Gtcotr/hsg051116
Tonight
we wish to honor the seniors in our Church who will soon be graduating from
High Schools within our communities and bring recognition to their
accomplishments thus far. Completing High School and earning a degree is a
milestone in life coveted by everyone. We are blessed in the United States of
America to have a system of free and equal education for each student
regardless of race, color, gender, economic status, religious persuasion or
political affiliation. This is not so in much of the world but in the Land of
the Free and the Home of the Brave it has been established as a basic human
right and protected by the Constitution of this great nation.
These
are the benefits of living in a country that believes in the freedom and
liberty of its citizens and stands ready to defend those freedoms at all costs.
The American dream of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness is still alive and
well. Thank God for the opportunities we and our children have to chase the
dream. It was for these whom we honor tonight that many of our bravest,
brightest and best have stood the ground, lifted the flag and given their all.
Thanks be to God our Father and to His Son Jesus of Nazareth. God bless
America.
In
these next few moments I hope to instill in you a truth which will serve to
strengthen and secure you for the journey ahead. You are about to embark on the
greatest adventure of your life thus far. And, as you launch out into the world
to find your path and conquer your mountain, you will need an advantage in life
which I will give you here tonight. Allow me to begin by reading a passage from
the Bible and sharing how you can apply the life changing message it reveals to
the new journey on which you are about embark.
This
story begins in about the year 800BC in the area which is now governed by the
Palestinian people in northern Israel. The location was the ancient city of
Dothan. A prophet named Elisha lived there it seemed that Elisha had made the
king of a neighboring country angry. Every time the King of Syria wanted to ambush
or attack the King of Israel Elisha the prophet would warn the King of Israel
and of course the King of Israel would escape unharmed.
It
became such a frustration that the King of Syria decided he would simply get
rid of the prophet Elisha. The Syrian army was dispatched and succeeded in
surrounding Elisha’s house in Dothan. When Elisha’s servant woke up that
morning, all he could see was the enemy. The servant was so afraid and felt all
was lost but yet Elisha the prophet remained remarkably calm and secure. This
puzzled the servant.
Why
was there such a difference in the way these two men reacted? Why was one
scared to death and the other completely at peace? They were both standing
right in the middle of an ambush and were both surrounded and were both aware
of the Syrian Army’s intent. The difference in these two men however was their
perspective.
Each
of these two men, the prophet and his servant, were focused on different
truths. They each saw the same enemy but only one of them saw the help that was
standing ready to intervene. The servant was completely focused on those who
wanted to do them harm while Elisha was focused on the One who wanted to
protect them and deliver them and save them.
I
submit to you this evening that trouble, tests and trials will come to
challenge each person at some point in life … When it does, our perspective can
and will make the defining difference.
2 Kings 6
15 And when the servant of
the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the
city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my
master! What shall we do?"
16 So Elisha answered his servant,
"Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those
who are with them."
17 And Elisha prayed, and
said, "LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then the LORD
opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was
full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
The
prophet Elisha was facing the same trouble as was his servant however, Elisha
had a different focus, he saw the potential greater than the problem, Elisha
had a different perspective – He saw his situation from God’s point of view.
All of the sudden, impossibilities became possible.
When
the servant, who had been so afraid, began to see God’s willingness and ability
standing ready to intervene, all of his fear went away. Our confidence is often determined by our perspective. The Bible
tells another story of 12 spies who went
into the promise land and brought back a report to Moses. They were all exposed
to the same things but 10 of the spies returned with a negative perspective
while only 2 maintained a positive perspective. The Ten only saw the power of
the enemies they would face but the 2, Joshua and Caleb, kept their focus on
God’s willingness and ability to intervene in their battles. One group had no
confidence and the other had great confidence … Perspective!
I
can well understand this because without including God in our lives and
problems I too would have a less than confident feeling about the future.
However, when we do face a problem, a test, trial or trouble, turning to God
and turning that problem over to Him will always result in His willingness to
get involved. This is the story of the Bible and the hope that is found in
Jesus Christ.
God
is so willing to help fix the problems we face and to destroy the plans of our
enemies that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to give each one of us a personal
chance to invite and include Him in our lives. In situations where we once had
no hope, we now have great hope. In circumstances where there seemed to be no
peaceful answer, we now have access to the Prince of Peace. For those times
when we feel alone or don’t know what to do, Jesus said that He will never
leave us or forsake us. What will you choose to focus on in the trying times of
life? Your perspective will make a difference. Turning to Jesus in times of
trouble and turning that trouble over to Him will help you to focus on God’s
potential instead of your problem.
Turn
to Jesus and turn your life over to Him in every situation. Begin to see things
from His perspective. Instead of living in fear, step into faith. There is a
blessing in everything – only sometimes you can’t see it when looking at it
only from earth’s perspective. Give God a chance … 1.) Pray – Talk to God; 2.)
Listen for Instructions; and 3.) Obey – Just do what He says.
