Jesus spoke the following words as His conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount. "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall" (Matt. 7:24-27).

You are about to begin a new chapter in your life that will bring you into adulthood. Some important decisions are approaching quickly on the horizon. The choices that you make (good or bad) will lay the foundation for the rest of your life.

Jesus teaches that a young man or woman who makes the right decisions will have the strength and stability to withstand the storms of life. Those who ignore his teaching, and make foolish decisions, will not withstand the storms of life. Let's consider some of these decisions.

The decision of who you will marry will likely be made during the next few years. This is the second most important decision that you will ever make (the most important is choosing to become a Christian). Marriage is for life (Rom. 7:2-3). Young men, take your time and look for Ms. Right, not Ms. Right Now. Young ladies, take your time and look for Mr. Right, don't settle for Mr. Right Now. Find the person who is worth giving yourself to, not throwing yourself at.

Good jobs are getting harder and harder to find. You need to spend the next few years making yourself as employable as you can. Many of you will be going away to college or trade school. Do the best you can. Get the education, training and experience that you will need to find a good job to support yourself and your family (1 Tim. 5:8). No one owes you anything in this life - you have to earn it.

Some of you will stay in the community where you grew up, others of you will move away. Wherever you choose to live, surround yourself with good people who will be a good influence upon yourself and your family (1 Cor. 15:33).

Always do the right thing. When there is a choice between right and wrong, choose what is right. When the decision is between good, better and best, choose the best (Phil. 1:10). The Bible can help you make these decisions. The book of Proverbs was written especially for people your age. It contains wisdom that will allow you to make the right decisions and avoid the pitfalls of life.

Remember to always honor your parents (Eph. 6:2-3). They have invested the most in your future. They changed your diapers, stayed up with you all night when you were sick, taught you how to tie your shoes, ride a bike and drive, patiently endured the noise as you learned how to play the trumpet, bought the braces that straightened out your smile, etc. They did it because they love you, but that doesn't keep you from proving that you were worth it.

Psalm 127:4 describes children as arrows. When you shoot an arrow, you place it in the bow, pull back on the string, aim at the target and let it go. Right now, your parents are about to let you go and watch you fly. Fly straight! Live your life in such a way that your parents can truly be proud of you, and others can see that they did a good job raising you.

No building can stand unless it has a strong foundation. That is the task which lies ahead of every one of you now. By making the right decisions, you will give yourself the foundation that you need to make the most out of life.

Congratulations on reaching this milestone, and may God bless you in the years that lie ahead.