"But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."-Matthew 7:14
As many of you know I go to GCU, which is known for its Christian background, but interestingly enough that isn't necessarily the reason I ended up at this school (that's a whole other story). These past few years I've been attending here, my faith has grown in ways I could have never expected! Though the atmosphere, the school's motto, chapel and other events have had an impact on my faith I don't think that's what has really allowed me to grow.
I believe the growth was really developed through how God has used and placed the people here. How He has strategically planned our paths to the point where we meet someone and become friends, smile at someone passing by, run into someone you use to go to grade school with, etc. He has allowed people to come and go, relationships to start and end and conversations to spring life or pitter out.
The interactions here on campus with others is what really opened my eyes, and has challenged me in ways I didn't realize I needed to be challenged in. The friendships, small groups, and shared love for God I have with many here has been wonderful. It's been encouraging and uplifting, it allows us to lean on each other and hold each other accountable. But it's the majority of the people that you wouldn't expect to really run into on this type of campus that has left me reaching out and clinging to the Lord more than ever.
This campus is filled with many who say they affiliate with the Christian religion... But as some of you probably already know the amount of actual dedicated Christ followers here is slim. We see this in the church as well so I'm not pointing fingers at the school or anything like that, it's just how this world is. Even in scripture, we're advised to be cautious of wolves dressed as sheep, people may talk the talk but don't truly reflect it in how they live. (see Matthew 7:15-23)
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?-Matthew 7:15â€-‬16
When I started to take notice of this, I took a deep hard look at myself and my walk with the Lord. Was I truly living out what I was saying to believe? When I challenged myself with this question I came to the realization I had a lot of things I needed to work on and pray about to strive to better my relationship with God and to this day, though my faith and walk has grown greatly, I still have to do a heart check, assess myself, look at how I'm living; and honestly often times I slip up.
But it's when you realize it, when you remind yourself constantly that you can't get through this life alone, that "I NEED GOD TO OVERCOME" the battles and sin I face. For He is the only One who can restore us, and it's with His mercies that come new with each morning that give us the chance to try again, to strive and use each breath as an opportunity to honor Him.
One of the most recent challenges I faced here on campus was actually in the classroom... The professor made a comment towards me saying 'look at Sarah, such a good Christian', I don't even remember what I was doing when she said it, but I remember how I felt. My whole face felt flushed and I began sinking down in my set feeling dumbfounded, offended and the way she said it honestly hurt...
But why? Why was I so offended and upset by this? Shouldn't we want to be known as good and loving Christ followers? Isn't our calling to reflect and share the goodness of the Lord and His Word with those around us? The answer is yes, but the true reality of it all is there is nothing truly good about me when I compare it to the One whom I'm staring at and serving; God.
"If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and God rests on you...if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name" - 1 Peter 4:14,16
The One who is the definition of goodness and love. You see I'm fallen and broken just like every other human living on this earth. The only good in me is the Spirit of the Lord who dwells in my soul. God is what is good. Yes, I strive to live in a way that honors and reflects God, but I FAIL ALL THE TIME... but it's through HIS GOODNESS that I can try again, He is the good we run after and hold tight too. As they say 'God is good' 'all the time!" and this is a statement that holds so much truth.
We live in a world where living this type of life is looked down upon from many who reside with us in this temporary home. When people aren't living it, they, unfortunately, don't realize why we live like we do. We live like we do to reveal the joy we have to the ones who question and look down on our beliefs.
We weren't promised an easy life, it's pretty much a guarantee, but we get to live a worthwhile life remembering that this life is being lived to honor and glorify Christ. That's how Paul saw it and that's why he felt joy even in the worse of situations, he was still able to point the glory to the Lord and see the true pure true joy and love from God.
We will continually face trials and persecution even by those who say they believe what we do, but despite it all, despite the hurts and pain of this world we can always raise our gaze to the heavens; knowing, trusting, and finding joy in the truth of the promise that lies at the end of this life: HIM.