Final Words

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Beat the Clock Grad edition

Senior Recognition

girls

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Introduction

So tonight is about our Seniors. As I was thinking about what I wanted to say, I kinda began to think about if I could only say one thing to someone for the rest of their lives what would it be. So as I was thinking that through I came up with a few things that I would tell someone if I only had the opportunity to have one last conversation with them.

Gratefulness

Seniors I am so grateful that you have allowed me to be a part of your lives over the past few years. I pray that the things that you have been taught, by not only myself, but your small group leaders, parents, teachers, and friends will stick and continue as you go off into college or into the workplace.

Not only however am I grateful for you, we also see throughout Scripture that we are called to be grateful, and thankful.

Psalm 100:4–5 NIV

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

So we can see that we are to be grateful for everything that we have and thankful for everything that He has done for us, which if you remember our last series as we were talking about Easter is the fact that He died for us, and rose again from the grave.

But not only are we supposed to be grateful in attitude we are also called to be grateful in our actions as well.

Colossians 3:15–17 NIV

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

So we are told here in Colossians that we are to make sure that everything that we do, we do with gratitude in our hearts. Now how can we make sure that we have gratitude in our hearts in everything that we do? We can remember what we have been saved from.

So many times we hear stories of people who have had near death experiences, or people who have been healed after a serious illness and they come out of that experience with a whole new lease on life, and they make sure not to take any day for granted, and are grateful for everything that they come across. Well in the same way we have been saved by Jesus Christ dying on the cross, and you have been given a new lease on life. So as you go through your life, as you come across difficulties remember the sacrifice that has been made for you.

There will be hardships

Not only do we need to remember to be grateful throughout our life, but we also need to remember that we will face hard things in life, but just because you may face hard things in life does not mean that the Bible is any less true, it doesnt mean that Christianity is any less true. In fact the Bible tells us that we will have difficulties.

John 16:33 NIV

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Jesus is here talking to the disciples before He is arrested and crucified, and He is telling the disciples that they will have difficulties. Even in the book of Matthew Jesus mentions that they would be hated because of Jesus. The same thing will be true for you and I. There are times where standing firm to what the Bible says will make people hate you. Stand on the Bible anyway. There may be times where doing what the Bible says may cost you your job. Stick with the Bible. There may be times where following the Bible will cost you friendships. Follow the Bible anyway. The Bible tells us that we will face many trials but also tells us that there is a reason for it.

James 1:2–3 NIV

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

So as you are facing a trial or difficulty you can know and trust that there is a reason for it. The book of James tells us that the reason for these difficulties is to test your faith.

Now here is the thing, the testing of your faith isn’t so that God will know if you are faithful. God already knows what you are going to do and how much faith you have. The testing of your faith is for us. It is so that whenever we face hard things we can look back and see God has provided, protected and gotten me through this, so I know because He is the same yesterday, today, and forever that He will get me through whatever else is coming down the road. So the testing of our faith is not some pass or fail exam like in school, but it is to show us how faithful God is even when life gets hard.

Remember what you have been taught

Finally as you go into work or college or wherever you end up remember what you have been taught. Whether it was taught by me, your small group leader, Pastor Gary, your parents or even your Godly friends. Do not abandon the things that you know are true.

As you go into college or into your work place, there are many people that will give you push back for believing what the Bible says. I challenge you to dig into the Scripture and instead of taking someone else’s word for what it means to do your own research. It is important that you dont just take my word for what you believe, that you dont just take your parents word for what to believe, but that you believe it for yourself.

2 Timothy 3:14–17 NIV

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

This passage is from what many people believe to be from Paul’s final letter that he ever wrote, and in this letter he made sure to remind Timothy that what he has been taught is true, and is reminded that the Bible is good for training us for all of our lives.

So as we finish up this senior recognition night, make sure that you show gratefulness, for it will take you far in life. Keep following Jesus even when life gets difficult, and remember the things that you know to be true, that you have been taught, and that you have learned. No one can take that away from you.