Well, CBT just wrapped up as we had our final get-together. I am truly grateful for the people who made this year one of the best years for our group. Throughout our time on campus, we had many visitors join our Monday night Bible talks and End of Month discussion nights. We added new members to our group and formed friendships that will doubtless outlive the school year. But as with most everything in this life, it must come to an end. Not a permanent end, I hasten to add, but an end nonetheless. It is also an ending point for me, as I move down to America this summer and will no longer be able to participate in CBT on a regular basis. Such is life.
In fact, our lives on this earth are punctuated with ending points. Seldom do we begin a task without
having the end in mind. Years ago (perhaps less than you realize!) you came to an end of grade school.
But is that not the very reason you started? When going to class, starting a new grade, was it not your
goal to finish that grade? We begin with the end in mind. "Eyes on the prize," as the expression goes.
Currently, if you are reading this blog, you are probably in university. And as you continue your studies, you are constantly thinking about the end. You go to university to get a degree; you go to reach the end.
After you get your education, you will likely get a job. Or perhaps you have had, or currently hold, a job. But you understand that your first job will likely, or already has, come to an end. This is how life goes. Your first car? It will end. Your first computer, cell-phone, pair of shoes? It will all come to an end. Eventually, you will reach the end of your career, typically called retirement. But these are all steps along the way. Things as these are merely check-points to our final destination. Each of us will ultimately come to the end of our lives on this earth.
The Bible is not ignorant of this fact. To the contrary, it faces our death with square shoulders. Listen as Paul writes in his first letter to the Corinthians:
“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ ‘O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?’ The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:51-58).
We are all coming to the end of our lives. We are all, at this very moment, dying. Some are dying slower than others, but dying nonetheless. 100% of people now living will die. Do we live our lives in recognition of this truth, or in denial of this truth? Are we keeping our “eyes on the prize”? Or are we wandering, not aware that God has called us to live our lives in conformity with His will? There is a reason that we must live our lives for God. Paul says again, as recorded by Luke, “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” In other words, God has an expectation for your life. Further, everyone has failed to live up to that expectation (Rom. 3:23).
Therefore, when Jesus comes on the appointed day to judge the world in righteousness we will be found guilty in His sight. Therefore, God commands all people everywhere to repent. He calls you and me to turn away from our lives of aimlessly walking in darkness and draws us into His light that we should serve Him (Rom. 6:20-23).
Life is full of ending points, but there is a time when your life will come to its ultimate end. In light of this fact, Jesus says “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matt. 7:13-14). Will we not fear at this warning? Are we to presume upon our pride that Christ could not possibly condemn us on judgement day? Listen attentively. Many people will die while walking the broad path. What makes you different from them? Jesus said the narrow path was difficult and that few would find it. Are you keeping your eyes on the prize?
As CBT comes to a close, and as you continue to work through the degree, let us never lose sight of The End. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
~ Aaron Johnson
--------------------------
I agree with Aaron; it has been a great academic year with the CBT. Our last meeting day was April 4, 2016 - apologies for not mentioning this earlier on our blog. But next year, Lord willing, we will continue our CBT meetings in September. Looking forward to it! If you would like to join us, feel free to write us at campusbibletalk@gmail.com, check out our Facebook page, or visit our studies when we start up again. God bless and have a great summer!
~ Christian Basar
In fact, our lives on this earth are punctuated with ending points. Seldom do we begin a task without
having the end in mind. Years ago (perhaps less than you realize!) you came to an end of grade school.
But is that not the very reason you started? When going to class, starting a new grade, was it not your
goal to finish that grade? We begin with the end in mind. "Eyes on the prize," as the expression goes.
Currently, if you are reading this blog, you are probably in university. And as you continue your studies, you are constantly thinking about the end. You go to university to get a degree; you go to reach the end.
After you get your education, you will likely get a job. Or perhaps you have had, or currently hold, a job. But you understand that your first job will likely, or already has, come to an end. This is how life goes. Your first car? It will end. Your first computer, cell-phone, pair of shoes? It will all come to an end. Eventually, you will reach the end of your career, typically called retirement. But these are all steps along the way. Things as these are merely check-points to our final destination. Each of us will ultimately come to the end of our lives on this earth.
The Bible is not ignorant of this fact. To the contrary, it faces our death with square shoulders. Listen as Paul writes in his first letter to the Corinthians:
“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ ‘O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?’ The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:51-58).
We are all coming to the end of our lives. We are all, at this very moment, dying. Some are dying slower than others, but dying nonetheless. 100% of people now living will die. Do we live our lives in recognition of this truth, or in denial of this truth? Are we keeping our “eyes on the prize”? Or are we wandering, not aware that God has called us to live our lives in conformity with His will? There is a reason that we must live our lives for God. Paul says again, as recorded by Luke, “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” In other words, God has an expectation for your life. Further, everyone has failed to live up to that expectation (Rom. 3:23).
Therefore, when Jesus comes on the appointed day to judge the world in righteousness we will be found guilty in His sight. Therefore, God commands all people everywhere to repent. He calls you and me to turn away from our lives of aimlessly walking in darkness and draws us into His light that we should serve Him (Rom. 6:20-23).
Life is full of ending points, but there is a time when your life will come to its ultimate end. In light of this fact, Jesus says “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matt. 7:13-14). Will we not fear at this warning? Are we to presume upon our pride that Christ could not possibly condemn us on judgement day? Listen attentively. Many people will die while walking the broad path. What makes you different from them? Jesus said the narrow path was difficult and that few would find it. Are you keeping your eyes on the prize?
As CBT comes to a close, and as you continue to work through the degree, let us never lose sight of The End. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
~ Aaron Johnson
--------------------------
I agree with Aaron; it has been a great academic year with the CBT. Our last meeting day was April 4, 2016 - apologies for not mentioning this earlier on our blog. But next year, Lord willing, we will continue our CBT meetings in September. Looking forward to it! If you would like to join us, feel free to write us at campusbibletalk@gmail.com, check out our Facebook page, or visit our studies when we start up again. God bless and have a great summer!
~ Christian Basar
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