And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me (Mark 8:34).
Dearly Beloved Youth,
It’s time to follow Jesus with your whole heart. The world, the devil and a thousand other voices may call you to follow this or that, but your life and happiness depend on your turning a deaf ear to any voice that leads you away from Jesus.
In Bible days, people would follow Jesus for a while; but when He would tell them something they didn’t want to hear, they would turn away. On one occasion, when multitudes turned away, Jesus turned to the disciples and asked them, Will ye also go away? Peter spoke up and said, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life (John 6:67,68). Peter’s answer is the truth.
In this last hour, no matter who turns away from the Lord, you must know that only He holds your eternal life in His loving hands. Some of your own family and friends may turn away because they don’t want to serve the Lord day and night. They might want to have a life of their own rather than denying themselves and really following Jesus, but you must not let them affect you.
You must love Jesus. He died for you because He loves you, and He’ll do anything for you. He is your friend that sticketh closer than a brother, your lily in the valley and your bright and morning star. He has the path of life for you to follow, and there is nothing on it but glorious light.
It’s time to follow Jesus in His sufferings. We must not shrink away from any suffering that is the will of the Father because there is a harvest to be brought in. Jesus suffered greatly to bring in that harvest; and He is calling on you, Young People, to follow Him in His sufferings. He was persecuted, and you will be persecuted. He was mocked, and you will be mocked. But don’t get discouraged. You have eternal life, eternal joy and eternal fellowship with the Father just like Jesus had.
It’s time to follow Jesus in love and faith. He walked by faith in the miracle power of God, and He walked in the love of God. Let us follow Jesus by using all of the faith in the Word of God so we can believe Him for great miracles and healings in this hour.
It’s time to follow Jesus in forgiveness. When He was on the Cross, He said, Father forgive them (Luke 23:34). Let us all forgive one another for slights and misunderstandings. Follow Jesus and forgive.
It’s time to follow Jesus in doing the whole will of God. He said, I come to do thy will, O God (Hebrews 10:9). Following Jesus means to follow the Father’s will in all things—to follow God in holy living, in love, in grace and in spreading the Gospel.
It’s time to follow Jesus in works. He proclaimed that the works He did, we would do also but even on a more massive scale. That’s exactly what is happening through this Jesus ministry. Those young people who are following Jesus are doing His works; and you will, too, if you follow Him completely.
Yes, it’s time to deny self and the pleasures of this life. It’s time to follow Jesus 100 percent and be a great worker for the Lord in this our final hour before the Rapture takes place. Follow Jesus in prayers, in fasting and in defeating the devil with the Word of God.
You are greatly loved and needed by the Father, Young Person. Follow Jesus all the way. Spend time with Him, tracing and retracing His steps in the Gospels. If you don’t know the Lord and you’re following this world, you are headed for certain destruction. It’s time to follow Jesus or you will end up in the Tribulation Period. Come to the Lord now. Follow Him with your whole heart and get ready for His coming. Click here if you would like to give your heart to the Lord today.
It’s time for all of us to lay aside every weight and follow nobody but Jesus. That’s the only way to happiness and success, and that’s the only way to eternal life, peace and joy. Keep moving forward, Young People, and keep following the Lord. We don’t have much longer before the trumpet sounds. God bless you all.
With love,
Rev. Hoffman
