LIFE IN THE REAL WORLD

Lesson for Graduating High School Seniors
Class of 1999

Let's start with some memories of a few of our graduates.

  1. Some teens are always trying to get something for nothing. (Even at McDonalds.)
    This is the same teen who wore his headgear just as he was supposed to all weekend at a retreat with over 1,000 teens there, just to see their reaction.
  2. The teen who was afraid to jump from the rock into the river. (And she's a lifeguard all summer.)
  3. The teen most likely to have an accident.
    (Window in St. Louis.) (Canoe trip.)

There are so many things I could have decided to talk to you about, but since you are no longer high school students, I chose to talk to you about things that will involve the next stage of your life: college and becoming adults.

One of the first things you will notice about college will be the pressure to "JOIN A CLUB" or fraternity/sorority.

When I went to Harding University, there was one thing I learned right off the bat about clubs: they'll do whatever it takes to make you want to join them, and once you're convinced, you'll do whatever it takes to get in. There are three key things about clubs in most colleges and I want to talk to you a little bit about them this morning in order to prepare you for them.

  1. Being Active-

    1. At first, you are so excited to be a part of it. You go everywhere and do everything with the group.

    2. You get so close to everyone, and many of these people will become your lifelong friends.

    3. There is a price you have to pay to become an active member of a club, but it will be worth it to you because they have so much to offer you.

    However, things don't always stay in the honeymoon phase and sometimes you come across the next phase in clubs:

  2. Jumping- If you don't like how things are going, you just jump to another club. If they don't meet your needs or if your friends change, just jump. It's o.k.; everybody does it.

    And if things don't work out after that or if you just decide that clubs aren't your thing anymore, you can do what a lot of people do, just become INACTIVE.

  3. There are a lot of inactive students out there in club land.

    1. After all, those club dues get so expensive, and it's just not worth the price you have to pay to stay involved.

    2. There are so many activities and responsibilities. It's just easier to lay low. You might drop in every once in a while and see an old friend or two, but you just don't need another committment in your life.

After thinking about our clubs in our colleges, I realized how much they represent our same line of thinking in our country and in our churches. We have people that are active and on fire for the Lord, we have jumpers, and we have a lot of inactive people.

For example-

  1. Becoming Active-

    1. When you first find out about Christ you get so excited. You realize all that He has done and will continue to do for you.

    2. You decide that you'll do whatever it takes to become a Christian and take part in His fellowship.

    3. You are so excited and confident about your new relationships. You go everywhere and do everything with your new family of friends.

  2. Jumping-

    1. However, things don't always stay the same. After a few let downs and disappointments your attitude changes.

    2. You don't have the same fire you did have and a preacher, youth minister, or friend may move on. Then you realize that your church family just isn't meeting your needs anymore.

    3. Your only choice is to move on to another church where you can be with other friends, find new programs, and have your "needs" meet.

  3. Becoming Inactive-

    1. When you can't find the right place where your needs are being met or when you have had your fill of disappointments, you feel you have no other choice but to "drop out" for a while.

    2. After all, the dues become so expensive and it just doesn't seem worth the cost anymore.

    3. And anyway, if you have a need at a later point in life, you can just "jump" back in.
You will begin to face a lot of decisions in your life, and some of them will really be tough. You must decide what your major will be, who your husband or wife will be, whether or not to remain faithful to God and to the church without your family and friends around, and what you will do with the rest of your life.

There are so many tough decisions, and the world offers so many enticing answers. Perhaps your toughest question will be:
"What does God want me to do with my life?"

Micah 6:8, He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?

"Shake It Off And Step Up!"

    A parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule fell into the farmer's well. The farmer heard the mule 'braying' --or whatever mules do when they fall into wells.

    After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving. Instead, he called his neighbors together and told them what had happened...and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery.

    Initially, the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back...a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back...HE SHOULD SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP! This he did, blow after blow.

    "Shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up!" he repeated to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows, or distressing the situation seemed the old mule fought "panic" and just kept right on SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING UP!

    You're right! It wasn't long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, STEPPED TRIUMPHANTLY OVER THE WALL OF THAT WELL! What seemed like it would bury him, actually blessed him...all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity.

    THAT'S LIFE! If we face our problems and respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity...THE ADVERSITIES THAT COME ALONG TO BURY US USUALLY HAVE WITHIN THEM THE POTENTIAL TO BENEFIT AND BLESS US!

    Remember that FORGIVENESS--FAITH--PRAYER--PRAISE and HOPE...all are excellent ways to "SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP" out of the wells in which we find ourselves!

~~author unknown

Close with Proverbs 3:1-8.

Brad Pistole

West-Ark Church of Christ, Fort Smith, AR
Morning Sermon, 16 May 1999

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