A New Season

Introduction

Oh dear church, I know this is an exciting time for us as well as it is for Garrett. Let’s all be honest this morning, its people like Garrett that keep us young and inspired and pressing toward the mark of the high calling in Jesus. Each one of us here today thinks a small part of us is graduating as we see him move into this new phase of life.

I want us all to reflect this morning about the particular season that we find ourselves in today. We are not where we are by happenstance, but providentially God has placed us where we are for a season.

The question we must all ask is “are we going to embrace the season? Are we going to fight it tooth and nail struggling with the changes that are coming about it? Or, are we going to

“redeem the time” as we are challenged by God’s Word to make every moment count for the time He has alloted us being here. Amen?

Look with me at the screen or turn to your bibles to Ecclesiastes 3:1.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV

1 To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:

Prayer

Oh gracious heavenly Father, we thank you for this time that we celebrate Lord. WE are thankful for what you have accomplished in Garrett’s life. Thank you for the blessing for many of us in this room that feel we all have played a small part in getting him to this place. Thank you for how his youth inspires us and causes us to press on for him and others like him.

This morning Lord, as we all look at the new junctures we find ourselves in life, help us to embrace the changes, to seize the opportunities you have afforded us and to see you at work in our lives and get involved in what You are doing. In Jesus’ precious name I pray. Amen.

Message

1. Embrace Change

To everything there is a season

In our text this morning Solomon wrote what we refer to as the wisdom writings. Solomon wrote many of the Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon.

Solomon’s name means “restore or replace.” Solomon was the son the Lord gave King David and Bathsheba following the death of their first child.

Solomon was very young when it was time for him to assume the Kingship from his father, King David.

1 Kings 3:9–14 NKJV

9 Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” 10 The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 Then God said to him: “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, 12 behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. 13 And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. 14 So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”

So, the Lord made King Solomon the most wise man that has ever lived. Garrett, interesting thought. Solomon was within a couple of years of your age when he became King of all Israel. Wisdom was crucial to the job the Lord laid out before him.

Garrett, church family, we all need the kind of wisdom the Bible lays out for us.

One of my favorite stories in the Bible reflecting the wisdom of Solomon is the story of the two mothers disputing over a child being theirs. The story goes that two women were living in a home and in the night one of the mothers rolled over and killed their child. The next morning the mother that awoke found her child was swapped for a dead child at her side and she argued with the other woman that she took her baby. The dispute was carried to Solomon. He said let’s cut the baby in half and give half to each mother. One mother with compassion said, “oh no, do not kill the child, just give the child to the other mother. Solomon stated that is the mother for she showed compassion.”

We know Solomon received his wisdom from God and God recorded through the penmanship wisdom in the Bible.

Some of us making small talk around the bonfire Friday night hoped that Garrett would follow Daniel’s actions of late that we studied rather than Solomon’s actions, but the truth is that Solomon gained much wisdom from his mistakes and he recorded those words provided by the Holy Spirit and we are blessed to have those God breathed words. Amen.

Knowing some of the failures Solomon had we must incorporate James writings as we apply Solomon’s wisdom writings:

James 1:22 “22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

If we were to tag a theme for Ecclesiastes it would be a quest to find meaning in life.

In Ecclesiastes, the phrase is coined, “under the sun.”

God’s word reminds us in this verse that “to everything there is a season.”

Garrett, I can remember a few seasons of your past life here around the church. And now the Lord has placed you in a new season.

Garrett as you stand here on the brink of graduation and I can remember you counting the days until this time in your life would come. Guess what? It’s here. You at the time thought this day would never get here, but others of us here this morning ask the question, how did the time go so fast?

You saw on the screen the fact that Garrett has a cow. I assume he got that cow as a calf. Theoretically, I have always heard that if you picked up a calf every day that you would be able to pick up that cow in adulthood. I believe that is a push. But its a real way for us to envision the maturation cycle. We all saw Garrett one day as a small boy and the next a grown man.

