Graduation Day

We have just come out of the season of graduations. On multiple scholastic levels, diplomas were handed out and degrees conferred. Balloons, cards and lawn signs were purchased by the thousands, celebrating the momentous occasion.  Today we will focus on a specific kind of graduation: death to life.

Romans 5:12 
This scripture tells us that we were all born dead and diseased. Sin is that disease.

Ephesians 2:1 talks to us about being “dead” in our trespasses. There’s no way of getting around this truth. Once you and I pass through the birth canal, we are born into this horrible condition.

1 Corinthians 13:11
As we “graduate” into the years that we call pre-teen and all the years following, we come to the place where we ARE aware and we DO bear personal responsibility for our actions.  We often say “I’m grown!” I’ll do whatever I feel like!” and with that mantra, we wade into sin as if it were the cooling waves of the ocean on a hot day. We aren’t committing “kiddie” sins, if there be such a thing. We were into some full blown, outright, big boy/big girl pants, rebellious-against-God stuff. And we can’t use the excuse of “we didn’t know any better.” Hear this rebuttal from the word:

Romans 1:20
There’s this thing that we call a conscience.  Maybe you use the term “morals.”  No matter what terminology we use, the truth is that, even though we are born diseased and dead, God has still placed a piece of himself in us, something that tells us, innately, what is right and wrong.

Here’s a truth that no one, ever, has tried to argue: God loves us.  The word tells us that multiple times.  Yet a less convenient truth is:  Every sinner, though loved, is living under the wrath of God.

Ephesians 5:6
What things? Verses 3-5. The word vain or empty isn’t speaking of emotion or meaning, it’s speaking about truth. There are too many people talking, but not enough truth is coming out. We are very clearly being told that there is a wrath that is for the disobedient.

John 3:36
On our own, with ourselves as teachers and instructors, we remain in the “grade” of sinner, always left-back, never really understanding our lowly condition.

Ephesians 4:17-19
There are many people who are alienated from God right now!  Be encouraged, you can graduate from death to LIFE!

1 Cor 6:9-11
We all know that graduation requires a test: a test to show that you’ve learned what you needed to learn in order to advance.  The beauty of this test, this exit exam, this final, is that is the answer has already been given to you:

John 5:24 (NKJV) – “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

Col 1:13 (NKJV) – He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

2 Cor 7:10 (NKJV) – For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted;

Rom 10:13 (NKJV) – For WHOEVER calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.

It’s time to GRADUATE!