Three Life Lessons for the Class of 2014
I'm so excited for you all the Class of 2014. I can't wait to see what God is going to do in and through you guys. I want to challenge you as you move forward with three life lessons that I think will be important in the coming years.
Invest your life in things that will last!
For you, the Class of 2014, life is just beginning. The last few years have been preparation for this journey. There are people that have invested in you. Your parents, teachers, and other leaders have poured into your lives. Now, I want to challenge you to invest your life into something that will last for eternity. Most of you guys will go to college or find employment. You’ll look for a spouse, career, or other opportunities. Jesus tells us “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal…” (Matthew 6:19-20) Paul advises “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” (Galatians 6:7-8) This class of seniors has amazing potential! I pray that you guys will use that potential for God’s glory! C T Studd summed it up, when he wrote:
Give me Father, a purpose deep,
In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e'er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.
Identify your influences!
The next few years of your life are going to be pivotal. You are going to be making a lot of major decisions that will affect your life. As you make these decisions and take these steps, you need to be following truth. Solomon gives us amazing advice about this stage in your life. “Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.” (Proverbs 4:26) There are going to be a myriad of people and things that will have influence on you in the next few years. There will be professors, roommates, friends, music, movies, and a million other things. I want to challenge you to identify the influences in your life. If they are godly influences, keep them. If they are distracting you, dispose of them. The difficulty is that these influences may deceive you. They may appear to be good or right, but they may lead to destruction. “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” (Proverbs 16:25) This discernment must come from God and His Word. I encourage you to spend time in the Word of God and prayer, not as a magical ritual, but because you need wisdom. David understood this when he penned Psalm 119:130. “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” James teaches us that, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (James 1:5) As you make the leap into adulthood, identify every influence! (Take some time to read Psalm 1!)
Impact the World for Christ!
After Jesus’ resurrection and before His ascension, Jesus told his group of disciples “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15) Jesus was telling a handful of His followers to make a difference in the word! These individuals did not have the internet, cell phones, or social media! They went out in the power of God, and in Acts 17, they are accused of “turning the world upside-down.” Class of 2014, you are the light of the world! Jesus said so in Matthew 5:14-16! “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” God did not give you abilities and talents for you to hide them under the basket of selfishness, but that you could be a shining light in dark world to bring glory and honor to God. D L Moody was challenged by the statement: “The world has yet to see what God can do with and for and through and in and by the man who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him. . . .” His response “I will try my utmost to be that man.” Class of 2014, make an impact on the world!
