Milestone Moments (Graduation)

(Jer.  29:11, lb).
May 16, 2010

    Graduation marks a milestone in our lives.  It often moves an individual from dependence to full autonomy.  Up until this time, young people are subject to parental and school authorities.  They make few significant decisions because they are minors.  Then, suddenly they are considered mature adults with personal responsibility for their actions.  All at once they face serious educational, occupational and relationship choices.  How can these important issues be handled safely and successfully?

    Well, as Christians, we have guidance concerning decisions.  Both the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit are available to help us avoid dangerous paths.  Jesus said, “Enter through the narrow gate. The gate is wide and the road is wide that leads to destruction, and many people enter through that gate.  But the gate is small and the road is narrow that leads to true life.  Only a few people find that road” (Matt. 7:13-14).

    At this milestone moment, let’s consider these different paths?

I.  ONE DANGEROUS PATH IS DOING WHAT I WANT TO DO!

    Unfortunately, selfish, short-term gratification is not always best.  What feels good now may feel very bad later.  Things like going into debt, taking drugs or stealing a car may be fun for a moment, but they bring grief for a lifetime.

    Getting what I want, when I want it can be a habit that brings tragic consequences.  Young people today are especially vulnerable to such feelings of entitlement.  In the 1930's, the depression era attitude was, “You can’t have everything!”  Then the post-war period of the 1950's developed the motto: “You can have everything?”  Finally, the “me generation” of the 1980's and beyond taught us that “you should have everything!” In fact, “you must have everything and you must have it now!”

    Many Americans today share this belief.  As a result, boredom and dissatisfaction and greed have become serious spiritual and emotional problems. 

    The ancients do not seem to have been as bored as we are.  The word did not even enter the English vocabulary until the 18th century.

    Abraham Lincoln expressed the beginnings of the “me first” mentality.  Once he was walking along a street in Springfield, Illinois with his two little boys who were yelling.  Attracted by their cries, a neighbor asked, “What’s the matter with the boys, Mr.  Lincoln?”  “Why, just what’s the matter with the whole world,” replied Lincoln.  I have three walnuts and each boy wants two.” 

    This goes to the root of the social problem in every age!  Children are frank about their selfish desires.  A brother and sister were riding a mechanical horse in a shopping mall.  The little boy, who was riding in front, turned to his sister and said, “If one of us would get off, there would be more room for me.”

    These are examples of making life decisions based on “What’s in it for me.”

    Several Scriptures deal with these issues: Paul said, “We who are strong in faith should help the weak with their weaknesses, and not please only ourselves” (Rom.  15:1b).

    Then, he said, “Do not look out only for yourselves. Look out for the good of others also” (1 Cor.  10:24).

    Later he said, “Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others” (Phil.  2:4).

    Jesus never used this selfish path of doing “What I want to do.”  Instead, he said, “I don’t try to please myself, but I try to please the One who sent me.” (John 5:30b).

II.  ANOTHER EQUALLY DANGEROUS PATH. IS DOING “WHAT THEY WANT ME TO DO.”

    It’s very tempting to mindlessly follow the advise of others, and just go along with the crowd.  But, the majority is not always right.  History is full of individuals who were led astray by others.  One strong person can influence whole groups of people: Jim Jones took a congregation to Guyana and persuaded hundreds of normal men and women to poison themselves and their children.  Hitler convinced an entire nation of respectable, religious men and women that it was reasonable to slaughter millions of Jews and other minorities.

    Even children, when they get in trouble at school inevitably say, “He did it first”; or “He told me to do it”; or “He made me do it.”

    Again, the Scripture describe such situations; Moses said, “You must not do wrong just because everyone else is doing it.
    Paul said, “Do not let evil defeat you, but defeat evil by doing good” (Rom.  12:2).

    He also said, “You are not the same as those who do not believe. So do not join yourselves to them. Good and bad do not belong together. Light and darkness cannot share together” (2 Cor.  6:14a).     Jesus never used the dangerous path of doing “what they want me to do.”  He said, “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.  If you belonged to the world, it would love you as it loves its own. But I have chosen you out of the world, so you don’t belong to it . . .” (John 15:18-19).

III.  SO, THERE IS ONLY ONE SAFE AND PRODUCTIVE PATH LEFT, AND THAT’S DOING “WHAT JESUS WOULD DO.”

    Years ago a famous book called, “In His Steps” told of a man and a church and indeed an entire community that dedicated themselves to asking “What Would Jesus Do? ”Before making any decision or taking any action they determined how Jesus would react.  This commitment created a spiritual and moral  revolution that affected lives forever.  This is a valid criteria to use.  Jesus said, “I did this as an example so that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:15).

