CHALLENGE FOR THE CLASS OF 2007
A. Today is a SPECIAL DAY. We will be honoring our High School Graduates.
1. We frequently arrive at some PIVOTAL MOMENT in our lives when we say, “THIS IS IT! This is what I was WORKING for! This is the MOMENT I have WAITED for!” GRADUATION is such a MOMENT.
COMMENT:
After what sometimes seemed an INCESSANT round of CLASSES, ASSIGNMENTS, LESSONS, and TESTS--when you COMPLETE your SENIOR YEAR of HIGH SCHOOL or get
your COLLEGE DEGREE, you can say, “THIS IS IT! This is what I’ve worked so HARD for!”
2. Now, certainly GRADUATION is not the ZENITH of LIFE-there is so much more to CONQUER.
COMMENT:
However, GRADUATION marks a point to which you have GROWN, and a point from which you must CONTINUE to GROW. Even if your SCHOOL YEARS ended DECADES ago, there are LESSONS to be learned, INSTRUCTION to be received, and MATURITY to be attained.
B. GRADUATION can be a STRESSFUL TIME.
1. FEAR, RELIEF, SADNESS, HOPE, APPREHENSION, and EXHILARATION, all rolled up in a PIECE of PAPER called a DIPLOMA.
COMMENT:
This can be a SCARY TIME for you GRADUATES—for you will be VENTURING out into the UNKNOWN and UNSEEN. You looked forward to this day, and now that it’s finally here it brings both EXCITEMENT and APPREHENSION.
2. This is also a STRESSFUL TIME for your PARENTS.
COMMENT:
With much PRAYER and many TEARS, they have tried to PREPARE you for this DAY—the DAY for you to LEAVE HOME and be on your OWN. It hasn’t always been EASY for them. Believe me, REARING children is not an EASY TASK.
ILLUSTRATION:
Mark Twain, the author of Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Fin, and other great American classics, gave his sage ADVICE to rearing children—especially teenagers. He said, “When a child reaches 13 years of age the parents should place the teenager in a WOODEN BARREL, NAIL the LID SHUT, and FEED the child through the KNOT HOLE. And when the teenager reaches 16 . . . PLUG the KNOT HOLE.”
3. Now you are entering ADULTHOOD, and I know that have HIGH HOPES and DREAMS for the FUTURE, and I PRAY that God will BLESS your EFFORTS and make everyone of them a REALITY.
COMMENT:
Your GENERATION will be the ones who will make a DIFFERENCE in this WORLD, in our NATION, in our STATE, and in our TOWN. But where your EDUCATION, your EXPERTISE, your TALENTS, your INFLUENCE will make the greatest IMPACT on SOCIETY, is not what you do in a LAB, or behind a DESK in an EXECUTIVE office, or sitting at a COMPUTER. Your greatest IMPACT on SOCIETY will be ACCOMPLISHED through the CHURCH by your COMMITMENT and SERVICE to Christ.
C. Although I’ve known you GRADUATES for just two years, I like what I see. I believe that you are fine young men and women. I truly believe that God has some GREAT THINGS in store for you.
COMMENT:
I know that as you GRADUATE from HIGH SCHOOL and go off to COLLEGE and be on your OWN, MISTAKES will be made along the way. There will be STRUGGLES and DIFFICULTIES, but I also know that if you LIVE for Jesus and TRUST in God--you will always be
VICTORIOUS. (I PROMISE YOU THAT THIS WORLD WILL LET YOU DOWN,BUT GOD NEVER WILL!)
MESSAGE:
COMMENT:
Graduates, during your GRADUATION CEREMONY next Sunday you are going to hear many CHALLENGING SPEECHES encouraging you to “DO YOUR BEST and BE YOUR BEST!” You’ve probably heard from your PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, TEACHERS, and your BOSS things like: “You’re an ADULT now!” “It’s time to start planning for your
FUTURE!” “Stand on your own two feet!” “Take on some RESPONSIBILITY.” “Don’t throw away your
EDUCATION!” “What are you going to DO with the REST of your LIFE?”
These CHALLENGES are GOOD and IMPORTANT. But your GREATEST CHALLENGE in life is not CLIMBING the CORPORATE LADDER and making a SIX-FIGURE INCOME.
The CHALLENGE that is going to LAST for ETERNITY is the one I’m going to SHARE with you TODAY. It’s certainly not a NEW CHALLENGE. But of all the CHALLENGES you’ll hear during the next few days, I pray that this ONE will be your greatest PRIORITY.
ILLUSTRATION:
As we honor our GRADUATES today, and recognize the level to which they have attained, I want to tell you about a young man named Ron Arney. As a TEENAGER, Ron was extremely REBELLIOUS--always in TROUBLE with the LAW for FIGHTING and DRINKING. He quit school his JUNIOR YEAR.