Tanner graduated high school my first year here as the pastor and I barely got to know Tanner and Aaron and Andrew graduated two years thereafter. The point being made they were all much older when I became the pastor here at Mt Zion. Garrett on the other hand I’ve seen from age 9 to today, adulthood and I have seen him go through so many stages. I have seen him around the campfires with Brady and enjoying burning fires, I have enjoyed bowling, top golf. I’ve seen him become a very responsible young man around the farm and helping Mr. Terry in construction. I saw him when he bought his Jeep and now he’s been driving two years. And I’ve seen him as a faithful youth and in his period of being in the youth, many occasions when he was the only youth here. I’ve seen his consistency in his participation in our choir and listen Garrett, God recognizes your steadfastness.

And so its here, Garrett will be attending Troy University in the Fall and commuting from home. Even though he will live at home, there will be many new horizons ahead.

In Ecclesiastes, as Solomon writes poetically, God’s Word states:

Ecclesiastes 3:2–4 “2 A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; 3 A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance;”

The Bible here in this text is not addressing particularly divine providence or even abstract notions of time, but relates to the fact that time marches on and we encounter different seasons of time. There is a constant in all of our lives, there are 24 hours in a day, 365 days a year. Scripture reminds us that time is a vapor. It’s here for a moment and it vanishes.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 “11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.”

Paul writes this about time:

Ephesians 5:15–16 “15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

James 4:14 “14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”

This message has been targeted to Garrett, but its for everyone of us here today. I will say to Ron & Amy that there home will be very different in short days as Garrett will become more independent and be gone more. Garrett, there will be a whole new set of responsibilities that will come with your new freedoms.

The point: Changes of season are a reality in the aging process. We have two choices, we can fight the change or embrace the change. And, that leads to my second point.

Recognize that God is right in the center of this.

There is not a change at that campus you will not face alone. God loves you and He will never leave you. God wants you to embrace this moment. Meet new friends, try new experiences. Join organizations at the school, participate.

Proverbs 19:21 “21 There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.”

Be resilient.

Face the transitions and trust God that He will see you through.

Church family, many here today are facing the same transitions in your life. You have not escaped the Lord and you think He is out in right field totally unaware of your circumstance. Church, meet your transitions head on.

James 1:2–4 “2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

2. Seize Opportunities

“A time for every purpose”

Secondly, Garrett, church, I remind you that you as well find yourself in a different place and time continuum as well. Are you going to seize the opportunities made available to you? God’s word states that “there is a time for every purpose.” Garrett, I hope and pray that you going to Troy is not related to the norm that most young people leave home and go to college following high school. I’m going because that’s what you do. I’m going because if you are admitted in a Magnet school that is the expectation. I pray you are going with real purpose in mind.

College is a sacrifice from every vantage point. Financially college is demanding, the commute is demanding, the wear and tear on your vehicle, food costs and the lists go on. Go to college with the purpose of earning your degree and not accepting second best. I know your family loves you and there will be sacrifices made, you do your part.

What am I really saying? The Bible states that life is composed of times of laughter and times of crying, times of building and times of tearing down, and listen, there is a time to work and a time to rest.

Your time at Troy should be enjoyable, enriching, embrace the opportunities in the extracurricular activities, meet new friends, get involved, but work.

Proverbs 16:3 “3 Commit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established.”

-I’ve shared before but in my high school days, I was a good student, but I was not an excellent student. I worked at a young age and saw dollar signs and I got by in high school. I want to think that it was God led that when I went to college it represented a couple of different things in my life. Firstly, it represented a new opportunity to excel. It represented a do over if you will.

Secondly, I realized the sacrifice my family was going to make for me to go to college. I took that seriously because I knew my mom and dad would be making sacrifices for me to go. I did not want to disappoint them.

As we think about opportunities, there will be friend groups, Christian based groups like BCM or Campus Crusade, etc. There will be a high likelihood that you will meet a girl that might become serious in your future. You may have your career figured out, but college may redirect you towards another direction in your schooling, but many major crossroads will come into play in college. Big decisions, big opportunities. The question is: will you seize the opportunities or run from the opportunities?

