Congratulations on your graduation! It is a milestone for you, the end of one thing and the beginning of something else. The speeches at the ceremony undoubtedly pointed out its importance in our society: a step in your progression to adulthood, toward independence and self-sufficiency, perhaps even leadership.
This is not necessarily a bad thing. God meant it to be part of His plan for your life. I remember my own high school graduation and looking forward to continuing my education. At the same time, I would encourage you to recall another milestone in your life—when you received Jesus Christ as Savior, and you took the step of water baptism. It’s another memory that you and I have in common. That event also was the end of one kind of life and the beginning of another. It meant deliverance from our sins and a commitment to Jesus.
I didn’t realize, at the time, however, how momentous a commitment it really was. It, in fact, amounts to turning our backs on the system on which all the societies of the world are built. We do this for the sake of following the rightful King of this planet (not to mention the entire universe). If you want the details, they’re in a book that I know you have.
So, going forward, our goals don’t match up with those of other people who don’t follow Jesus. Instead of progression toward adulthood, which is defined in terms of the years you have lived and things you have accomplished, “we are to grow up in every way… into Christ” (Ephesians 4:15). Instead of independence we rely on grace to live “in a manner worthy of the calling to which [we] have been called” (Ephesians 4:1). As for self-sufficiency, of course we must be prepared to support ourselves, but our identity is in Christ rather than a career or achievements or some personal characteristic.
We have the rest of our lives to work—by grace—toward these goals. Just don’t put it off, because before you know it you’ll be 30, then 50, and your best opportunities to participate in God’s service will have disappeared behind you. Again, congratulations on your graduation. Getting there required effort, and Jesus was there to help you. As you move on from high school, don’t forget the more important, meaningful and enduring milestone that came before graduation.
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