The School of Christ

Years ago, I was at a private party at a Christian's home, and Adrian Rogers was one of the guests. And at that time, I was doing my research for my biography on J. Sidlow Baxter, and I knew Dr. Rogers and Sidlow Baxter were close friends. So I waited my turn to talk to Adrian, and I finally approached him and asked him a question about J. Sidlow Baxter.

And when he answered me, I replied, I didn't know that. Just then, Adrian Rogers put both his big hands on both sides of my face, and with all his strength, he jerked me up to where my face was within inches of his face. And in his commanded voice, he said, there's a lot you don't know, young man.

Boy, he sure scared me when he did that, but he was right. You see, at the time, there was indeed a lot I didn't know about, especially about God and his ways with his people. The School of Christ had yet to take me in as a full-time student.

Did you know, friends, that the word disciple means learner? That to be Christ's disciples, we must be eager and attentive learners as we follow him along the narrow way. And Jesus is the master teacher in the School of Christ. I remember a couple of decades ago, I had a group of men whom I discipled on a weekly basis, and I asked Henry Blackaby to give me his advice on discipling those men.

Henry Blackaby thought about it for a while and gave me an answer. He said, Jesus had some very specific truths he wanted to teach his men, and he taught those lessons to them over and over again. I know that the Lord has had to reteach me the same lessons a few times before those truths finally sunk in my thick skull.

I used to believe that the School of Christ had a graduation day, but do you know what, friends, it doesn't, at least not in this life. As believers, we are enrolled in that school full-time for good until he calls or comes, and some of the lessons in that school are hammered out on the anvil of affliction. Some curriculum involves deep grief and great suffering.

One of the hardest classes is the one on patience, and one of the toughest is on perseverance. You will spend a few semesters developing a prayer life that will commence under stormy skies, and much of the classwork will focus on development of faith as your faith is tested and tried time and time again. But one of the most remarkable features of this school is that the longer you are in it, the deeper your love grows towards the teacher, for you eventually learn that he has your best interests at heart.

There's still a lot I don't know, friends, but I can say this with the utmost certainty. I have come to know my God, and I can say with the Apostle Paul, but what things were gained to me, those I count at loss for Christ, yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ and be found in him. The School of Christ is always accepting new applicants, and there's always room for improvement.

Listen to me, friends, no matter how hard the school is at times, I can promise you this, Jesus is not only worthy, he is worth it. Let us pray.