Finals Week dooms across college campuses every year about this time. The atmosphere changes from alive to dead, from carefree to stressful, from fun to boring...and why? Some colleges call the week before Finals “Dead Week,” but the reality is that Finals Week itself is the dead week. For an entire semester we work hard to create memories, go to formals, make all the “community events,” have fun, and live life while getting our work done and doing some studying along the way (ok, my disclaimer understands this doesn’t apply to everyone, but only to the atmosphere of a college campus). After 4 months of this lifestyle, we devote 1 week, a few tests, hours of cramming, and an abundance of stress to finish the semester...that’s why. And it doesn’t make sense. Finals Week marks the end of the semester which marks the beginning of something new. Even if that something new is summer school (God forbid) it’s still different and something worth looking forward to. We anticipate what’s next when the end comes. For some of you, that end means no more college and a real job so you can’t just cram to get by anymore...what you learned is about to be tested in the real world. For some of you that end marks the first year you’ve been away from home and you can’t wait to see mom. Cramming might get you by the first few times she asked what you learned this semester, but don’t count on it lasting too long. The answer that you learned how to “live life” doesn’t work either...at least let her think you had more than just fun last semester. For most of you, though, you are finishing up your sophomore or junior year and you’re just doing your thing until the next round of Finals pops up. You’re in a holding pattern where cramming is king and you can get by without questions from Mom or the boss. I struggle with the thought of what you all are experiencing right now or next week. Did I really learn the stuff or am I just getting by for the test? Am I really prepared to graduate and head out into the job market? Does mom really need to know everything I learned this semester? How bad do I want an “A” in that class? What was that professor’s name again? I can’t believe how late I stayed up/didn’t go to bed last night! The commonality in all of it is a lack of balance in our lives. "Don't let this throw you. You trust God, don't you? Trust me. There is plenty of room for you in my Father's home. If that weren't so, would I have told you that I'm on my way to get a room ready for you? And if I'm on my way to get your room ready, I'll come back and get you so you can live where I live. And you already know the road I'm taking." Thomas said, "Master, we have no idea where you're going. How do you expect us to know the road?" Jesus said, "I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him. You've even seen him!" John 14:1-7 (The Message) There are a few things to look at in that passage in light of Finals Week and our lives in general. First, He has already gone to get a room ready specifically for you. So yes, we should live in anticipation of what’s to come...what’s next at the end of this. Even in the uncertainty or the holding pattern of life, we should live knowing that we have a room prepared by Christ Himself. The other thing I want to draw on is this...STOP CRAMMING! It doesn’t work longterm and we need to live our lives with an eternal perspective and cramming is very temporal. When push comes to shove, you might pass a few tests along the way, but when a “real world” job or test comes up, what are you going to do? There is no question that Jesus said “If you REALLY knew me...” on purpose. REALLY knowing something or somebody isn’t just getting by...it’s a relationship. In order to understand the importance of that relationship and continue to grow in it, we have to have balance. “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, in favor with God, and favor with man.” – Luke 2:52 Jesus said He is the Way (The Road in The Message) and in order to get to the place He’s prepared, we have to live in a balanced relationship with Him. We have to REALLY know Him.