THE ABC's—BACKWARDS
(Emphasizing Ideals)
(Hebrews. 11:1)

 Graduation Day

    "If the mind can conceive it
    and the heart can believe it,
    you can achieve it! "

Conceiving, believing and achieving are the essence of life. Conceiving, believing and achieving are how things work. Conceiving, believing and achieving are how progress is made! Conceiving, believing and achieving are the ABC's backward.

If the mind can conceive it, means we must have the intelligence, the imagination, and the vision to formulate ideals and goals. The writer of Proverbs says, "As (a man) thinks within himself, so he is . . ." (Prov. 23:7

If the heart can believe it, means we must have the confidence, the faith, and the hope to reach for those ideals and goals. Jesus says, "Let it be done to you as you have believed. ' " (Matt 8:13).

"All things are possible to him who believes" (Mark 9:23),

The person can achieve it, means we must have the initiative, the determination, and the persistence to actually accomplish those ideals and goals. Paul says “Seeking those things which are above. . ." (Col. 3:1).

"Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary" (Gal. 6:9).

I. THE FIRST STEP TOWARD ANY GOAL IS TO CONCEIVE IT.

When we recognize our needs and realize our weaknesses and become aware of our inadequacies we're in a position solve problems and make improvements. To conceive means to think conceptually. The thought that leads to no action is not a thought, it’s a wish.

We must think broader: Don't base your decisions on one side or two sides of an issue. There are always an infinite number of "sides."

Opposites are not the only options. Two extremes don't average out to perfection. A man with one foot on a stove and one foot on a cake of ice is not comfortable. One is as unpleasant as the other. The opposite of obesity is starvation, and neither one is desirable.

So, avoid a see-saw mentality.

We must think deeper: Don't base your conclusions on superficial observations. There is always more than meets the eye. See beneath the surface. Examine, analyze, and make connections.

We must think longer: Don't base your conclusions on immediate data alone. Realize that seeds become trees and babies become men, and little mistakes become fatal catastrophes. You don't build a doghouse to fit the puppy! You build it to fit the dog that puppy is going to become.

Take the long view. Project causes to their logical consequences. Note actions and the probable effects of those actions. Consider all future implications. Ask is this course likely to lead to a dead-end street or an open road? Young people need vision and imagination; aspiration and ambition. But they must be realistic.

An invention must be in the head before it can be in the hand. We must dream the impossible dream before we can make it come true. The Model T Ford was in Henry Ford's head before it was in his shop!

Paul says, "We walk by faith, not by sight" (II Cor 5:7).

I. THE NEXT STEP TOWARD ANY GOAL IS TO BELIEVE IT.

When we feel in the depth of our being that a thing can be done; when we have a positive attitude and an optimistic outlook, we're on the right track. To believe means to feel confident. A poet said,

    You have to believe
        that winds will blow;
        Believe in the grass,
        during days of snow.

    Ah, that’s the reason
        the bird can sing.
        On his darkest day—
        he believes in spring.

In a delightful little tale, an elephant named Dumbo wanted to fly. Finally some friendly birds gave him lessons plus a blue feather from the best flyer's wing. Dumbo believed that as long as he carried the "magic feather" he couldn't fall. All went well and Dumbo performed great feats before huge audiences. Then one day in a panic, he discovered that he had dropped his feather.

As soon as he noticed his loss, he began to plummet. All at once, he remembered that he had been flying okay without the feather until he realized it was gone. At that moment he understood that the miracle of flight was not in the feather, but in his own ability, plus his belief in the feather.

So, where do miracles come from? Miracles come from the "four faiths":

First, there is faith in ourselves.

We must have self-esteem self-respect and self-confidence. We must trust our instincts, follow our inner guidance system and value our strengths.

Second, there is faith in others.

We must rely on our support group. We must abolish suppression and cynicism, and expect the best from those around us.

Third, there is faith in universal principles.

We must believe that nature is ultimately on the side of truth and righteousness.

Fourth, there is faith in God!

No! Feathers can't make us fly; but faith can!

An invention must be in the heart before it can be in the hand. Columbus believed the earth was round. He felt in the depths of his being that the far horizon could be reached. Columbus touched the new world in his heart before he touched it with his feet. The writer of Lamentations says, "Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens" (Lam 3:41).

III. THE FINAL STEP TOWARD ANY GOAL IS TO ACHIEVE IT.

When we want something badly enough to put forth the necessary effort to get it; when we put feet to our prayers and replace wishful thinking with productive action, we will be successful. Dr. Conant said, “Ideas are a dime a dozen. What’s usually lacking is someone to take the idea and give it concrete form.”

To achieve means to act.

Two children stood looking out the window at an arch of colors in the mist. Suddenly the older boy made a smug pronouncement, "God makes rainbows! God makes everything!”

"Well," his little brother replied with a sad glance at their rumpled, disorganized room, "God sure don't make beds!"

This casual observation expresses a deep theological puzzle. Why does God make rainbows, but not beds? Why does God make mountains, but not skyscrapers? Why does God make oceans, but not bathtubs? Where does the divine aspect stop and the human aspect start? What's the heavenly part and what's the earthly part?

In short, why does God make rainbows, but not beds? We must admit that while there is ample evidence that God provides the natural resources, there is almost no reliable evidence that He ever refines them. He set up the process that caused "manna" to form, but He didn't gather it, or grind it , or bake it. (See Numbers 11:2,8).

You see, we can’t create worlds and universes and natural resources; but we can make beds. It’s obvious that God’s part stops where ours begins. We can make our own beds!
The process of accomplishment moves from the head to the heart to the hand. We don't know what we can do until we try.

Bill was a man who illustrated his concept. He had been reared on a dusty cotton plantation in Mississippi. He wanted a better life, but it seemed hopeless until the night he heard a preacher read this text: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1).

Those words captured his imagination. When he got home that evening, he found an empty jar and placed it by his bed. This would be the "evidence" of his faith. Little by little he would place money in that jar. God would help him fill it as many times as necessary to begin his journey to new opportunities. Dozens of odd jobs and acres of farm work later, the jar had been filled enough times for him to get some training and a good job with the railroad.

Later, he met and married the woman who told this story. She said: "He bought a picture frame with a cardboard backing and hung it on our apartment wall, over a crack in the plaster. He said the deed for our home would hang in it someday." Her voice broke and a daughter took up the story.

"After each of us was born, he hung up two empty frames—one for our high school diploma and one for our college diploma." She smiled, "We're probably the only family in the world that decorated our walls with empty picture frames. Ten of them hung there as ‘the evidence of things not seen'."

Then the oldest son spoke up. "Papa kept saying, 'When your spirits falter, you need to look at some proof that your faith hasn't faltered.' "

"Nine frames have been filled so far,” the man continued; “and our youngest brother is in college.”

“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”(Heb. 11:1).

John says, "He who overcomes shall inherit these things. . ." (Rev. 21:7).

So, here you have the A-B-Cs backwards:

What you can Conceive, and Believe; you can Achieve in your life!