God is no respecter of age.  In fact both the Bible and history show how God uses young adults to preach the gospel, confront evil, and transform culture.  David was only a teenager when he took down Goliath.  Daniel and Joseph were young men when they attained major positions of power in the governments of non-Christian nations.

King Josiah, however, is the twenty something we are going to look at today.  Maybe your story and his story have something in common.  Josiah was 8 years old when God’s activity in his life began to unfold.  He inherited the Kingdom of Judah. 

Counselors and advisors helped lead and navigate the nation until Josiah grew in age and maturity, but by the age 16 Josiah was ready to step into his role as king and he really began to seek the Lord.  Maybe some of you came to Christ or began to seek him in your teen years or in college.  Hey you are right there with Josiah.  By age 20 he began to get in full swing of getting rid of the false priests, their followers and other sin that had infected his kingdom.

By age 26, he believed God would have him undertaken a significant project.  The time had come to repair the temple of the Lord.  The former kings had allowed it to fall into ruin.  In the process, the construction workers found the book of the Law – The Old Testament of God that had been lost.  When it was brought to king Josiah and it was read, he became fearful because they as a nation had turned their back on God.

Josiah humbled himself, made a new covenant before God with the people, and the Lord brought forth peace and righteousness upon the land.

God is raising up a new generation of Josiahs.  A generation of young adults who are tired of an immoral society.  Who are tired of a popular culture filled with blood, hate, violence, and sex.  Who are tired of a culture that has aborted 1/3 of their peers – potential friends – potential scientists that might have cured AIDS or brought peace to a nation.  Who are tired of seeing inauthentic, plastic Christianity.

Will you believe God that as a 20someone he is going to use you to make a difference?  Will you keep your life free from sin ?  Will you work to love the people God has placed around you ?  Will you be courageous in taking a stand in the culture for biblical truth ?  Will you believe God can use you in your world of work ?

- excerpt - Elevate 2004 Conference - Bob Record