The Hard Choice

Text: ESV John 12:25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

Goal: That we allow God to keep us steadfast in the one true faith until life eternal.

ESV 1 Timothy 1:2 Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Caleb Andrew Christensen: Revelation 3:5
The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. The book of Revelation. The last book of the Bible. A book filled with disturbing images and bazaar circumstances. A book with one central message: Jesus Christ wins and we get to be part of the celebration. Caleb, through Jesus Christ, you are the one who conquers. You will be clothed in white garments. Your name has been written in the book of life. You have nothing to fear.

Curtiss Anthony Christensen: Psalm 18:2
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. The Psalms are filled with prayers and praises to the LORD. Martin Luther prayed the Psalms every day. He used them to express his gratitude to the LORD. Curtiss, the LORD is your rock. Even if everything around you is crumbling apart, God remains solid. He is your fortress and your deliverer. He protects you day and night. You don’t have to try to be strong on your own, simply take refuge in Him. He is your salvation.

David Anthony Dushane: Lamentations 3:22&23
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. The book of Lamentations was written during a difficult time in the history. The capital city of Jerusalem had fallen and the people were mourning and suffering. In the middle of these difficult times, the author of Lamentations still recognized the steadfast love of the LORD. David, the steadfast love of the LORD will always be there for you. His mercies will never come to an end. He will remain faithful.

Darius Dion Howard: John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. People in the world want peace. They look for peace in relationships and desire peace within. Jesus Christ is the only one who is able to give true peace. Darius, this peace has been given to you. This peace doesn’t mean that everything is going to be easy. It doesn’t guarantee that you won’t have difficult days. His peace will give you rest in the middle of adversity. His peace will carry you through difficult situations. You do not need to worry, or be afraid. Jesus has given you His peace.

Molly Kay Schoendaller: 1 John 3:1
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. John is the author of four books in the New Testament. He wrote the Gospel that has his name, the three letters that bear his name, and the book of Revelation. In 1 John, John wrote about sound doctrine, obedience, and love. The love that we share with one another comes from our Father, who gives us true love. Molly, you are God’s child. He was willing to sacrifice His only Son, Jesus Christ so that you might be His child forever. The world doesn’t know, or understand God’s love. But you know and you understand. His love for you will never end.

Joshua Hillis Schwanke: Psalm 86:15
But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Think about God’s attributes. He is merciful and gracious. That means we receive what we don’t deserve. Where we deserve wrath and punishment, He gives mercy and grace. We learned an acronym for grace this year: God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Joshua, God’s grace and mercy are for you and even more than that, God is also slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. He will never let you down.

Adam Christopher Whitaker: 1 Timothy 2:5&6
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. This year we learned a little bit about God. We studied the Apostles’ Creed and learned that there is only one God, but He eternally exists as three persons; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God the Father functions as the Creator, God the Son as the Redeemer, and God the Holy Spirit as the Sanctifier. Adam, Jesus has bought you back. He paid the ransom price for you with His own life. He sits at the right hand of God eternally mediating between God and men. His forgiveness never ends.

Myla Katherine Zima: John 10:14&15
I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. In John’s Gospel, Jesus says “I am” many times. Here He says, “I am the good shepherd.” The good shepherd knows all of His sheep. He makes sure that they’re taken care of. He provides food and water. He finds them when they get lost and bandages them when they are hurt. Myla, you are a sheep in Jesus’ flock. Jesus laid down His life to protect you from death, from the devil, and from your own sinful desires. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, will take care of you now and He will take care of you for eternity.

Today, all of you will stand before this congregation to make a promise. Jesus said in John 12:25 “Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” God has already made his promise to each of you. He claimed you to be his children through your Baptism. You are His children. You are sheep in His flock. Your names are written in the Book of Life. You have been redeemed and God promises His grace and mercy for you for eternity. Today you will publicly confess that you are a Christian. Through the power of the Holy Spirit working within you, you will acknowledge God’s work in your life. You will make the promise to feed your faith with a steady diet of God’s Word, supplemented by Christ’s own Body and Blood. You will make the hard choice. You will promise to lose your life in this world, knowing that God will keep it for eternal life.

ESV Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.