'I have written unto you, young men-'

Tempus Fugit.

That's right. Time doesn't fly, it flees.

And one evidence of that, in my life at the moment, is that in a few very short days, I will officially drop the 'teen' from my status.

There's got to be something special to do for that. Maybe something really special, like making a blog post for this lonely place.

But I'm getting serious. Time really does flee. And the more that you need to get done in a certain amount of time, the faster it flies. It's just reality, of course, and I'm (supposed to be) used to it by now. I'm just, still trying to make good use of more of my time, even though it seems that I have less of it.

But one thing I have learned to do is to think while I drive. Now and then we get a few hours of driving to do, and yes, I'm a careful driver, but I can still think while I drive. And my subject of thought is what I'm intending to share with you here.

Maturity and manhood. These are things that are difficult to be measured. Somehow we think of them as points in life that we reach, but it seems that any honest self-evaluation will reveal us wanting in the balance. Even when others consider us mature, level-headed, capable, etc. - put all the 'marks of manhood' in there - we still know that we have a ways to go.

So this, then, was a question I was asking myself: "When, and where, does a boy become a man?" It's not 'when he looks like one', or even so much 'when he acts like one' - I mean, when IS he a man?

You see, maturity is something I've striven for - for many years. Maybe I've attained it, others may think I have attained it, but now I'm facing manhood. And I know intuitively, that manhood is more than just 'mature male'. God has declared His children to be a peculiar people, and we're seeking a manhood that is a peculiar manhood.

And, by the way, this is equally applicable to women and womanhood. I'm talking about the elements of manhood and womanhood that are far beyond the level of 'masculine and feminine'.

At eighteen, I became a legal adult. But you see, I'm looking for more than adulthood. I'm looking for manhood - that peculiar manhood. And at eighteen - I could not realistically consider myself 'a man'. If you're there, you know what I mean.

But maybe, I could settle for 'young man'.

And as I was pondering the matter, a certain text crossed my mind, and has been burning there since.

You see, as comfortable as I may have felt in my achievements, as much as others considered me a 'mature young man', as much as I may have considered myself heading from 'young manhood' into 'manhood', God was going to put me into perspective.

1John 2:12-14 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.
I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

Well.

I don't know about you, but I certainly didn't even feel like a 'young man' anymore. I mean, seriously now, if John was writing to me, would he be describing me as one who 'is strong, and in whom the word of God abideth, and who has overcome the evil one'?

But my friend, this is the peculiar manhood to which we are called.

And as this point struck me, simultaneously the next point became evident: Does this not give us a glimpse of the battle which must be fought and gloriously won 'in the days of our youth'? In these years of our life that modern society terms 'adolescence?

(I think this might go into a sermon.)

This is a great time of our lives, friends. These days of our youth will be looked back upon one day, and my prayer for myself and for all of you is that we will be 'more than conquerors', for the promise is sure that we have been given: Revelation 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

Young men, be strong and of good courage, for the Lord thy God is with thee.