Standing True

In one of my devotional readings today. . .
Treasure God’s Word. You must develop a love for God’s Word and build your life around it. There is no other way to resist the world’s pressure.

My second born has done just this. It has been evident in his 13 years as a Christian, but even more evident this past week.  He is a sophmore in college and going for a double major of Religious Studies and Graphic Arts Design.  For the Religious Studies he had to take an Asian Religion class and so has been in a Hinduism class this past semester. It was very hard for him and at the end of the semester he was carrying a grade of 71.  The end assignment was to visit a Hindu temple and write a paper on it.  He did this just fine. But the second assignment was to make up a god, draw a picture of it, give it a name and describe what it was a god of, showing that he understood the Hindu practices. 

Christopher began to do this assignment but the more he got into it, the heavier his heart became. He struggled with it because of what God's Word says. . .there shall be no other gods before me. I knew he was picturing the Israelites making their wooden and golden gods and how destructive that was. He came to me and said he was going to refuse to do this assignment and warned me that he could flunk the class. I'm ashamed to say, the first thing I thought of had to do with money.  We struggle to pay for each semester but God has provided each time, but with much frugalness on our part. All I could think of in the beginning was how the money for this class would be wasted, his GPA would drop and we would lose the KEYS money for school books, and wondered how expensive taking summer school was going to cost. But then I looked at my son internally struggling with doing something he felt so convicted about and the dollar signs went right out the window.  I was proud of him for being so convicted and standing loyal to his Lord and Savior.  He knew he might have to give up his summer for making up the class and he knew and was willing to give up all his savings to help pay for the extra class or for books the next semester.

After praying about it myself I told him that doing this assignment was not like what he was thinking about.  He was just making up a character for an assignment, just as he would a character for art class, that he was not making a god to bow down and worship. I truely believe that our God knows his heart and that it would have been ok.  Christopher talked with our pastor and a couple of other men at church he respects and they told him the same thing.  Christopher sat in the chair in the living room again with the assignment for the longest time.  I could see him struggling. His dad and I told him we would stand behind him either way.

He wrote the professor and told him he just could not do the assignment and could he be given a different one to do.  The teacher said it was too late to change. Christopher sat in the chair in our living room again for a long time, being very quiet.  I knew he was praying and I knew that whatever he came away with, I had to honor and I wanted to honor. Even if it meant losing money and struggling more, I was so proud of my son and I knew God would honor him for his loyalty. I knew God would provide however He saw fit.

My young man left for school the next morning with a peace and I began my day with peace. God is our Lord, not money, not assignments, not anything else. My young man's foundation is strong.  That is much more important to me than a passing grade. That foundation will carry him far. I may become a broke momma, but I am one proud momma!

 

Psalm 119:9-16

 

"How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your Word. . .Your Word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You."

 

 

PS~ the final outcome of the class will not be known for a couple of weeks but for Christopher's stand on convictions and for the strength of his heart and loyalty. . .A+!


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