Let us consider the earthly educational system for a moment. In an ideal situation parents raise their child to be well educated, hence such a child has to go through many educational centres with each phase having a specific time-frame. The higher one goes up the educational ladder, the more distinct the decisions to be made. Different people choose different courses of study especially at the peak of this ladder which is usually at the Tertiary educational phase. It is never possible that everyone studies the same course, because the beauty of life will be lost and there will be no order. The beauty and right order of life is in different people with different expertises, each person carrying out their role properly in a society.

This is the reason why we have different courses available in the tertiary institutions. And because we study different courses, we therefore go through different learning conditions, write different tests and exams, and also sometimes graduate at different times, depending on our course requirements and oftentimes the school involved too.
Now for a particular graduation year, students have their final exams at different times and locations within the same year, but yet the convocation is conducted for them all at once. Also students graduate with different grades depending on the way they have comported themselves in the course of their programmes and at the successful completion of these programmes, new names are attached to their names such as Engineer, Doctor, Nurse, Professor etc. Different awards are also given to the outstanding ones.

During training time, especially at tertiary institutions of learning each student goes through different strenuous times because definitely, campus time is not designed to be a fun-filled time. Though along the line, those that know how to plan and manage their time try to strike a healthy balance, because all work without play makes Jack a dull boy. Interestingly, life after campus is a different life of bliss entirely, in an ideal situation. This is because a lot of stress is gone with the completion of your programme and of course no more exams which to most, is a great relief.

Now, Romans 1:19-20 says
“Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them, For God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of Him (God) from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.”(KJV)

This is suggesting to us that merely looking at nature and things around us in the earth, we can have some clues to the mind of God, the creator of heaven and earth, and have a tip of His truth revealed to us, enough for us to know Him and serve Him faithfully. With this in mind, let us then relate our educational system to this present world, which can certainly be seen as a test world indeed. This world is full of different hard tests for different people, because God has not made us to run the same programme while in this test world and that is why it will be so incorrect to compare ourselves with others. For example I might be running a seven-year course while another is running a four-year course. So, if I think to graduate with the fellow with a four-year plan, I will have aborted my dream. A necessity is laid on each to understand their course and everything about it before graduation in the time made available. (Ecclesiastes 8:5-6)

For us all this process begins with Jesus. In essence, anybody that does not have Jesus Christ as His personal Lord and Saviour has not even begun their programme here on earth and no one successfully graduates with a certificate from this test world without following Jesus Christ. (Matthew 19:28-30, John 14:6). Therefore, our following Jesus must be absolute and to the end, if we must maintain our position in Him and in the world to come. As we all know that not everyone enrolled in an institution graduates, so also not everybody will make it through this test world to heaven but we can determine to be among the faithful ones. We all have all it takes. More so, as followers of Jesus we are not left comfortless (as orphans), accepting the word of Jesus for us in John 14:15-18. We have a Father with us in the earth, the Holy Spirit, who is guiding and coaching us to pass the exams of life excellenty. We can always come out in flying colours in every test of life if we let the Holy Spirit help us because every test is meant for our promotion and never to destroy us. (1 Corinthians 10:13, James 1:1-3, Revelations 2:10, Job 23:10)

There is still more to this topic, so please don’t forget to read the next edition. However, this is what God says concerning this year to you:
“Let My people believe My Word because My Word is My Nature and in My Word you are made complete and My Word will surely work.”

Grace
Adebayo Funmi
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