The Classroom

Have you ever thought of the world as your classroom? All of life, including its many experiences and trials, can be likened to the “classroom of God.” We are the students, and He is our great Teacher. It is here, in this classroom that we will learn and grow. In many ways it is no different than a school classroom setting. Our success depends primarily on us—how well we listen to and learn from our teacher. It also depends on if we are willing to take the necessary time to read and thoroughly study the textbook. Periodic tests are given to ensure that we are learning the material.

In the brief life we have on earth, we will encounter trials and various experiences that will develop our character. Character transformation is God’s biggest goal for us for He wants us to become more like His Son, Jesus. Because He loves us so much, He cannot allow us to remain as we are. Sin has permeated our lives as we have become self-centered. He knows that we need discipline and correction in order to become less self-absorbed and more God-centered. He wants us to depend upon Him for guidance, for He is the only One who can help us successfully navigate through life. Therefore, he allows certain tests and life experiences to come our way in order to mature us. As we successfully pass the various tests, we will grow in wisdom and understanding. Through our many experiences and trials, we are transformed into the image of Jesus.

The Bible is God’s textbook—our instruction manual for life. It is inevitable that if you never look at your classroom textbook you will probably fail your class. In order to successfully pass the many tests of life, we, too, must be willing to diligently read, study, and meditate on God’s textbook. As we devour what we read, it becomes a part of us. When the various life-tests come our way, the Holy Spirit quickens us to remember what we have learned. Therefore, we are able to pass the tests with relative ease. Because we serve a merciful God, if we fail our test, He will give us as many re-takes as are necessary until we pass. He helps to clarify any misunderstandings and gives us another opportunity in the future to take a similar test. Even though He is merciful, it would behoove us to become quick learners, because we cannot move on to the next level of growth until we pass the tests as they come, one by one. Some tests are simply prerequisites and must be passed first. Otherwise, it is like taking Algebra II before completing Algebra I!

The Lord wants us to succeed, and He is our biggest fan. Although we are in large part responsible for our growth, He is there to offer us as much help as we need. He asks us to come to Him for help. He implores us to immerse ourselves in His Word—for it is the truth that will guide us along life’s path. The more we ready, study, and meditate on it, the more wisdom the Holy Spirit will impart to us. When trials come our way, not only will we be quickened by the Holy Spirit, He will supernaturally enable us to act out what we have learned. (For instance, keeping a tight rein on our tongue when ridiculed, or forgiving others who hurt us).

I believe that the Lord would prefer not to give His children tests because He knows that they are difficult and often hurt, but He also recognizes that they are necessary in order to deeply penetrate our hearts and enable the lessons learned to stick. What good would it be if we were book smart and able to easily memorize His Word, yet never lived out the truth of what we have learned? God says in James 1:22-25, “Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, he will be blessed in what he does.”

God desires His Word to become an integral part of our lives for it is alive and active and is powerful enough to transform us from the inside out. As we feast on each word, each chapter, each book, Jesus becomes more and more a part of us. As believers, Jesus’ very essence already exists in us, but when we consistently neglect to call upon the Lord, we act out of our own reasoning. Our mind will always seek to reason and rationalize all of the events and circumstances of our lives. However, when the Word is alive and active in us, it acts as a filter—filtering out that which is false and allowing the truth to be revealed.

God loves all of His children with a pure and unconditional love. He knows how very difficult and confusing life can be, and above all, He knows that we need His help. That is why He has preserved His written Word. Unfortunately, many of His children do not feast on it regularly, and some do not give any thought to reading it at all as they believe it is an antiquated history book. Then, when trials come, we do not know what to do, and often act out of fear and quickly succumb to sin and defeat. Not so for God’s students who immerse themselves in His written Word. They have learned to seek after God, and His Word has become a lamp unto their feet and a light unto their path. They have grown in wisdom and stature. Their tests become far and few in between for they have successfully mastered much truth along the way. Their hearts and motives have merged with God’s and they can now see through the eyes of faith. They no longer question every single trial and disappointment. They have discovered the true meaning to life as they have walked and talked with God. They have spent countless hours in the classroom immersing themselves in His great instruction manual. They are God’s A+ students, and He has rewarded them greatly. His favor rests on them and He has given them a keen sense of spiritual understanding. Their hope lies in God alone, and they rest in His sovereignty.

Because they have sought out God’s precepts and obeyed them, God has granted them a peace that surpasses all understanding. They have built their house on the rock of His Son, Jesus Christ. He has become their refuge, their fortress. They have learned such valuable lessons in the classroom, yet have committed themselves to be lifelong learners until God calls them home. Because they have been given godly wisdom, God desires for them to be “tutors” to the other students—to come alongside those who are having difficulty, who can’t see the benefit of looking to God as the great Teacher, or have not turned to the great textbook for wisdom. They have been equipped with everything they will need to be effective helpers and encouragers.

I believe God wants all of His children to become A+ students. Everything we need is at our disposal. But just as any teacher cannot force a student to open the textbook and take the time to study, He will not force us either. He desires that we invite Him to be our Teacher so that we can learn and grow from Him. There are untold treasures awaiting us, but we alone must open these heavenly treasures. When we catch a glimmer of all the gifts God has waiting for us, no doubt we will wonder what took us so long to come. One thing is for certain—we will never want to go back to the way things were. We will have graduated on to the next phase of learning and begin to see the value of inviting God into every detail of our lives. With time, we will find ourselves passing our tests with greater ease as God’s very presence infuses us with truth. This is the only way to live the abundant life God died to give us. His Spirit will live in us and through us enabling us to be and do all that He has purposed for us in this life. Then, when our time one earth is finished, there will be nothing left undone and no regrets. The best part of all, God will be able to welcome us home with the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Come and see the reward awaiting you.”

