Hey girl, I'm waitin' on ya, I'm waitin' on ya
Come on and let me sneak you out
And have a celebration, a celebration
The music up, the windows down
Let's go crazy, crazy, crazy till we see the sun
I know we only met but let's pretend it's love
And never, never, never stop for anyone
Tonight let's get some
And live while we're young
These band members sang these lyrics as they partied and toured Europe while they were the same age as Jonathan Edwards was when he was penning out 70 Resolutions in a quiet New England town. Edwards too desired to live while he was young. One of his resolutions was this:
I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age.
Edwards knew that youth is an exciting and important time to do things and go places that you can't when you get older. He knew that youth have many opportunities to really live. But he and 1D have two starkly different definitions of what "to live" means. Edwards' first resolution explained his meaning - and it included neither partying, nor lots of girls.
Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriad’s of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever.
Edwards said that living while we're young means pursuing God's glory and others' good. This was a man who thought deeply and, realizing the futility of earthly pleasures, sought after eternal things. He refused to throw away his youth in useless pursuits. Comparing he and One Direction, there is no question in my mind who really lived while they were young.
One Direction was proud to sing:
Hey girl, it's now or never, it's now or never
Don't over-think, just let it go
And if we get together, yeah, get together
Yeah, we'll be doing what we do
Just pretending that we're cool
One day, they will look back and see what they spent their youth on. Meanwhile, Jonathan Edwards passionately pursued Christ and the glory of God throughout his youth. In eternity, he will be bountifully rewarded for that.
"Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity." (1 Tim. 4:12)