A student of Amherst College, soon after entering, put over the door of his dormitory room the letter "V." Because of this he endured all sorts of ridicule and withstood frequent questioning. But he paid no attention to either, nor would he disclose the secret of the letter.

When he completed four years of education and graduation day came, the student was appointed to deliver the valedictory. Then the mystery of that letter V was revealed: it stood for valedictorian. That letter on the door held before him during his four years the ideal that he had set for himself.

Not every one of us places an actual letter over the door of our college room or over the door of our house. But nevertheless, somewhere, if only in our minds, there is a "letter" that we hold before us as an ideal.

Some put up the letter "M" that stands for MONEY. Others put up "F" for FAME.

Others put up "S" which simply stands for SELF.*

The letter that we NEED to place before us is the letter "C" which stands for CHRIST. Why is He so important?

Christ addresses our greatest need: salvation from sin. Sin condemns, but Christ saves (Romans 6:23)! He died on the cross so that we might have the forgiveness of our sins (Ephesians 1:7). We receive His forgiveness when we submit our lives to Him in faith (Acts 16:30-31), turning from our sins in repentance (Acts 17-30-31), confessing Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and being baptized (immersed) in His name for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16).

Christ gives us our greatest purpose: to live for Him and urge

others to do the same. "He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again" (2 Corinthians 5:15).

Christ provides our greatest aspiration: eternal life with Him in heaven. This is that for which the Apostle Paul looked forward: "I

have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing" (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

Step outside the door of your heart and look at the letter you have placed there. What letter is it? The right letter is "C" for Christ. And, if we will place Him as the focus of our lives, then the letter "V" will also be OURS to own throughout eternity: "V" for VICTORY! "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57). Eric