For those of you who do not go to Briarwood, let me fill you in: Every Tuesday morning we have chapel in the auditorium. Most of the time, people use it to study or take a nap and just tune out the speaker. Sad I know, but it is the truth. This morning, like every Tuesday, we headed to the auditorium to hear a fellow student, Tanner Gann, speak. Honestly, I did not think it would be anything out of the ordinary. I was wrong. God truly spoke through him.
Tanner began by saying today, October 25th, would be a day every one of us remembered. He said today was the day that this school would start radically living for Christ. He began to explain the story of Jesus healing two blind men from Matthew 9:27-31. He said, in order to follow Christ, these men had to cross lines of what was considered acceptable back then. They would be looked down upon for their actions. However, in doing so, they were truly trusting and seeking after Christ. When they crossed that line, Jesus healed them. Their eyes were opened; the first thing they saw was the face of Christ.
I will not come near to having the same impact Tanner had in his message, but I will give it a shot:
Tanner's main point was that we must cross the lines we have made for ourselves in our friendships, schools, and churches. We have to confront our sinful desires and cast our fears upon the Lord. We must cross the line that Christ does not make, but sin makes.
At the end of chapel, he closed in prayer. He asked everyone to get on their knees and pray no matter what line seems to be holding them back. He asked that, through Christ alone, we would cross it. When the prayer was over, every student was on his or her knees. We were dismissed, and on the way out not a word was said. Everyone was speechless.
Typically, after chapel everyone goes back to their normal routine. Not today. I did not go to one class without hearing about what the Lord had said through Tanner. Even at lunch, we met and were encouraged by another student, Ben Blackburn, as he shared his testimony to 60+ people. I witnessed close friends change as they said they had to cross the line. I know Christ was moving in Briarwood.
The Lord really got a hold on me today. I have been a Christian since I was about four, but I have never have lived radically. So often, I am wrapped up in my own desires, fears, and sin that I do not even bother to cross the line. Heck, majority of the time I do not bother to look at it. But, today I crossed the line, and I will continue to cross the line day in and day out. It will not be easy. Christ will carry me through.
I was so encouraged by what happened today. I know this is a turning point for our school, and a new beginning for the junior class. Through faith alone, Briarwood Christian School will cross the line.
October 25, 2011
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