I may have graduated from formal education some time ago, but the instruction I received then is more than valid today as I move forward. Think of sentence structure, Punnett Squares, cash accounting, and all of those “reading”, “writing”, and “rithmatic” items that were learned. Those items may be from the past, but their concepts and uses are very important today.
“4For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” – Romans 15:4 (ESV)
Well all that we learned in school was not all that we learned. Paul draws our attention to the Old Testament and the instruction we receive from the scriptures. Whereas they are from the past and the structure of how used may be a little different today, there is plenty if not all that is useful as we move into today and forward to tomorrow. Think the ten commandments, the life of David, and the whole of Proverbs as just a few examples of instruction from the Old Testament that we use today.
Although I may have reached an end to my formal education, my informal and spiritual education is ongoing. I have to remember that my christian education did not end with my acceptance of salvation. In fact, that should be looked at as just the beginning. Now that I am exposed the love and glory of God, it is my duty to focus on His instruction for my life. That instruction is what is presented for me today and into tomorrow, but I have plenty from the past that I should be learning from that is just as if not more important.
When looking at the instruction in your life, how are you using it today? Are you looking only to the today and tomorrow for learning? What if you applied all that you learned from the past for your today and tomorrow?
Trevor's Thoughts 