Youthful exuberance can be a very dangerous thing if left unchecked. It can even leave an indelible negative mark on an individual for the rest of his or her life. Are you still a youth? I rejoice with you, but you need to give heed to what the Holy Spirit is saying in 1 Timothy 4:12, because in today’s world where the internet never forgets, the enemies of your destiny will hunt for any information about your way to the top. May your enemies never find anything with which they can destroy your great destiny in Jesus Name. In the political arena, opponents are always searching for what they can use to destroy each other’s political ambition. Examples abound of how political gladiators dig into the past of would-be political office holders, telling the world the many reasons why they should not be voted into power based on past conduct, even if they have managed to change for the better. Unfortunately, many youths do not listen to profitable counsel when they are gallivanting from one bad habit to another in the name of youthful exuberance.

The story of Reuben in Genesis 49:3-4 should be a wake-up call to any unruly youth reading this devotional study. A sin he committed in the distant past, probably in his late twenties, was revisited at the time he ought to have received the blessing of the firstborn far later in life. He probably thought he was clever, handsome and the desire of all young women, including his father’s wife, so much so that he slept with her (Genesis 35:22)! The most perplexing thing about this case is that Jacob never mentioned a word about it to him. If he did, probably Reuben would have pleaded for mercy. Some pastors destroyed their marital testimonies when they were still young because it never occurred to them that they would be pastors later in life. Down the line, after becoming pastors, they are forced to keep mute whenever any discussion on marital infidelity arises. They cannot authoritatively divide the word of truth on this subject-matter because of their past deeds. Some Christian teachers cannot disclose how many children they have because it will generate questions such as “Is it mummy that gave birth to this or that? If not, who is their mother and where is she? Did you marry her? If yes, how come you divorced her to marry another person, contrary to what you have been teaching us?” To avoid the agony of such questions, I admonish young people to stay away from the so-called youthful exuberance that leads to regrets later in life.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.