Celebration is Coming

Graduating Seniors,

This isn’t the ending that you wanted. It’s not just the postponed graduation or the cancelled events – it’s so much more. This was to be a season of enjoyment.

Community. Friendship. Recognition. Celebration.

Despite the noble attempts of others to re-create these realities in the midst of the current circumstance, there is a bitter taste that still lingers. Even in the best efforts to look ahead, be grateful, and say the right things, there is always the undeniable whisper – “I’m missing something.”

And that is okay.

The thing that you desire in this season, although undoubtedly contributed to by our cultural expectations, is nevertheless an innate human desire. In fact, it’s one that we all have. Each of us hopes for community, friendship, recognition, and celebration. It’s engraved on our hearts. The thrill of being a Senior stirs up this desire in us. The longing for a true “Senior season” is inseparable from the human soul.

When that desire goes unmet, we should long for it all the more. It is okay to feel the sting of disappointment. It hurts, because we know that, at least in some transcendent sense, that fulfillment is possible. We desire it, because it exists. The “Senior season,” characterized by community, friendship, recognition, and celebration, actually exists.

And, my friends…it is coming.

You may not find it in the postponed graduation or the social-distanced parties. But it is coming.

Just stay faithful.

Look ahead and long for the Day. For after “a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (1 Pt. 5:10).

There will be a great celebration – a great feast – the likes of which we have nothing to compare (Is. 25:6; Matt. 22). Your faithfulness and perseverance will be recognized (Matt. 10:32; Matt. 25:23). You will be among friends in perfect community (Rev. 7:9).

The longing for a “Senior season” is really a longing for the ultimate celebration – one we will experience in the New Heaven and New Earth at the end of time (Rev. 21). Both, while looking back at the past, are really celebrations of a new beginning. Only, the ultimate one will not stop. It is a fulfillment of our desire – the hole in our heart – for all of eternity. Even the grandest celebrations and ceremonies we experience on earth come to an end, but the heavenly one that awaits us will not. Community, friendship, recognition, and celebration will characterize humanity forever. It is an eternal satisfaction that rests not on our glory or accomplishments, but on His. It is a celebration not of our work, but of His work in and through us. Our joy will be made complete because we will dwell with the One who created us, sustains us, and brought about our salvation.

My Senior friends, although many will experience this Day, perhaps you will experience it in a way that others won’t. For each ceremony, party – and even each hug – that you missed, your joy will abound to the same degree. For each tear that you cried, you will experience the Lord’s goodness in a greater way as he wipes them from your eyes (Rev. 21:4). For each recognition that went unspoken, the words “well done, good and faithful servant” will resound all the more (Matt. 25:21).

Your trouble now will bear it’s fruit as peace. Your sadness now will bear it’s fruit as laughter. Your disappointment now will bear it’s fruit as satisfaction. All that was taken will be given. And perhaps, with great happiness, you will then whisper, “I have everything.”

Stay faithful.

Sincerely,

Your Brother in Christ