"Be happy, young man, while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment" (Eccl. 11:9 NIV).

Someone has said that youth is wasted on the young. Some folk are forever casting doubt upon the value of youth. When I was a youngster growing up in the church, we were called “The Church of Tomorrow.” Our value was always placed some time in the future.

Here, in the Lake Union, we value our youth as "The Church of Today!” Our youth constantly take mission trips to build schools, churches, and to share the gospel message. They excitedly surge into action to bring relief from suffering when tragedies like Hurricane Katrina or a tsunami wreak havoc with our lives.

I am much encouraged every time we launch some evangelistic thrust in this territory. The youth are always at the forefront to receive training, and to conduct meetings. Maybe they don’t know enough to be afraid. Maybe they are so short on experience they do not recognize when something is impossible, and they go out and do it. Or maybe they are just running away from boredom.

No, I’ve got another theory: I believe our youth, reared in Christian homes, and many educated in our elementary schools, academies, and colleges, are aware God has a claim on their lives. As our text so graphically points out, you can follow your heart and your eyes, but ultimately God will judge us on our activities.

The vast majority of our youth have been taught this fact and have had it modeled for them. Therefore, they are good citizens now, not tomorrow. They are good members now, not at some future date. They are the church now, and I believe we should give them more and more responsibility, and more and more opportunities to lead and gain experience.

Jesus is coming soon. We all believe it, but it will be much quicker with an army of youth rightly trained to finish the work. Let’s continue to partner with these young people who have the energy, the enthusiasm, and the faith. We “old folks” have the wisdom. Be sure you share it with them.