"So, You've Been Playing for 30 Years?" (Hebrews 5:12)

About 12 years ago, I was inspired to take guitar lessons once again. I began playing classical guitar at the age of 11 and when I was 13, I switched to jazz guitar, which has remained my life-long passion. I consider myself an above average player and have played semi-professional gigs. But I have always desired to improve my playing. Living in Southern California, I am surrounded by some of the top jazz guitarists in the world. So I did some research and found a teacher who is one of the top in the world, living in the North Hollywood area.

During my first lesson, my teacher asked me to play any favorite song. I launched into my version of Misty, one that I had performed for many people and occasions. After I played it for him, he asked, “So you’ve been playing for 30 years?” Needless to say, he did not say it with admiration. It was clear that he expected far more of my abilities from someone who had been playing for 3 decades. I was chagrined but nodded. He then proceeded to give me valuable tips on how to improve my playing. I was grateful for the lesson but was shackled with the thought that I had wasted 30 years of my life, never improving at the rate that was expected of me as a musician.

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food,
Hebrews 5:12

As I look back over my spiritual life, I am similarly disheartened. It has now been 33 years since I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. But for the majority of those years, my spiritual growth was stagnant, even backwards, as I turned my back upon my God. I feel the sting of the Holy Spirit’s admonition in this passage from Hebrews. Long ago, I should have moved on to the mature, solid food of God’s Word, not still wrestling with and ignoring the basic principles that have occupied my life for so many years.

So many wasted years.

I am ever thankful for God’s grace and mercy that He extends to me through accepting His Son, Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Like my guitar teacher, I know I have disappointed Him with the lack of growth in my spiritual life. But His love, through Jesus Christ, has covered over my sins and my disobedience. And He accepts me as a fellow heir and has adopted me as His son. And for this, I am eternally grateful.

All praise to the Living God!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.