Graduation is here again. As a pastor, that means that I will once again be sharing a letter with graduating seniors. Every year I make it a point to graduating seniors to never forget that:
Jesus Christ is the only solution. He paid the penalty for those who give their lives to him. The alternative is unthinkable (John 3:16).
Many people think they are Christians when they are not (Matthew 7:21-23). Be sure you know the proper basis for being sure of salvation.
There is a need to grow as a Christian. Otherwise, it will be very hard to make good decisions in life. You need a church home. Don’t think you can simply put church on hold for the next few years. Find a church; get involved. In the next few years, you will make decisions that affect the rest of your life. Do that amid being involved in a good church.
The Christian life is the blessed or “happy” life. Certainly it isn’t always peaches and cream. And everything doesn’t always fit together as neatly as you would like in the short run. But Psalm 1 is absolutely true. The person who walks with God is the one who will be blessed. And especially, the one who pursues a knowledge of him through his written word. Pursue the joy of Christian life. God promises that you won’t be disappointed.
And the way of the sinner is hard. Please don’t be deceived. Don’t buy the lie that you can make wrong choices and not reap the consequences. As believers you must make God honoring decisions or you will face the consequences of wrong choices. Choose to sin, choose to suffer.
The people of the Red Brick Church love you.
Great thoughts for all of us, not just graduates.
Thanks Chris.
Here are the points you wrote in the book you gave me when I graduated 13 year ago now…
– Jesus is everything
– Read His Word
– The Christian life is the blessed life
– The way of the Sinner is hard
– We love you
Many are still the same.
Aaron, that is so cool that you can come up with those. Yes, I’ve just gradually grown and adapted that list. It is wonderful when seed lands on good soil, as in your case, sown by so many in Milwaukee.
I pulled out the old book that you gave me to get them all right, but I still could have quoted you a few.
You said them enough times that I will never forget.