Graduation Celebration 2021!
2 Timothy 1:7, Philippians 3:13-14, Hebrews 12:1-3
How Do I Make It In This World?
Introduction
Everyone is trying to make it in this world.
Some people will go to considerable lengths attempting to find success.
An athlete might try taking steroids or performance-enhancing drugs.
Some might try to gain insider trading news to make an extra buck.
Someone may lie on their resume to get a better job.
The question in the minds and hearts of these people is, “How can I make it in this world?”
But none of these things, or the like, will help them ultimately make it in the world. There may be a measure of seeming success to those who cut in line, crash through gates, lie, cheat, and steal, but it doesn’t last. It cannot last forever.
So how do you make it in this difficult world?
The Bible is an ancient book, but it contains timeless truths that are ever-relevant. It gives us principles that if applied can make a life worth living. This morning I am speaking to our graduates and I want to share three truths with you that I hope you will allow to define and guide the next phase of your journey in this life. You three have been successful to this point in life. You are about to cross a threshold into another season of life, and you are ready. With God’s Spirit within you, His Name upon you, the support of your parents, your church. You’ve got brains in your head, feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any way you choose. So, here are three principles from God’s Word to use as a guide:
1. Face your Fears
2. Forget Your Failures
3. Follow your Faith
I. Face Your Fears (2 Timothy 1:7)
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind (self-control).”
We are all afraid from time to time. Anxiety is a part of the experience of being human. This is why Jesus spent time in the sermon on the mount dealing with it. This is why the Bible is filled with the admonition to “fear not.” This is why the Bible is filled with encouragement at crucial moments in the lives of its sheroes and heroes. We ALL get scared. We ALL get nervous. God remembers the way we are made and He deals with us accordingly. It doesn’t matter who you are or what your vocation in life there will be moments of fear.
Ricky Williams was drafted in the first round after New Orleans traded all their draft picks for him. His rookie season was not that great, and it was appearing that he would be a complete bust. Part of his problem was that he had a social anxiety disorder. He was uncomfortable in public. It affected his playing. He would become so worked up he could not perform on the level he was able to. He was traded to the Dolphins in 2002. It was there that he received counseling for the problem and faced his fears.
It is not wrong to have fears. What is crippling is when we let our fears control us. When become consumed by fear we cannot see clearly. Anxiety can dominate us. It can become a perpetual state. It can so control us that it keeps us from doing things.
A university did a survey. They showed groups of ten students a set of lines. The professor would then ask them which line was the longest. In each group, nine of the students participating were told to choose the second-longest. One student did not know what was going on. In 75% of the tests, the single student would go along with what everyone said. Why? Out of fear. Fear of being wrong. Fear of not being accepted.
How can we overcome this? In 2 Timothy 1:7, Paul wrote these words:
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind (self-control).”
Keep in mind that when Paul wrote this to Timothy, he was a young preacher trying to be all that God intended him to be but he had a lot of fear. He was standing at the thresholds of life and he did not know all that was ahead of him.
So, Paul tells him not to be afraid. Paul tells him (and us) that we can have the confidence to face our fears through what God has given us. He has given us His Spirit! And His Spirit is not a spirit of fear. His Spirit is a Spirit that gives us power, love, and a sound mind! A mind that gives the ability to control ourselves, rather than being dominated by our fears!
Fears will be with you all your life. Something that is key is, “Do not run from your fears, FACE them.” Make it a habit. Make it a way of life, to face your fears. Sometimes you have to slowly move towards what gives you anxiety but do it anyway. Eventually, you will find yourself like David, running towards your Goliaths.
You’ve made it this far. God has been with you! You’re going to do great in this next season of life. Keep moving ahead.
Be willing to stand against what is wrong. Don’t go along with the mob or the bullies.
Be willing to try something new.
Be willing to disagree with your professors when their words contradict the Word of God.
Be willing to say to society that is not right. And have the courage to say it with class and gentleness.
