Duane opened his eyes. He was really groggy, and his head was spinning. He looked at his watch. It was 2:15 in the afternoon. “Man!” He thought to himself. “Slept right past church.” He jumped down from the top bunk bed. He saw that his roommate, Steve, had already left. Duane had a headache, and his stomach wasn’t feeling too hot either. He remembered that the gospel choir he sang in on campus was singing at a church later that afternoon. “I better let them know I’m not gonna be able to make it this afternoon.”
He loved singing in that choir. He had made a number of close friends. He just hated to miss a singing engagement. Especially if it was at a church. The church mothers would always hook them up with a big dinner, after they sang, and there would always be enough left over food to bring back to the room, which Steve really appreciated. “You singing tonight?” Steve would ask. “You know what to do.” That meant bring back some of that food the church mothers had prepared.
Duane had been to a party that previous night. The frats and sororities threw parties every weekend. They were always fun, and there was usually no alcohol, for the most part, because the parties were usually on campus. Duane didn’t really drink anyway. This time though, there was an off-campus after party, and a couple of his friends talked him into going. He didn’t know what prompted him to do it. He wasn’t even a drinker. Maybe he was trying to impress that girl he had just met. He wasn’t sure, but he ended up taking a few sips, and then a few more, and then a few more. The next thing he knew, he had serious buzz, as some people would put it.
He got back to the dorm around 4:00am, and went straight to bed. Now he had slept past church, and would miss singing with the choir this afternoon, because he felt so lousy. The advice his father had given him a few months go, as he got ready to step on the plane, and head off to his first year in college, rang in his head.
“Remember. Take Jesus Christ with you everywhere you go.” That was the advice his father had given him. Great advice! “Well, I sure blew that.” Duane thought to himself. He had been so caught up with everything going on, that he wasn’t thinking about Jesus Christ at all. Man, people are going to be talking about this, he thought to himself. Everyone knew he was a Christian. Well about know, he was just thankful for God’s forgiveness, during the times when would fall. Like last night. He made up his mind right then and there, that he was going to make it a point to bring Jesus Christ with him wherever he went.
What did that mean? It meant that he was going to ask God to guide his steps, and his thoughts in every situation. Even though he now felt lousy because of his previous night’s activities, he was encouraged and motivated to walk more closely with God each and every day.
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12