“It’s pretty hard to change once you’ve burned away your youth and your illusions” (Unknown)
Unfortunately, there is so much truth in this statement – whoever put it together! For instance, if you’ve been rebellious against your parents and then, later on come to know God. You’ll certainly be forgiven up to the point that God will never ever remember your sin. However, being used to opposing your earthly parents, as a Christian you may have a hard time obeying your heavenly Father for the rest of your life on Earth. Or, ruining your youth with alcohol and smoking, after coming to God you will have to fight with these harsh pleasures for the rest of your Christian life. On the top of that, the consequences of these terrible habits will remain in the body for the rest of this earthly life. While God forgives, the consequences of your own wrong doing will abide with you.
Anyone interested in prevention of all this? God’s advise: “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shall say, I have no pleasure in them” (Ecclesiastes 12:1).
The Orthodox Issue 