Tim Malone.id.au

For my 18th birthday back in January, I got a book. It’s part of the Every Young Man series – of which I’ve read a few books in before – and it’s a relatively new piece.

I hadn’t started reading much of it yet, simply because I couldn’t be bothered. As the book mentions in the first chapter – which I’ve just read tonight – I’ve been “too busy to notice God”, “too tired to read [my] Bible” and “too comfortable in front of the … computer to spend time with God”. Each of those apply to me.

I don’t know what made me pick up the book today, but I’m glad I did. Ever since I turned 18 – since the very day – alot of things have changed, and I’ve known that it’s about time I put more thought into who I am and who I’m going to become. More thought into who God wants me to be, and where I’m going with my life. I’ve been gradually thinking – and praying – about it more, and now that I picked up the book today and decided to read it, I’m that little bit more onto the right track.

The first chapter includes a few statements – a code for God’s followers:

• There is no such thing as “later” with God, only now
• There is no such thing as being neutral with God – you can go only backward or forward
• There is no such thing as playing both sides
• There is no such thing as great results without sacrifices
• There is no such thing as lies without consequences
• There is no such thing as mixing God’s values with others that are more popular
• There is no such thing as being good on your own
• There is no such thing as a real God without a real devil
• There is no such thing as “I know better” when there’s God
• There is no such thing as harmless fantasies about women
• There is no such thing as a disconnected and productive Christian
• There is no such thing as a good “secret” that contradicts God’s Word
• There is no such thing as a good conscience without the Holy Spirit
• There is no such thing as a relationship with God without communication
• There is no such thing as growth without testing
• There is no such thing as freedom without responsibility
• There is no such thing as getting hurt by others and not needing to heal
• There is no such thing as risking more for God and getting less back
• There is no such thing as a bloody Saviour and a lazy believer

So, are these a set of rules for being a Godly man? No way! They’re promises. They’re reminders. They are encouraging statements from God. Some of them are scary, but they’re reality. Some feel great to know, and others are a wakeup call. I’m feeling I specifically need to pay attention to points 1, 4, 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 18, and 19 where I am at the moment.

I have a chance now to put more effort into this. I may not have that chance later. I know that I want my life to be one that will impact others and will be looked upon favourably by Him. So this, in many ways, is a turning point – one of many that I’ve had, and most likely not the last either – but as it says on paper on our kitchen wall: “It’s time you appreciated God’s deep love”.

If you’re a guy, and you think it’s time for you too, grab the book and see what you can learn.