5/13/05
Embarking Upon Tomorrow.doc- 1
5/13/05
Embarking Upon Tomorrow
Graduation 2005
Philippians 3:12-14
Preface
Illus: I read a story about a young man who was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he
had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer’s showroom, and knowing that his father could well afford it, he
told him it was what he wanted for graduation. As graduation approached, the young man awaited signs that
his father had purchased the car.
Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father told him how
much he loved him. He handed his son a beautiful wrapped gift box. Curious but somewhat disappointed, the
young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather bound Bible, with the his name embossed in gold.
Angrily, he raised his voice to his father and said, “With all your money you give me a Bible?” and stormed out
of the house leaving the Bible.
Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and
wonderful family, but realized the father was very old and realized he should go to him. He had not seen him
since that graduation day. But before he could make arrangements, he received word that his father had
passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately to take care
of things.
When he arrived at his father’s house, sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his
father’s important papers and found the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears in his eyes,
he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. His father had carefully marked a verse, Matthew 7:11, “And
if ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father
which is in heaven, give to those who ask Him.”
As he read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a receipt attached with the
dealers name, the same dealer who had the sports