Shoot For Excellence (Part 3)

The final 4 blog entries this week are a transcript of the remarks that I gave at the Inaugural Induction Service of the Lititz Christian School Chapter of the National Honor Society – April 6, 2006. If you have not read parts 1-2 of this series, it would be best for you to go back and read these before continuing with this blog entry.

In this passage, along with Joshua’s spiritual identity, we also see his spiritual influence. It says in verse 31 that, “Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders who survived Joshua and had known all the deeds of the Lord which had been done for Israel.” I marvel at that statement. According to Scripture, not only did Israel serve God as long as Joshua was their leader, but as long as there were people around who remembered Joshua, Israel continued to serve God! That’s the kind of influence I want to have. That’s the influence I pray and wish for each of you. Because of your devotion to excellence and to God, my prayer is that your family, church and school will walk with God. My prayer is that long after you have graduated from this institution, that as long as there are people left around these halls who remember you, that this school will continue to be influenced by you and will follow God with all of their heart.

You will soon discover the inevitable fact that life speeds by quickly. Imagine with me that an average 70 year life was condensed into 16 hours that began at 7am and ended that same day at 11pm. Do you realize what time it would be for you? If you are 16 years old…the time would be 10:38am. If you are 17…the time would be 10:51am. If you are 18, the time is now 11:05am. And for you parents and staff members, if you are age 40…the time is 4:08pm. Remember, life ends at 11pm. If you are age 50…the time is 6:25pm. If you are age 60…it is now 8:42pm…just a little over two hours left to go.

When your life ends and they engrave your tombstone you will be remembered by just two dates…the date of your birth, followed by the date of your death. I want you to know this evening, that the most important marking on your tombstone will not be those dates. The most important marking, the one that really matters, will be the dash in between those dates. That little dash will symbolize your entire life. It is what you do with the dash in the middle that matters the most. Will you influence others to walk with God? If so, you will need to have the same 3 qualities about your life that Joshua had.

First, Joshua had confidence. He had confidence in God. He trusted Him. He did exactly what God told him to do, even if it didn’t make sense. Joshua was a military leader and genius. Do you think it made any sense at all when God told him to have Israel march around the city of Jericho every day for 6 days and then on the 7th day to march around it 7 times and then yell and blow the trumpets? That was absurd. No military general would want to follow those orders. But Joshua did. He had confidence in everything that God said and you know what happened. That’s right! The walls came tumbling down and mighty Jericho fell! Young people, you can trust God! Put your confidence in everything He says.