    Paul also commanded this method of choice.  He said, “In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus” (Phil.  2:5).

    But how can we know what Jesus’ response would be to modern day dilemmas?  Well, the Scriptures give several general commands concerning this: Paul said, “Live a life of love just as Christ loved us and gave himself for us . . .” (Eph.  5:2a)

    Therefore we know Jesus’ responses would always be loving.

    Paul also said, “Bear with each other, and forgive each other. If someone does wrong to you, forgive that person because the Lord forgave you” (Col.  3:13).

    Therefore we know Jesus would forgive others, even as he forgave those who crucified him.

    Then Paul said, “Let each of us please our neighbors for their good, to help them be stronger in faith.  Even Christ did not live to please himself” (Rom.  15:2-3a).

    Therefore we know that Jesus would care for and serve others.

    A wise man said, “Maturity is the ability to do a job without supervision; to finish a project once it’s started; to carry money without spending it; and to bear an injustice without wanting to get even.

    In our search for meaning, we must examine the choices we make and the consequences of these actions.  We cannot be driven by what feels good for the moment; but rather, we must struggle to achieve what will be good for the future.”

    Still, using the criteria of “What would Jesus Do?” can be difficult when it comes to specific decisions.  Sometimes there are good, better and best choices; and sometimes there are only bad, worse and worst choices.  But it’s still the only way for a Christian to avoid the dangerous paths of  “doing what I want to do;” or “doing what they want me to do.”  We must use Scripture, prayer and common sense.  Further more, we must be sincere in our desire to emulate Christ.  We must be willing to avoid selfishness and popularity.

    In fact, asking “What would Jesus do?” is a direct commandment for believers.  John said, “Whoever says that he lives in God must live as Jesus lived” (1 John 2:6).

    Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. The person will hate one master and love the other, or will follow one master and refuse to follow the other. You cannot serve both God and the world” (Matt.  6:24).

    Young people, as you face this milestone moment, there is one important principle you must realize: You’re not an accident!  Your life has a purpose.  The Scripture says,“ ‘I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord.  ‘They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope’ ” (Jer.  29:11, lb).

    Until you discover that plan and adapt your behavior to follow that plan, you’ll be unhappy and unsuccessful.  At the end of your life, you’ll be evaluated according to how closely you have followed that plan.  Every decision you make; every word you speak; and every deed you do is important in the grand scheme of things.  They will either keep you closer to that plan or move you further away from that plan.

    Let’s notice several things about this Scripture:

    First, it’s God’s plan.  He designed it specifically for you.  Your plan is individualized and different from every other person’s plan. 
    Next, it’s positive not negative: it’s good not evil; it’s motivated by love not wrath.

    Finally, It leads to peace not turmoil; hope not despair; and success not failure.

    When you are following God’s plan, you are “in the groove.”  You feel satisfied, projects get done, and relationships are pleasant.  When you deviate from God’s plan, opposite things happen.  You are dissatisfied; projects don’t get done; and relationships become bitter and hostile.

    Paul is a good example of one who ignored this principle in his early years.  God had an important plan for him, but he chose a destructive path.  The Scripture says, “(Saul) fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’  ‘Who are you, Lord?’ Saul asked.  ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied.  ‘Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do’ ” (Acts 9:4-6). 

    Fortunately, Saul obeyed and when he got on the right wavelength with God’s plan, we know what a great life he had and what wonderful things he accomplished. 

    Now, imagine riding in a speedboat on a lake with an automatic pilot set to go east.  If you decide to reverse and head west, you may grab the steering wheel and physically force it to go in the opposite direction.  By sheer willpower you may temporarily overcome the autopilot, but you would feel constant resistance.  Your arms would tire of the stress.  You’d wrestle with the steering wheel and lose control as the boat vacillated.  In short, you’d get nowhere!

    This is what happens to you when you go against your divine purpose.

    So, discover your life plan.  Recognize God’s will for you.  Get in your spiritual groove.  The sooner you do that, the better.  You’ll have fewer detours and make fewer mistakes.

    Remember, God says, “ ‘I know the plans I have for you. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope’ ” (Jer.  29:11, lb).

    You can find that plan through prayer, Bible study, good advice and common sense.  Our desire for all of you and especially for graduates today is that you will each breathe this prayer:

    “Today, I face a future
    With paths I cannot see
    But, still I vow to follow
    God’s special plan for me!”
        —Maralene Wesner

(WC1899)
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