code: public static <T> T checkNotNull(T reference, String message, Object... args) {
          if (reference == null) {
              throw new IllegalArgumentException(String.format(message, args));
          }
          return reference;
      }
docs: Check if the reference is not null.
  This differs from Guava that throws Illegal Argument Exception + message.
  
  @param reference reference
  @param message   error message
  @param args      arguments
  @param <T>       type
  @return reference or exception