A MESSAGE TO THE GRADUATES OF 2005
First of all, congratulations on your achievements in this, the last year of your High School endeavor.
Your hard work and dedication has finally paid off.
You have passed one of the many road marks which are set before you in this life.
But as with anything in life, the end of one season is really just the beginning of another.
Now you will all begin this new season of your life.
This is the time where we as adults place the burden of high expectations and our goals for your life upon your backs and watch to see you succeed.
We usually hear the charge at commencements to these graduates to become leaders of our industries and institutions.
But this charge is an unfair goal set upon them.
The reality is that God has not created every person to be a leader.
By placing our expectations on these graduates as opposed to God’s expectations, we set them up for failure.
Today though, I suggest that we as a church family place but one expectation upon these graduates.
To be ALL God has created them to be.
Some of them may be created by God to be heads of state, leaders of industry or perhaps the next Michael Jordan.
But we as a family must support them in whatever direction God has placed before them.
Be all God has created you to be!
I want to remind the graduates to keep the whole armor of God at all times.
Keep the helm of salvation upon your heads, remembering to protect your thinking from ungodly teachings. Remembering where you come from and where God is taking you.
Keep the breastplate of righteousness on at all times to protect the word of God which has been written upon your hearts.
Wear the belt of truth which holds all of your armor together for your spiritual protection, the truth which is Jesus Christ.
The shoes of the gospel of peace, sharing Christ with those you meet, bearing witness to all.
Carry the shield of your faith in God which will protect you against the attacks of the devil which WILL come against you. It will extinguish all of his fiery darts and keep you from harm.
And finally, in your hand the Sword of the spirit which is the word of God, your bible.
With the word, you will keep your enemy at bay.
And in all things, pray, pray, pray.
Because it is through prayer that we have a relationship with God and it is through this relationship that we draw our strength.
There are 3 things you should remember as you begin this new season.
1. Face your fears.
2 Timothy 1:7-9
“For God did not give us a timid spirit, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
8So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,”
2. Forget your failures.
Philippians 3:13-14
“Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
3. 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. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Face your fears, forget your failures and follow your faith wearing the whole armor of God.
Be ALL that God has created each of you to be.
