|
|
Saturday, October 22, 2005
The Nightmare
I read in a book recently that teenagers have "an almost Jedi-like belief" that their feelings will lead them to a "true faith in God."
Unfortunately, if that's the reality, then teenagers are in for a rude awakening.
Want proof?
Ever had a nightmare? You know...maybe you were being chased and you were running scared and there was a very real possibility that you might die in your dream. You wake up...your emotions are at full-tilt. Your heart is racing. It's dark. You're sweating a little bit. The adrenaline is flowing and your emotions are reacting their "reality" that you almost died.
Then, you look around. You see your clock glowing "4:40 AM." You feel around and you realize you're in your bed. Your eyes adjust and you realize you're in your own home. In your room. No one is chasing you at all. In fact, you think to yourself, "Oh, it was just a bad dream." You might get up and get a drink of water. But the emotions have slowed down. Your heart rate has slowed. The sweat has stopped. The adrenaline has stopped flowing. You calm down and you go back to sleep for another hour or so. That's how relaxed you get in a short period of time.
So the lesson today is based on the James passage we looked at yesterday. The one where you are very unstable if you're led by your emotions and not on the wisdom of God.
The emotional lifestyle is not one that will work for you...it will NEVER let you find true faith.
Let me say that again...it will NEVER lead you to a true faith.
See, we all have improper thinking patterns that get exposed by an insult, an injury or a disappointment of some kind. This leads to emotion.
Anger first of all.
Which will lead to self-pity if that goes unchecked.
Which will lead to depression if you stay in self-pity too long.
Which will lead to desperation and desperate acts if you don't check your depression.
And, scarily, that's the way most teenagers live. On their emotions. So when those trials of life come up, they don't lead to perseverance which will help them grow...nope...they live on the unchecked emotions which are REAL, but will never lead them to a true faith, or growth in faith, or maturity.
So, what does?
Finding something...
...anything...
...to be thankful for in a given situation...
and giving thanks to God for the trial. The various trials that come up.
This will lead to peace.
Which is what we'll be talking about next week...the third fruit of the Spirit.
So, for today...do you agree or disagree with the original quote about "Jedi-like" beliefs? Do you think teenagers today believe their emotions or the ability to "think truth" more? Do you agree with the "downward spiral" and the proposed solution? Why or why not?
Brent 4:30 AM
|