Early Years
I can’t remember a lot about my life before kindergarten. I do have some memories starting in first grade with Mrs. Bradshaw. Those early years were formative, and I learned a lot about life during those times. As I get older, I realize the significance of the influences of my early years. I learned to read. I learned to write. I learned to play well with others. I learned about authority. I learned about following instructions as well as the rules. I also learned about Jesus.
I guess I’m considered my later years now that most of my early years happened 50+ years ago. I’ve gained a lot of life experiences and life lessons over the years. My relationship with the Lord has grown and developed deeper since then.
As I was introduced to King Jehoshaphat this morning, I was reminded of our life as a journey NOT a destination. He walked out his faith in God as King of Judah. Check this out….
3 The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father’s early years and did not worship the images of Baal. 4 He sought his father’s God and obeyed his commands instead of following the evil practices of the kingdom of Israel.5 So the Lord established Jehoshaphat’s control over the kingdom of Judah. All the people of Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so he became very wealthy and highly esteemed. 6 He was deeply committed to the ways of the Lord. He removed the pagan shrines and Asherah poles from Judah. (2 Chronicles 17:3-6 NLT)
King Asa, Jehoshaphat’s dad had been a devoted follower of the Lord early on, but the ways of the world captured his attention and he quit seeking the Lord’s heart. I can look back at seasons in my life where I was more “self-reliant” than “God-reliant”. I know better. I would rather be unsuccessful in life and walk with the Lord than to have extreme wealth without Him. It is too easy to be distracted and diverted by the things this world has to offer. Every bit the world has to offer is temporary. The Lord promises eternity. We have hope for a future that is beyond this life.
I want to keep following the Lord as the years roll by. I want to know Him and be known by Him. I want to be known as a Christ follower above any other accolades, accomplishes or commendations. From my early years to my latter years, I want to simply be a devoted follower of Jesus.
Pressing On!
Dwayne