Christian college students cannot afford to isolate Jesus into certain components of their lives. If Jesus is Lord, you cannot tell Him to sit out in particular areas.
Let me explain.
As a college student, you will begin to understand the necessity of the Waffle House in your life. When you have procrastinated studying so long that you must find refuge in a place open at three o’clock in the morning, you normally end up there. For whatever reason, the smell of scrambled eggs with a side of prolific cigarette smoke helps the mind focus for a long night of studying.
When I ate there, I would normally order the newest breakfast special. No matter what was on the plate, I would normally stir it into a makeshift pile of breakfast casserole. For some reason, it always seemed better to me when I combined it that way.
Some of you are grossed out at the idea. I understand you completely. You are a food isolationist. You can’t stand the thought of eating a meal where the food is touching. If the green bean juice creeps over to the macaroni and cheese, you might as well call it a night. Even when people show you anatomy diagrams of how the food all ends up in the same place, you can’t stand the thought of eating that way.
I can empathize with you. I am a recovering food isolationist, but over time, I came to endure when my food touched. In some cases, I even liked it. I didn’t even require one of those doggie boxes that had separate compartments.
Many college students treat their spiritual life like a compartmentalized doggie box. You have your relationships in this big section. In the side section, you have your college major. Your leisure time is in another compartment. You finish off your box with a side of Jesus, and life as you know it is great.
It’s great as long as everything stays in its proper place. You probably are aware of Jesus’ reputation that he likes to try to move into other sections, but you are making your best attempts at keeping him at bay. You love Jesus. When you need Jesus, you call on him. In reality, he is a part of your life, and you don’t intend him to be any more than that.
There’s just one problem: Christ was never meant to be a part of your life. He is your life (Col. 3:4). He desires to take every compartment of your life and mix it together into one gigantic casserole where he has reign over every area. If you truly desire him to be your one thing in college, you give him complete freedom to do as he wishes in your life. Your time, relationships, school work, activities, date life, religious activities, and everything else you can think of come under his influence.
Considerations Before Dating in College
Dating in college is nothing to joke around about; it may define the rest of your life. If you are considering dating someone, you must consider this important issue.
Don’t Waste Your College Experience
Many students waste their college experience on unhelpful pursuits. If you want to get the most out of this time, you must start by focusing on the essentials.
Freshman 15
Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC. His most recent book is Just (About) Married.
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