Scripture: John 4:31-38

It's that time of year again, the time when Men & women, young and old alike put on their caps and gowns and make that walk to receive the symbol of their hard work and dedication- their diploma!    All those difficult years of studying and cramming finally paid off, at least we hope so.   We look to that diploma as a tool to help us get that great job or as a means to improve the status of our current position at work.   Whatever the reason for attaining it, those diplomas are the one sure way to a better life, am I right?

     Today,  Alberta White received her diploma and I know it was a special day for both Alberta and her family, including her church family.  It was just a year ago when our oldest son, Matthew received his High School diploma and in just one short year, our youngest son, David, will receive his. All those years of hard work seem to fly by so fast when you are on this side of them, but it seems to take forever while you are in the midst of working toward them.

     Have you ever considered how foolish it would be for someone to dedicate years of their life to receive an advanced degree and then, just when they received it, they decided to ignore it and all that it could do for them?  If that sounds ridiculous, let me assure you there are plenty of people every year who work toward and receive these degrees and then just ignore what they can do with them.  Some might even complain that life is unfair and work is hard to find, all the while ignoring the one thing that might open doors to help these people achieve their goals.

    I have known people over the years that are what I refer to as "professional students." that is, they have no intention of doing anything with all the degrees they receive, they just enjoy the process.  I know of one man who has learned how to work the system so well that he is able to get enough grant money from the state and federal governments that work is not really necessary except to have a little extra money on the side.  This fellow has changed his major at least 3 times and, at 35, still doesn't know what he wants to really do with his life.  Oh, he's qualified to do several things, and he is probably very good at some of them, but that's not his goal.  As long as he is able to get the grants and free money to attend school, that's what he will do. In other words, this man has made the value of his education worth far less, even to the point of being totally worthless, compared to another person with the same qualifications but chose to use the training and education he received.

    In the secular world we look at situations like this and joke about it or even ridicule it.   We recognize the hilarity in the idea of working hard for something just to later refuse it, or ignore it.  We look at individuals like this and shake our heads and think, "Boy, if I ever had that kind of opportunity I would never let it go by without taking full advantage of it".  But is that a true statement for all of us?

    On the secular level it might well be, but that's not what we are here for today, is it?  We are here to discuss the spiritual, but I would argue there is virtually no difference in the comparisons.

     While many of us would never forfeit the value of a diploma or degree, how many of us treat the spiritual diploma we received from the Headmaster, Jesus Christ, like it was no big deal?   I know that sounds terrible, but let me clarify my point before you get all roused up!

    In some ways we have all been given a graduation diploma signifying our acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Savior and God.  We said that we accepted His free gift of salvation and we received a passing grade to be allowed the privilege to enter the next level, His kingdom.   We didn't have to work or even study for years or even months to receive this diploma.  All we had to do was believe that what He said was true and then to accept our passing grade. Period.  The Bible refers to this as "The goal of our faith."  Let's turn to I Peter 1:3-9

    Grace, that diploma we received as a free gift from God upon our belief and acceptance of Jesus Christ, came by our faith.  When we believed we received.  But is that all there is?  Is there anything else that needs to be done from this point on?

    Scripture is clear that we need to move on from that point, just as one would move on after receiving their diploma.  We often speak of letting our light shine and that's just what God desires and even expects of us after we have received our gift of grace.

    Matthew 5:13-16  When we allow others to see our good deeds it not only puts us into a good light with them, but they will see God in us and give Him the praise for our good works.   Both the secular diploma as well as the spiritual diploma give us the blessings of doing good work and we would never neglect the physical work, so why do we often hide the spiritual under the basket?

    Let's look at it another way.  Imagine that, after receiving your long sought after degree, and after putting in all those difficult hours of studying and preparation you decided to keep going to classes you had already mastered and graduated from.  Instead of moving on and applying the knowledge you now have in your field of expertise, you just keep going back to the comfortable seats and classes that you started with, afraid of moving forward and applying your lessons.

    Would that make any logical sense doing it that way?  As I said earlier, we would ridicule others who just keep going to college for the sake of going.  In the spiritual sense of this conversation, many Christians do exactly the same thing when it comes to their faith.  They stop at the graduation and just keep going to class.  Now, by this I mean we often fall into comfort zones that don't require us to do anything except attend church and the occasional church sponsored activity.  Church becomes the sole place where we feel at home and safe from the world.  We try to find ways to only associate with other Christians so as to not become "tainted" by the world around us.   We neglect the things that Jesus himself asks us to do.

    Matthew 25: 34-46  We are expected to be involved in this world, not to be protected from it.   We, those of us who have accepted the gift of grace, have already received total protection for all eternity, what else are we hoping to be protected from?  Can it be that we begin to think that God is not powerful enough to keep us safe in a dangerous place or that we would be in danger of sliding back into our old habits if we strayed outside the church doors for too long a time?  How weak is your god, anyway?

    I know my God is more powerful than ANY problem or situation that I could find myself in, and I have to be willing to put my faith and trust into Him if I hope to follow the paths He sets before me.

    As silly as the student who refuses to leave the college campus after graduation looks, that's how silly you and I look to our Father when we refuse to leave the comfort of the church and mingle with His unsaved children.

    Jesus says the fields are ripe for the harvest, but in order to begin the harvest we must first enter into the fields.  It's a scary thing, to be sure, especially if we have never done it before, but we will not be alone or powerless.  Talk to your neighbors, your co-workers- your friends and family.  Don't badger them to know Christ, invite them to know you.  Only then can you bring them into a conversation about Jesus.

    What He means to you, how He has transformed your life and continues to guide and help you, including comforting you when life isn't so good.  Let them know that Christians suffer too.  You have been given a diploma because you are a graduate of the school of grace.  Use it as the Lord intends and follow His commencement address which He gave over 2000 years ago.

`Matthew 28:18-20  A short speech to be sure, but a powerful one.  A speech that transcends time and our reality, giving us the assurance that whatever we do on the earth during our physical existence will quite possibly have spiritual ramifications that will span into eternity.

    You are given a powerful and awesome opportunity with that decision to accept your diploma and begin your real work in this world.  A work that will not affect your reward of salvation, because you will already have received that, but a work that will help others to come to know God through Jesus and to receive their gift of grace and graduation diplomas.  And in the end, what we all will long to hear, and WILL hear is this: "Well done, good and faithful servant!  You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.  Come and share your master's happiness!"