Experience Is The Best Teacher

Now that I am in my senior years, one of my favorite expressions is “Experience is the best teacher”.

The best teacher is not necessarily the Summa, Magna or Cum Laude Alumni, or the Valedictorian in a class. In fact, oftentimes, these are impatient teachers and do not have the patience to take time in explaining step by step or precept upon precept the lessons or principles of life to the students. It is the experienced ones who are not necessarily very brilliant that have the patience to sacrifice in disseminating or scattering, spiritually speaking, their knowledge by teaching what they know to others. They don’t just keep to themselves what they know. They are the teachers who are extra-ordinarily patient and understanding to the plight of the ordinary students. Ministers and workers in the kingdom of God are like unto these teachers.

Imagine if King Solomon to whom God bestowed supernatural wisdom and knowledge kept those to himself. Praise God, he did not! He generously wrote down his knowledge in Song of Solomon, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. These books are the gems of knowledge and source of incalculable wisdom. How many sermons were delivered, and teachers taught out of these scriptural books written by King Solomon? Countless! And there have been and will be blessed and benefited souls who will read and hear these wise adage, if they will apply it in their daily life.

Jesus Christ’s true followers use their knowledge or make others the recipients of His grace. With the anointing of the Holy Spirit, they go forth to give light to those in darkness. Such co-workers in the kingdom of God see many souls turning to the Lord. New truths are continually revealed to them, and as they receive, they unselfishly give and impart. This they do particularly and diligently for as long as they physically are able or until their creator calls for them.

The Lord God/Jesus Christ needs fully and truly committed followers and co-laborers in the Kingdom. Half-converted men and women make half-hearted Christians. These, however, are likened to fruitless trees. Meaning, they don’t bring souls to the kingdom of God. On them Christ looks in vain for fruit; He finds nothing but leaves. Soon they are gathered and burned and become useless as ashes.

But it is not for such as these followers that Jesus calls. His cause does not need such half-baked adherents.

But someone commented. The Lord Jesus was young and was only on his 30’s when he began to teach, preach and minister to people. He was yet young and inexperienced. There is no record that he had acquired vast experience before He started his teaching and preaching ministry. “In every rule there is an exception”. Jesus Christ is the ONLY exception to the rule. He is the Son of God. He is 100% human and 100% God. No one else is like Him. As God, he existed since the beginning.

There was an instance when Jesus told the Jewish religious leaders, “Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad”. The Jews said, “You aren’t even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham?” Jesus answered, “The truth is, I existed before Abraham was even born!” (John 8:56-58 NLT). Notably, this is one of the most powerful statements uttered by the Lord Jesus. When he said that he existed before Abraham was born, he undeniably proclaimed his divinity. Not only did Jesus say that he existed before Abraham, he also claimed God’s holy name (I AM [Exodus 3:14] as his name).

The Lord Jesus Christ was, is and will forever be the best teacher without equal, without being a summa, magna or cum laude, or valedictorian. He is 100% better and more knowledgeable than all these brilliant people, because He is the Son of God. In fact, “He is God” in the flesh. No wonder, the Bible tells us, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God. And the Word was God” (John 1:1).

As such He knows everything from the beginning up to the unknown future of man and this universe. Of course, the book of Revelation revealed already in advance the future of mankind, and of this Universe. Blessed are the ones who believe and act on their belief. We can trust Him in all things and whatever He says. His teachings are embodied in our canonized Bible, particularly in the Gospel as written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Who are these truly committed followers of God/Christ? Those sinners for whom the fetters of sin have been broken, who have sought the Lord with brokenness of heart and have obtained answer to their yearning requests for righteousness. They are active, vibrant and zealous in the work of the kingdom. They become tired physically but nevertheless they are always “on the go” in serving the Lord and other brethren. They sacrifice much of their precious time, effort and intellect, even the wealth entrusted by God to them and their physical well-being. They realize that they have a part to act in the work of soul-winning. They watch and pray and work for the salvation of souls. Molded and fashioned by the Holy Spirit, they gain depth and breadth and stability of Christian character. Always eager and excited to serve the Kingdom and others! They show LOVE and concern for the brethren. Walking in Christ’s footsteps, the one and only supernatural being who loves souls, that He (Christ) so loved such that He substituted for them in the cross of calvary to give them eternal life (John 3:16). They “walk their talk”. They become identified with Him in His self-sacrificing plans. Such Christians are “hot” in preaching, teaching and spreading the Word of God. They are never cold but always warm. Their hearts are filled with unselfish love for sinners, being Christlike. They put things of God first which makes them more and more like their Savior. They are filled with His joy, though they have a lot of human problems of life. “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble” (Job 14:1 KJV). Nevertheless, the promise of the Lord is, “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles” (Psalm 34:17 NIV). Also the Lord promised, “A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all” (Psalm 34:19 NIV). Day by day the believers (righteous) are growing up to the full stature of Christ Jesus though they are not perfect, for only Jesus Christ is perfect.

Experience the Love of God/Christ for souls, the most precious treasure on earth and heaven. Those who have experienced the LOVE, goodness and provision of our God/Jesus Christ have the joy of the Lord in their hearts which is their strength in living not only a difficult but impossible life of a Christian.