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This is not a typical Coffee Talk: It is rather the basic notes of my Commencement Speech for our 2008 Graduation Ceremony. Of course, I said more than what are in these notes, but this will give you a glimpse of the graduation speech.
Greetings Family, Friends and Columbia Evangelical Seminary Graduates . . . I'm really speaking to the Graduates today, but the rest of you may listen in. I want to speak to you about your raison d'être (ray-zohnn DET-ruh). Raison d'être means a basic, essential purpose; a reason to exist: It comes from the French, meaning “reason (or justification) for being.” Some people miss the nuance of the term raison d'être. I read once where a man had written that his wife was his raison d'être . . . while that's a nice sentiment, I think he misses the point. Raison d'être is not about what makes you want to live, it is, rather, the justification for your existence. An example is closer to this: If a boy wanted to be a surgeon all of his life, and he went to medical school and completed all of his studies and became a surgeon. Let’s say he practice for ten years and became a well know and well respected surgeon, and then he lost the use of both of his hands in a horrible accident of some sort . . . what would be his reason for living then? He would have lost his raison d'être. So, it’s not just the thing that makes him want to live, but the very thing that justifies his existence. You see, your raison d'être is not what gives you the desire to live; it's not what gives you the impetus to live. It is, rather, “What is the justification for your existence?” Let me now ask you this: What was Jesus' Reason for Being? What was his raison d'être? John 6:38 (New International Version) “I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.” Matthew 26:39 (New International Version) “Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.’” John 4:34 (New American Standard Bible) Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.” And, what is the product of his raison d'être? Jesus Himself tells us . . . Note this: do not confuse the raison d'être with either the means to accomplish it or the outcome. Jesus' raison d'être was not to be human; it was not even to give abundant life. His raison d'être was to do the will of His Father . . . if that had not been his raison d'être, he would never have become incarnate nor would he have redeemed the elect. Jesus fulfilled his raison d'être . . . he fulfilled the will of His Father. The Disciples Raison d'être This was the first time in their lives that they knew why they were on this earth. That, then was their raison d'être . . . this was their reason to exist; their justification for existence . . . as followers of Christ. The Church's Raison d'être Matthew 28:18-20 (New International Version) Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." My Personal Raison d'être I felt long ago that God called me to the ministry, and in due time He made clear to me what my raison d'être was: I feel called of God to take the deep things of God and make them understandable. There lots of scholars who today who can stand up and talk about the deep things of God and when they're done, only other scholars understand what they were talking about. I guess that's OK . . . but that's never been my raison d'être. The great Reformed theologian Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse said it best for me: “You have to get the hay, down out of the hay lofts and onto the ground where the cows can eat it.” God has called me to take the sublime and transcendent and make it simple and conceivable. And, remember I said not to confuse the raison d'être with either the means to accomplish it or the outcome. Columbia Evangelical Seminary, my teachings, and my books are all the means for me to accomplish my raison d'être. These graduates here today, and many others all over the world, are the outcome of that raison d'être (and that of other CES professors as well). So, I ask you, CES graduates of 2008, and every person here, what is your raison d'être? If you do not know precisely what your God-given raison d'être is, then I suggest that you seek God until you know. The Apostle Peter said it this way: “give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall” (2 Peter 1:10). _____________________________________________ CES Graduation Ceremonies
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