“The kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” Matthew 13:45, 46
Just as a miraculous metamorphosis takes place in nature when a butterfly emerges from the safety and shelter of its cocoon, so wonderful changes take place as a boy or girl begins the process of leaving childhood and entering adolescence, then adulthood. As you travel along the highway of life, experiencing new wonders and analyzing choices you will have to make as you mature, there will be many who will present to you the direction that they think you should go. How will you choose? How will you be able to discern whether the directions you have been given truly lead straight ahead down the road of life or whether you will end up in a ditch—or worse yet, totally disoriented and even lost?
We can thank the Lord for the Bible—which is our only sure road map, the Holy Spirit who can be our Guide, and most of all for Jesus who is our example.
Adolescence is a challenging time for us as human beings; it always has been. Not only are there changes taking place as your body begins to mature, but there can arise new fears or problems as your mind continues to develop. There will be new experiences for you to enjoy. And yes, this can be a most wonderful time to grow spiritually as well. Ecclesiastes 12:1 tells us: “Remember NOW thy Creator in the days of thy youth.”
God is so good that He has given us a Bible full of experiences from which to learn. He has also given us the church where we can learn from the experience of ministers and members. And of course, He has given us parents who are always glad to share their experiences to help keep us out of that “ditch” mentioned earlier. Yes, believe it or not, our parents all went through very similar experiences, temptations and trials as those encountered in the lives of youth today. Perhaps they may not have been identical, since we all possess unique personalities and varied dispositions, but character building is based on principles that God instituted as far back as the Garden of Eden.
So, let’s discuss a common problem that affects many teenagers. It’s called inferiority. It can be a feeling that nobody likes you, or that you don’t feel you have the talent or ability of others, or you may think that somehow you are different in your looks. You may be concerned about a pimple on your face or maybe a freckle, the size of your feet, or even your hair. Maybe some friends have teased you or made fun of you. Maybe they even make fun of the food you eat or “that church” you attend on Saturday. Or maybe your family’s financial situation is such that you can’t afford to be like your friends and dress a certain way or drive a newer automobile. What should you do if you happen to run into one of these roadblocks in your
life? Will you slide into the ditch—or is there a way around?
I know exactly what it feels like to run into roadblocks. As a student in school, I had good grades and tests were a breeze. I had some friends but I was very shy and wondered why I couldn’t be as popular as others. I didn’t care much for my conservative clothes, I ran on the crosscountry team but just couldn’t keep up with the best runners. I was devastated when I was cut off the baseball team. I had hoped to become a baseball player. O.K., O.K., so I had the lead role in the senior class play, but that pimple on my face bothered me to no end. Why me? Getting a scholarship to a large university didn’t help matters any. Well, at least I was on campus and didn’t have to be seen in the old family car anymore. And how come I just didn’t seem to know how to talk to girls? And worst of all, I had to figure out what I was supposed to be when I graduated. This wasn’t fun anymore, and I just wanted to crawl into bed at home in a fetal position and regress about 19 years back in time.
My parents tried to help me around all these roadblocks, but I was too stubborn to listen. After all, I was all grown up, or at least so I imagined.
So I grew another 10 years older. I had a very good job and some cash to spend. And then I saw it. The CURE. This was it! This would solve all my problems! I couldn’t sleep. I was like a man obsessed. I had to have it. It had to be mine. I would find a way no matter what to possess it. I must have it, I just must. If I couldn’t have it, my life from now on would be miserable now that I had seen IT! It was a car. A black-as-night-colored Lotus Esprit. I mean, it was awesome. I had never seen anything like it. It was fast. It was beautiful. It was unique. It was moving while it was standing still. Adjective after adjective bombarded my brain. I was hooked. Finally the security blanket for my insecurity had arrived! I believed I now had a purpose in life, and that purpose was to drive that Lotus.
I had to act quickly. I called my brother-in-law. Yes, he would buy my van, and I even financed it for him. I called the bank. How much could I borrow? How fast could I get it? How much was the insurance going to be? I didn’t care. I would find a way even if I had to work night and day—at least I could have weekends with my car. I could see myself driving that car in my mind. Every eye would turn to see who that fellow was that just passed by in that super car. I was enjoying every minute even dreaming about it. I bought the car.
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Luke 12:34.
Then I bought the driving gloves. Then the right cassette tapes to play while I cruised. It was remarkable. It was the same old me but I became someone else when I got into that car. I could be a race car driver, or maybe some big executive, or some rich kid from Hollywood. What was sure is that I had created an idol without even realizing it. I mean I even raced with a Ferrari one day driving on the highway. I had owned cars before. I had vans, an MG Midget, a Triumph TR4, a Camaro— even a 435 horsepower Corvette— but nothing affected me like this car did. Not even my Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Every spare dollar I earned went into this car. I had to pay, pay, pay, in order to play, play, play. Why, you ask? Because I still did not know true happiness in my life.
Like the merchant man of Matthew 13:45, 46, I thought I had found the one pearl of great price, so I had gone and sold all that I had and bought it. Only it wasn’t a Goodly Pearl. It was . . . a counterfeit!
That year I met a girl named Lisa. Lisa drove a plain old orange Volkswagen Beetle. Lisa called my car a coffin on wheels. I was insulted. She rode in my car, but I sensed that she felt uncomfortable. When I overcooked the engine, and had to drive a beat-up old car while it was in the shop, Lisa didn’t care. We went for hikes and walks, and talked and talked. Lisa mentioned a Bible study one day and gave me the book The Ministry of Healing. Meanwhile, I crashed the car going 70 miles per hour. Back to the shop it went. Lisa warned me of my fascination with that car. I kept driving that beat-up thing, now complete with dents, and we began to attend Bible studies. I was thrilled by the book she had given me to read. The words were jumping off the pages. I had never read anything so calming as the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy. Now I thought less about the car and more about Jesus. As a matter of fact, the car had become a real burden and actually a nuisance. It was a bottomless pit swallowing my money as fast as I could feed it to that idol made of tires, metal, and fiberglass. But now I had found the way to loosen my shackles; a new freedom in my life and an everlasting assurance that I was loved by God, and of value. “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.” John 3:16.
Man has the ability to design and create many objects of aesthetic beauty, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9.
How about you? Do you feel unimportant or unloved? Do you feel unattractive by the standards the world has promoted: Standards in money, beauty, and intelligence? Or do you feel the caring arm of your Friend and Big Brother Jesus Himself around your shoulder, helping you over the obstacles and roadblocks in life’s path? Maybe you’ve pushed His caring arms away and imagined you could tackle life’s challenges alone. Young people, do not be deceived into wasting years of your life that could have been spent in His service. No pair of sneakers or hairdo, or physical or mental achievement, no car or earthly friends can ever take the place of Jesus or bring the true peace that only a knowledge of Him can bring. Remember that “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7.
Lisa and I were married on October 30, 1983. As one of my wedding gifts, I got—guess what?
The old family car.
P.S. I did sell the Lotus.
Henry and Lisa Brostovski were baptized into the Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement in June 1995.
Source: Youth Messenger ® (USPS 765-030)
Published by the Young People’s Department of the Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement General Conference as an educational service for our youth worldwide.
Web: http://www.sdarm.org, e-mail: info@sdarm.org.
