Torch, Summer 1986

1 Finishing well honors God. Although difficult, one of the best approaches is to focus on doing the very best work in the position one wants to leave. Too often the decision to make a change prompts a diversion of one's attention and effort away from current responsibilities, and this change is accompanied by an erosion in attitude toward the current employer and colleagues. These changes almost ensure that a positive transition will not occur. No one wants to employ someone who shows a critical, negative attitude toward his current work . On the other hand, one of the best recommen– dations a person can earn is that he finished well, demonstrating loyalty during the difficult transition period . Scripture advises, "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might" (Ecclesiastes 9: 10). ******* Let's personalize this information . As in the best of marriages, the honeymoon ends sooner or later in virtually every career. Once this artificial specialness is past, we can begin building real substance into our involvements. God "grows us" using successes, failures, and a myriad of intervening factors . We may choose to respond by becoming discouraged. Or we may choose constructive, positive responses that demonstrate faithfulness - to God, and to His gifts to us. Dr. Martin E. Clark is Vice President for Development at Cedarville College. For a number of years he served Cedarville College as Director of Counseling Services and Director of Planning . He is the author of Choosing Your Career: The Christian's Decision Manual "Ten rules for getting rid of the blues : Go out and do something for someone else - and repeat it nine times." "You can tell how big a man is by observing how much it takes to discourage him." "Don't despair. Even the sun has a sinking spell every night , but it rises again in the morning." ;~ .. It's aPersonal Relationship! Karen thought she was a Christian when she came to Cedarville College . She enjoyed being with Chris– tian young people, and she'd even made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ because she believed that He had died for the sins of the world - that is , the world in general. But during Fall Bible Conference at Cedarville , God opened Karen's heart to the realization that Christ had died for her - that she indeed was a sinner by birth and by choice and that the only way for her to be right with God was through Christ's death on the cross for her personally. At that moment she trusted Christ as her Savior. How about you? Have you repented of your sin and trusted Christ as your only hope of salvation? It's a personal relationship, you know. God loves you. For information on how you can know the love of God in a personal way and receive everlasting life, con– tact: Harold Green Vice President for Campus Ministries Cedarville College P.O. Box 601 Cedarville, OH 45314 (513) 766-2211 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23) . "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that , while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8) . "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23). 11