THE INTELLIGENTSIA
My TMMG (Thursday
Morning Men’s Group) has been in a study of the Life of Paul. I recall in 1967 at Oklahoma Bible College (Now Hillsdale College) doing an in depth study into the life of Paul, and routing his Missionary
journeys. This was my first year at
Bible College, and the study was a 101 course of Paul’s life. I thought at the time that course was so difficult that I would never make it through. I remember drawing the maps and
putting scripture and titles along side of the routes, as I traced Paul's journey
beginning in Antioch and ending up with his journey to Rome.
I was inspired by the courage I saw in Paul, after his
encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus and that very study kept me on a
path that I had previously chosen of preaching the Gospel in any place in the
world that God may send me.
Along that path, there have been ups and downs, highs and
lows, but the path has always been there, and it always seemed very clear to
me. Yes, there were times, that of my
own self will, I chose to veer from that path, and follow trails seeking to do
things my way rather than let God lead me.
But somehow, He always managed to get me back on the right path.
And again as we studied through this series with our men, I
notice a new zeal among us to strive even harder to stay on that path, and
bring others along with us.
It has been encouraging to see the leadership of our Church in their increased desire to spend more time in helping men reach new
heights. Watching the different teams in the month-by-month leadership of the morning breakfast excites us all, and keeps
us inspired and moving on.
We find ourselves, just like Paul, in an endurance race,
striving to win the prize that is set before us.
It has been quite interesting to study the messages that
Paul delivered, and note all the similarities that exist in our culture
today. Take a look at the Bible students
at Berea, Acts 17:10-11 Here were find
a bunch of noble students searching the word daily and scrutinizing them with
eagerness to see if what Paul said was true.
This is sort of the way I see our men today. They can be found around the tables in
studies throughout the hallways, offices and conference rooms at GC and at our
breakfast meetings. They are hungry,
craving, studying, searching for truth, and many are coming to grips with this
truth and are going out to tell others about it
And just like Paul, as he went on to Athens and taught in
the Areopagus on Mars Hill, we are finding a world of confusion as the
philosophers, the politicians, the politically correct, the “intelligentsia”
stand up in the market place and say,
“who are these babblers?” “They
seem to be advocating a foreign God. May
we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? You are bringing some strange ideas to our
ears.” Acts 17:16-20.
And we say, with Paul:
That is why I am suffering; yet I am not ashamed. Because I know whom I have
believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have
entrusted to him until that day. 2nd Timothy 1:12.
God help us that we may always be found pressing onward and upward to win that prize.
God help us that we may always be found pressing onward and upward to win that prize.
Dock Caton 08/13/12
