Bible College. What is it good for?

Last night I decided to begin the process of taking all of my Bible college notes out of my file drawer and putting them into three-ringed binders. I started with the file folder labeled Genesis. It's thicker than most of the other folders and I was pleased to see that my test grade was good. Looking over the test, I also realized, that if I were to take the same test today, the grade might be slightly different. Genesis is one of my favorite books of the Bible, but to be honest, I probably crammed for that test to get a good grade. As I got further into my notes, I was impressed with one or two of the papers I had written. It appeared as though I actually knew what I was talking about. However, I'm ashamed to admit that I really don't remember the material.

As I got to my New Testament notes I began to wonder if I could remember anything I learned from those two years of college. Ryan and I just paid off my student loans for this schooling about a year ago. It took me SEVEN years to pay those loans off and now I couldn't remember what I had learned! What did I pay for? Some credits on my transcript claiming I had knowledge? Suddenly those notes became much more valuable to me. I paid big bucks for those pages. I almost wonder if I shouldn't add them to our home owner's insurance coverage! How silly would that be?

But no, I know I learned something valuable from Bible college. Surely being under a fairly strict disciplinary system I learned a thing or two about discipline. I also learned some good character building lessons. Oh man, that time when... ...never mind! I gained some lifelong friendships with people all across the country and around the world. Somehow those two years of my life changed me, but how?

As I looked over my life now and where I am because of that schooling, I realize that the most valuable thing I took from those two years is that it has just plainly made me a better student of the Word. I don't have any more knowledge than any other student of the Word, I just know how and continue to learn how to be a better student of the Word.

I guess some people wouldn't value that as much of anything. Why would you go to school, study all that material, read all those books, and take all those tests just so you can walk across the stage to receive a diploma that simply says, "Congratulations! You have graduated to 'Student Status.'" I'll tell you why. For me it is to keep me humble. One special day I'll move on to 'Graduate Status,' but then again, probably not. Being a student of the Lord Jesus Christ is a life-long, eternity-long study I'm happy to be a student of.

So I guess Bible college was just one more tool to make me a better student of the Savior. It was worth every penny. And I'll be keeping the notes, too!