"Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment." - Ecclesiastes 11:9
God blesses us with strength and vigor in our youth. (My grandfather used to call it “vim and vinegar.“)
Ideals, solutions to problems, goals we want to achieve, the desire to make our mark on the world and the strength and energy to make it all happen are characteristic of youth, more than any other time of life. Because of it, young adults are the ones who get things done. God encourages us to enjoy and make full use of that youthful vigor. It’s a gift from Him. At the same time He cautions us to bear in mind something we easily forget in our youthful enthusiasm: that we will eventually give an account to God for what we do and how we do it. Our lives are built on decisions and actions of the past. We lay a foundation, then we build on it. Actions have consequences, both temporal and eternal. When we find that in our enthusiasm we have misstepped, there is grace. God forgives, for Jesus’ sake, as soon as we repent. He restores us to Himself as beloved children, and He enables us, with His healing to build a new life. God is even able to “make all things work together for good, for those who love Him.” “Everything” means even those missteps of our past and their results. Lord, Your grace is greater than all my sin, greater than all the consequences of my sin, and greater than the problems I face today. I surrender. Take charge of my life, be the Lord and do what you will with me. Bring healing and restoration, and turn it all into good, for Jesus’ sake. Amen. Pastor Dan Giles