As my 20s came to an end, I was overcome by stark terror and soul-crushing despair. During the latter half of my young adult years, I dealt with a crippling personal issue, family conflict, being a social outcast at church, financial woes, and disastrous trials in the workplace (when I was blessed to have a job at all-suffice it to say that America is not the "Land of Opportunity" anymore). On the eve of my 30th birthday, I felt like a complete and utter failure.
Despite what my society at large says, life doesn't end at 30. In fact, Christ Himself didn't even START His earthly ministry until He was 30. My favorite historical figure from the Bible, Joseph, was 30 when he came Prime Minister of Egypt, and David, Israel's greatest King (excluding Jesus), didn't even become the ruler of God's chosen people until he was 30. My life, in fact, has already started to turn around for the better. My personal struggle is being resolved, my relationships with my family are being restored, I am in a church that loves and cares for me, my finances have improved significantly, and I now work at two great places where my bosses and coworkers treat me extremely well. So when my birthday finally came, I received kindness from my friends, relatives, fellow church members, and the people whom I work with.
Their kindness is a reminder from Christ that He still wants to use me for His glory. If I have failed at my own personal bucket list (and it's not because I'm being chastised for making a donkey out of myself), then it means that Christ has even better plans for me than I do for myself and doesn't want me to settle.
At any rate, I do have one success. Even though my youth has passed, my Virginity "Streak" has survived. I will still be able to look my future wife in the eye (whoever she is) and tell her that she is my first. I need to stay vigilant, though. My culture has become more sex-obsessed than ever, and now the women are just as aggressive as the men. I still receive "attention" from beautiful young women and I would be lying if I said it wasn't tempting. I know that if a 22-year-old supermodel cornered me in a hotel room and came on to me, she would probably turn me out and make me look stupid to the people I am trying to reach for Christ. I also need to watch out for the "Potiphar's wives" out there; the gorgeous mature women who have years of experience when it comes to turning men out and making them look stupid. So I must continue to set and enforce boundaries and, if necessary, run from these women if the temptation becomes too great. At the same time, I must remember that the most powerful temptation does not come from them, or Satan and his demons, but my own heart. So I must also follow Christ to continue my transformation into a godly man of love, honor, justice, and integrity. If I do, then both myself and my future wife will lead others to Christ with our marriage. Enjoying "Romantic World Peace" and "The Sexual Force Unleashed" will be fun rewards for us, too...
Genesis 41:46 "Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout Egypt." (NIV)
