An Excerpt From Thoughts For Young Men
By: Strangers
Tags: Christian, Jesus, Books

By J.C. Ryle

…Seek to be acquainted with the Lord Jesus Christ. In truth, this is the main thing in religion. This is the corner stone of Christianity. Until you know this, my warnings and advice will be meaningless, and your actions, whatever they may be, will be in vain. A watch without a spring is no more active than a faith without Christ.

But don't let me be misunderstood. It's not just knowing the name of Christ that I mean. It is knowing His mercy, grace, and power—knowing Him not by hearing with the ear, but by the experience of your hearts. I want you to know Him by faith; I want you to know, as Paul says, "the power of his resurrection; being made conformable unto his death" (Phi 3:10). ). I want you to be able to say to him: He is my peace and my strength, my life and my comfort, my Healer and my Shepherd, my Savior and my God.

Why am I asking this question? I do it because in Christ alone all fulness dwells” (Col 1:19), for in Him alone there is a complete supply of all that we need for the wellbeing of our souls. We are all poor, empty creatures within ourselves: empty of goodness and peace, empty of strength and comfort, empty of courage and patience, empty of power to live or carry on or to make progress in this evil world.

It is in Christ alone that all these things are found: grace, peace, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and salvation (1Co 1:30). It is only in relation when we live on Him that we are strong Christians. It is only when self is nothing, and Christ is all our confidence, that only then can we do remarkable things. Only then shall we be ready for the battle of life and conquer it. Only then will we be prepared for the journey of life and move forward. To depend on Christ, to draw everything from Christ, to do all things in the power of Christ, to look to Christ forever. — this is the true secret of spiritual prosperity. “I can do all things,” says Paul, “through Christ which strengthens me” (Phi 4:13).

Young men, this day, I set before you Jesus Christ as the wealth of your souls, and I encourage you to begin by going to Him if you will run to obtain it. Let this be your first step, go to Christ. Maybe you’d like to consult your friends? He is the closest friend: “a friend that sticks closer than a brother” (Pro 18:24).

Do you feel unworthy because of your evil deeds? Fear not: His blood has washed it all away. He says, “Although your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow: though they be red as crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isa 1:18).

Do you feel weak, unable to follow Him? Fear not He will give you the power to become sons of God. He will give you the Holy Spirit to live in you, and He will seal you for His own; He will give you a new heart, and He will put a new spirit in you (Eze 36:20).

Are you troubled or burdened by unexplained afflictions? Fear not: there is no evil spirit that Jesus cannot cast out there is no sickness of soul that He cannot heal. Do you have any doubts or fears? Throw them aside: “Come unto me” (Matt 11:28), He says, “he that comes to me I will in no wise cast out” (Joh 6:37). He knows the heart of a young man well. He knows your trials and your temptations, your hardships and your enemies. In the days of His flesh, He was like you a young man in Nazareth. He knows the mind of a young man by experience. He can be touched by the feeling of your pain, because he endured himself, being tempted (Heb 2:18; 4:15). You’re sure to be without excuse if you turn away from such a Savior and Friend as this. Listen to the request I am making of you now: if you love life, strive to become acquainted with Jesus Christ.