I WANT TO CHANGE THE WORLD

By Evangeline Unity Esaaba Folson

The dream of every young man or woman should be to leave a mark for the next generation. Our youth should aim at changing the world by presenting the message of salvation to as many people as they come into contact with. The youth should bear in mind that:

• They are the hope for the future.
• They are the leaders of tomorrow.
• They are ambassadors for Christ
• They have to share the love of God with all the people they relate with.

I John 4:7-10

Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten son into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sin.

I Corinthians 13: 1-3

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not charity, I have become as sounding brass or tinkling cymbal. Though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

John 13: 34-35

A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another as I have loved you, that ye may also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye love one to another.

All the three passages quoted from 1 John 4, 1 Corinthians 13 and John 13 talk about love. If we want to change our world, then the key element or factor needed is “LOVE”. 1 John 4: 7-8 tell us that, God is love, therefore, His children (Christians) should also love so that the world may know that we are God’s children.

In 1 Corinthians 13: 1-3, we learn that no matter the sacrifices we make in life, if our actions are not based on love, then we have achieved nothing. God gave the 10 commandments, in the old testament, Deuteronomy 5. But in John 13:34-35 in the New Testament, he gives a new commandment which sums up all the 10 in gave in the Old Testament.

We should love one another so the world will know we are His disciples. If you love your neighbor sincerely you will not kill him, steal from him, bear false witness against him or commit adultery with his friend’s wife. If you love your parents you will not dishonor them. This confirms the fact that the new commandment given in John 13 summarizes the other 10.

Romans 13:8-10:

Give no man anything but to love one another for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Loving one another sincerely can change the world

From the passages quoted so far, we can conclude that if we want to change our world we need to love one another sincerely. This can be done by exhibiting the ‘Agape” or unconditional kind of Love that God gives to His children. As the hope for the future, the leaders of tomorrow and the ambassadors of Christ, the youth must read and memorize how to exhibit the Agape love of God explained in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7:

• Be patient and kind, not envious or boastful or arrogant nor rude.
• Not insist on our own way: not being irritable or resentful.
• Not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoice in the truth
• Bear all things, believe all things, hope all things and endure all things.
• Let love the greatest reason behind all we do.

Conclusion

I would like to conclude with the chorus of a song which says:

You are my brother,

You are my sister,

So take me by the hand,

Together we will work until He comes

There is no foe that can defeat us,

If we are working side by side,

As long as there is LOVE

We will stand.

References

1. Internet Bible
2. King James Bible
3. Oxford English Mini-Dictionary.