A few months after his 18th birthday Ron went to a Christian Youth Rally--only because a girl he WORKED with and had a CRUSH on INVITED him. But while there, he heard MESSAGES about the LOVE and FORGIVENESS of Christ that he had never HEARD before. He was one of the DOZENS of KIDS who went FORWARD during that RALLY and GAVE his LIFE to Christ through BAPTISM.
Ron’s life had COMPLETELY CHANGED. There was truly a SPIRITUAL METAMORPHOSIS from the REBELLIOUS TEENAGER to a YOUNG MAN who wanted desperately to LIVE LIKE JESUS. In fact, he decided to become a MINISTER. So he got his G.E.D. and started attending the Puget Sound College of the Bible in Seattle, Washington.
We can gain some valuable INSIGHTS as we consider this young man and as we look at the CHALLENGE Paul gave Timothy and the challenge I present to our GRADUATES today.
I. LIVE EXEMPLARY LIVES FOR CHRIST- I Timothy 4:12 (READ)
A. Paul begins by saying, “Timothy, don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young.”
1. As we read about Timothy in Paul’s writings, we learn that he had an INFERIORITY COMPLEX.
COMMENT:
He was a PREACHER trained by Paul, but was SHY and easily INTIMIDATED. Being a YOUNG man possibly in his early 20’s didn’t help.
Yet, Paul wanted him to understand that being YOUNG didn’t mean that he couldn’t CONTRIBUTE greatly to the CAUSE of Christ. In fact, Paul told the Philippian church that “he had no one else like Timothy.” Therefore, he had no reservation whatsoever in sending Timothy to WORK among them and MINISTER unto them.
2. Many of you GRADUATES have already PROVEN yourselves in so many areas.
COMMENT:
Don’t allow your YOUTH to be a CRUTCH or as a means to make EXCUSES for not BEING and DOING your very BEST. Instead use your YOUTH as an ASSET for IMPACTING people for Christ that we OLDER FOLKS could never REACH.
B. Paul- “Timothy, even though you are young, you be an example to others in SPEECH, LIFE,LOVE, FAITH, and PURITY.”
1. In other words, “LIVE LIKE JESUS”!
COMMENT:
Graduates, you don’t have to follow the CROWD. You don’t have to use the PROFANITY that your FRIENDS do to be LIKED. You don’t have to DRINK and PARTY along with your CO-WORKERS or your COLLEGE PALS to get ahead in LIFE (Believe me, even in a Christian college, you will find those who like to PARTY). You don’t have to be UNKIND and STEP ALL OVER people to be SUCCESSFUL.
You don’t have to BELIEVE the LIES of the MEDIA or your ATHEISTIC PROFESSOR, who say, “God is not REAL.” You don’t have to give into SEXUAL PRESSURES to find that special GUY who will one day be your LIFE PARTNER, as God intended.
2. Graduates, when people LOOK at you, let them SEE JESUS!
ILLUSTRATION:
Some of the very first people that Ron Arney brought to Christ were a couple of YOUNG MEN he used to HANG AROUND with during his REBELLIOUS DAYS. The DRASTIC CHANGE in Ron’s LIFE got them to thinking about their own SPIRITUALITY.
Ron was a participant in the Traveling College that went to several different COUNTRIES for LEARNING and MISSION opportunities. He truly wanted to LEARN as much of God’s Word as possible. He knew if he was to MINISTER unto people and help them GROW MORE into the LIKENESS of Christ, then he had to continue PREPARING himself SPIRITUALLY to face the TASK set before him.
II. DO NOT NEGLECT YOUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND SERVICE- I Timothy 4:13-14 (READ)
A. Paul was certainly writing to Timothy as a preacher when he encouraged him to “devote himself to public reading of Scripture, preaching, and teaching.”
1. Believe me, preachers are not the only ones who should be READING and studying SCRIPTURE. They are not the only ones who should be SHARING their FAITH and TEACHING God’s Word.
COMMENT:
Graduates (Young People), our FELLOWSHIP will not SURVIVE without YOU. The church’s FUTURE is in your HANDS. It is so important that you start now PREPARING yourself to be MINISTERS, MISSIONARIES, ELDERS, DEACONS, MINISTRY LEADERS, and TEACHERS.
2. But even if you do not have a VISIBLE ROW in the CHURCH, your PERSONAL SPIRITUAL GROWTH is vitally IMPORTANT.
COMMENT:
This is true of not only our YOUNG PEOPLE, but of us ADULTS, as well. In fact, many YOUNG PEOPLE far exceed the SPIRITUAL GROWTH of their PARENTS.