Be willing to admit that there is an absolute right and absolute wrong. Be willing to admit that you are not always absolutely right, and sometimes you are dead wrong.
Be willing to make ethical decisions at work and on tests.
Be willing to be the one in the class, at work, and in all your relationships who doesn’t cheat.
You serve a God who gave you the Spirit of power of love and of self-discipline!
USE WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU! Here is your chance to knock it out of the park!
II. Forget Your Failures (Philippians 3:13-14)
“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
We need a better understanding of failure. When we hear the word failure it immediately has a very negative connotation attached to it. As a society we hate failure. You see many people who dwell constantly on their failures. Ohh, I don’t want to do that because I tried it before and failed. Ohh, I would teach Sunday School Class but the first time I tried I failed, and I will never do it again. I don’t want to do…
Everyone fails at one point in their life.
Those who succeed are those who fail in the right direction. You’re going to have moments of failure. Just make sure you are facing the right direction when you do.
Success is not final. You are going to graduate from high school in a few weeks. Great job!!! There is more to come. Failures are not fatal. It is not always going to work out the way you hope, but there is more to life if you will keep heading in the right direction.
Our failures are often the beginnings of our successes.
What does this mean for our lives? Look at Philippians 3:12-14. Notice what Paul says:
“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Forgetting what is behind me and pressing forward. Paul obviously made many mistakes in his life. He learned from them. He also had many successes. But he chose not to dwell on them in such a way that either his successes or his failures kept him from going forward!
If you sit and dwell on all your failures, you will never get anywhere. You will never succeed. You will be afraid to do anything. If you try something and you do good, great. If you try something and fail, move on or practice and try again until you get it! There will be other opportunities.
A story is told about one of the most powerful speeches that Winston Churchill made. It was a commencement speech for Oxford University in the middle of WWII. He repeated the word, “NEVER GIVE UP!”
When you fail, forget about the failure and try again!
III. Follow Your Faith (Hebrews 12:1-3)
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
In running a race, you always want to know where the finish line is. I’m sure Ethan would agree that he never wanted to run a race where he did not know where the finishing point is. It may be ok if you do not completely know the course, but you needed to know the finishing point.
It is knowing the goal that helps you endure the grueling miles along the run.
The Apollo 13 as we remember had some major mechanical malfunctions. The possibility of making it was slim. They had to conserve energy as much as possible. Then for 39 seconds had to conduct a burn. However, they had no instruments to tell them which direction to go. So, Jim Lovell found his reference point. He stared at the earth out of a tiny window for 39 seconds. Never losing sight of the reference point. They made it home because they kept their eyes on their destination as they navigated towards their goal.
You tend to steer yourself towards what you focus on.
What is our Reference point? Hebrews 12:1-3:
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus. He is our reference point.
What happens to many people is they take their eyes of Jesus. They begin to look at other things. They begin to forget their reference point. And they don’t make it. They don’t finish the race, or they take long detours that cost them precious time.
To finish the race, you need to continue to follow your faith. Continue to keep our eyes fix on Jesus. Find a church near where you are going to college where you can connect with others who are running in the same direction that you are. Find others where you are that are looking towards Jesus. You won’t regret it! Any other reference point will fail. Follow your faith. Follow God.
Conclusion:
We want you all to make it in this world. And in the next. We all want to be successful.
In order to do that you have to:
Face Your Fears
Forget your Failures
Follow Your Faith
This is not a simple “you can make $100,000 a year from your home working 2 hours a week plan.” This is not a get-rich-quick scheme.
Life is tough. Life is hard. There is no way around it.
God is greater than your fears.
God will help you overcome your failures.
God will guide you along the course of life.
Just keep Jesus as the focal point of your life.
Our church has a tradition that we have held for decades. One of the gifts that we give to graduates is a Bible. We have a Bible for each of you. We are also giving you a devotional. It is a 365-day devotional. I encourage you to read it. Daily. You know how to pray. Pray daily. You know the importance of attending a local church and being involved. Do it.
That is how you can make it in this world!
Invite students and families to the front for prayer.
