“The Fault In Our Stars” is a young adult book written by John Green. The books popularity has led to a major motion big picture. I just checked the New York Times bestseller list – the book is #1 in its genre and has been on the list for 84 weeks. The movie is still in theaters and at this point has grossed $237 million on a budget of a meager $12 million. I’d say the story is a tremendous success.

The book is written from the perspective of a teenage girl who is fighting cancer. She meets a boy. She falls in love. I won’t let out any spoilers. The book will not go down in history as the work of a literary genius. Yet, it’s a gripping story. A story that teenagers (especially teenage girls) apparently love. I don’t normally read young adults books. In fact, this is the first young adult book I’ve read since I was a young adult. I don’t even read works of fiction very often. Yet, I picked the book up on the recommendation of a friend – “you need to read it.” I admit that the book entertained me. I was breezing through the pages thinking, “This is a good but forgettable book.” Then I came across a line that forced me to straighten up and pull out a pen. The storyline led the main characters to Amsterdam seeking answers to a few questions (no spoilers) when a local tells them,

“Some tourists think Amsterdam is a city of sin, but in truth it is a city of freedom. And in freedom, most people find sin.”

Wow! On page 157 of a young adult work of fiction comes a poignant statement about sin. That is a message for all of us – young and old alike. We have freedom. We can use that freedom to seek sin. Or we can use that freedom to seek the things of God. I pray that you seek the latter.