B. Spiritual DISCIPLINE achieved through WORSHIP, PRAYER, STUDY, and SERVICE is invaluable.
COMMENT:
Graduates, please don’t spend all of your time DEVELOPING SKILLS and GAINING KNOWLEDGE that will only BENEFIT you in this LIFE. Spend time DEVELOPING your SPIRIT that will BENEFIT you for ETERNITY.
Although you have your ENTIRE LIFE ahead of you, LIVE each DAY as if it will be your LAST.
ILLUSTRATION:
While taking a break from their STUDIES and MISSION WORK, Ron and some of his classmates went SWIMMING in the SURF off the north end of Luzon Island in the Philippines when a SHARK ATTACKED. Ron’s leg was SEVERED below the KNEE. He was carried to SHORE by his friends.
Emergency crews tried various methods to apply ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION. Frantic effort was put into SAVING the young man’s life. But Ron Arney DIED from loss of blood in spite of all that was done to SAVE him. Charles Selby, a MISSIONARY in the islands said, “In my 26 years here I cannot recall anyone being injured or killed by a shark.”
This, of course, raised a lot of questions: “Why now?” “Why Ron, of all people?” “What GOOD can come of this?” “Where was God in all of this?”
III. PERSEVERE IN YOUR WALK WITH CHRIST TO THE VERY END- I Tim. 4:15-16 (READ)
A. Graduates please listen to me very CAREFULLY.
1.As you get on the FAST TRACK of becoming . . . whatever your HEART’S DESIRE, please do not FORGET about God. Don’t THROW AWAY your RELATIONSHIP with Jesus.
COMMENT:
There are so many Christian young people when they LEAVE home to PURSUE their EDUCATION or EMBARK upon a promising CAREER, also LEAVE God and His CHURCH.
In fact, according to statistics, over HALF of Christian young people WALK AWAY from God after graduating from HIGH SCHOOL. And if that statistic holds true for you, which of you are not going to remain FAITHFUL to God?
I personally know what it’s like to WALK away from God for awhile--it was, without a DOUBT, the most MISERABLE TIME of my LIFE. And I personally know what it’s like to have a CHILD to WALK AWAY from God--it is, without a DOUBT, the GREATEST HURT I have ever EXPERIENCED in my LIFE.
2. PLEASE DO NOT BECOME A STATISTIC!
B. No matter what LIFE THROWS at you, continue to SERVE God with every fiber of your being.
ILLUSTRATION:
The untimely death of a young MINISTRY student forced upon Ron’s loved ones LESSONS that were difficult to learn. But Ron, even though he was BLEEDING to DEATH, wasn’t FINISHED TEACHING. As two of Ron’s Traveling College companions, Bill Watkins and Dean Summers, stood by him, he LIFTED his EYES to HEAVEN and said, “God, I LOVE you. This is the MOMENT I have been WAITING for.”
He taught more in those SENTENCES than he might have in years of PREACHING. Then, Ron CLOSED his EYES and DIED. For those left behind, a TRAGEDY—for Ron, ETERNAL VICTORY.
He never FINISHED his COLLEGE COURSES—but with Paul could say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing”- II Timothy 4:7-8.
THAT’S THE GREATEST GRADUATION WE’LL EVER ATTAIN!
CONCLUSION:
COMMENT:
Graduates, there will be UPS and DOWNS in your LIFE. Never allow Satan to DECEIVE you into thinking that God isn’t REAL. Don’t allow him to DECEIVE you into thinking that there is no HEAVEN or HELL.
Instead, PERSEVERE in the THINGS you already KNOW—and if you want to KNOW more, just ASK SOMEONE. Then, LIVE for JESUS and KEEP the FAITH.
ILLUSTRATION:
There was a man walking with his son down a country road. On the left was a beautiful country ESTATE. A big black LIMOUSINE pulled onto the circular DRIVEWAY. Out of the automobile stepped a FINELY DRESSED and WELL-GROOMED gentleman, who NODDED to the man and the boy and then went into his MANSION. “When I grow up,” the boy enthusiastically said to his father, “I’m going to be a SUCCESS just like him!”
As they continued their walk, the SUN became DARKENED. They began walking up a HILL, and reaching the TOP they saw a man HANGING on a CROSS with his MOUTH drawn up, BLOOD caked on his FOREHEAD, dried SPITTLE on his BEARD, and with a large GASH in his side. The man looked like anything but NOBLE. He was the EPITOME of an ABUSED, UNLOVED, and FORSAKEN man.
The father, POINTING to the LIFELESS body hanging on the CROSS said to his boy, “Son, when you GROW UP, I want you to be a SUCCESS just like Him!”
COMMENT:
Graduates,if you achieve your GOALS, reach your OBJECTIVES, realize your DREAMS while striving to IMITATE Jesus, then, and only then, will you become a TRUE SUCCESS.
