My Fourth Year (Luke 13:6-9)

Well, today (October 13th) is my nineteenth birthday. (Thank you, thank you!) It’s another year, one more mark on the human calendar, and my last year as a teenager,

But there’s something more to it than that, something deeper. I’m so excited about this, as I (somewhat) love symbolism, but this is perfect.

When I turned fifteen, or at least just after my fifteenth birthday, I began to get involved in immoral behavior, to not give it a name. It was wrong, it was against everything I (should have) believed in, it was against my parent’s teaching and rules – it was not what God wanted me. I continued in this behavior, all the way through high school. Parts of it went on into my freshman year of college, even though I was at a Christian college.

Being at a Christian college somewhat helped me get back on track with God, though I felt bad that I didn’t keep my part on the contract I signed at the beginning of the year. We all, as new students, signed a piece of paper that said we all would abide by the rules the college at set forth. As I was going through this phase, I felt bad because my signature meant nothing. I signed the paper, but went against it, so what did it matter that I had even signed it? I kept thinking about my future marriage license that says I will be faithful to my wife – what good would my signature be then?

Now, on my nineteenth birthday, I found something incredibly amazing. Read the story below, and you’ll understand.

“A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?' 'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.' " Luke 13:6-9

As I turn nineteen today, this is my fourth year. I screwed up the first three and didn’t produce any good spiritual fruit. I deserved to be cut down, but God has saved me, and I will not miss out on this last chance to stay in God’s arms.

It is with this statement that I begin my fourth year: Father, reign in me. You were right all along, even when I didn't choose You. You have control – I surrender to Your jealous love…