HIGH SCHOOL BACCALAUREATE MESSAGE 5/23/99

Luke 15

This evening I chose what I'm sure seems to be an odd text for a Baccalaureate service. You've heard it read once, allow me to tell you how I think Jesus might change it for today,

Once a Father had two sons. They had a big farming operation. The older son had stepped into the family business but the younger son wanted no part of it. As soon as he graduated from High School he said to his father: "I hate living in this "rinky-dink" town. I'm off to experience the world. I'd like my inheritance now!"

Dad was sad but agreed to let the Son go. The son went off to college on the other side of the country where he spent his time partying in the dorms. He thought life was great . . . no rules, no curfews . . . he could do what he wanted.

Before long the young man flunked out of college but he was not discouraged. He rented a nice apartment and had his friends over all the time. Before long his job at Hardees could not keep pace with his rent, car payments and his lifestyle. His girlfriend left him, his car was repossessed and he had to move to a low income apartment . . .he went on welfare but still wasn't making ends meet. He had no Air Conditioning and didn't own a phone, computer, or subscribe to cable. He was miserable. He couldn't believe he had used up all the money he had been given and had been saving for all those years. He found himself skipping meals for days at a time. He started to long for the days at home when life was good.

Finally the young man realized that he was miserable. He knew that he had not only wasted his father's inheritance, he was wasting his life. He decided to admit his foolishness, stupidity and rebellion and go back to the farm. He didn't expect his father to forgive him . . . he knew he didn't deserve that. What he did hope was that dad would make him one of the hired men. He'd rather work as a slave for his father than be taken advantage of by the world.

He hitchhiked his way back home and started up the driveway. His dad was looking out the window. When he saw his son he came running out and threw his arms around him. Before the son ever had a chance to beg for forgiveness the Father was calling the family and the neighbors to come over for a hog roast.

The son was bewildered. How could his father love him after all he had done. The father said, "I thought I had lost you. I'm just so glad to have you home again."

I tell you this parable because I believe it contains three important lessons for you as graduates of Laharpe High School.

THE PRODIGAL DIDN 'T APPRECIATE WHAT HE HAD.

The Prodigal was sure that real life, fun life, the true joy of life had to be found somewhere else. I know that most of you feel the same way. You believe the best thing about graduation is that it gives you the chance to escape from the small town. You're tired of having everyone know your every move. You've had enough of Jake's finger waving. You want a fresh start. You want to be where the action is!

I understand this mentality. It's natural and normal. We always think the other guy has it better. But I also know that you don't appreciate the blessing you have had at LaHarpe High School. But my perspective is different. My experience was different.

[Stories from Lane Tech, Swimming, Sports, Violence, Friendships]

You see, I didn't have any friends in high school. I didn't know any of the teachers and they didn't know me. I have not gone to . . . nor do I intend to ever go to a class reunion. To me, high school was like a prison sentence. I know, you think you have been in prison too. . . . but it's the difference between the jail at Carthage and the prison at Ft. Madison.

Just this last week Andrew Greely was reporting on MSNBC that today's high schools are in trouble. He says they have lots of stuff . . . they are shiney and new. He points out that the mentality is that if you provide the newest, best stuff . . . you are giving the best education. The problem, he points out, is that these schools have no sense of community and no values are taught. This, he said, is where most of the problems like Columbine High come from.

Do you understand that your education is different. Most of you are friends. Teachers know you and care about you. You go to church with some of the teachers, you know their families and they know yours. I never met my Principal . . . you probably have talked to him more than you wanted to. Many of you will attend all your class reunions. Some of you will even get together 50 years from now. You were able to play whatever sports you wanted, and try anything that you had an interest in. You have been richly blessed.

During this next week I hope you will take the time to appreciate and be grateful for the blessings you've had. Get together for a picture during the fellowship time after the service tonight. Take the time to jot some notes to friends and teachers. Find some time to reminisce. Whatever you do, appreciate what you've had before you head off into the future.

THE PRODIGAL SON WAS SEDUCED BY THE ADVERTISING OF THE WORLD

He believed those who told him that he hadn't lived until he went to the city. He believed those who told him that true freedom was to throw off all the values he had been raised with. He believed them . . . and paid dearly for it. And as you go off into the future it is important that you do so with your eyes open. You must be alert to the distorted messages the world is giving you. Let me give you some examples:

• True Happiness is Found with the Absence of Restraint. The idea is simple: if you drink as much as you want, have intimate relationships as often and with as many as you want, and live as recklessly as you want you will find true happiness.

But what you are not told is the consequences of this reckless behavior.

• It hinders your ability to work
• It can lead to disease or pregnancy
• It can result in behavior that hurts or kills others
• It cultivates habits and addictions you will struggle with the rest of your life
• It brings with it a regret that you will have to live with the rest of your life.
• It leads you to a life that is in opposition to God

You cannot regain lost years. You cannot get purity back. You cannot turn back the clock. The world is telling you a lie!

• Success is the Only Thing that Matters. The idea is that you have to do whatever you have to do to get to the top . . . to make the most money . . . to have the most power.

  However, again we are not given all the information. When someone says this we often don't ask, "What do you mean by success". Usually the success mentioned is external. It is not about character it is about possessions, power, and production. and we are not told that this success often comes at the price of relationships and family.

