The Sunshine Has Graduated!

Tonight, we honored a very special individual who just graduated. I count him a good friend, and I’d like to dedicate this evening to him. Sunshine.

Sunshine, human reasoning says that nobody should have to go through the things you and your family have endured over the past couple years. But we know that as God-follows, human reasoning doesn’t rule – divine wisdom does.

Like Job of old, it has not been told to you why your mom got cancer and died. It’s not been told why you have not experienced a “normal” childhood and home life. But divine wisdom says “I simply trust God for those details”, and like Christ’s disciples, Jesus simply says, “follow Me.”

Sunshine, there was no big fanfare for your graduation, and nobody gave you a challenge as you embark on the next part of your life – adulthood. I personally know what it’s like to miss having the normal graduation ceremony and challenge, and I don’t want you to look back on your graduation with sadness like I do mine.

Therefore, I’d like to offer a personal challenge as you move forward in life. I know that you’ll still be in the youth group for the next couple months, but you just graduated, and that’s a very special thing!

My challenge to you is this:

1. Never forget the godly example of your mother. The best way to remember her is to adopt her principles as your own. When it comes to selecting someone to model your spiritual life after, you can’t do much better than your mother!
2. Be sure to not repeat the same mistakes of your parents. All parents make mistakes – there’s nothing you can do about those of your parents. However, the best thing you can do is to not repeat them when you establish your own home.
3. If God wants you to get married, find a wife that will love you and God unconditionally. A wife that loves you above all others, and loves God more than that will change your life forever!
4. Create your “normal” life. Although you haven’t experienced a normal home life, you can create an above-normal life in your own home that will make a huge impact on your wife and kids. Shelter them, protect them, love them, provide for them, be there for them and listen to them.
5. Remember that each aspect of your life affects your life as a whole. Keep the proper balance in your time, money, relationships, work and ministry. Don’t get so caught up in fulfilling “the American Dream” that you forget about what’s really important – faith, family and friends.
6. Establish the habit of spending personal time with God. Make your faith an integral part of your life. Call upon God frequently. Don’t merely read His Word…study it and apply it.
7. 1st Timothy 4:12 says, “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” Ryan – don’t despise what’s happened in your youth. Instead allow it to make you a better man so you can continue to be an example of the believers, and point others to Christ.