To the Class of 2025
You’ve made it this far!! But this is only the beginning!
You’re all entering a brand new part of life! New stages of life are simultaneously sad and exciting and terrifying! You have likely already been attempting to answer (or avoid) questions like: What’s next? What am I building with my life? What direction am I headed? Where are my friends going? And am I going to look back with peace—or regret?
I’m not going to lie to you, life is difficult. You will have some regrets and hard days. But the hard days don’t last! There is a big difference between some regrets from a lifetime of fighting the good fight and living a complete life of regret. No one sets out to destroy their life. It doesn’t happen over time. It’s a slow burn. I stole these from a pastor that I follow (Jonathan Pokluda), through his years of observation these are some of ways that people end up with a life of regret and how to avoid it.
If you want to live a life of regret…
Believe That Ideas Don't Have Consequences
Every decision you make right now is shaping who you're becoming. You're preparing to either thrive or self-destruct. Choose wisdom.
“The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps.” – Proverbs 14:15
Live Outside Your Means
Don't mortgage your future for a lifestyle you can't afford. The “good life” isn't about image—it's about freedom.
“The borrower is slave to the lender.” – Proverbs 22:7
Feed an Addiction
Addictions aren't instant. They're trained and maintained. Stop feeding what's killing you.
“The unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.” – Proverbs 11:6
Run with Fools
You become like the people you're with. Want to be wise? Surround yourself with people who love Jesus and live like it.
“Walk with the wise and become wise.” – Proverbs 13:20
Give Your Heart Away Carelessly
Guard your heart—not in fear, but with purpose. Be careful what you let in, what you feed your heart grows your desire for it.
“Above all else, guard your heart.” – Proverbs 4:23
Tolerate Evil
Evil doesn't go away when ignored. Silence and passivity are accomplices. Stand up for truth, even when it's costly.
“To fear the Lord is to hate evil.” – Proverbs 8:13
Avoid Accountability
You were made for community. Stop running from it. The best version of you is only possible with others.
“Whoever hates correction is stupid.” – Proverbs 12:1
Live for the Moment, Not the Mission
Immediate pleasure often sabotages lasting purpose. Don't trade a calling for a craving.
“Fools gulp theirs down.” – Proverbs 21:20
Live Like Life Is All About You
You're not the star of the show. You were made to reflect God, not replace Him. Live for something—and someone—bigger than yourself.
“Pride goes before destruction.” – Proverbs 16:18
Confuse Secondary Things for Ultimate Things
Your life will orbit whatever you put at the center. Is it your career? A relationship? Comfort? Or is it Christ?
“Give me neither poverty nor riches... lest I disown you and say, 'Who is the Lord?'” – Proverbs 30:8–9
God has a plan for your life. The enemy has a plan for your life. Prepare well so that you will be wise enough to know which one to battle and which one to embrace.
You don't need to figure out all of life tomorrow. What can you do today? You can choose the path of wisdom. As a Christian I believe that wisdom comes from God and we should choose His way in all things. In life you’re going to hear so many voices! So many people telling you which way you should go. Be prepared to filter out the voices that lead to regret and destruction and turn the volume up on the voices that lead you to the abundant life.
John 10:10 —
“‘Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
The sheep know the voice of the shepherd and follow him because the Shepherd knows what’s best. We were created to live life to fullest!
And that starts with this…
Walk with God Worship and worship Him with your whole life.
Spend less than you earn.
Kill sin before it kills you.
Choose better friends.
Guard your heart.
Stand against evil.
Don't do it alone.
Delay pleasure for purpose.
Live for something eternal.
Don’t Quit.
One last thing, if you don’t read, I highly recommend it and here are a few books to get you started! Reading is a great discipline to master!
Welcome to Adulting — By Jonathan Pokluda
Surviving Religion 101 — By Micheal Kruger
Heaven — By Randy Alcorn