Yes, Jesus is worth your 20’s.

2020 is here. The end of one decade and the dawning of the next. Hindsight 20/20 right?

I imagine that this New Year’s Eve people will feel more inclined to look retrospectively at the previous ten years of their life than perhaps is normal. Yet, for a certain age group no retrospection is taking place but only the forward dreaming of ambition. I am speaking about those young bucks. The 18-year-olds who are eager and ready for adulthood, for adventure, for anything new. I remember those days. I remember them vividly. Ten years ago I was standing in your shoes all laced up and ready to take on the world.

Now I’m in the “looking retrospectively at my last ten years” camp and so if you’re willing to listen, then I have some wisdom to share with you. It’s wisdom that you won’t hear on that Post Malone album you’re hiding from your parents. It’s wisdom that you more than likely won’t hear your college professor share. You must listen carefully too because this wisdom runs against every grain of our post-modern culture. Oh yes, the world around you will scream and rage with fury at the sound of this wisdom. And if you heed it, then it will cost you friends and relationships. It will cost you that ‘college experience’ that so many dream about. It may cost you the career path you have always desired to follow. I suppose the cost varies depending upon the individual, but mark my words this wisdom is not cheap. It will cost you over the next ten years, but whatever that cost may be it is well worth it. Despite what many would and will say to you, Jesus is worth your 20’s.

Take it from someone who has walked on both sides of the tracks. It might shock you if I told you that I began my twenties living as a hypocrite. It might shock you if I told you that I began my twenties as a hardened unbeliever. I was chasing the world buying all of it’s false promises and seeking that sinful ‘college experience.’ So, take this wisdom from someone who has walked on both sides of the tracks. Here’s what I have to say about that side of the tracks: Vanities of vanity, all is vanity. I was chasing the wind and would gain nothing for it.

Thankfully, God’s saving grace caught hold of my heart and recreated it. Oh, how I could write for hours of the marvelous grace by which Christ captured this wandering sinner. It was literally as if I was a new creature. I had new desires. I had new affections. I had new ambitions. I couldn’t explain how it happened, but that didn’t stop me from trying. I can recall one conversation with a friend where I was expressing to him this new all-consuming desire to read The Bible and to pray and how I longed to devote great amounts of time to it. I can still see the puzzled look on his face as he said, “Ah, man. You’ll get over it eventually.” As if my conversion was like the flu. Can I report to you: I never got over it and I am so happy that I didn’t. The joy I once sought, I found.

Now I have been walking on this side of the tracks for close to 8 years and with each day the joy only grows deeper. So, young man and young woman who is so eager to experience the world, hear my wisdom. If you’ve been chasing the wind then trade in your trash for treasure. Despite what many will tell you, take it from someone who has walked on both sides of the tracks. Yes, Jesus is worth your 20’s.

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

-Matthew 13:44, ESV