The Original Fab Four – Life on Campus

If you are a musicologist, you might think The Fab Four refers to the four boys from Liverpool, England who became a global sensation in the 1960’s. When the Beatle’s early publicist Tony Barrow coined the nickname The Fab Four, he may have thought they were the original fabulous four young men who were making their mark in society. But Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, George Harrison and John Lennon were not the first four men to cause a sensational stir.

Millennia earlier at the prestigious University of Babylon, four young men on campus were causing a stir. UB was the world’s Ivy League university in those days. The Registrar’s office was very strict and carefully screened all the applicants, putting them through the ropes and scrutinizing them with rigor. It quickly became apparent that ‘head and shoulders’ above the others, were four young men who were new in Babylon. They were POWs from Judah and they worshipped the only true God. The empire officials recognized their intellectual capacities as well as their integrity. They began grooming them for positions of prominence.

The Fab Four were given full-tuition scholarships at UB. But campus life wasn’t easy for them. They faced all kinds of pressures and threats. It was so pagan, UB staff even changed their names to reflect paganism. They had to study Babylon’s philosophy and science. They were daily bombarded with the values and culture of a godless society.

As for these four youths,

God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom…

At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in,

the chief …brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

And the king spoke with them,

and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah…

And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them,

he found them ten times better than all … that were in all his kingdom.

(Daniel 1:17-20)

Moving out of High School into the realm of college or university can be very challenging and overwhelming. It’s a rite of passage – turning a corner in life; another step in becoming an independent adult. Have you purposed in your heart that during your college years you will please God at any cost? The Fab Four in Babylon ‘purposed’ in their hearts how they wanted to live for God on campus. They weren’t willing to compromise in their loyalty to God. They were God-pleasers – not peer-pleasers. What are you?

Perhaps you found it just too hard to talk to your friends in High School about spiritual issues. But post-secondary life is different. Young people are entering a new phase of life. Their minds are open and they’re focused on learning new things – even discovering the purpose of life. There’s a greater respect for divergent views. Students who had no time for spiritual issues in High School and sneered at the faith of others, are more receptive to being challenged by the Gospel during their college years.

Are your ambitions higher than achieving an academic standing? Think of yourself as a light for Christ on campus. Consciously live a Christ-like life before your peers. Display the virtues of Christ. Pray that someone will ask you about your faith. You don’t have to be a ‘big preacher’ on campus. Just live Christ before them and be open about your faith. When they ask you how last night went, tell them what you did. “Studied, went to a prayer meeting and then worked until midnight on the project.” Is that very hard to say? Your little reference to a prayer meeting will register deeply on their minds. Down the road, they’ll probably ask you about it and then you’ll be able to tell them more.

Pray that your university years will be distinguished by being faithful to your Saviour and Lord. Pray that you will be a light. Pray that you will be used to win someone to Christ. The Fab Four made their mark for God at UB – what about you, where you are this year? What kind of an impression are you making?