My heart ached when I heard the news that the suicide bomber
at the Government
Comprehensive Senior Science Secondary School, Potiskum, Yobe State was a
teenager.
From reports, it was disclosed that the
students were on the assembly, waiting to hear the principal's daily address
when the explosion happened, just before 8am. As at press time, the number of
deaths recorded were 48, while 79 were injured.
Is it not absurd that in this great
nation of ours, a teenager would be so ignorantly zealous to have an explosive
that he knew would take his life and that of other citizens?
As if that was not enough, just some days after this incident,
a female suicide bomber struck at the
Federal College of Education, Kontagora, Niger State, killing herself and
injuring three others.
You know what? These two young people displayed unflagging enthusiasm for this cause, although they were
ignoramus. They were indoctrinated and promised what they would never see,
enjoy or inherit but they believed anyway and even death was not a minus for
them with the lies they lived for; they lived and died in ignorance.
The pain in my heart however is, how zealous are our
teenagers and youths in the faith and in most things pertaining to God. Some
Sundays ago, I called two wonderful young people who loved to disappear from
the Sunday school class and reappear when the teacher is almost through with
the class. Unfortunately when you size some of them up spiritually, they are
far from what is expected of them.
How often do our young people organize evangelism
programmes within and outside their immediate vicinity just to reach out to
unsaved souls? How much of God do some of them know, not to talk of going out
to preach what they know to others?
I remember the day one of our Sunday school teachers
pointed our attention to the fact that some young people who belonged to a
particular sect have ‘prayed’ so much that their forehead already has a mark.
There is also another sect that moves around with their young people (mostly on
Saturdays) to preach what we born again Christians know is heresy yet, we do
not see our young ones who know the truth move from house to house several
times to tell people the truth they know.
King David said, the zeal of your house has consumed
me. How zealous are you as a young fellow. How many people know you and operate
with you based on that faith which you profess. How many people do you preach
to in a week and how many souls have you won for Christ since you came to the
saving grace of Christ?
Are you known among your classmates, colleagues, and
people in your community as a Christian who would not compromise or you are
seen as that guy that follows his parents to church but we do not see any major
difference in your life?
How enthusiastic are you about the things of God.
Are you a role model or you just play
church. Do you challenge other young people around you positively or all what
you do is move with the crowd.
How passionate are you about God and His work. Can
you boldly say that the zeal of the house of God has consumed you? What is your
relationship with God like? Is it a hush
hush relationship or what? How much of the Bible do you have in your heart
and how do we see those words in your life? Are you still being cajoled to fast
and pray?
I desire that there will be a revival in the lives
of our young people so that as they stand out academically, professionally etc,
they will also stand out for God and the kingdom assignment.
