GroshLink

A Harvard alum, who now teaches Mathematics recently shared this story with me (and some other followers of Christ) regarding his first weeks at Harvard.  Join me in praying for first year students to find their identity in Christ and not seek to overcome brick walls by their own strength.  Pray for me as I speak on Friday for an InterVarsity outreach at the University of Penn which will debrief Randy Pausch's Last Lecture.

we have a new identity in Christ..."there is now, and never will be, any condemnatioin to those who are in Christ" (romans 8:1)...when I first arrived at Thayer North freshman year, there was  excitement and fear...i got awake in the middle of the night thinking, "i can't believe i'm actually here. that i'm a harvard student"...but many said, "i'm afraid i don't belong here, the admissions dept. made a mistake...i can't measure up."  but we were assured that they would help us through, and that almost all of us would graduate, that they are not going to throw us out...my roommate zeke failed the first chemistry test, he was crying and told me, "i can't stay here, i have to transfer, but i can't tell my father who is an alum"...he changed majors, and did stay on, and graduate...and was my roommate in adams house...we have been adopted as sons because of Christ's sufficiecy, not our own...a great exchange has taken place...my sin transferred to Him, his righteousness covering me...God now sees me and loves me with the same love he has for His Son..."He who began a good work in me, will complete it" (philippians)...He is gradually remaking me into the likeness of His Son..."when He returns, we will see him as He is, and we will be like Him"  (I John)...There is nothing we can do that will make God love us any less than He does now...when we were freshmen, we were already Harvard students, we could put on Harvard t-shirts and jackets...it was a decisive beginning...by midterm, I began to see that changes were taking place...I was capable of keeping up...but there were many anxious nights working late on assignments..."Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for God is at work in you"..

but Satan, the accuser of the brethren, whispers, "you are no good, God doesn't love you, you're the same old sinner"....but God says, "I will never leave you nor forsake you"  "everything that happens to you from now on is filtered through my love for you...I will see that even your failures will be changed over into something good for you" (romans 8:28)..."I have loved you with an everlasting love"...Your guilt is past history because of Christ...you will never face judgment...I will correct you as a loving father, never as an angry judge....

it's heartbreaking to see the grip of determinism in the minds of many students...they are told to explore their sexuality, like exploring what a new sports car can do...they experiment, and find pleasure in perverted sex...then they are told, "that's what you are...you are what you are...that's your identity now and forever...gay, or bi, or straight...you're a machine ...learn to accept it. give in....that's it"    and so they say, "that's just the way i am...it'll never change"...but Christ invades the heart and mind, and it's an old house being totally restored to the original image of God that was badly defaced.  "be patient with me, God isn't finished yet" is on signs.   stop the morbid introspection...begin to look outward to the hurts and needs of others, look up to God who has called you to a new life in Christ, to the God who will provide for all you need on this journey to become inwardly what you are already outwardly, God's beloved children...

P.S.  As you're praying for first year students, take a peak at The First Year Out: Understanding American Teens After High School.