In the Shadow of the Cross

June 2004 -- Back to current issue and main Archives

For the month of June, I was asked to write an article for “In the Shadow of the Cross”. I am the author’s son Jake, and like thousands of teenagers across the country, in May I graduated from High School. Many of us are about to embark on a new adventure – College. This month I would like to write about what is on my heart as I am about to take a large step into adulthood.

I certainly do not wish to be a statistic. As statisticians tell us - very, very few students who attended church as a teenager living at home will continue attending church at all during their college years. This I suppose comes from many reasons, one of which would be that their religious values may not be in accord with their parents. Possibly, their focus and attention have changed to worldly matters. The world has a lot to offer, and we have to live in it. The world I speak of is the system that is contrary to God Regardless of the reason, I chose not to be one of those statistics who do not have God in their lives. I chose to walk with my Lord, as the Lighthouse guiding my every step. The apostle John reminds that we should walk with God and not love the world.

“ Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world – the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does – comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”
( 1 John 1: 15-17 NIV )

By no means am I an expert in this arena, I just know what I know. I am looking forward to this new journey, but yet I am anxious about what is in store for me. I just know that I would be a fool to go forward without God.

Parents: Your job continues, but now from a distance. I hope that the geography that separates your and your student is not also the distance that is created by the difference in your values. I suppose that your kid would like your encouragement, your gentle reminders to keep Christ the Lord and Savior of their lives, and to keep God central in their lives.

Students: Your parents have thought you well. Now go and continue to keep Christ central and core in your lives. In college or (as you move away), there will be many distractions. To call these distractions is putting this mildly. There will be mighty “pulls”… everything from your professors to your roommates, to “pull” you away from God. They will be subtle pulls, they will be malicious and obvious pulls. The world, the flesh and the devil will try to pull you away from your Christian belief system and values. Students, stand firm. Do not compromise your values! Do not succumb. Don’t yield! God will bless your steadfastness, and your firm stance to not compromise your commitment to Him.

Between your high school graduation and your thirtieth birthday, your life will turn drastically. Your college years are those when you are the most vulnerable.- particularly your first couple of years away from home and out of your parents ‘eye’. This is the time when you are most vulnerable to the attack of the enemy. The enemy knows this! He will open his bag of tricks and tempt you many different ways. Be on-guard! Keep strong. Strength may come and help you when you get plugged in with other Christians, like FAC (Fellowship of Christian Athletes), or other Christian groups. Get involved in other extra curricular activities as well. Keep busy and you’ll be less likely to be a stationary target, so to speak.

Students, there is certainly one powerful tool in your arsenal against the world, the flesh and the devil………prayer. Pray daily! Ask the Lord to help you resist the “pulls”. The Holy Spirit tells us via James that we can resist.

“Submit yourselves, then, the God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded”
( James 4: 7-8 NIV)

James says we must resist. How do we do this? With prayer… daily, fervent, heartfelt, contrite and sincere prayer. Come near God and He will come near to you. When God comes near to you - the devil, the flesh and the world with their “pulls” no longer have any hold on you.

“Lord, help me as I venture out to college. Help me to keep my heart, my eyes and my attention on You, as the source of my life, the fountain of all blessings. Lord you are the peace, wisdom and power that sustains me throughout my life. You are the origin and keeper of all life. I pray that You may keep me close to You, as there are many who wish to pull me away from You. Lord, strengthen me and guard my heart and my mind.”

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

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