Forever Young?

Some consider age to be relative; one being only as old or as young as they feel. Perhaps it depends on who one is around, how old or young they might feel. One of the blessings of having the opportunity to spend a week with the teens at our annual senior teen Bible camp session is that I often forget I am three times their age. There is also a sense in which the older I get the younger everyone else seems to appear. Though many might like to recapture the energy of youth, most do not wish to return to the challenges that might have accompanied those formative years. To be forever young might be appealing, but the reality is that aging takes place. What we do during the aging process is what is important.

It has been stated, “You are young only once, but you can be immature indefinitely.” [David McKechnie] Perhaps we have encountered some who have GROWN UP physically, but not MATURED. Just as it is proper to be concerned when physical growth does not take place, so it should be when spiritual MATURING is not occurring.

The Hebrew writer admonished some when he wrote. . .
“(12) For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, (13) for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. (14) But solid food is FOR THE MATURE, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” ( Hebrews 5:12-14 ESV)

Though these had been in the faith for some time, they were not GROWING UP in it! They were not MATURING. Spiritually they were still infants.

In mentioning the hope that is found in Christ, Paul pointed to the aim of his ministry when he wrote. . .

“(28) Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone MATURE IN CHRIST. (29) For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.” ( Colossians 1:28-29 ESV)

May we continue in the process day-by-day of GROWING UP in the Lord. MATURING in Christ we can look forward to spending an ageless eternity with Him.

Have a great day FOREVER WON TO CHRIST!
Carl

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