Five Years from Now
I’ve heard it said that you are the same person you will be five years from now, except for the people you associate with and the books that you read. Now at first glance, this seems like some kind of motivational pitch; however, as I’ve pondered the statement over the years, I’ve come to value the depth of its truth.
I was taught, as I’m sure most of us were, that you have to get a good education in order to get a good job. You have to study hard and get good grades in high school in order to get into college, where you will again have to study hard and get good grades in order to get the degree that you want. While in school, it will serve you well to be affiliated with the groups, clubs, sororities or fraternities, athletic teams or other societies that will put you with the “right” people as you move toward beginning your career. But here’s what we weren’t told: All of these things will shape us as we pursue our goals.
With our eye on the prize, we are often negligent of the price. The books we’re required to read and the people we associate with while pursuing our education will leave an indelible imprint on us and shape us at a time in our lives when we are most susceptible to change. Being away from home and in an adult world where we are considered peers catches many of us just plain full of ourselves and we foolishly forget the warnings of our parents, pastors and other mentors.
While we are industriously pursuing our diploma in any state institution of higher learning, we must listen to professors who will teach us what they think we should learn, and this will be from their own world view. Some will go far beyond teaching to indoctrination into their own social, political or religious ideologies. We must listen to their lectures, for we must pass their tests if we’re to get the grades we desire. We will also have to write papers that are designed to demonstrate how well we’ve learned the material. We need only to walk past the newsstand to see how well our generation has been “taught”–and it all happened in increments of five years or less!
As a parent, I’ve gone from pushing my resistant eldest children toward college to now resisting its pull on my youngest. This change took place as I attended classes at our local community college as an adult with grown children. In every class, from English and Speech to Math and Biology, my values, life experience, politics and faith were denigrated and mocked–and that’s only when they were not being raged against! I am not timid, nor am I shy about entering a discussion when the situation calls for it and I was often pleased that many others would voice their own dissenting views; however, I don’t remember more than a couple occasions in which someone else took a stand first. The pressure is too great. Most people–even those who aren’t fresh out of high school–just want to get through the class and move on. So, the indoctrination goes unchecked and unchallenged most of the time. I still believe in education, but I want better than that for my children and grandchildren!
There is a better, albeit less promoted, pathway to “higher learning” that I plan to pursue–that is, the path God has marked for us. He has given us books to read as well–sixty-six of them–and through various authors He has written every one of them for our benefit! By way of God’s written word, we are introduced to the history of mankind, to prophets and kings. We see dynasties raised and great empires brought down. We learn of ancient prophecies and see them fulfilled. In this holy Book we are confronted with our sin, introduced to our Savior, and by the gracious work of the Holy Spirit are brought to repentance and given the gift of faith that leads to salvation. Only through the Bible, can we come to understand our world and its philosophies and not walk in their ways.
Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. Eph 5: 15,16
See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. Col. 2:8
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Rom 12:2
It is through the testimonies of godly men and women–both historical and contemporary–that we find the most worthy companionship. Finally, it is only through our union with Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that we can we be what we are meant to be, do what we are meant to do, and find the satisfaction and fulfillment that our hearts are meant to have. That’s what I want to spend the next five years doing and I sincerely hope it shapes me to be more like Christ!
I am the vine, you are the branches…apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:5
I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life. John 8:12
But when He, the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth; John 16:13
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Eph. 2:10
