sunday, september 23, 2012 - Lake Union Conference

ONE VOICE [YOUNG ADULTs sPEAK THEIR MIND]
What if I Gave God All?
Have you ever wondered what exchange takes place when you give God all? It’s no exchange on our part; we
have nothing to lose but only much to gain. What we have to give is “[a] sin-polluted heart for Jesus to
purify, to cleanse by His own blood and to save by His matchless love” (Steps to Christ, p. 46).
When we give God all, He takes our
heart and begins the process of transformation;
the best part of it all is that it’s
free! What we leave behind are only those
things “that would bring suffering and
disappointment, that would close to us
the door of happiness and heaven” (Ibid).
Whatever your decision, it will have
an impact on others. Oxford Dictionaries
online define the word “influence” as “the
capacity to have an effect on the character,
development, or behavior of someone or
something, or the effect itself.”
Every one of us has an atmosphere
of influence and, consequently, we affect
those around us. As I think back on my own life, I realize
that the decisions I’ve made were mostly, if not entirely, the
result of the influence of others. It comes as no surprise to
me to read Jesus’ words, “Remember Lot’s wife” (Luke 17:32
NIV). Lot’s choice to settle near Sodom and Gomorrah had
a profound and devastating impact on his family. The poet,
John Donne, is right. “No man is an island, entire of itself.”
The effect that parents have on their children, especially
when they’re young, can influence decisions made throughout
the rest of their lives. “Teach children how they should
live, and they will remember it all their life” (Proverbs 22:6
GNT).
During my adolescent years, my father was not around,
so I looked to my friends as role models. I began getting into
by M. david carnero
all kinds of trouble, constantly needing
my mother to pick me up at the juvenile
detention center. I lived a life of partying,
smoking, drinking, fighting and
stealing. Then, in 2006, my mom took
us to live in Berrien Springs, Michigan.
Her decision influenced my life in a
positive way.
Since my father was not around, the
Lord used my uncle, who was also living
in Berrien Springs. He influenced
my decision to be baptized and to attend
a school of evangelism. Ever since
I turned my life over to God, He has
blessed me with amazing experiences
of impacting others for a life of eternity with Him.
What if you gave God all? What would that exchange
look like? What would be the positive outcome in your life
and in the lives of others? I encourage you to give God your
all. Jesus said, “Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it,
and whoever loses their life will preserve it” (Luke 17:33
NIV). We were created in the image of God for a life of joy
and peace that delights in selfless love and service toward
others. What would keep you from choosing today to give
God everything?
M. David Carnero, 22, is a graduate of Emmanuel Institute. He is a full-time
Bible worker, working with Youth for Jesus in Fort Worth, Texas. He is a
member of the Pioneer Memorial Church.
38 | August 2012 • Lake Union HeraLd The Lake Union Herald is available online.