Garrett, when you walk at your school Graduation, the tossing of the graduation cap means tossing up the past and opening the doors to new opportunities. Will you be committed to seizing the opportunities with all that you are and with all that you have within you?

Can you say along with Paul?

Philippians 3:13–14 “13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

What I want you to key in on are the opportunities. There will be obstacles and obstructions in your path.

Pursue God’s Will

I shared an illustration just a couple of weeks ago and I commented then that I wished I would have held that message for the Baccalaureate.

Ill. Tyler Perry-Boosters-drop from the rocket. They are not going the same place you are going.

Ephesians 5:15–17 “15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

Oh Garrett, Oh Church,

Step out in Faith

Dream big Garrett, dream big church. Never it be said that your best days are behind, but the best days are ahead. God is providing new horizons, new opportunities, uncharted waters and I’m going to forge ahead with God’s help.

Ill. Telegram to the University of Alabama

Young man was enjoying those big hot dogs on campus and going out with the pretty girls on campus. He wired his dad, telegrams were expensive and you were charged by word.

The son wired home: “No mon, no fun, your son.”

The dad wired back, “to bad, so sad, your dad.”

Make wise decisions, but live as Christ himself is watching you because He is.

Church, embrace this moment and enjoy it. I am loving this stage of my life. I can stop and smell the roses. I can embrace my moments and I’m not living under the gun of time and responsibilities. I can soak up the small things in life that count. Oh dear church, you have not caught God by surprise over your present state of affairs. Enjoy your time and make the most of every day the Lord gives us. Amen.

Philippians 1:6 “6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”

The greater question is Garret, Church, will you complete your time in Jesus Christ?

3. Trust in God’s Timing

“A time for every purpose under heaven”

Note that everything that is happening, has happened or will happen will have the providential hand of God at work in your life? Here we are talking about working in God’s timing. Be patient, do not outrun the Lord.

God’s timing in our lives is perfect. Oh Garrett, oh church, do not buck and manufacture certain things to happen in your life. Odds are if you are having to make undue efforts to make something work it may not be of God. Wait on the Lord.

Isaiah 40:31 “31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”

If you are traveling a road God wants you to travel, He will provide the strength to see it through.

Psalm 27:14 “14 Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!”

Secondly and in closing, you know what is happening on college campuses all over America at this time. Protests over matters that are not really primary to the culture of the campus or primary to what the parents sent their young people off to accomplish. They are protesting on matters about antisemitism, Pro-Palestinian protests, and the likes.

Listen Garrett and listen church. I am concerned about anyone of God’s creation that are experiencing abuse. But if I’m 1,000’s of miles away without any people influence group in my immediate Judea and it drives me to act violently on my college campus in America, something has gone astray.

Garrett, Church, the Lord has instilled in each of us a conscience. Conscience is our world’s way of saying that God gave us the Holy Spirit to guide us at the time we came into relationship with Him. For someone that is not a believer here today in God, God’s Holy Spirit still taps you on the shoulder desiring to have a relationship with you. We call that the wooing of the Holy Spirit. We have talked a great deal today about life. Solomon’s words were words to direct us in life, living and fleshing it out each day.

With all the wisdom that Solomon gained and the life experiences that taught Him much, listen to his conclusion of life “under the sun” in the Bible.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 “13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.”

As we think this morning about right timing, there are many in this room that have been rekindled to an awareness of timing in your life. I know there are people across this room right now would say something totally different than the thoughts conveyed today. God’s Holy Spirit today is reminding you that you have not been even considering God in this stage of life. You’ve wandered away from listening to God and considering His providential hand in your life.

Maybe there are some here today that are living out the pity part of why God do you have me at this place right now? Embrace the pace God has you. Seize the opportunities God is providing you and wait in His timing to bring great change. Gain eyes to see God at work about you and get there.

Maybe this morning is God’s timing. His time to call you into a relationship with Him.

Do you want to live out your years from here on following Christ? It begins with repentance and confession. Asking God to forgive you of your sin and asking Him to cleanse you.

1 John 1:9 “9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Oh dear church, there is no better time right now than to trust Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

Let’s pray.