• Truth is Self-Defined. You'll hear it over and over in the years ahead: "Whatever is true to you is truth for you." Or you may hear it as: "it may be true for you, but not for me." You may even hear people state the foundational principle for this mindset: "There is no absolute truth!" Of course, that absolute statement is absolutely meaningless. For if the statement "There are no absolutes" is true . . . then the statement (an absolute) is false (which must mean that there ARE absolutes).

This popular notion which is the guiding principle of many universities is an attempt to make men God. It is designed to make us the Judge and the standard. But what happens is you end up with a society of chaos as everyone does what is right in their own eyes.

But more than this . . . if there is no standard of truth, if there are no absolutes, Then we have no anchor of our lives. We have nothing to build on. The standard is constantly changing. Our world becomes one of continuous upheaval.

• "It doesn't matter what you believe as long as you are sincere". What a dumb notion this is. I can sincerely believe that if I jump off the top of this building I will fly. But when I jump . . . I will fall flat on my face. You can be sincere, and be sincerely wrong!

All religions are NOT the same. Christianity says that the only way you can get to Heaven is through Jesus Christ. Other faiths say that Jesus may have been a good man . . . but he was not the only way to Heaven. They both can't be true. They could both be false . . . but they can't both be true!

As soon as you begin to believe the propaganda of the world, you are headed in the wrong direction. You are like the Prodigal Son heading for the pig pen.

THE PRODIGAL SON HAD THE GOOD SENSE TO GO HOME

The Prodigal Son made mistakes. He messed up his life. He hurt those around him. But instead of digging the hole deeper, he decided to go home. He knew he had no right to ask for forgiveness. He could not ask for money or help. But he could ask for a job. He knew his father. He was a kind, good, just man. Working for him would be far better than being a slave to others.

You'll make mistakes . . . we all do. But it is important to realize that you can always come home. I know some of your parents have probably told you: "Once you leave, we're turning your bedroom into a spa". They may have told you they don't want you moving back in after you move out. But the truth is they will always be there for you.

But Jesus really wasn't telling the story to remind you that you can always come back to LaHarpe. The story was told with a spiritual purpose. The Father represents God and the Prodigal son in the story represents you and I. We have asked God to give us blessings and then have squandered them in foolish living.

The message of the parable is simple,

• The Love of the Father is greater than the sin of the child
• The Father rejoices when we come to Him
• It is always a good time to turn to the Lord

As you move into the future I urge you to take the hand of Jesus and walk with Him.

In this text we see the three different kinds of faith. First we see the content level of faith. The Prodigal knew his fathers servants were better off than he was. We are at the content level of faith when we know the facts about Christianity. The second stage was the assent level of faith. This is where you believe the truth of the content. The Prodigal believed that he would be better off at home. He believed it was the best place to be. The third level of faith is the commitment stage. This is where you are willing to commit yourself to the truth. The Prodigal had this kind of faith when he went home.

It's a lot like a relationship. There is the stage when you are dating when you think the one you are dating is a great person and would make a great mate. The second stage is when you believe they would make a great mate for YOU. The third stage is when you stand before someone like me and promise to love "in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, for better or worse, till death do you part."

The kind of faith that we call "saving faith" is that last kind of faith. That's what it means to go home to the Father. It's not about information . . . it is about a relationship.

I survived High School in Chicago only because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. I grew up in the church. I felt like I was a pretty good guy. I was involved, active, influential. I figured God was really glad to have me on His side. Then I actually started listening to what was being said. I was told that no matter how good I thought I was . . . I was a prodigal.

31 years ago this week (everybody gasp that I could be THAT old), I was at a banquet for our youth group. We had a speaker that urged us to make a commitment to Christ. He pointed us to Revelation 3:20 where Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock, if any man hears my voice and opens the door I will come in to him and eat with him and he with me." The man said Jesus was knocking on the door of my heart. He wanted to be a real part of my life.

This was something new to me. I had the content. I had the assent . . . I believed in Jesus. But the idea of having Christ IN ME was new. The idea of following Him that completely was something I had never allowed myself to think about.

I know I had heard the words before but this was the first time I really HEARD the words. I know a choice needed to be made. I knew if I continued to play with God . . . someday I would be left with nothing. So, that night, in the quiet of my own bedroom, I said something like: "Lord, I know you want entry into my life. I gladly and gratefully open the door of my life to you. I ask you to come in and cleanse me. Make me into a new person. Live your life through me.

I didn't become perfect that night. I made a lot of stupid choices after that. At times I ignored Him. But I always came back . . . and He always threw His arms around me.

I've made a lot of important decisions in my life: where to go to school, what professions to pursue, who to marry, where to live. But the most important decision of my life was the decision to walk with Jesus Christ. I have NEVER . . . .EVER regretted that decision.

And now as you move into the future I would urge you to 1) appreciate the blessings you have enjoyed these last 4 years or so. 2) Go into the future with your eyes open . . . be alert for the superficial claims and philosophies of the world. 3) And go into the future firmly anchored in Jesus Christ. Open the door and let Him in.

And I want you to remember something. If you are ever in trouble . . . if you ever feel that you don't remember the way home any more . . . . give me a call (or send me an e-mail), and I will be glad to give you directions to the Father's house.

Bruce Goettsche to the class of 1999