On a fairly regular basis I hear the questions, “Why doesn’t Jesus return? What is He waiting for?” If they were teachers at the end of a semester they would know the answer. II Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
It’s that most unwonderful time of the year when my desk piles high with term papers, essays, book reports, quizzes and finals. Yuck! First of all, it is amazingly boring to read thirty-five papers on ADHD. Secondly, the writing is usually bad. If it is good one grows suspicious and puts a few words from the paper into the Google search bar. It is very disheartening to get a positive strike.
If it is so difficult for evil men such as I to give bad grades to my students, how much more so must it be difficult for our heavenly Father to close the door of eternity on His children? I want all my students to get A’s. I am not one of those demented teachers who thinks they are tough (Why is that admirable?) if they don’t give many, if any, A’s. I think that can be translated into, “They did not teach the assigned material very well.” It is a matter of understanding that the students need this material that they might successfully meet life’s challenges.
Some teachers say they don’t give grades; students earn them. Actually, I do hope it is a combination of both ideas. While we are not talking about salvation which is a gift there is also the idea that those who have received much grace know how to be graceful.
Written by Roger Bothwell on December 10, 2010
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org