© 19 Colin Melbourne
Q: I notice post-millennial teens are ever-more depressed and suicidal, why is that, and is there any hope for them?
A: Why are teenagers depressed and killing themselves in unprecedented numbers world-wide?
Daily Peril
The reason is plain from this Holy Ghost prophecy, 2 Tim 3:1-5 KJV;
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Travel this world, and you will find that prophecy is in full swing today at every location from; Kamchatka to Nepal, to Prague, Liverpool and the Bahamas, to Sodom and Gomorrah*, to Quito and New Hebrides, and full-circle to Japan and Russia.
The Cause
The reason is simple: The world loves itself and hates its Maker: A sure recipe for instant depression and self-destruction at any age.
When young people grow up in the midst of self-obsessed antiChrists and idolatry, is it any wonder they become anti-Christian idolaters themselves?
Idolatry reproduces itself in a spiral of sin, death and destruction.
That’s obvious to those who take a cursory glance at this convulsing world.
The Fix
That is why Our Creator, came Himself, in His Only Begotten Son, to live the only perfect Human life that has ever been lived on Earth.
He came to demonstrate that Adam and Eve could have walked with Him to this day, if they’d chosen to do so, but they rebelled against His Word and chose selfishness over righteousness and honouring God.
They allowed sin into God’s perfect Creation, producing the mess consequent upon that choice.
All mankind has sinned and fallen short of the glory we were capable of before The Fall.
The rot set in, and continues deteriorating to this day, as you see around you.
That is why God came in the Flesh and offered Himself, His Life and Blood, to redeem His lost Creation once and for all.
He satisfied the claims of Divine Justice against sin, against mankind, against me and against you.
Having taken our sin on Himself and suffered the full penalty of our folly and rebellion, there was nothing more to be paid: The LORD Jesus Christ paid all that needs to be paid to restore fallen man back to our Maker.
The Deal
Those who trust in God’s Living Word have been completely redeemed from our ancestors’ sin, and our own sins.
No longer can sin, disease, death, or Satan, hold believers captive: We have been set free by The Blood and Body of The LORD Jesus Christ.
To confirm our justification (right-standing) before God, He raised Christ from the dead because He bore no sin of His own, and all ours was paid for.
The LORD Jesus Christ is alive today: The only Saviour of mankind.
If you cannot wholeheartedly rejoice in that Holy Bible fact, it is because you are still in your sins, not right with The LORD Almighty.
The redemption price of every person who ever lived, and who ever will live, has already been paid.
Our Creator paid it before you were even born.
Realise, God in The Flesh redeemed you over two thousand years ago.
He paid the full price for your perfect freedom from; sin, sickness, guilt, and all condemnation.
But that does us no good whatsoever unless each individual participates in the Covenant God has made with sinful man.
Heart to Heart Trust
It is a Covenant of heart faith in His Living Word: The New Covenant enunciated in The New Testament of the Holy Bible.
It is the most perfect deal ever made on Earth, and your Maker invites you to join wholeheartedly in His Blood Covenant.
The Living Word
It’s beautifully summarised in the words of Christ to Nicodemus who came enquiring how to know God, John’s Gospel 3:3-21 KJV;
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Your Choice
It is a Covenant of Faith in The LORD Jesus Christ.
When you repent from unbelief and trust in Him, and in what He has done for you, then God comes to live in your heart by His Spirit, makes you a new creature in Christ, and you begin to walk with Him in holiness, purity, and loving mutual trust.
He’s trusting that you will wholeheartedly believe on Christ now, and always.
Will you accept your perfect redemption through Christ, or continue in unbelief, doubt, lip-service, religion, depression, and sin?
The Price is paid in full for you, it is your choice to accept that Gospel Truth.
© 19 Colin Melbourne
Tract images © Chick Publns. Used by permission
*(Los Angeles and New York)