FAITH: God’s Advice For Graduates!

We honored our graduating seniors last Sunday. Graduation Sunday is always a bittersweet time. It is exciting to see our young people graduate. It is sad to see many of them moving on to other places. We believe in expository Bible teaching- verse by verse, chapter by chapter and Book by Book. We “happened” to be in Ephesians 5:15-17 last Sunday. These verses are great advice for graduates. Ephesians 5:15-17 reveals three critical components for a successful life.

The first component is to examine our ways. Verse 15 says, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise….” God wants us to walk wisely and not foolishly. The biblical definition of a fool is someone who will not receive God’s wisdom. Psalm 14:1 says, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no god.’” Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, fools despise wisdom and instruction.” It is the height of folly to reject divine revelation.

A wise person walks in God’s truth. Every one of us must examine our lives. The word walk refers to the paths we take in daily life. It is the paths our minds take, our attitudes take and our speech takes. It is what we do every day. It is our normal, predictable patterns of behavior.

The apostle Paul says, “Look carefully then how you walk….” The word carefully means “to contemplate, to think about, to weigh carefully.” A wise person stops to think about the paths he is traveling. Proverbs 14:8 says, “The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his ways but the foolishness of fools is deceit.” A wise person thinks about the path he takes day after day. The fool simply stumbles ahead.

On Saturday I stopped by a yard sale. I found an eight foot level for only three dollars! The Bible is our straight edge. It is our plumb line. It is our string line. It is our mirror. We must examine our ways.

The second component is to seize every opportunity. Verse 16 says, “…making the most of the time because the days are evil….” How do we walk wisely? By redeeming the time. Life is short. Time is precious. We reminded our seniors it seemed like yesterday they were starting first grade. Only a short time ago they were middle schoolers with braces. Now they are graduated!

A foolish person says, “What is the most fun thing to do now?” Folly is to live from day to day. A wise person lives a life of purpose. You have as much time every day as Moses. You have as many hours every day as Abraham. You have as much time every day as the president of the United States.

The average person sleeps about eight hours per day. Eating and social interaction require about three hours per day. Allowing ten hours per day five days a week for work, that leaves no fewer than thirty five hours unaccounted for each week. J. Oswald Sanders said, “The whole of man’s contributions to the kingdom of God might well turn on how those crucial hours are employed. They will determine whether his life will be common place or extraordinary.” We must use all of our time- especially our free time- for God’s glory.

The third component is to understand God’s will. Verse 17 reads, “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” How do we understand God’s will? Is it found in a dream or a cloud or a mystical voice? Absolutely not. It is found in the Bible. There is an old saying, “If your Bible is falling apart your life won’t be.”

Who lived the greatest life ever? The Lord Jesus! He began His public ministry about the age of thirty (Luke 3:23). He lived a fairly short life and yet no one has impacted this world more than Jesus of Nazareth.

Luke 2 records seven days in the life of Jesus at age twelve. He and His parents celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Passover (two days). The feast ended and His parents headed home. They went one day’s journey thinking Jesus was with their relatives and acquaintances (third day). When they didn’t find Him, they returned to Jerusalem (day four).

They spent three days searching for Jesus (days five, six and seven). They finally found Him in the temple. Where was He? “…sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were amazed at His answers.” Jesus said to Joseph and Mary, “Why were you looking for Me? Did you not know that I must be in My Father’s house?” (Luke 2:47-49).

America today desperately needs great leaders. Our Valley needs young people making wise choices. Let’s pray that as our high school graduates examine their lives, seize every opportunity and understand God’s will they will live lives that count for eternity.

Pastor Ethan Hansen

Faith Bible Fellowship

Big Lake, AK