God's Glory - Narrow Door

After the new school year started, a question may come to students' minds: “Why do we have to work hard in our studies/ in this subject (this year)?” Teachers (at least including me) try to give an answer to their students so that their students won't neglect [v. 忽視] their teaching subjects.

After reading the below story from the Bible, I get some insights [n. 深刻的理解; 洞見].

Luke 13:23 And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ 28 In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out.

路 13:23 有一個人問他說：「主啊，得救的人少麼？」24 耶穌對眾人說：「你們要努力進窄門。我告訴你們，將來有許多人想要進去，卻是不能。 25 及至家主起來關了門，你們站在外面叩門，說：『主啊，給我們開門！』他就回答說：『我不認識你們，不曉得你們是那裡來的！』26 那時，你們要說：『我們在你面前喫過喝過，你也在我們的街上教訓過人。』27 他要說：『我告訴你們，我不曉得你們是那裡來的。你們這一切作惡的人，離開我去吧！』28 你們要看見亞伯拉罕、以撒、雅各，和眾先知都在神的國裡，你們卻被趕到外面，在那裡必要哀哭切齒了。

Many students in TTC are lucky that they can know a lot about God when they are still young. However, I suspect [v. 猜想] many students may think if there is really a heaven [n. 天堂], they can enter because they 'know' God or 'read' Bible a lot, and the result will not be so cruel [adj. 殘酷的] that they have to go to hell [n. 地獄]. But the above paragraph tells us that the fact is actually 'cruel'.

Similarly, many students may think that they don't have to be so hard-working and get too good results because it will not be so difficult for them to pass all subjects in HKCEE, study in F.6 or at university. However, F.6 and university places [n. 學位] are really very limited, and the picture is very different when you sit for [phrase. 參加(考試)] open examinations [n. 公開考試] together with many bright students from other schools. The marking schemes [n. 評分系統] can also be unpredictable [adj. 出乎意料的]. As a result, each year when HKAL or HKCEE results are released [v. 發表], disappointed students are far more than happy students.

Let's grasp [v. 抓住(機會等)] the chance to believe in God now! Let's take the opportunity [n. 機會] to make efforts in your studies, fight for your future and let God give you the best things!

[P.S. This year I don't teach any F.1 classes. And, feel free to give me negative but honest comments. :P]