Rev. Dr. C.B. Akins reminds graduates that their future is already promised
Rev. Dr. C.B. Akins opened the 2023 Baccalaureate Assembly at Kentucky State University offering two scriptures – Jeremiah 29:11 and Revelation 4:3 – as the focus of his address.
He explained to the Class of 2023 that graduation is not the end; that they are just coming out of the ‘wilderness.’
“Most of us, even believers, are somewhere between Egypt and Canaan,” Akins shared. “We have enough faith to get out of Egypt, but not enough faith to enter into the Promised Land and become more than conquerors. Your blessings are in the Promised Land. The Promised Land for you is your determination to stay true to the plans of God for the rest of your life.”
He encouraged graduates not to be deterred by the setbacks and failures that they will inevitable face in life.
“You will experience failure, but failures do not have to be fatal or final,” he said. “It’s not a question of whether or not life will knock us down, but it is a question of how long we will stay down when we get knocked down.”
Of this accomplishment, Akins told graduates that, “Satan should have taken you out when he had the chance.”
“He should have disqualified you when you were undecided, undeclared, and unsure about being able to make it to the finish line,” he exclaimed. “He should have broken you when you were struggling with chemistry and statistics, battling issues of health and personal crises. He should have made you throw in the towel and surrender your future to your past predicaments, but you kept on pressing your weight, rising above every challenge, turning stumbling blocks into stepping stones.”
He went on to say that, “Satan obviously forget he was battling against Thorobreds.”
“Not the Thoroughbreds we saw at the Kentucky Derby last week or at Keeneland last month, but these graduates before us, our new breed descended from one line established here in 1886. You are Thorobreds. Your future is planned and laid out by God Himself. You will succeed if you dare stay faithful.”
He ended his address telling graduates not to forget, “God, your family, your support system, and don’t you dare forget Kentucky State.”