Friday night wasn’t normal.
It impacted me deeply. I was sad. I was angry. I was distraught. I was sad again. I became even more angry. And then, on Sunday, I was thankful.
Yes, thankful. I was not thankful that it happened. My week would have started much differently had it never occurred. I was thankful because … Friday night didn’t surprise God.
God knew there was going to be a fight. The fight grieved His heart. But, God knew.
On Friday night, a handful of student athletes from Bethel and WCS lost control in the midst of the competition. They are being disciplined for their actions. More importantly, they, along with all of their teammates, are learning from it.
The reality is, our school (teachers, students, parents, administration) has a lot in common with the other schools in our community. We’re all sinners. As Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” I definitely fit the description of a sinner! I find myself getting angry and lashing out: maybe not with fists, but my words can cut deeply. According to James, that’s worse. God is still working on me.
Our school is different, however. Here’s the difference.
We know that there is only one way to overcome the sin in our lives. And that is through the blood of Jesus.
We can try with all our might to be good, but without the power of Christ working in us, we are doomed to fail.
We see the symptoms of a fallen world around us every day. On Friday night, our sinful nature was ugly and on display for the whole world to see. And it broke my heart – not because I was embarrassed but because I was reminded of how sinful we can be. Then I was thankful. Thankful for a God who saw fit to send His Son to die on a cross for our sins.
I am thankful to be at a school that preaches the Good News of the Gospel.
In order for it to be good news, we have to recognize the bad news: we are all sinners, sentenced to death.
It doesn’t matter how good I think I am, I cannot save myself. It is only through faith in Jesus – of His saving work on the cross and His resurrection from the dead – that God deems me innocent. I am thankful that Jesus stands in my place in front of a holy and just God so that I won’t be condemned to death.
I am thankful that WCS can talk openly about Jesus, the only cure for our sins.
I am thankful that we don’t have to hide our faith.
I am thankful that we don’t just treat the symptoms of a fallen world, but we can share the love of Jesus because He is the only person who can save.
There was a Friday almost 2000 years ago that wasn’t normal. God wasn’t surprised then, either. In fact, he sent Jesus to be hung on that cross. He also knew that He would conquer death on Sunday when He rose from the dead.
Good Friday gives us a hope and a confidence in Jesus’ work on the cross, even when we have “Bad Fridays.” I sure am thankful for Sunday!
Paul Brenner, WCS Administrator
Talon Times 