Still A Student Beyond Graduation - A Baccalaureate Service Series

Still A Student Beyond Graduation

We come here this afternoon to recognize the hard work and effort of these young men and women who are seated among us. They are about to make a major transition in their lives. Graduation is a sign of achievement and success – and we congratulate them. As a gift from our church, at the end of this service we will be presenting you each with a copy of the Bible. The Bible itself makes this claim:

(God’s Word – The Bible) is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. Psalms 119:105 (NKJV)

We hope that you will take this gift and read it – for the Bible can provide guidance as you travel through life.

Today I want to share three thoughts from one verse of the Bible. The verse I want us to look at is Romans 8:28. It is found at the bottom of your bulletins and it reads:

“We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

The first thought I would share with you is:

1. Learn from LIFE.

Some people would try to read into this verse an interpretation which would say, “God works good into all things.” but this is just not true. Not everything that is going to happen in your life is going be good. All you have to do is look around and you can see that there are a lot of bad things happening in this world. I could give you a list, and you could come up with one too, but I’m not here today to talk about bad things. What I want to say to you is that whatever happens to you learn from it.

We know this world is full of good things and bad things – we all have been in this world for a while. You will in all likelihood experience both good and bad. But notice what the verse does say, “All things work together for the good to those who love God”. I would encourage you to learn from all your experiences both the good ones and the bad ones. Learn from them and grow from them.

Paul the writer of much of the New Testament said it best when he wrote; “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am in. I know how to get along with little, and I also know how to live with a lot and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and I have learned the secret of going hungry.” (Philippians 4:11) As you travel through life, I encourage you to learn from all the things that you experience.

Let me give you a real important secret:

Education does not stop with gradation.

Life is the greatest class room that there is. Learn from it.

The second thought is like the first:

2. Learn what has REAL VALUE.

Some of you may be considering continuing your formal education. I would encourage you to do that, but first and foremost realize that education is more than going to school. It is learning to treat others with respect, being honest, and having a sense of integrity about you. It knows the difference between right and wrong and when a choice must be made it is choosing that which is right every time. Remember your friends may come and go, jobs may change, and you may live half way around the world. But there is someone who will always be with you wherever you go. That person is you. Honesty, integrity and faithfulness are qualities that show through your character. In fact they are your character. Live life so that you can look at yourself mirror and see a person that does not stand ashamed of anything. But if you mess up admit it. Seek forgiveness and move on. Learn those things which hold real value.

The third thing I would encourage you to do is:

3. Learn who GOD IS.

I want to read Romans 8:28 to you one more time.

“We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

Did you notice that God is mentioned two times in this verse? The first time He is mentioned the verse speaks about our relationship with Him. He is able to cause all things to work together for our good if we love Him. God has created us to have a relationship with other people but He has also created us to have a relationship with Him and if I have a relationship with Him – He is able to cause all things to work together for your good.