ìFourteenís the magic number today!î a student declares, shouting across the senior Bible classroom as he smiles and raises his fists. ìI canít wait to get out of here!îí

As the countdown to the end of the school year progresses, so does the countdown to the beginning of a new life for those of us who are seniors. A life away from high school, away from parents and even away from the hometown many of us have known all our lives.

Our first day of college is quickly approaching. Are we ready for this new challenge? Are we ready for the change?

I am pretty sure that a lot of us are still in shock over the fact that in a little over three months we will be sitting in huge auditoriums with 500 other students that we donít know, listening to a professor who has a heavy accent, toupee and mismatched clothes and who doesnít care whether youíre tardy or not.

This new life will be a far cry from our present high school life, Iím sure.

Yes, when most of us graduate, we will be ìadultsî, over 18, but will we feel like adults? Do we really want all the responsibility, as well as the freedom? Do we really want to be away from our families for semesters at a time, only to see them at holidays and during the summer?

There is so much to prepare for. Not just registering for classes and finding a decent dorm mate, but also preparation for the real world. We all must grow up; adulthood is our destiny. Growth is unstoppable. Childhood lasts for 18 years, according the law of the courts, and adulthood is the rest of your life.

Growing into an adult is all a part of Godís plan. He chose us to be who we are. He created us just the way we are, and that is perfect.

Our class verse this year is I Peter 2:9: ìBut you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness and into his wonderful light.î

Yes, God chose me! He wants me to gain his inheritance; he wants me to love him in return; he wants me. I have been invited to his banquet. Iím going to his party in heaven when I die. I have been chosen as his instrument of faith, and I have a purpose.

This promise applies to all of us. All we have to do is trust in him and rely on his teaching to guide us though the rest of our lives.

Pastor Larry Briney once wrote in his weekly address to the congregation at Valley Christian Center this story of the Plains Indians.

ìThe Plains Indians had a fascinating method for determining the maturity of a future princess in their tribe. The candidate was given a basket and led to a cornfield.
Her assignment was to go down a long row of tall corn and choose the five best ears of corn. She couldnít take any out of her basket once they were chosen, nor could she retrace her steps or run ahead.

She had to make a choice as she went by each ear of corn about its comparative value. If she reached the end of the row and the judges determined that she had chosen well, she was considered mature enough to be a princess among them.

Thatís essentially what weíre called to do as we go through each moment of every day. Weíre to choose whatís best in that moment.

We canít put any of the minutes and hours back where they came from, we canít retrace our steps and we canít run ahead to compare tomorrowís offering with todayís. To make good choices each moment – thatís maturity.

Matthew 25:21:ëWell done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things, enter into the joy of your master.í

Lord, give us wisdom to choose well.î

John 15:16-17 ìYou did not choose me but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit- fruit that will last. Then the father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love one another.î