I never need to live a double life!

A simple sentence made a special impression on Kenneth de Jong (17) from Melbourne in Australia, who has just come home from the summer conference in Sydney.

MACQUARIE FIELDS, AUSTRALIA: It’s nearly 8 p.m. and I’m sitting in the hall at Long Point Camp, the conference centre outside Sydney in Australia, ready for the youth meeting to begin. I’m feeling a bit tired after a great day at the beach with all the young people, but I’m still excited and looking forward to the last youth meeting of this summer conference.

An inner life

Gunnar Risnes from Sydney opens the meeting by speaking powerfully about the importance of having a pure inner life. “To have an inner, hidden life with God is far more important than outward forms,” he says decisively. I listen carefully, realising that even though it is quite easy to appear as a good Christian to other people, that’s not the end of the story. I need to make sure that the thoughts I allow myself to think are thoughts I would share with Jesus.

This makes me think of times when I may have appeared to act in a nice manner towards certain people, but deep down I have really been thinking spiteful or unkind things about them, because of the way they look or act or some other reason. Are these the kind of thoughts that I would be happy for Jesus to know about?

What does it actually mean?

After the meeting I sit down with some friends to eat supper. As we eat we discuss some of the things that were said in the meeting.

“I have to do what I hear [in the meetings],” says Solomon David from Sydney. “I have to have an inner life. I can’t just say ‘Praise the Lord’ and ‘Hallelujah’.” There’s that expression again: an “inner life.” What does it actually mean?

Jonathan Englund from Perth explains. “What I do in my daily life, the thoughts I have, [must be] fitting for a disciple,” he says. “We are called to be disciples... having a good outward appearance is not enough.”

Conference time is also time for conversations. Gunnar Risnes (left) and Kenneth de Jong.

I can share everything with God

I have to say I agree with my friends. This was an awesome meeting, and one that I will remember in the days to come when I’m back home in Melbourne in my everyday life. I am hopeful and full of faith that I never have to live a double life—one where my outward appearance is different to my thoughts and attitudes on the inside. Now I can share everything with God and live with a clear conscience.