(Rev 4:1) . . . "Come up here . . .”
My daughter is graduating from high school this week. I’m so proud of her. She’s worked hard and has done so well. I remember as if it were yesterday dropping her off at kindergarten (I was “Dad’s taxi service” until she could drive). Each year seeing her enter a new grade. Throughout the year doing her homework and working on those big projects. Then summer would hit but soon the realization that another school year was dawning. I guess we thought it would never end. But I’ll be there hootin’ and a hollerin’ like every other proud parent at the graduation ceremony.
The Christian life is a lot like school. Jesus said “Learn from me” (Mat 11:29) and we do have so much to learn in this Christian life. The Lord is a good teacher. He’s patient and He’s kind. There are lessons He is trying to teach us and He won’t promote us until we’ve learned our lessons well.
What is the Lord trying to teach you at this moment in your Christian life? Are you doing your homework? Are you applying yourself the best you can? Are you asking the Lord for the special tutoring you need for those tough areas? Don’t slack off in your studies. You want to go on to the next level. Maturity is the goal of the Christian life. (Heb 5:12-14)
And one day we’re going to graduate. (1 Th 4:16-17) For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Notice the shout, the voice, and the trumpet. There’s going to be some partying going on! We’ll be with the Lord forever and it’ll be an endless summer with the sun never setting. Grad-night will be grad-light! We’ll be worshiping and praising, serving and rejoicing. “Thank-you, Jesus!”
If the school of life is getting kind of hard for you, don’t drop out. Receive the instruction you need to grow up in Christ into all He wants you to be. And keep your eyes on the fact that one of these days, maybe a day just like today, the Lord will come for His own. We’ll be promoted forever! Graduation is coming, and the former things will pass away, to be remembered no more. Just an eternal future with Jesus and His Bride. Your name will be called, and the Lord will say . . . 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' (Mat 25:21)
Louie