Making the grade

At this time of year it can be easy to get totally distracted by revision, and worries about exams and end up losing sight of what really counts in life. Galatians 5v6 tells us that ultimately, what is important “is faith expressing itself through love.”
Right now your GCSEs/A-levels/Other assorted exams may seem like the most important thing in the world, but here’s the simple truth. When you get to heaven, the entry requirements won’t be 3As and a B, or straight As at GCSE. To get into heaven the requirement is that you “let your good deeds shine out for all to see” (Matthew 5v16), that you feed the hungry, care for the sick, clothe the naked and look out for the oppressed (RE Matthew 25v31-46). In the scale of eternity no one is going to care if you passed or failed some exams when you were 17 – they are going to care that you put your faith into practice, and stood out for Jesus.
Now don’t get me wrong, you still need to work for your exams – “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people” (Colossians3v23) – it may be that God has a plan for your life that will only come about if you put in the hard work and get the necessary grades. But don’t lose sight of the bigger picture. Your walk with God is more important than getting good exam results. So don’t let the fact that you are spending more time on revision mean your quiet time gets neglected. Make the time for pray and bible study – if that means getting up earlier because you are working late into the night, do that. And regardless of how your exam grades go, make sure that you make the grade for eternity.