Y.O.L.O? - Galatians 5:19-21

 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,  idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,  envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. - Galatians 5:19-20

    There is a popular mantra among young people today that is referred to as Y.O.L.O, or “you only live once.” You’ll see the letters emblazoning hats and tee-shirts. This ridiculous mantra now stands as the rationale behind one of the leading causes for hospitalization and death among these impoverished souls. Researchers from CDC´s “Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention” refer to a number of “games” played by young people as “Risky Youth Behavior,” (ya think?). Here is a short list of some such games (Note: I am merely going to list them. Google them for more detail as I don’t have the stomach to describe them here.)
1.    Choking Games
2.    Cinnamon Challenge
3.    Huffing volatile chemicals, paints, or fuels.
4.    Car Surfing
5.    Drinking Hand-Sanitizer
6.    Vodka Eyeballing
7.    Salt & Ice challenge
8.    Condom Challenge (You wouldn’t believe me if I told you . . .)
9.    Fire Challenge
10.    Gallon Challenge

    Apparently, many young people engage in such self-destructive behavior for the very same reason some of their parents did: there is an emptiness inside them that could only be properly filled by the word of God. And what a sad world-view to adopt as one’s personal mantra - You only live once? Really? Are their hearts so empty and destitute that risky behavior is the only balm they imagine will soothe them? Our title verse accurately reflects that mind-set of those who engage in risky behavior. These are people, both young and old, who have no concept of the love and mercy of God. They have no concept (or they don’t care) about the blood sacrifice Jesus made for them and unless they repent and believe in Christ before their natural physical death they will also die “the second death” - “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” - Revelation 21:8. Make no mistake about it: they will all die a second time when they are finally and eternally separated from the mercy, grace, and love of God!
     I’d like to clue my young brothers and sisters into another mantra which is a far cry older than theirs - “Born once; die twice - born twice; die once.” Look at John 3:3 - “Jesus answered him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.’”
Rather than face an eternity where “their worm does not die and their fire is not quenched” I would implore these young people to come away from the world that inspires their risky behavior and seek Christ Jesus as their Lord and Savior. So that rather than face the second death they can confidently look forward to everlasting life! “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. Your lives are valuable to God; they should be valuable to you to and if they are valuable to you then treat them that way!
    Most of the irrational games these young people are playing are called, “Challenges.” I challenge them to do the unthinkable, the impossible, the unheard of . . .  I challenge them to seek God with all their heart and all their mind and all their strength. Let us all pray that our young people see the Way, the Truth, and the Life . . . rather than live only once just to die a  second death.