Jn.8:29; 12:19; Matt.8:27; Mk.1:27).In His relationship with God, though God Himself, He submitted, in His humility, to be begotten and made like men, who He created that He may die on their behalf for the forgiveness of their sin and salvation (Ps.2:7; Phil.2:5-8; Jn.1:14). He lived by precept and practice loving the Lord and doing all to obey and please Him (Jn.4:34; 6:38; 5:19-20,30; 8:29). He honoured the Father in the face of temptation (Matt.4:1-11). He maintained an unbroken relationship with God in prayer (Matt.14:23; Lk.6:12) and service (cons. Jn.4:31-34; 2:13-17). His relationship with His Father was so wonderful that Jesus told Philip that "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father" (Jn.14:6-9). God confirmed and approved Jesus in all ways (cons. Lk.3:19; Matt.3:16-17; 17:1-5; Jn.12:27-30; Acts 2:22; 10:38). We cannot enumerate them all.
In His relationship with man, Jesus left indelible marks in the lives of all that encountered Him. Men that sat in darkness, ignorance bondage and sin saw the Light and came into Father - Son relationship with God as He ministered and taught the gospel of the kingdom (Matt.4:14-22; Lk.5:1-3; Jn.3:1-21; 4:5-26,28-30). Through further teachings and example, He made disciples out of those that followed and listened to Him and prepared same for the kingdom of God (Matt.5:1-2; 13:10-11). The sick, blind, lame, troubled, diseased rejoiced on meeting Him because their needs were met according to the testimony of the Scriptures (Lk.4:16-19; Matt.4:23-25; 12:22; Lk.7:11-16). His love and compassion were manifested over all. Socially, Jesus interacted with the high and low without compromise, fear or favour but held the banner of righteousness and God’s kingdom high (Matt.19:16-24; Jn.5:5-8,14; Lk.15:1,2). All those who were stamped ‘condemned’ were recovered for God’s kingdom - the publican, the tax collector, the harlot - were all transformed (Matt.9:9-13; Lk.19:1-10; 7:36-50; Jn.8:3-11). His presence at social gatherings left a difference and testimony (Jn.2:1-3, 6-10). On daily basis, He proves that His invitation is to all and none will be cast out (Matt.11:28-30; Jn.6:37).
Jesus is the greatest intellectual (Heb.1:9). By heavenly wisdom, He solved the puzzles in the lives of men, discussed with the intellectuals of this world and answered the crafty (Lk.2:46-47; Matt.17:10-13; 22:15-22; Mk.1:21-22). With parables, incidents and other things they were conversant with, he drove home his messages and doctrines to the learned and illiterate, the disciples and the Pharisees such that none had any excuse for not understanding (Matt.13:31-35; Mk.13:28-31; cons. Jn.7:40-48). God commands that we hear Him and of course, many came out to hear Him at His time (Matt.17:5; Lk.5:1,15).
Jesus has never spared and will never spare the evil spirits nor ugly circumstances that came the way of those who called upon Him knowing He came to destroy their works (1Jn.3:8; Mk.5:1-18; Lk.5:4-6; 7:12-15; Mk.1:23-27; 4:35-41). They were all subject to Him.
Jesus is the embodiment of all godly virtues and good works made available to us. He is complete. He is the STAR to be desired and followed. He is the incomparable model.
Every youth’s heart should be panting and yearning with a cry "O! To be like thee!" He has promised to work in you both to will and do of His good pleasure (Phil.2:13). Do you want to be sound and complete physically, mentally, in favour with God and man? Then step into His path now!
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