At the end of this month, young men and women will be graduating from high school all around this country. They will be leaving friends that they have spent years with and entering a new phase of life that, regardless of the path that they choose, will be exciting and often filled with wonder and apprehension.
My graduation day happened to land on my 18th birthday. The emotions that I felt that evening were all over the map. Excitement over what the future would bring my way coupled with the memories of teachers that had invested their time and efforts to pour knowledge and wisdom into my life flooded me with gratitude. The camaraderie with teammates that was fostered through all the sporting events over the years would prove to last a lifetime. The time to turn the page in my book of life had come. When I finally turned it over I found a clean, unmarked leaf that was waiting for me to fill it with the words in the next chapter.
We are blessed as a community to have a class of young people graduating this year that are special and unique in so many ways. Having watched this group over the years it is obvious that wherever they might land, that locality will be enriched.
As we look across the landscape of our country and see all the turmoil and division happening before us, I find great hope in the words of scripture. Isaiah 59:19b says,” When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.”
It is my belief that the standard God is raising up is Godly young men and women. All around the world you can see young people taking a stand for Christ. My hope for this group is that they would join the ranks of those that are speaking out for morality and Biblical truth in the public square. Our country is in desperate need of warriors that are willing to be a part of that standard that God is raising up against the enemy of truth and righteousness.
Please pray for these graduates and encourage them in their walk. Their future is bright and they are the hope we are passing the torch to.
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
