The Path of Life
We are so close, mere days away from graduation. Four years truly is NOT a long time, enough time, nor sufficient time to accomplish ALL that we hope to do. Nonetheless, a typical path of a student:
- At the university OR
- In high school OR
- From middle school to high school OR
- At the end of kindergarten and pre-school
becomes complete in just a brief amount of time, and we sense change in the air.
Earlier this week, I turned into our driveway and saw my beautiful neighbor wearing her blue graduation gown and holding her blue graduation cap. I braked the vehicle and called out her name, asking her about her upcoming graduation. With a great sense of accomplishment, she said, “I’m graduating from pre-school.”
Just the night before, several international university soon-to-graduate students sat around our dining room table for a meal. We reminiscenced, laughed and shared time together before they graduated and moved back home.
Graduation for the parent may bring a time of tears, of joy, and of pride. For the instructor, graduation may be a bittersweet emotion as students reach the completion of courses. & For the student, graduation may cause both elation and fear: because projects, papers, and assignments are finally complete but also—BECAUSE THE ASSIGNMENTS ARE OFFICIALLY COMPLETE
- Then comes the time to don caps and gowns, as families and friends gather for graduation parties.
- Then graduates walk across the stage to receive their degree (or diploma or certificate). & then real change comes.
Life, as the student once knew, transpires, alters, and morphs as the next season begins.
The Bible has much to say about The Path of Life and our purpose as we traverse the journey to reach those goals we have set and hope to accomplish.
First, the psalmist David wrote:
“You will make known to me the path of life;
(The Psalms 16: 11 NAS)
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.”
God will—
- Make known the way we are to walk.
- Show us the path we are to take.
- Lead us through the decisions we are to make.
- Forge the journey we are to traverse.
Our part—
- Walk within His presence.
- See the fullness of His joy.
- Be led by God’s Holy Spirit.
- Step forward, walking by His hand, day-by-day.
So, when students ask us: How can I know the purpose of my life? We can turn back to the Bible to find the LORD’S answer.
See how the apostle Paul recorded the LORD’S answer: befitting for all graduates, parents, grandparents, friends, family—all mankind.
“He made known to us the mystery of His will,
(The Letter of Paul to the Ephesians 1: 9-12 NAS)
according to His kind intention
which He purposed in Him
[which the LORD GOD purposed in CHRIST JESUS]
with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times,
that is,
the summing up of all things in Christ,
things in the heavens and things on earth.
[See the “summing up of all things in Christ,”
the prize, the goal, & the inheritance we are to gain]
In Him
also we have obtained an inheritance,
having been predestined according to His purpose
who works all things after the counsel of His will,
to the end that
we who were the first to hope in Christ would be
to the praise of His glory.”
Did we catch that? & Did we see the truth of God’s Word?
- It’s not about us but Him!
- It’s not about our will but His!
- YES, It’s all about HIS glory!
God’s purpose for each life reigns so much larger than our family’s hopes, than our careers, even larger than our ambitions, or even our wildest dreams.
We are destined from birth that we might live for the praise of HIS glory!
Thus, when graduates prepare for the next season & as they seek to know what they should pursue in life, may we remind them with clarity—Why They Were Born.
We were each one born for God’s Purpose, for His Glory!
“In Him,
(The Letter of Paul to the Ephesians 1: 13-14 NAS)
you also,
after listening to the message of truth,
the gospel of your salvation—having also believed,
you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,
who is given as a pledge of our inheritance,
with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession,
to the praise of His glory.”