Proverbs 2:1- 11; 20  I John 5:1-6 “Jesus, Larger than Life”

INTRODUCTION

          We’ve all seen the 51 foot sculpture at the train station downtown—the combo man/woman.  Rising from what once was a cornfield in southwestern Ohio is a 62-foot tall steel, fiberglass and Styrofoam statue of Jesus.  His arms are upraised some say in a position that makes him look like a “football referee signaling a touch-down.”  They call the statue “touchdown Jesus.”  The arms and hands on this Jesus are big enough to hold a dump truck.[1]

The statue is credited with curbing accidents along that stretch of highway.

          Jesus is larger than life, an important tenet of faith we all do well to remember, but especially our young people who are moving out in new directions.  Every sermon is supposed to have three points.  So here they are:

Hold on to your faith.  Seek to acquire wisdom.  Remember the people who love you.

HOLD ON TO YOUR FAITH 

          The writer of 1 John states that those who believe in Jesus conquer the world.  He writes, “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God.”  Every human being searches for God at some time in his/her life.  We yearn for connection with the source of our lives, for the Creator. Some of us are on a lifelong search.  Other people give up the search, declaring there is no God.  Most of us who have been raised in Christian faith have doubts at times. College is often a time when these doubts take on full force.  Exposed to new ideas, alternative philosophies and lifestyles, and great temptations some young people reject the faith of their forbearers.  Particularly popular in our culture is the practice of cobbling together whatever conglomeration of beliefs will work for a particular individual.  I call this the smorgasbord approach to theology—a little of this, a little of that, mix it together and you get your own personal religion.  Only most people who practice this kind of religion refer to themselves as “spiritual but not religious.”  What this really means is that they don’t go to church, synagogue, mosque, or other faith community.  They will tell you that they aren’t into “organized religion.”  The result is “disorganized religion.”  So as Elizabeth and Shantrez set off to college, I expect they’ll do some searching.  I hope your search will lead you back to Jesus. 

          Exposure to new ideas, philosophies, and lifestyles, coupled with being away from family and friends can lead to some existential angst.  Loneliness is a common experience for college students.  Falling in love and then out of love often leads to mild depression.  The struggle to stay on top of assignments and keep up the grades also takes its toll.  It is at times like these when you can use a Jesus that is larger than life, who encourages and enables you to conquer the world.  So, please, as set off to college, take Jesus with you.  Seek out a support community: attend activities at the campus ministry, worship at a local church, or start your own Bible study.

Faith in Christ keeps us connected to God, “no matter what life throws at us. Our spiritual link will remain strong, in spite of frustrations and failures, breakdowns and betrayals.”[2]  The Apostle Paul wrote to the Roman Christians, “I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39). Nothing will be able to separate us from God.

SEEK TO ACQUIRE WISDOM

          Seek to acquire wisdom.  This story may be familiar to you.  Little Zach was doing very poorly in math.  His parents tried everything to help him… tutors, mentors, and flash cards.  Nothing seemed to work.  Finally Zach’s parents, at the advice of a friend, enrolled their son in a very strict Catholic school.

          The first day little Zach came home with a very serious look on his face.  He went straight to his room and started studying.  His mother peeked in to see books and papers spread across his desk and Zach hard at work.  He studied right up until dinner and went right back to it after dinner.  Every day was the same. Zach would come home, go right to studying and keep at it until bedtime with only the break for dinner.

          At the end of the first quarter, Zach came home, handed his report card to his mother and dashed off to his room to study.  His mother opened the envelope and saw that Zach had gotten an “A” in math.  Greatly pleased she went to his room to congratulate him.  She couldn’t contain her curiosity.  She asked, “What was it that made the difference in your math grade—the teacher?”

Zach shook his head.  “The books?” his mother asked.  Zach shook his head.  “The discipline, the structure, the uniforms? What?” demanded his Mom?

Zach explained, “Well, on the first day of school when I saw that guy nailed to the plus sign, I knew they weren’t fooling around.”

          Elizabeth and Shantrez, you’ve gone to one of the best schools in Baltimore (I’m certain you’d say it’s THE best).  You’ve studied hard and achieved great grades and recognition.  But one of the things you’ve also begun to acquire through your faith and your service to others is wisdom.  The writer of Proverbs encourages the young person to “make your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding.”  Brains and beauty aren’t enough!  Only through wisdom can you “guard the paths of justice” and “understand” and I would add, promote, righteousness and justice and equity.”

REMEMBER YOUR FAMILY

          Finally, remember your family.  When David went off to college for the first time, my friend Cherry who had two grown sons advised me, “Don’t call him.  Let him call you. If I called my sons, they’d accuse me of nagging and wouldn’t tell me squat.  But if I let him call me, they’d usually talk.  Of course, they usually wanted something when they’d call, which tended to make them more pleasant and talkative.”  I haven’t found it quite this bad, but sometimes we parents do wonder if our children ever think about us.  So call your parents, already.

          More importantly, remember your roots.  Remember those of us who treasure you and are praying for you.  We want you to become the best persons you can possibly be, the women God created you to be.  God has wonderful plans for your lives and we would be greatly honored if you would allow us to watch you live into those plans.

          I realize that it seems this sermon has been oriented to just two people who are here this morning.  However, the lessons are for all of us.  Hold onto faith.  Seek to acquire wisdom.  Remember the people who love you.  Amen.