Every promotion is for responsibility
It is easy to ascribe similarities between life and a ladder; both are composed of progressive steps to get higher, to get improved, to advance, to evolve, and to upgrade, as it is called ‘Promotion’. Just as gravity makes it difficult to climb a ladder, there is nothing called “hassle-free promotion“. Such endeavors of promotion are not usually easy steps and are achieved through hard work. I think that is why we often welcome ‘Promotion’ cheerfully and with warm celebrations. Considering this year’s graduates, I think of the same analogy. You are preparing to celebrate your graduation. In the next few weeks, there would be so many graduation ceremonies both in the universities and in your families’ places. Praising songs would be heard everywhere; short and yet very sharp “last words“ to thank God, families and friends would be read from the graduates’ bulletins, and so many congratulation postcards and flowers would be given. Yes, you need a ‘Warm Congratulation’ because it is not something you attained simply; it wasn’t for free. Of course, we all praise-fully acknowledge God for your ‘promotion’ towards the next phase of life, because we all know that every good and perfect gift including our ‘promotions’ is from above [James 1:17].
Taking this opportunity, I would like to note that every promotion that we attain in our life is for a responsibility. I started to think this way after coming across the verse on the bible which says, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked“ [Luke 12:48].
I feel you have been privileged with a wonderful learning opportunity in a country where few are entitled to be literate; very few are entitled to get higher education. There might be even much more than this for celebrating your promotion; however, it is also equally important to ask why God entitled you for this promotion. Definitely, it is for a responsibility. I used to think that graduation is a gate of comfortable zone; though after a decade of my graduation, I realized that my graduation was rather a gate to a new and higher level of responsibility; responsibility towards my own life, to my juniors in colleges and universities, to the church, and to the nation. I wish you may realize this sooner. I wish all of us who think that we have been given much from God, may come to realize this truth.
Finally, as you leave your campuses and join the new phase of life, I would like to stress the importance of your active involvement as members in the body of Christ (in your local church). Beloved graduates, this is not an option; it is rather a necessity. I would also extend my candid invitation to keep your attachment with EvaSUE through our Associates’ Ministry. Since you yourselves have passed through the students’ ministry, you understand the value and challenges of the ministry.
Congratulation! May your future days be filled with abundant fruit and joyful moments!
God bless you all!
Robel Chemeda (General Secretary)