Graduation Season
It is that time of year: Caps and gowns. Pomp and Circumstance. Moms crying and kids celebrating. From the youngest preschooler “graduating” to the formal degrees bestowed upon candidates, it is a season of change.
This is on my mind this week as my oldest, Luke, graduates with his bachelor’s degree from Freed-Hardeman University. I thought my four years at FHU flew by but that was nothing compared to how fast his have gone. He is ready for the next chapter while I am wondering how I am possibly old enough to have a child graduating from my alma mater!
I decided to see what the Bible has to say about the idea of graduation. I searched for the term graduation in at least 5 versions of the Bible: ESV, KJV, NKJV, NASB, and NIV. On each one, only one verse was returned:
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21
And it hit me. Graduation is a human concept. We like to celebrate so we “graduate” from each phase of education these days. We mark the “rite of passage” from one level to the next.
But for Christians, there is only one graduation! Our entire life, no matter what phase, is meant to be lived exemplifying Christ. To live is Christ. So the only “rite of passage”–or graduation–is death and the victory it contains (1 Cor. 15:54). And that will be one “ceremony” where the only tears are happy and the reward is worth much more than a paper with a degree listed on it. There will be no distinction between graduating with honors and just making it through. Instead of shaking the hand of a principal, president, or board member, we will all get to hear the Master say: “Well done, good and faithful servant. … Enter into the joy of your master” (Matthew 25:21).
As the song says, “what a day – glorious day – that will be!” So while I plan to celebrate my son and his accomplishments in school this weekend, I am more thankful that if he and others continue the life of love and service to our Lord, we will all be receiving the ultimate diploma one day … our names not on individual degrees, but all listed together in the Lamb’s book of life.
AUTHOR: Amber Tatum