We thought never to underestimate the importance of youth. People are most impressionable in their early days and that which influences them has a lasting effect, for good or bad. That’s not to say, of course, that those who have lived in sin for many years can never be converted. Manasseh is a good example. He became King of Judah when he was twelve. For a long time he lived in open defiance of God encouraging the people in idolatry. He erected altars to Baal. He worshiped the stars. He filled
It took captivity in Babylon to bring him to his senses, but when he cried to God for forgiveness his sins were pardoned, he was granted repentance, and the last years of his life were spent for the Lord (2 Chronicles 33:12-16). However, Manasseh’s late conversion did not reverse the influence of his sin upon Amon his son. Amon forsook God and never repented. God cut him off in his twenty-fifth year (2 Chronicles 33:22, 23). Youth, then, is the most impressionable age. This being so, early conversion is most desirable. It means not only a soul saved, but a life saved too. It means that one’s best days can be dedicated to the glory of God, and that all through life His grace can be proved. David shows this very clearly in Psalm 71. God was his trust from his youth.
Time and time again he learned by experience that God was faithful. When his enemies inferred from his sufferings that the Lord had forsaken him he could expect that they would be confounded. In old age, he was sure that because God was immutable He would not abandon him .God was his teacher from his youth. The Jesuits are credited the proverb: “Give me a child until he is nine and he will be mine for life”. They hope, by their discipline and teaching, to have young Catholics to be Catholics all their days. But if a child is taught not merely by godly parents, but by God Himself, he will belong to the true Christ for good. God teaches the young by His Word, not only on the pages of the Bible, but written by His love on their heart. This keeps from the grievous influence of sin and makes the young believer happy in holiness (2 Timothy 3:16, Psalm 119:9-12). God was his testimony from his youth. “Hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works?” There couldn’t be a better use of life than this. This is something to be craved in prayer for the younger generation!
