You Never Let Go

 For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will accumulate teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear something new. They will turn away from the hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths. But as for you, keep a clear head about everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. --2 Timothy 4:3-5

Sometimes classes teach me one thing
and the Word of God, another.

As we explore the "American Dream" in sociology
I am quickly hit in the face with the undeniable realization
that 99% of the people here
are here so they can have a big house.

Listen.

Why are you here, at college?
So I can get a decent education.

Why do you want an education? 
So I can get a good job.

Why do you want a good job?
So I can make good money.

Why do you want to make good money?
So that I can live comfortably, supporting my family financially with a nice car. And a big house.

And when I realized that, I was made aware that this college things was not going to be nearly as easy as I might have thought. Because I'm not here for a big house. I'm here for God. It's utterly apparent why He would have me here. This campus is in darkness, and it longs for the light.
But the hard part comes in when 99% of the people are here for reasons that don't even make any sense to me.
And what they want is the world.
And what they teach is the world.
And what they love is the world.

And as much as I know that I know that I know that my thoughts do not line up with theirs, there is still an apparent danger in subjecting myself to their lectures, discussions, and attitudes.

Garbage in, garbage out.

And it's exhausting.
It is freaking hard to sit in this institution that people pay tens of thousands of dollars to attend so that I can be fed crap that I immediately reject. It's even harder to sit there and not know if what they are saying lines up with God's word on not. Discernment is hard. It's hard to hear a completely different stance on something and then get to thinking about it...wondering if it's okay to be questioning this or that. Wondering what God says.
These people get paid good money to give us their educated, professional thoughts. And we pay good money to hear them. Assuming the entire way that because they have degrees, what they are saying must be truth.
They teach "an open mind." They teach that it's "good to question things and think for yourself."
But they don't really mean that.
What they really mean is, "It's good to question the old way of thinking and agree with my new way of thinking." "Have an open mind to what I am saying." "Don't think for yourself, think my way, and tell yourself it's your own."

And we buy that crap.
We buy it like the newest version of the iPod.
We pay tens of thousands of dollars for that.

God help us.

Because really all I want is to know.
All I want is to know the truth.
To know what is good, independent thinking
And what is worldly, empty philosophy.

I'm trying.

And it's hard.
Some days are harder than others.
Some days it really sucks
And I don't want to fight the good fight anymore.

But He never lets go.

We know that we are of God, and the whole world is under the sway of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know the true One. --1 John 5:19-20

The Lord is the One who will go before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged. --Deuteronomy 31:8

And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does God's will remains forever. --1 John 2:17

You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world, therefore what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Anyone who knows God listens to us; anyone who is not from God does not listen to us. From this we know the Spirit of Truth from the spirit of deception. -- 1 John 4:4-6

Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him. --James 1:5

The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.. --Psalm 145:18


Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. --Joshua 1:9


My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. --John 10:27-28

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. --Matthew 28:19-20

I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You.