We are in the middle of a war.
No, we are not talking about the war you see on the news. This has nothing to do with human battle tactics, guns, or bombs. The war to which we are referring is bigger, with far greater implications. We are talking about the Great Controversy. The battle between Jesus Christ and Satan, between good and evil. A war of cosmic proportions yet is played out so subtly that the undiscerning eye sometimes overlooks it.
In a 2014 study conducted by the Institute for Church Ministry, Adventist young people were asked if they believe in the Great Controversy. Eighty-five percent of respondents said that they “strongly agreed” or “agreed” with this belief. A notable 12% said that they were unsure of what they believed in regards to the Great Controversy, and only 3% said that they “disagreed” or “strongly disagreed” with this belief.
Does it really matter if our young people believe in the Great Controversy? Does it matter if they understand their role in this battle?
Without a solid understanding of their place in the conflict between Jesus and Satan, young people may be far more likely to be tossed around by the seas of popular opinion and worldly views. If they are not solidly rooted in a relationship with Jesus, they can become easily distracted by any new fad that comes along. If they do not have a deep understanding of the character of Christ, then they can be easily tricked into believing things that are close to truth, but are not Truth.
It is vital that we instruct our young people about their place in the Great Controversy. We must equip them with discernment, teaching them to protect themselves with the armor of Jesus. This may be the most important thing we can do for our young people!
The following websites may be helpful as you seek to help your young people come to know Jesus more closely:
http://powertochange.com/students/waytogrow4/
http://fulleryouthinstitute.org/articles/helping-kids-keep-the-faith
Even though we are in the midst of this conflict, we know something that gives us hope for each day: we know who wins. While Satan wages war around us, taking out anyone that he can, we know that in the end Jesus will be victorious. We know that Heaven is our final prize.
Image from Canva©.
