Untitled Sermon (10)

First Day of the Rest of Our Lives

Good afternoon.  On behalf of Faith Baptist Christian School’s Graduating Class of 2020, I would like to thank you all for coming. Thank you to our families, to our friends, and to the faculty and staff of this school. You have all aided us in our journey through the rigors of high school.

As many of you know, I did not have the opportunity to get to know my classmates as well as they know each other. Moving to a new school is always difficult, and entering into a new environment for the last two years of high school certainly had its challenges. But through it all, I am thankful for this class and their friendships. Together, we navigated the hectic last two years of high school. Even though this was not how we wanted our high school careers to end, we persevered through the COVID-19 pandemic to finish our senior year strong, and all five of us earned our honor cords.

I was asked to share a short story that we as a class all experienced together. Undoubtedly, my list of shared experiences is much shorter than the rest of my classmates. As I was thinking about what to share, some of the experiences of our senior trip stuck out to me. On the trip, we faced our fears and did things that had previously made us feel uncomfortable. It didn’t matter if we were jumping off of a boat into a lake, riding a tube behind a speeding boat, zip lining, riding a giant Ferris wheel, or watching scary movies at 2 a.m., but needless to say, these experiences all brought us closer together as a class. And of course, now my classmates all know what happens when you wake Javan up from a dead sleep at 2:30 in the morning with a sudden noise and about 15 pillows stacked on top of him.

Challenge- Before I close, I would like to issue a simple challenge to my classmates; the FBCS Graduating Class of 2020. My challenge is this:

Live peaceably with the world around you.

Romans 12:18 is my life verse.  I know it started as my mom trying to teach me to get along with my younger brothers, but it really has been applicable in all areas of my life.  It reads, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”  These words are part of the Word of God and so timely for the culture we live in today.  As Christians living in 2020 and beyond, we will face opposition from the world.  When we come to know Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He changes our desires, our wants, and our dreams.  Our lives are always going to look different to the outside world.  And while the Apostle Paul penning this letter, understands they would face opposition, he urges them to live peacefully and not to be vengeful.  What an example of the truth of the Gospel when Christians treat each other and the world around us with love.  When we are spit on, we don’t spit back.  When we are punched, we are not to punch back.  We do not take action the way the world takes action, but we take action in love.  We love because Jesus loves us. He loved us first.  We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  We are all on even ground when it comes to being sinners.  We needed  rescuing. Without a rescue there would be no peace. So God provided a rescue from the curse of sin.  Jesus, His only Son, God in the flesh came to earth, born of a virgin and lived that perfect, holy life that we cannot live because of our sin.  He died in the place of sinners as our substitute.  The wrath of God was due us and Jesus bore it on the cross.  Three days later, he rose from the grave and only because of this can we have hope.  ONly by Him and through Him can we truly live peaceably with our neighbor.  The world around us needs to know the peace of God and my fellow graduates, it is our job to take the gospel to them.  Friends and family members, it is your job to take the gospel to them.  We are all ministers of the good news in whatever environment or job the Lord places us in.  I challenge you to live peacefully as you spread the gospel to Pekin, Illinois, the United States, Middle Earth, and the world.

As I come to a close, I want to encourage my classmates; Remember that this is not the end. The word “commencement” as defined by  Rather, it is a new beginning. As we step out into the real world; outside the safety net that is high school and our parents guidance and instruction, know that you can rely on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to guide you as we take our first steps into the First Day of the Rest of Our Lives.

Thank you.