Hebrews 13:5
5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Congratulations graduate class of 2008. Many of you have heard the old saying “Now your life begins.” Or “The hard work begins.” I love that God continues to give us endings as well as new beginnings. As you step out into the new phase of your life remain steadfast and strong in your faith.
Your friends may leave you. Your family may desert you, but God has said in his word that he will never leave or forsake you. I do not believe He brought you this far, to leave you! I have an I-pod with various black gospel singers, and gospel choirs. I enjoy listening to praise music especially the old spirit filled songs that really told a story with enthusiasm. Choirs back in the day put a lot of spirit into their music. There is a track by Rev. James Cleveland that comes to mind this morning.
Before he started his song, he said he was in church sometime ago and a little lady about 82 years old got up to testify. She said, “I’ve been running for Jesus for some fifty some-odd years.” She continued to say, “I don’t feel no ways tired. I’ve come too far from where I started from. Nobody told me that the road would be easy. "BUT I DON’T BELIEVE HE BROUGHT ME THIS FAR TO LEAVE ME.”
I think we could all learn a lesson from what that Mother said. Being an older black woman, I am sure she had seen a lot of hard times along the way, but she knew that whatever happened in her life, God would not leave her. There is a scripture in Psalm chapter 37 that says, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.”
My meditation this morning is to those of you beginning a new phase in your life and you may be feeling like God has forsaken you. If you don’t feel that way right now, you probably will somewhere down the road of life. But always remember what Hebrews 13:5Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Some of you this morning have been running for Jesus a long time. You have come a long ways from where you started from. The road hasn’t been easy. You have been through some difficult situations. You’ve been through some pretty turbulent storms along life’s road.
But you can identify with this 82 year Mother who said, “I’ve come too far from where I started from.” Nobody told you that the road would be easy. But look where you started from, and look where you are today! And no matter what you are going through today, I can’t believe He brought you this far, just to leave you!
What I am saying to you this morning is that you can go on with life knowing that God is with you, no matter what may come your way. Even though you may walk through the very shadow of death, Jesus is with you. His rod and His staff will comfort you! No, He hasn’t left you today! It may feel like He has, but be rest assured He is right there beside you, walking every step of the way.
There may be times when you see just one set of footprints in the sands of life, but rest assured that those are the times when Jesus has picked you up and is carrying you through those hard times. Enjoy your success and praise God! Endure the challenges of life and praise God! You are not facing the world alone! AMEN.
By: Elder Michael L. Hargett
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