Wednesday, October 13, 2004
We tend to measure life by its milestones. Take our first-born child for example. There have been a lot of milestones in her life. I remember looking at the films of her learning to walk. That's a big milestone a long time ago. Her first piano recital - we have pictures of that. Her first band concert - that was a big one. Let's see, there was her junior high graduation, her high school graduation, her college graduation, on to her wedding. Well, it's been a lot of things. I remember that when she graduated from college there was this sense of completion I think for all of us. She had a double major in college, and she graduated with honors. She got a degree from a great school, and I wrote something on her graduation card for all the work and all the money that degree cost. I told her, "There's another degree that she needs - one that is far more important."
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "A Master's Degree."
Our word for today from the Word of God comes from 2 Timothy 2:15. It says, "Study to show yourself a workman approved unto God who does not need to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth." When the graduates received their degree, it was kind of exciting. Some of them held it up when they walked across that stage. "I crossed that finish line, man!" Some of them waved at people. Some of them waved their degree, and basically the school was saying, "All right, you've done all you need to do to have this school's approval."
Paul is suggesting a higher degree to aim for - a real Master's Degree. It has nothing to do with going on for more college. Jim Elliot was a graduate of the same college that our daughter attended. Jim was a young man who went to the Auca Indians, stone-age savages in the jungles of Ecuador. Some thought he wasted his life. But he invested his life in reaching those precious natives. He gave his life for them as he was martyred by them. Today many of them know the Lord. The killers are pastors of the Auca church. His example caused many of us to go into full-time Christian work. Jim Elliot would say he wanted only one degree in his life. Though he was a college grad, he said, "I want my A.U.G. award - Approved Unto God." Does God approve? That's what Jim said he wanted.
The tragedy is when you sacrifice your A.U.G. - your Master's Degree - in order to get some position of recognition that men offer. Maybe you've given your Approved Unto God to get some academic achievement. Maybe you've made compromises to get it. Maybe you lost your Master's Degree. In order to get a business position or a promotion you paid a price that's too high. Maybe to achieve something in ministry. Maybe the reaching of an important personal goal or dream has actually cost you God's approval. Maybe you want to be acknowledged by a group of friends or colleagues, to be approved by a guy or girl and you lost you're A.U.G. degree along the way because of it.
You've got to ask yourself, did you do it in a way that would give you Jesus' approval too? Or did it cost you Jesus' approval? Have you told the truth on your way to that goal? Have you consistently had your time with Him or have you sacrificed that for your goal? Have you been caring for people or running over people to get there? Have you taken time to minister to people in need or are you just too busy for that? Have you stayed pure?
The president of the college was waiting as our daughter crossed the platform that day, but I told her, "Honey, I think Jesus was waiting with your A.U.G. degree today." I sure hope He has one for me. The Master's Degree is the only one that really matters. When you hear Him say those two wonderful words, "Well done."