By Benoni Mugarura-Mutana

How many times are we taught lessons before we are changed by what we have learned? I am talking about the good things that change our lives for better.

Perhaps many of us are never changed by what we learn because of the way we are taught.  Perhaps we have become accustomed to ignoring important lessons, choosing to live our lives as we please.

Think of the last seminar, workshop of conference you attended.  Were you changed or did things return to normal?  Was it back to the same routine, back to old habits until the next conference or seminar?

Consider our situation in Uganda.  Our education system is based on passing examinations.  Educationists have debated this problem for years, but the change is yet to come.

Why, for instance, would any child growing up in Uganda be taught in history about the Boston Tea Party, the geography of the Rhine River or the Canadian prairies?  There are many subjects taught in Ugandan schools that are inapplicable to our situation and so the information given is forgotten as soon as it is taught.  It does nothing to increase real knowledge or give skills to the learner.

Strangely the teaching of real skills subjects – those that can prepare students for the world – are ignored and relegated to select vocational colleges and the School of Life.

Unfortunately the teaching and learning of the Word of God is often approached in the same way. It is not unusual for people to go to church every Sunday and to ignore the Word of God.

Jesus said to Nicodemus, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” (John 3:3 NIV)

This says, unequivocally, that there is no other way to heaven.  There is only one way to salvation: accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.

Rejection of this lesson will lead to harsh consequences.

Again Jesus says,

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash. (Matthew 7:24-27 NIV)

The next time you hear the Word of God, you can make a conscious decision to take it to heart in order for it to change your life.  It is intended to build you up in your faith and bring you to salvation.