Think with
me for a moment about that person in your life that sometime in the last few
months gave you the talk. No, not that talk. I mean the talk where someone
in your life, your pastor or parent or grandparent or Youth Minister or godly
friend said to you, “make sure you hold strong to your faith.” Did you get that talk? Did you think about how much that person
cared about you to give you that talk?
Did you think about the fact that person might have had a very good
reason to give you that talk? Maybe,
that person thought about you going off to college where your faith would be
challenged. Maybe that person thought
about the decisions in your life that you would have to make over the next few
days and weeks that could compromise your beliefs. Maybe that person knew that you would be
challenged perhaps greater than you have ever been challenged before and you
would be stretched greater than you have even been stretched before.
The Apostle
Paul recognized that in certain academic settings one just may be challenged to
go after some ideas that sway from biblical truth. In Colossians chapter 2,
Paul mentions this very thing.
Colossians 2:1-7
reads, “I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at
Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2 My purpose
is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may
have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the
mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures
of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I tell you this so that no one may
deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. 5 For though I am absent
from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how
orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.
6
So then, just as you
received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7 rooted and
built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing
with thankfulness.”
Paul has a personal interest in those believers in Laodicea. Other references in scripture show that there
could have been a letter to the Laodiceans .
In fact, Colossians 4:16 reads, “After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also
read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from
Laodicea.” [2] Some scholars think that this phrase
“letter from Laodicea” is referring to our copy of Ephesians which had been
delivered to the city. Another
interesting point is that this city is mentioned in another place in scripture. Remember these verses from Revelation
3:14-16?
14 “To the angel of
the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and
true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds,
that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16
So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you
out of my mouth.[3]
Paul recognized that
this prominent city in Asia was a place that allowed its citizens to believe
that they did not need to be dependent upon biblical values or anything else
for that matter. It was a city of
prominent trade, a maker of fine black wool, known for self-sufficiency, a
center for banking and a hub for ophthalmology, the branch of science that is about the study
and care of the eyes. It was an academic
setting that believed in self-sufficiency.
One writer goes so
far to say it was so self sufficient that it wouldn’t even accept help of
neighboring countries when a major earthquake hit and left it destroyed. The interesting point here is that this
thought process refused to allow for a dependence on a Holy God. In fact, the Laodiceans basically said, we
can do it on our own.
Paul was burdened
about those in that area that could be easily influenced by this thought process. Colossians 2:1 mentions that this was an area
that Paul was struggling with the possibilities of what could happen if this
thought process was allowed to infiltrate their minds. Perhaps someone that cares about you also
thought that and decided to give you the talk before you came to college. Many students come to college and they forget
about the path which God has called them to go forth on and they turn to areas
of thought that lead them to pain and destruction. I hope that you had someone to care enough
about you to give you that talk. So
today I want to reiterate to you the importance of making sure that you focus
on what God has called you to be and do and that you are not swayed to follow
another form of thought. In fact, this
is your lucky day. I want to take the
rest of this passage and briefly show you a plan to go forward and be
successful in this academic setting and
yet stay true to your belief system.
Contrary to popular belief, Christianity is not about rules and
regulations. It is about experiencing life to its fullest. Jesus said in John 10:10 10 The thief comes
only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and
have it to the full.[4] The people of Laodecia were convinced that their fullness of
life could be found in lies and misappropriations of the truth. Paul recognized this and thus had a burden
for those Christians there.
Paul states in
Colossians 2:2, 2 My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and
united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete
understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3
in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Look at those
phrases: Encouraged in heart, united in love, full riches, complete
understanding. Do those sound like
rules and regulations? Then he adds that
he desires those folks to KNOW the Mystery of God. What is the mystery of God? Simply put, the Mystery of God refers to an
opportunity for you and I as filthy, dirty rags being united to a Holy God
because of what Christ has done for us!
And then Paul adds the phrase, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of
wisdom and knowledge.” Why in the world
would Paul say such things? I am glad
you asked! He answers in the next
verse: 4” I tell you this so
that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.” You will be challenged in the way you
think and believe. You will be
stretched. But you will not be broken if
you hold strong to these next thoughts that Paul shares in the following
verses. Paul writes, 5
“For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit
and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.
6
So then, just as you
received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7 rooted and
built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing
with thankfulness.”
Stay
connected to those that have given you the talk. They care about you. They love you. They desire the very best that God has for
you. Just like Paul, those precious
people in your life are present with you in spirit and they will delight in you
being disciplined in your work and firm in your faith.
If you have
Christ in your life, keep on keeping on.
Don’t stop. Grow! But remember your roots. Remember where you came from and how your
belief system was developed. Remember
how roots are strengthened through proper weeding, care, nutrients, and good
soil. Oh the metaphors here! Stay strong by making sure you are being with
good friends not those that pull you down.
Stay strong physically by taking care of yourself by eating properly,
getting rest, and being focused.
Remember why you were taught the things you were taught recognizing that
your faith will continue to grow and even become stronger and stronger! Finally, always be thankful. Every breath you take is a reason to give
thanks. Every friend you make is a
reason to give thanks. Let your
thankfulness overflow. In short, allow
God to show you His best because that is what He desires.
It is very
easy to become “Laodicea-like” thinking that you can do it on your own. I want to encourage you to recognize your
dependence on the One who made you to grow and blossom.
[1] The
Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids :
Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Col 2:1-7
[2] The
Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids :
Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Col 4:16
[3] The
Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids :
Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Re 3:14-16
[4] The
Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids :
Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Jn 10:10
