Graduation Speech Part Three

Graduation Speech Part III--hey, I'm long-winded

The Christian walk demands that you pay attention to the punctuation. What do I mean by that? Let me recall for you some of God's commandments--and their punctuation:

Honor your father and mother PERIOD
In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus your Lord PERIOD
Pray without ceasing PERIOD
Be tender-hearted, kind, forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you PERIOD
If you love Me, keep My commandments PERIOD

He doesn't say, honor your father and mother, unless . . .
In everything give thanks, unless . . .
If you love Me, keep My commandments, unless . . .

The faithful walk demands that we embrace the PERIOD that follows His commandments. No exceptions. One of the sad realities of teaching is knowing that some of you have no intention of following Him. You are going to turn away from Him and go your own way--refuse to follow Him in obedience. We all know friends and family who have made that choice. And it breaks our hearts. At their appointment He will only be able to say, "It would have been better if you had never known." If I can be personal for a moment, at this point in my life, the six human beings that I love most deeply have made that choice. I tearfully pray for them every day. But the Spirit also continues to remind me of a chorus I used to sing as a young boy, "Though none go with me, still I must follow; though none go with me, still I must follow, though none go with me still I must follow, no turning back, no turning back. PERIOD.