Colossians 3:16

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

I praise God for opening doors and allowing me the opportunity to go and study God’s Word at a very strong, theologically conservative, evangelical seminary. However, life then was challenging! Not because of the content as I learned the Biblical Languages of Greek and Hebrew on top of the other required courses (Church History, Systematic Theology, Old Testament, New Testament, Hermeneutics, Preaching, Counseling, and Missions); most definitely not! A person of my constitution thrives on learning difficult concepts. It was difficult because I had to juggle my whole life around to stay connected to my young growing family and still be able to keep up with the daily demands of seminary life. Nevertheless, praise God! He was and will always be the source of my strength. I could not have done this had it not been for Christ in my life.

My journey in serving God led me to seminary back in the early 1980s. In a human way of thinking, one would assume I would now be a pastor emeritus who is honored and retired from serving God in a large mega-church or something of preeminence. Nevertheless, that is not what happened. Satan had his way with me, the specifics I will not reveal at this time. Yet, for all the losses I’ve experienced, I would do this again and again for Christ. For 1 Peter 5:10 says, “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” Second Timothy 3:12 says, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,”. James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” And Isaiah 43:2 says, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”

I, like the Apostle Paul, will glory in the cross of Christ and boast in Him through all my hardships. Christ is my strength and my joy. In Him I trust.

Matthew 24:13 says, “But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” I glory in Christ because God the Father chose me from eternity past. I glory in Christ because Jesus Christ the Son of God took all my sins, paid the penalty of my sin-debt, and gave me His cloak of righteousness. I glory in Christ because I have the promised Holy Spirit in me who is the guarantee of my eternal life; and in Him, I have spiritual power over sin; for I am more than conquerors through Him who loved me (Romans 8:27). In a human way of understanding, I am considered a failure, a reprobate, a castaway, and disqualified. I have never served or pastored a church. Yet, in God’s eyes, I am a pearl of great price, which He so eagerly searched for so He can ransom my life. My worth is the cost of His dear Son’s life on the cross a Calvary. Yes, His precious blood paid my sin debt and satisfied the wrath of God. Oh, how I wish I could teach young men the importance of abiding in Christ. I wished I could let young men know that Satan is a real threat and he is a liar, a hater, a deceiver, and his desire is to destroy. I wish I could teach young men the importance of maintaining spiritual disciplines in their daily life. Studies of seminary courses are important. But most of all, we must “seek first [emphasis added] the Kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).