The More Important Question

Sweat dripping down my face as I tried with all my might to sit still and tolerate the heat that I was feeling.

Graduation rehearsals - one of the stickiest and irritable yet fondest last memories that I had in college. Never mind the uncomfortable feeling brought by the toga donned on us and the high heels we were wearing as we tried to perfect the walk, the sitting and standing, even the clapping, while at a covered court that's undeniably humid. It was worth the attendance, nonetheless.

For that three days of attending our graduation rehearsals, knowing too well of the emotional and reflective person that I am, I opted not to touch on or think of anything that would trigger my emotions to overcome and eat me. But then every time I would go back to my seat after playing pretend of getting my diploma on the stage and as I would watch my fellow graduates to each have their own turns, I couldn't stop myself to look back and ask a question to myself. DID I MAKE IT COUNT?

My college life that is.

How do we even measure the answer to such question?

By the distinctions you achieved? By the numbers of medals around your neck? By the organizations you became part of? By the grades you got? By the exams you aced? By the friends made and enemies you forgave? By the times you decided to stand after a fall?

I imagined God standing at the middle of the stage. Her name was called, she gracefully went up the stage and walked towards God to get the diploma, she paused as God asked her a question. What do you think would be the question? I don't think He would ask about her distinction, or how well she did in school, or how she behaved in class, not even the things she learned in college. More important than that. God has a question much much more important than that.

This might probably be my last entry for this blog site. When I decided to put this up, what was on my mind were students who I believe I can share the same experiences, frustrations, joy and delight with in honoring God and making disciples. Students who I can share how their same God would show Himself faithful to me all the time.

And what God has showed me through this blog site in that span of two hundred and thirty one days is this. As students, we are meant to do much more than learning in school or getting high grades, we are meant and called for a greater purpose. That is to shake our campus and make an impact to the lives of people by allowing God to use us in order for them - our classmates, even teachers - to see His glory.

This is something very much important and crucial for me because I met Jesus when I was in first year college. When I was a student. Let me say it again - in school, when I was a student. I came to know Jesus through students who allowed God for them to be used by Him, who radically and faithfully stepped out of their comfort zones to share their faith to me just so I would know my Saviour. Most part of why I passionately and deeply believe in the youth is because of this. I believe in students like you. I believe you can change the world by changing your campus. It can happen. We are never too young to make an impact in this world.

I know how terrible a student life is without a true relationship with Jesus. I've been there. And I know that there are thousands of students out there who badly need Jesus in their lives. Some of them might be your friends or classmates. Will you allow God to use you in order for them to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ?

God placed you in that school for an eternal purpose. And when it's time for Him to ask you that more important question, I want to believe that He also has a much better reward waiting for you than that of what we could get in this world.

If there's one thing I want to leave and remind us with as I wrap this whole blog site up is still gonna be this...

Honor God. Make Disciples.

“O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!”

The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

- Jeremiah 1:6-8

Thank you Jesus!

To all the people who, by one way or another, became part of From One to Two Hundred and Thirty One, to those who dropped by and made time to read and comment, THANK YOU VERY MUCH! :)



DAY 228. SIGNING OFF. 03.28.11 2:50am

The Faces I Want to See In Heaven

We were in Victory Center Katipunan this afternoon when my friend saw on Yahoo! News about what just happened in Japan. All of a sudden my eyes were glued on the screen as we try to read the news. Then my other friends in the room joined us in conversation and told us about the tsunami alert here in our country. We were all in denial and wishing it wouldn't happen until a friend blurted out "Okay lang, sa heaven naman ako mapupunta!"

Since I made a decision to accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior and to follow Him all the days of my life, I wasn't anymore too afraid to die. Some people don't like discussing about death - especially their own death. I know this is gory but if I die today, you can ask my friend Mariel about all my bilin because we sometimes talk about our own deaths.

I'd like to believe that when I die I'll get to see Jesus in heaven. I'd like to believe that when I die I'll have a chance to eternal life. I'd like to believe when I die I'll see God face to face. I'd like to believe that when I die I'll be in heaven where there's no more pain or struggle. This makes me not so afraid of death. But I realize this afternoon, though I'm not afraid to die, I still don't want to die yet because I'm afraid I might NOT see the faces I want to see in heaven.

How about you, are you going to see the faces you want to see in heaven someday?

Don't get me wrong. We're not judging people here. We're not also saying that we are sure of going to heaven, and some people are not. But just a thought. That classmate you always see in school, have you shared Jesus to him already? That friend who've been so curious about your faith, have you gotten the courage to share the Gospel to her already? Your mom or your dad, have you already told them how Jesus changed your life?

I'm afraid to answer my own questions. I was compelled by these thoughts.

Romans 6:23 says "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Good news are meant to be shared my friends. And we don't wait until a tsunami hits our country before we share it to someone else.

DAY 213 03.12.2011 1:35pm

I've Got An Excuse

I've found a good excuse lately to not make disciples...

"GOD, I'M GRADUATING! I'M LEAVING MIRIAM SOON SO I'M NOT GONNA ANYMORE JUMPSTART A SMALL GROUP OR START DOING ONE2ONE WITH ANYONE. I'M LEAVING ANYWAY!"

Just today God rebuked me.

We will graduate in school but we will never graduate in making disciples. Making disciples doesn't stop at graduations. We don't stop making disciples when semester ends. Certainly we don't stop making disciples especially when God tells us to "Go and make disciples."

I've been putting God down lately when He tells me to do One2One with these certain students, "God, are you sure? The semester is about to end!," because I've made up this rule in my head that when summer comes, we also take a vacation in reaching out to our friends and classmates, "God, that's so illogical, I don't think that's a wise thing to do" - even if He's already been putting people in my life who are very much open to the Gospel yet still I'm being reluctant to do One2One with because hey, I've got an excuse!

When God calls us to do something, no matter how many excuses we could think of, obey anyway.

Don't miss out on that opportunity to be used by God this vacation. This might be your friend's time to come to know God. And you don't want to be absent when that happens just because you've got excuses. Just go when God tells you to go. No but's, not if's, no excuses.

"Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” - Matthew 28:16-20

DAY 208 03.07.11 11:36pm