An 18-year old student graduates from High School and then enrolls in a four-year university in a nearby state. This private college is known for being able to get students through their business degree program in four years and at the cost they advertise; provided of course, that the student attends classes and meets and passes all the course requirements. If all goes according to plan, they walk the stage in four years upon completion and receive their diploma affirming their bachelor’s degree.

I can remember hearing a statement made that is not uncommon for incoming freshmen to hear on the first day of classes, that basically tells them to look around at the students sitting immediately next to, in front of and behind them. Then they are told that chances are high that none of those students will walk the stage with them in four years for a variety of reasons. It seems that statistics support this theory.

And like most new students, they tell themselves “that won’t be me who doesn’t finish; I’m committed to getting this done!” So our 18-year old here sails through the first year with passing grades and acquiring all the credits needed for year one. But admittedly, it was not all he thought it was going to be. So the next year rolls around and this time, the student opts to take fewer classes so they can work an extra part time job, even after being advised not to take fewer courses. Summer school may be an option to ‘catch up’, but again, it’s not advised.

Then....’life happens’. Maybe it is a new romance that captures their affections, or the lure of making more money. Perhaps some travel opportunities are presented to them that are too good to pass on. But they still remain in the vicinity of the college, no longer living in the dorm, a small apartment perhaps. In other words, they really have not cut ties off all together with the school and their classmates. They still go to the college ball games and attend the same parties. Why, they may even sign up to take an occasional class or two that interest them. But it is clear, they have strayed from the degree program they started out on and are chartering out their own life while taking their own path. As I said, ‘life happens’; and I know this scenario all too well because in some ways, this describes my first two years in college. (In my case, it would be 15 years later, which included a spiritual conversion, a marriage, and having three children prior to moving to NE Texas before I would resume that path of getting my degree)

But please note, there is nothing wrong with doing this, as long as one is aware of the outcome of what they thought they would receive in four years...has changed.

So back to my illustration with our 18-year old who has taken an alternative path. Let’s fast-forward now to the end of the four years where he would have been preparing to graduate. And let’s say that the original group of incoming freshman numbered 400 students. As one might expect, that number presumably has whittled down to only 250 students who began this educational track four years earlier have ‘finished their courses’, and have met all the requirements. But here is where our story gets....interesting, if not sad.

Our original student, who is about to turn 22 has over the four years, still ‘kept one foot in’...the college life. He still wears T-shirts with the school mascot printed on it and cheers for his teams and considers themself a ___________ (fill in the mascot of your choice) :- )

Let us now suppose he catches wind of the upcoming graduation for the remaining 250 students and that there will be a mandatory assembly for all graduating students the week before graduation ceremonies commence. And he shows up just to be a part of the ‘gang’. He makes his way in to the gym, takes a seat next to some old ‘buds’ who look inquisitively at him wondering why he is there but happy to see him nonetheless. Over the next 45 minutes, the students are informed as to times and locations and procedures they will need to adhere to the following week in final preparations for the long awaited ceremony.

They are then instructed to pick up the pre-packaged caps/gown/tassels waiting on the table in the back of the room before they leave, being told to make sure they pick an appropriate size and that there are more than enough to choose from, given extras are provided. So our imaginary student grabs one for himself, on the way out; why not...if they are free, right? Then comes the big day...and guess who shows up wearing a cap and gown? And...somehow...he just finds his way in to the mix of graduating students and takes part in the procession as they file in to the stadium. After the emotional entrance song of ‘Pomp and Circumstance’ is played, the 250 + 1 students take their seats and give their attention to the speeches that will follow. They are congratulated for their accomplishment in finishing the courses, affirmed for their faithfulness and reminded of the rewards that await them as they prepare to ‘enter the work force ‘ and purse their dreams and ambitions.

.....I bet you can see where this is going, can you not?

I don’t know if anything like this has ever happened before, but I would not be surprised if there have been former students who attempted this as a ‘fun’ prank to pull. But what if, our imaginary student here actually took in all the promises and glowing things he had heard in the assembly, having just been told and believing he too, was about to receive a diploma, only to discover that ...his name was not called on ‘the roll up yonder’?

At the close of the ceremony, as the new grads rise and turn their tassels before throwing their caps into the air, can you imagine this lone, former student, the only one without a diploma in his hand, approaches the Dean of the college who is still on the stage asking as to where his diploma is. And then he hears a response something to the effect that his name is not on the list nor are there any diplomas left on the table. There might even be a confused look on the dean's face as he peers over his reading glasses and ask the confused young man: “Do I know you?” I bet you can hear the student, nearly at a breaking point, reply: “But I took classes here, I went to all the ball games and frat parties. I have a drawer full of shirts and pennants with the school’s name on it...Why...I even have my acceptance letter to the college safely tucked away at home!” 

..sigh....

There is the obvious comparison/message here to what we might witness in heaven someday with countless souls who will hear and experience what Jesus shared in Matt. 7:21-23. But the often, overlooked point that I really wanted to make with this story, is not so much about the shocking revelation of ‘missing out’ in the end. Rather, it has more to do with fact that this imaginary student of ours, just assumed ...that all the glowing promises and words of praise he heard during the ceremony to the soon-to -be graduates...applied to him as well. I’ll give you a moment with that one....

In my post yesterday, I touched on this issue of how easily people can be, will be, and are being... deceived...’with every wind of doctrine’ out there today. (Eph. 4:14; Heb. 13:9; Matt. 24:4-5,11). How many countless ‘church attenders’ ...just assume that many of the verses and scriptures and promises they may hear, or even read themselves, apply to them simply because...they are sitting in the pews or maybe reading in their bibles?

I have made this statement before and will do so again but first allow me to preface it by saying for the umpteenth time...I absolutely reject the idea and would never attempt to teach that any of us will enter the kingdom of heaven based on our own ‘works or deeds of righteousness’. Please...’let the record show...’.

Now, having said that, for a person who maybe ‘walked an aisle’, ‘said a prayer’, or ‘went through a series of steps and motions’ (based on whatever church they were attending taught) for them to be convinced that a place in heaven was now reserved and guaranteed for them, would be about as presumptions to believe, for example, that a graduating high school student, upon receiving their acceptance letter to the college of their choice...thought it came with a diploma as well. And one more time: This has NOTHING to do with ‘earning’ or working for one’s ‘salvation’.

But even James tell us...if we are simply hearers of God’s word, but then fail to follow through with ‘doing’ what the word says...we are deceived. (James 1:22); just like that student of ours who dressed the part, ‘felt a part’ yet found out in the end, he was ‘not a part’ of that graduating class.

I will continue on with this tomorrow, (Lord willing) and explain further how easily it is for us to be hearers of a variety of passages and promises from the word, and then falsely assume they apply to us simply...because we were sitting on a pew and heard the word. And let me encourage you with this: IF, by chance you are feeling a tad uneasy, disturbed, and even concerned within your own heart....that would not be a bad thing. It means that your heart is not callused and beyond being challenged to hear and receive, and then be transformed by God’s word. Join me tomorrow?