Young

In reading the calling of Jeremiah, the prophet, it is obvious that when God calls, age is not a determining factor in anything. Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 4: ¹² Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. There has always been a tendency to discount the voice of young people, and the prophet Jeremiah was called and felt too young to follow God's calling, but God disagreed. Jeremiah 1: ⁶ “O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!” ⁷ The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. ⁸ And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

In Paul's admonition to Timothy, he also warned Timothy about lifestyle and true character, and heart. This calling had a definite price tag for Timothy to follow it. Paul told Timothy to be an example to ALL believers in what he said, the way he lived, in his love, faith, and purity. The call is important, but the Godly lifestyle goes right along with it, and the pure, constant walk of the young believer must line up with the Word of God. Young doesn't disqualify a person, but young doesn't give license to any lifestyle they see fit to follow. The calling is a real calling from the Lord, and His plans are to become our plans, no matter what occurs. God continues on in Jeremiah 1 with the instructions for a youth aged Jeremiah, and God says the following in Jeremiah 1, where He tells Jeremiah he must go wherever He tells him to go and say whatever He tells him to say, and He will protect him.

Then the Lord reached out and touched Jeremiah's mouth. Jeremiah 1: ⁹ Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said, “Look, I have put my words in your mouth! No 'beating around the bush' there, but just clear instructions for this college-age youth. Keep in mind that God doesn't qualify any of us by age, but by willingness to follow His call and be open to what He wants US to do. Jeremiah's words, given by God, were never accepted by those to whom he spoke them, and he was chastised all of his life for saying them, but he continued to be faithful to 'the call.' God DID protect him, but he had some tough times along the way. The prophet did not stop following the call when he got to a certain age, but continued to be faithful for the rest of his life. It is believed that he served for roughly 40 years before his death.

Humans concerned about age are the ones who bring in limitations to who God calls and what they can do. God calls any and all as He wants, and He is the qualifying factor in all those callings, whether young or old. Young is a relative term, not a defining term for the called. Never too young, and never too old!

The Pilgrimage Continues,

David Warren