He's Nearby

My young heart dreamed of serving as none had,
Filling heaven with souls until it groaned;
Telling the good news to those who were sad;
A sea of new souls before Christ enthroned!
Great hymns and anthems I longed to compose,
So that hearers would give the Savior praise;
Sculpt and paint art like Michelangelo's!
I searched long, and squandered were all my days;
Green years were used up, and most of my dry,
When, in despair, at the last, I turned to Him.
The One who could have helped always stood by,
Unasked, while alone I sought my great gem!
Don't spend life trying to decide your place,
He's nearby, ready to reveal your race!

Often young people choose to follow Christ during pre-teen years. It seems the best time to commit---it is a time when believing in God and an afterlife is easiest, and a young child is always idealistic and optimistic. Many dream of devoting their lives to full-time Christian service. preaching, working in foreign mission fields, or helping the poor. As the time comes to decide just how to serve, many are slow to choose, and go from one thing to another, until precious years are consumed; then it is too late to begin studying for most careers

The poem above describes such a person who could have borne much fruit for the Kingdom of God, but the delay in deciding was costly. In Romans 8:28 Paul assures such a one that by trusting God to guide, all that he does will work out for the best.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

Looking back on the crazy quilt pattern of my life, though an apparently senseless mosaic, not a single part of it was useless; everything I did led me into new and greater fields of service, and each contributed to my success in later endeavors. Only God's guiding hand can do that.