Students listen to Christ-centered speeches and a musical performance

To kick off the last week of Convocation, Eric Smith came on Wednesday, Nov. 30 to speak to Liberty students. Smith is a church planter. 

This week, he came to speak to students specifically about putting their identities in Christ. 

He started off by asking students if they’ve ever experienced a “spiritual valley,” meaning a low point in their walk with Christ. 

He talked about how even after going into ministry, he had trouble remembering to set apart time for personal investment in Christ, and he ended up drifting away from Christ at one point. 

All believers have experienced this drifting at one point or another, Smith said. 

Smith even mentioned how Satan will bring back previous struggles so that believers are even more tempted to stumble into things God has already delivered them from.

“Satan always works to undermine God’s authority,” Smith said. “Then, he robs us of our identity.”

He then went on to talk about three inhibitors to faith: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. Satan wants Christians to believe that God is keeping them from greatness. 

For example, when the Bible talks about the state of drunkenness, Satan may tell people that God does not want them to have a good time. 

Satan strives to break believers so that he can mold them into the person he wants them to be. 

Smith, like many other Convocation speakers who have come to speak on the issue of identity, pushed students to rely
on Christ. 

On Friday, Dec. 2, students experienced the final Convocation, which was an Advent service. 

The Worship Collective performed a set full of defining Christmas classics. 

Josh Rutledge also came with a quick devotional to remind students in whom to place their hope this Christmas. 

Rutledge encouraged students not to worry too much about tomorrow because Christ has already seen tomorrow. Knowing that, Christians should be confident that God has it under control, so they can place hope in him. 

“The end came down into the present. And so, our future hope became our present reality,” Rutledge said.

God has seen all that has happened, is happening and will happen. 

Whatever may happen, for better or worse, people can know that God will use it to glorify him. 

During this Christmas season, people should celebrate the hope they have in Christ while enjoying time with family. 

Austin is a news reporter for the Liberty Champion. Follow him on Twitter