SPEND YOUR HOLIDAYS WISELY

Text: Ephesians 5:16

A good number of our young people have completed their school semester and are now enjoying their vacation. How are you enjoying your holidays, young people? I pray that it will be a most joyful vacation in the Lord.

The next question is – how are you spending your holidays? Many a parent will lament that their children are spending their time wiling away on computers and gaming consoles. This, my dear friends, is not the way to have a blessed vacation.

Hear what the Scripture says in Ephesians 5:15-16 – “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” As Christians, we are duty bound to make every moment count for Christ and not for evil. And that includes our holidays. Are you therefore making good use of your time for the Lord’s glory?

Firstly, what are the games you play during vacation? Quite a number of games today involve fantasy and magic. The game storyline involve defeating (or even partnering) spirits and demons. Such things are an abomination unto the Lord. Consider the strict prohibition given by the Lord in Deuteronomy 18:10-14, “There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch”. The LORD continues to warn in verse 14 of the same chapter, “For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.” Our friends may dabble with games involving the occult, but as Christians, we must stay clear, because our whole life belongs to the Lord.

The New Testament continues in the same vein. The Bible teaches us in Galatians 5:20 that witchcraft belong to the works of the flesh. Similarly, Revelation 21:8 warns that sorcerers will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, let us steer clear of anything that has to do with the occult. Do not spend your time playing games that are clearly sinful.

However, there are some games that do not involve violence or the occult. Is it fine for one to play such games? Yes, but be careful of addiction. Some of these games are massively multi-player (such as Roblox or Minecraft), and will hook you in with their social element. You can easily be lost in the virtual world, so much so that the real-world becomes imaginary, and the imaginary world becomes real. When that happens, the game has become your idol and your whole world has truly been turned upside down. Let us guard our hearts and take heed to the Scriptural injunction in 1 Corinthians 6:12, “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.” (1 Jn. 5:21)

How then can we make use of our time profitably? The best way to do so is to spend your youthful days studying the Bible and advancing in spiritual things. “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.” (Ps. 119:9) There is no better time than the holidays to spend time reading the Bible through and through. You can also avail yourselves to attending the various Bible studies and fellowship group meetings in the church, as well as hearing the sermons from our like-minded Bible-Presbyterian churches. Due to the pandemic, the sermons of our sister churches are now available on YouTube. Go hear the messages preached in True Life, Calvary Pandan and Gethsemane Bible-Presbyterian Church. Gethsemane Bible-Presbyterian Church also runs the Bible Witness Media ministry.
There is much material on the ministry’s website that can nourish a young soul.

How about the older ones who in time may find themselves having a long holiday before they enter university? Many would try to find a job to gain some work experience before their next phase of study. That is well and good. However, why not engage oneself in an intensive study of the Bible by taking courses in the Far Eastern Bible College? The best way to prepare for life ahead is to know the heavenly wisdom from the Lord. Besides, there is no better time to study God’s Word than in your youth. You can always gain work experience later when you start your working life. However, it will be hard to find a phase in your life when there is opportunity to spend many hours in a day studying God’s Word intensively. Moreover, is not the Word of God the most important treasure in one’s life? Work experience earns you the dollars, but the study of God’s Word gives you a spiritual reward which money cannot buy. “… Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matt. 4:4) Make a wise choice!

My prayer for all the young people is that you will spend your holidays wisely to the glory of Christ.

Yours affectionately,
Pastor Clement Chew