ambassadors for the risen Christ ministries

by Shawn Brasseaux

May 19, 2009 will mark the third anniversary of my graduation from Northwest High School. Wow, 2002 Freshman Orientation at Northwest seems like yesterday. Yet, I have just completed my third year of college—absolutely unbelievable. But enough about me. I would like to pass on this advice to those who are graduating high school in the near future.

With high school nearly finished (or perhaps already finished), you ask, “What now, Lord?” Firstly, I can assure you that God will not speak to you in an audible voice, “I want you to do ___.” Everything that God has to say to you is already in His Word—this is how God speaks to you today. Secondly, with God’s Word effectually working in you as you read, study, and believe it, you begin to think like God: this is where your answer to your question is. Look at 2 Timothy 3:15-17 KJV:

“15 And that from a child thou [Timothy] hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

According to the Bible, God has placed His power and His wisdom in His Word (“God-breathed,” “inspired”), and you can draw on that power and wisdom through faith. What is God’s will for your life? It is in His Word! God’s will is already written in His Word; you need not ask for Him to reveal His will to you. Consider 1 Corinthians 2:9-12 KJV, and pay special attention to verses 10-12 which are oftentimes skipped:

“9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”

As members of the Church the Body of Christ, God the Holy Spirit has already revealed to us in His Word everything He wants us to know. If we had to pray for God to show us something not found in His Word, that means the Bible is incomplete! But, we know that the Bible is complete. Again, “all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” The King James Bible is all we need to know and do the will of God! Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:9,10: “Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:” God has already made His will known unto us—Father God wants to make His Son, Jesus Christ, the Head of the governments of the heaven and the earth!

College is not for everyone; do not be pressured if you are uncomfortable with it. Not going to college does not mean that you are dumb… even a vocational/technical school is fine! 🙂 Just get some education so that you can get a decent job with an income that you can use to support your family and yourself (1 Timothy 5:8). Actually, I am still unsure of what to do with my geology degree once I finish college, but I am going to analyze my options and I will know as time goes by and as I progress through the remaining semesters. Recently, the idea came to me to minor in geography (a good combination with my major in geology). We shall see in due time.

Choose a career that you will enjoy, as well as one that would be respectable to God: remember, “Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord” (Ephesians 5:10). You cannot demonstrate God’s way of doing things if you are pursuing a “career” of fornication, crime, or other types of sin (wickedness). Remember, you are an “ambassador for the risen Christ,” so it must be a career that does not bring shame to the Lord’s name! 🙂

After choosing that respectable career (and thereby your college, or technical school), with Christ living in you, you will bring glory and honor to Him! Read Galatians 2:20 KJV: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Although the entire Bible is for you to read, make your decisions based on what Paul writes in the books of Romans through Philemon. These are God’s instructions to you today as a member of the Church the Body of Christ (Romans 11:13; Romans 15:16; 2 Timothy 1:11).

Now, it is normal to be nervous, but listen, it is not like you are alone. The Lord will give you the wisdom and the strength that you need, as long as you remember where you can find that power, in His Word (Philippians 4:13, 19). You now face the option of making a positive difference in this wicked world, so stand firm in the Word of God and let it make a difference in your life. Then, it will all fall into place. You have the opportunity to bring glory and honor to your Saviour, Jesus Christ, so get out there, and let Him live His life in and through you!

I wish you all the best in your future endeavors….