"And why do you call me, Lord, Lord and do not what I say? Everyone who-comes to me and hears my words, and acts upon them, I will show you whom he is like; he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation upon the rock, and when a flood arose, the river burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who has heard, and has not acted accordingly is like a man who built his house upon the ground without any foundation; and the river burst against it and immediately it collapsed and the ruin of that house was great." (Luke 6:46-49)
This is a verse from the Bible which you have known since you were toddlers. What does it mean? How does it apply to you today? As teenagers, your life's foundations will be tested. When you were a child, Dad, Mother, or some adult who was responsible for you made the important decisions. Now you will have the opportunity to stand on your own. Through your actions you will be saying, "This is the real me. This is what I stand for. This is what I believe." Regardless of the lives your parents have lived, now is the time when you will either stand fast as a Christian or reject Christ's teachings.
Why would anyone choose to live in disobedience to Christ? The first reason might be that they do not know the goods news of Christ. Jesus said, "If you abide in my word, then you are truly disciples of mine; and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31,32) We speak highly of freedom. It is something that all want. Yet, we can have freedom only through Christ. Allow Christ's word to dwell in your lives and to give you freedom. Close friends may become involved in immorality, impurity, sensuality, hatred, jealousy, drunkenness, carousing and things like these. So you will have no doubt in your mind about God's attitude toward these, study Gal. 5:17-21, where Paul says that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
If there is any question about what is right and what is wrong, study God's word, the Bible, and ask questions. Do not be lead blindly into an action that could jeopardize your eternal salvation. A second reason for disobedience to God's will is a lack of strength. Some, although having adequate knowledge of the scriptures, lack the strength to act in accord with their convictions. I Cor. 10:13 says "no temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man, and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able; but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it." This scripture does not mean that God is going to place you in a protective bubble and isolate you from the world. What God is telling you is that the strength to resist the devil is available from Him. This strength will not be given to you miraculously, but is available through study and prayer.
Philippians 4:13 reads, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Ephesians 6:10, 11 says, "Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil." This armor of God includes truth, righteousness and faith. The strength to resist temptation is available, but we must seek it.
Finally there are those who reject Christ's teachings as a way of rebelling against parents. Parents fail at times. Some parents have not been able to give adequate love and a feeling of worth to their children. If this is your situation you will reject the solution to your problems if you reject Christ. Perhaps you feel that your parents are hypocrites. They profess to be religious but you know what they are really like. Okay, that is between them and God. What about your personal relationship to Christ? What about your eternal salvation? If your prime motivation is to hurt your parents, you will succeed
by turning to a life of sin, but at the same time you will destroy yourself.
Jesus said in John 14:15, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." He also said in John 15:14, "You are my friends if you do what I command for you." Your relationship with Christ is personal. No one can build that relationship but you. The decision to accept or reject Christ as your personal friend and Savior is yours. Depend upon study, prayer, worship, Christian service, associations with Christian friends, and wholesome activities to give your life direction and meaning.