March 25, 2010
After 30 years of educational ministry to the children of the Northland, Heartland Christian Academy’s theme continues as “bearing fruit that remains.” We have examined together the spiritual fruit God has been producing in our students over the years, including those listed in Galatians: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” We also looked at honesty and integrity, personal responsibility, a healthy and humble self-worth, and a desire for personal excellence. Last week we examined the consequences of a healthy physical self image that comes from understanding that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and a gift from God.
I close this series with some final fruit coming from a Christ-centered education that I try to demonstrate even in my own life. I did not attend a Christian school, but I had Sunday School teachers and camp counselors who demonstrated the character qualities we have been looking at in recent weeks, and a few more.
One that I try to demonstrate daily, and have seen in many of our students, is a love for learning… a lifelong love for exploring God’s world. All of our teachers demonstrate it: an excitement about discovering something that was previously unknown. Their passion for learning rubs off on their students, and it shows.
Whether it is a chapel speaker from another part of the world, a song done with sign language or in Swahili, or going to Mr. Bera’s farm to see how goats are raised or toys are made from mere sticks and string, or sand in a jar on Mrs. Johannsen’s windowsill from some faraway place, the love of learning and adventure and sense of wonder in both our staff and students is evident.
If we can plant within our students a love for learning about God’s world and the people He created, then the fruit will arise of adults who refuse to be bored with life, thinking that they have seen and know it all.
Another fruit that our students see in their teachers, and even in fellow students, is perseverance when life is not easy. This fruit is essential in our children, because Jesus himself said that in the world we as Christians will have tests and trials. But he also said not to worry or be anxious or fearful, because He has overcome anything the world may throw at us.
If we can develop the fruit of perseverance and patience under trial, prayer in all circumstances, and gratitude to God even when things happen that are difficult, then these children will not lose their joyful grip on life even facing a future more grim than what I had as a child. When sickness comes, the children see teachers pray, believing that we have a healing God. When finances at Heartland are tight, they see us work together to raise what we can, and trust that God will multiply it to make it enough. And when loved ones are lost, as happened to one Heartland family recently, they see that Christ makes a difference, even at the end of life. That is truly “fruit that remains.”
Our program today is sponsored by a new friend of Heartland Focus, G-Force Consulting of Bemidji, which specializes in electric and hybrid vehicles and accessories. Visit them at g-forceconsulting.com.