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. Revelations 3:20

Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat…Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. Isaiah 55:1-2

For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edge sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.   Hebrews 4:12

God's Timing vs. My Timing

Have you ever thought of “time” as something that is divinely appointed by God Himself? I don’t know about you, but it seems like I am always trying to control my “time.” Today I realized just how futile that is. It really hasn’t got me anywhere. In fact, I believe my over-planning has actually sabotaged me. I’ve been seriously overwhelmed by many things—good things I might add. However, my mind has been swirling around in a constant flurry of things I need to do. It is the busy month of May, and there are flowers to bloom, sporting events to attend, end of the year school activities and concerts, and last but not least—my son is graduating from high school. Our church has recently begun to challenge us to regularly serve in our community, as we rightfully should. Add a part-time job, the companionship of friends that I so long to enjoy, as well as a body that is screaming out for exercise—well, there just doesn’t seem to be enough time in the day. So, what do I do? I make lists. Priority lists. I try to set aside time for this and time for that, but so often the things I want to do just don’t happen in my way or in my time.

Believe me, I have sought the Lord for His opinion, and today my heart was ready to listen. As is sat in the stillness of His presence, I could hear Him whisper to my heart that all of the events and circumstances of my life are in His hands, but that I have made an “idol” out of my time. Wow—that hurt. “But Lord, there is just so much to do. How do I know what to do, when to do it, and what to let go of?” He led me to several passages wherein He talks about time. Ecclesiastes 3 is entitled “A Time for Everything.” “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot…..” In this chapter God tells us that we are subject to times and changes over which we have little or no control. Ecclesiastes 8:6 states “there is a proper time and procedure for every matter.” So I had to ask myself, “Why do I think that I can control time?” All I do is get myself agitated and give up when the goals I set don’t get accomplished in my perfect timing!

God was trying to get my attention to let me know that my job is to do what He has called me to do and not to get fixated on the timing of it all. Several months ago I began a project—writing a book that I wanted to dedicate to my college-bound son. I did great for the first month, and then as my deadline drew closer and closer I became frustrated because everything else seemed to be getting in my way of writing. So, what did I do? I stopped writing altogether. I wanted to present the completed book to my son as a graduation gift; however, that cannot happen now as his graduation is only 3 weeks away!

I just love how God gets our attention at times. I have been very overwhelmed lately, and today He turned my heart toward my unfinished project. He let me know that He did not command me to finish it by May. He just wanted me to be faithful to write it. The timing of its completion would be in His hands. Psalm 31:14 says, “But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, You are my God. My times are in your hands.” In other words, if I would just do my part, God would make sure to do His. If I would have been faithful to do what He called me to do and not focus on the end outcome, I could have spared myself needless frustration.

While this may be just one small example, in the big scheme of things I can see how often I have thwarted my own progress by always trying to “control the outcome.” God graciously used this recent event to show me that I must take my strong grip off of the wheel, and allow God to steer my life. Several Bible stories of God’s people come to mind wherein God gave clear direction, and because the timing did not appear as they intended, they took matters into their own hands. I think of Abram and Sarai and how they ran ahead of God. God clearly told Abram that He would make him the father of many nations, but because Sarai was advanced in years and had not yet conceived a child, she persuaded Abram to sleep with her Egyptian maidservant, Hagar. He did, and Hagar conceived a child – Ishmael. Then Sarai began to despise her (Genesis 16). God told Abram that his wife Sarai would bring forth a child, Isaac, and that His covenant would be established with him and his descendants after him. When Sarai found out about this she laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?” (Genesis 18:12) I love the Lord’s response. “Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son.” (Genesis 18:14)

The story of Queen Esther is another “time” story. As a Jewess, she came to a royal position for such a time as this to deliver her people from annihilation (Esther 4:14). Then in John 2:4, Jesus tells His mother, ”Dear woman, why do you involve me? My time has not yet come.” In 2 Corinthians 6:2, it says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”Throughout the Bible it is evident that God’s timing is perfect. There truly is a perfect time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven. There is a time to speak up, and there is a time to be silent. There is a time for action, and there is a time to be still. There is a time to weep, and there is a time to laugh. The fact remains that God’s timing is often different than our timing, yet His timing is perfect. The beautiful irony is that no one really wants all that stress and burden anyway. God wants to take the pressure from us so that we can focus on the one thing that is truly important—an intimate relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ. He is the burden-bearer; He is the one who carries us, equips us, sustains us, and enables us. He knows how easily we grow weary, and that we need His constant provision, strength, guidance, and yes, even His timing. For His timing is perfect—every single time!

I will resume writing on my book resting in God’s perfect timing for the completion of this project. And, no, it will not be ready by graduation, but who knows? Maybe I will still be able to present it to him before he leaves for college in September. The burden is no longer mine. My job is to simply write it! God will bring it to completion in His time, and not a day before.

For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.” Romans 9:9

It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. Acts 1:7

The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Psalm 9:9