SpeakOut, our speech and debate club (NCFCA.org), asked me to speak at their graduation. I was deeply honored to do so. Here is the transcript of that speech - which my son timed at 11 minutes and 31 seconds. And here is the YouTube link.
Thank you Ms. Jen Swick and the amazing leadership at SpeakOut. I am truly honored and privileged to be invited to speak at this event.
This speech and debate club has been such a blessing to our family. We have seen our children grow in skill and character by interacting with their peers, seniors, and coaches.
Students - The quality of of your work and delivery is par excellence. You are definitely engaging in a lot more positive activities than I was at your age. I pray your success knows no bounds. And I know I speak on behalf of all parents in the club - we are so proud of you!
Seniors - this is a bittersweet moment. Your illustrious career as a speech and debate student at NCFCA is over. And a new adventure in higher education awaits. You decide which one is bitter and which one is sweet.
As I prayed about what to share, the Holy Spirit led me to three specific questions that demand answers. Every human being needs to ask and answer them. In fact, one cannot live a full life unless they have struggled with these questions.
The good news is that two of the three questions have been answered by God. The third one - we have the privilege of composing the answer throughout our life.
Question 1 - WHO AM I?
This is a question that has plagued the mind of anyone with breath in their lungs. Regardless of your ethnicity, culture, economic status, religious beliefs, or education - everyone has asked this question. Renee Descartes, the French mathematician and philosopher famously said - “cogito, ergo sum”; I think, therefore I am. Good, but it still doesn’t answer the question. The best place to find out more about an object is to refer to its manufacturer’s handbook. For us humans, it’s our Bible. This is what the Creator says you are.
You are my loving creation. My son. My daughter. My child. I have made you in my image - fearfully and wonderfully. Whether you believe in me or not - I love you. Whether you worship me or not - I love you. Whether you follow me or not - I love you. Since you are my beloved, I will pursue you to the ends of earth, and even hell, to bring you heaven. You are loved. You are powerful. And when you believe in Jesus my Son, you are complete. In Christ, you are more than a conqueror. And in my strength, you can do all things.
Question 2 is very closely related to question 1 - WHOSE AM I?
In spite of knowing
who we are, we often forget who we belong to. Our identity is often wrapped up in our vocation, how much we know, how much we earn, what car we drive, what brand of clothes we wear.
What we think we own, eventually starts owning us.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his last days in a Nazi prison during World War 2, wrote a poem with these closing lines - who am I, they mock me, these lonely questions of mine. Who am I, Lord, you know I am thine.
I am a child of the Creator - the Lord of the universe and everything in it. The One who revealed Hims
elf through Jesus - who took our sins on Himself because we are unable to bear the consequence of our disobedience. The one who rose from the dead, thereby defeating death itself and securing eternity for all who believe and follow. The one who says - today you have become my child, and I your Father.
All creation is precious to the Creator. He loves believers and unbelievers alike. He does not love one less and the other more. He cannot do that. Because God is love. And that’s who you belong to.
We often compare God’s love with the love that a father or mother has their child. But it’s actually the other way around. As a father, I want to love my children the way my heavenly father loves me. We do our best to describe God‘s love using feeble metaphors, but at the end of the day, every comparison falls short. We cannot even love God back because our capacity to love is flawed. However, when God puts his love in us, we can love with the love he has given us. It is his love that gives us identity. Not our family, not a community, not
our education, not the clubs we belong to, not a profession, not our accomplishments. Only God‘s love for us.
We are His.
And now the third question - WHAT DO I WANT TO DO IN THIS LIFE?
We are human beings, not human doings. But we are beings that have been created to do! When God created Adam, the first thing He did was give His new creation a job. Take care of the garden. Name the animals. Walk with me. In fact, even before He gave man a woman, he gave him a job.
Young men - please take that hint.
We know who we are. We know whose we are. Now we get to decide what to do.
It’s perfectly OK to come to God and ask Him what He’d like you to do. But more often than not, He will flip the question and ask you - My child, what would *you* like to do? Initially, that question m
ade me very uncomfortable because it broke the bad theology that I carried for so many years about God tightly controlling every area of our lives. It also forced me to think for myself and take responsibility for my actions. But then I realized, My Heavenly Father is asking me this question because He loves me. He considers me a prince in His kingdom, and royalty have the privilege of deciding whatever they want to do and they just do it. Obviously, all within the loving and logical boundaries that God has revealed through His Word. I hope this frees you as much as it did me.
I often speak with people who struggle with choosing a vocation. I’ve been there myself. I remember watching an interview with past president Barack Obama. His advice to young people was - “don’t ask what you can be - ask what you can do.” Regardless of your political stance - that was good advice. Instead of thinking - I want to be a doctor - perhaps think - I want to heal people with heart diseases. Instead of thinking about becoming a teacher - think - I want to educate children in inner cities so that they have a better shot at a successful life than their parents. Instead of “becoming” and engineer - think - I want to build machines that use commonly available and inexpensive fuel. Instead of saying I want to get into ministry - think - I want to help communicate the gospel of Christ to Arabic speaking nations. Instead of saying I want to be a homemaker - think - I want to raise up a generation of children that demonstrate the values of Christ and make a positive change in the world.
I hope you see the difference in the two thought patterns. Asking the question - what do I want to do - moves us from vague generalities to specifics that we can actually aim towards. And here’s the best part - the answer can change depending on where you are in life.
Now don’t get me wrong - I am not asking you to make this decision in a vacuum. You need to have multiple conversations with God about what you want to do. Process it with your parents, trusted peers, as well as people who have gone before. For example, if you’d like to reform our political landscape with honesty, integrity and results - talk to someone who is already doing it. Research the people in office that most closely align with what you want to do. Call them, write to them - and I’m sure they will be more than happy to guide you.
You are a child of God, and you are part of His holy family. Your “being” is settled. You can now do whatever you want, because when you operate in your holy identity, you are operating in God’s perfect and pleasing will. He has given us the ability to choose, and He will bless what ever we choose to do - as long as it is reflective of our identity in Christ and brings Him honor.
He obviously is not going to bless your criminal career or unethical behavior.
No matter what you decide to do, know that you are God’s beloved creation and you belong to Him. He has put his desires in your heart and He will walk with you in every decision. Spend time with Him. Talk to Him. Consult with people who have gone before. Philippians 4:8 tells us what to think on, but its a great way to qualify whether our actions are in His will:
Is it true?
Is it noble?
Is it right?
Is it pure?
Is it lovely?
Is it admirable?
Is it excellent?
Is it praisewor
thy?
Does it honor God?
Does it change the world for the better?
And to add a few questions from John Maxwell -
Are you passionate about it?
Are you good at it?
And will people pay y
ou for it?
Yes to all the above? Then go do it!
I pray Psalm 67:7 over you all - may God bless us still, so that all the ends of earth may fear Him.
Thank you!
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