SHEPHERD TO SHEEP
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR COLLEGE
STUDENTS
(Col 2:8) Beware lest anyone cheat you
through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men,
according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
Just think of how far you have
come in your life. High school is over
and you’re in the big leagues of life. You
are now a young adult preparing for your future. The doors of education have opened for you
and you have ventured forward ready for the challenge. But as you take this step to attend a secular
college or university you will find that your faith will be tested beyond anything
you have yet experienced. Here’s some encouragement
for you as you move forward to what lies ahead.
The first thing you will confront
is a predominating worldview that is contrary to your Christian beliefs. Since the Bible is in low esteem in education
these days, liberal ideas will manifest themselves in just about every subject
of study. This will take some getting
used to. At first you will be taken back
by this but after a while you will come to just expect it. Every system of belief will arise to assault what
you believe. Every garden variety of philosophy
and ism will be handed to you on a tantalizing platter. In some cases you might be insulted for
standing up for your cherished principles.
College is a time for critical
thinking. The educational environment
provides a time to reassess what you have believed and perhaps have taken for
granted. What the devil designs for your
downfall can actually be something God can use to strengthen and galvanize your
faith. Never be afraid of subjecting
your Christian core values to the crucible of secularism because the truth of
God’s Word will always withstand the attacks leveled against it. Truth is truth and lies are lies. And God even invites the reasoning person to
dialog with Him and the truth: (Isa 1:18)
“Come now, and let us reason together,” says
the Lord… If the reasoning person is reasonable then he
or she just may embrace the reasons of life.
This will only be induced though by the light of God’s Word and the
illumination of the Holy Spirit bringing the honest and hungry seeker to saving
faith in the person of Jesus Christ. (Jer 29:13; Mat 16:17; John 16:7-11)
Many ideas look good on paper but
are unable to deliver what people really need in life. Look at the idea of Karl Marx in regards to
the failed experiment of communism. How
about Sigmund Freud and his inability to identify a spirit in man that relates
to God and how this has taken away the Savior and replaced it with
behavior. And let’s not forget Charles
Darwin and his argument for the theory of evolution by means of natural
selection. Through this notion modern man has lowered himself from his
God-given human dignity to living only on a sensate level like an animal that
he is supposed to have derived from. Be careful about what you hear from a distinguished
and charismatic professor. High ideas do
not necessarily translate into high ideals. It’s time to really believe what you believe. That way you’ll never be deceived!
Louie
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