This past week was break. All of the students go home at this point and most of the teachers go out of town. On the Friday before break started one of my friends past away. On Monday I went home for the funeral, and was very impacted by the ceremony and by the impact he had on so many people's lives! It was a big funeral. There was about 1200 people there and every one of them could give testimony of how he had pointed them toward Jesus Christ. To see a man live with such high standards and to stay so strong when faced with such trying circumstances.
During this past semester I think the number one thing I have learned, is even though we may fail in some areas we must continue to move forward and mentor others. Even in the same areas we are failing in. Satan wants us to stop mentoring, and to stop trying, and to stop pointing others to Christ. So it is imperative that we continue to point others to Jesus when things get hard for us. If we were to stop every time we failed, then the whole world would be lost and without hope. Because there would be no one to help them. There would be no pastors, or missionaries, no Bible scholars, or teachers. They all would have had a failure somewhere along the and given up. Even now I can say these things, but it is hard for to really believe it. To live by it. There are times when I say no, or I just give up. So don't think that I am perfect, because like Paul I am the chief of sinners.
I think that is one of the biggest reasons people have such a hard time putting their trust in Jesus. To the world we are the biggest Hippocrates ever. We say one thing then turn right around and do the other. And that is what it looks like. However, a closer examination would show that we are in a battle and what they are seeing are the victories of the enemy. Also, because we are in a war it isn't about the failures, but rather what we do after the failures. The Bible says we will fail, but it doesn't say that after we fail we can stop fighting and give up. No, it says to pick up your cross daily and follow him. It says when you get knocked down you get back up again. The main verse that comes to mind is Micah 7:8,9 "Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me. I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness. This is a perfect example of what Christians are supposed to do after a failure, it's about the repentant heart toward God. It's not a matter of if we fail, but When we fail.
I am going to change the name of this blog to "My Pursuit of Holiness". Because that is what this, A Pursuit of Holiness. Holiness is something that must be pursued with diligence and all perseverance. In this pursuit you will have both wins and loses. It is when you lose that your true heart is revealed. Will you say oh well I guess I just can't win, or will you say Satan you may have won this time, but now I know another way how to defend against you. Jesus Christ is my deliverer and it is in him I will put my trust, faith, and hope. It is in our valleys that God will show himself mighty.
That is, in short, what I have been learning while at CHA. Thank you for your prayers and thoughts!
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