It’s rare, but every now and then I can sit back and enjoy watching a good television game show. My favorite is Jeopardy—because I love to be intellectually stimulated and learn.
Like most Americans, I was saddened to hear of the passing of Alex Trebek who hosted Jeopardy for over 37 years. Trebek died on November 8, 2020, at the age 80, after a 20-month battle with stage IV pancreatic cancer. I can’t even begin to calculate how many thousands of answers to trivia questions that I heard come out of his mouth over the years.
While it’s one thing to know trivia, it’s quite another to know the Word of God and live it out. As God’s people we should crave to know Him more. To sit at the feet of His Word and be lifelong learners of His truth.
In a penetrating and challenging article entitled, “Resolve to Be a Lifelong Learner”, David Mathis, Executive Director for Desiring God and Pastor at Cities Church in Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN said, “Wisdom does not come automatically with age (Job 32:8–9). You’ll find plenty of foolish old fogies out there.
For many aged saints, gray hair and a good head go hand in hand. But for others, far too many others, length of life only entrenches stubbornness, irritability, and careless ways of thinking and living. Life experience may increase inevitably with age, but without some long-term pattern of receptivity and intentionality, multiplied experiences will only create more confusion than clarity.
For Christians in particular, the stakes are even higher for cultivating holy curiosity and the mindset of a lifelong learner. Teaching and learning are at the very heart of our faith. To be a “disciple” means to be a “learner.” Our Master is the consummate teacher, and the central task of his undershepherds in the local church is teaching (Titus 1:9; 1 Timothy 3:2; 5:17; Hebrews 13:7; Matthew 28:20). God designed the church to be a community of lifelong learners under the earthly guidance of leaders who are teachers at heart.”
With that in mind, let’s continue considering what we learned in 2020…
Lesson # 11
We are so blessed to live in America. Even with all its warts, it is still the freest nation on the planet. But with freedom comes responsibility. And this is where folks are really struggling. Sin is rampant and things are not like they once were. With all that we have been observing, it really begs the question, “Could it be that we (in real time) are witnessing God removing His hand of blessing on our nation?”
“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34)
Lesson # 12
Sadly, a godless ideology and worldview now permeates the highest levels of our government and society. The world is sick, but we have the remedy. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the only permanent answer to society’s ills, not political reform. Only the gospel has the power to change lives.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written: “But the righteous one will live by faith.”” (Romans 1:16-17)
Lesson # 13
People seem to really struggle with submission. That’s problematic on many levels because every relationship that God designed includes an authority/submission principal. Every single one. (Romans 13:1; Ephesians 5:21-22, 6:1-2, 5-8; Titus 3:1; Hebrews 13:17; I Peter 2:13, 3:1)
What folks often miss when the subject of submission is bandied about, is God knew that there would be disagreements and alternative ways of thinking about various things. So, He established a responsibility structure that we are to follow. Can you imagine what a difference it would make if God’s people actually modeled submission?
“Submit therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)
Lesson # 14
Oh my. When some folks are taken out of their comfort zone things can get ugly. If we learned anything in the past year or so, it is that stress triggers erratic behavior, even among Christians.
As one of my good friends often says, “Calm down!” When things are seemingly not going our way, maybe that’s a good thing. Perhaps we need a reminder that God is ultimately in control, not us. (Psalm 103:19)
Through it all, let’s not forget that God is causing all things to work together for our good and His glory. (Romans 8:28)
Lesson # 15
Pride, arrogance and selfishness is not a good look on anyone, let alone someone who professes Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. It was A. W. Pink who once said, “Growth in grace is growth downward. It is the forming of a lower estimate of ourselves. It is a deepening realization of our nothingness. It is a heartfelt recognition that we are not worthy of the least of God’s mercies.”
And I think he was right. It seems counterintuitive, but when we shrink, we grow. And vice versa. Our view of ourselves is to become less, not more. We could all use a little more humility.
“You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God is opposed to the proud, but He gives grace to the humble. Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time.” (I Peter 5:5-6)
We’re almost there. Just five more lessons to go.