Lord, to whom would we go?

In John 6:67-68 Jesus asks his disciples a heartbreaking question, "Are you also going to leave?" Then Peter says, "Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life."

I truly believe it breaks the heart of God when people turn away from Him and go their own way. Barna Group research says that on the college campus, "anywhere from 52%-63% of freshmen who identify as a born-again believer after 4 years of college will completely abandon their faith." I have heard many first hand stories from family members where a son or daughter is active in church, youth group, and worship team but goes away to college and becomes an atheist. It happens way too often, but why?

We can point to liberal professors, the secular culture on campus or the allure of the party scene. At the end of the day I think it is simply because we fail to understand the plans of God. Whether it be the things God commands us not to do to protect us, or the calling that God puts on our lives that is very difficult and will require hard work, people (especially young adults) walk away from God.  

Peter told Jesus that day that they weren't going anywhere. Even though he and the other disciples had no idea what he was talking about or what they were in for, they did know that He brought words of eternal life.  

We are not going to understand everything God says. We might question His plans for our lives but we do need to stick near Him until He makes sense of it all. College students stick out as easy targets on the college campus. I have quotes from professors at Princeton, the University of Virginia, and Stanford that state they go after Christians to convince them of the "benefits of secularization" and to save them from Christian parents who bring them up in a Christian worldview that is "frightening, vicious, and dangerous." We need to be an encouraging voice for "Christian students" trying to keep their faith in college, as well as a beacon of light for those students who still don't know who Jesus is and the love He has for them.

Last week at our final bible study of the semester at Del Val U. A Palestinian Muslim student showed up for our big group gathering. He listened intently and was fully engaged. At the end of the night, we break up into prayer partners and he was left alone. I was able to share the Gospel with him one-on-one, pray with him, and give him a devotional book. I encouraged him to pursue the God of the Bible and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Please pray with me for Amir's salvation and for his family to stay safe in Palestine.  

Thanks for all your partnership and support, please consider giving us an end-of-the-year gift that will go to our alternative spring break missions trip in 2024.