What to Do when at the Crossroads of Time

Introduction

Tonight is a little different for Wednesday night. This being New Year's Eve, we find ourselves in the midst of time.

This Psalm has been on my heart for a couple of weeks now. It's a beautiful Psalm, and I think it's perfect for the situation we find ourselves in this evening.

The title of this message is "What to do when at the crossroads of time."

And the first thing that we notice is that we look back with thanksgiving.

I. Look Back with Thanksgiving (v1-3)

The first three verses of this psalm are just that. The perspective is one of looking back.

Being the last day of this year, I think it prudent to look back at the blessings of God in which he has given us over the past year, but not only that, to look back to the blessings of God throughout our life.

Remembrance of God’s Deliverance (v1a)

We see in verse number one that the Psalmist was talking about the Lord turning again the captivity of Zion.

The wording of it sounds strange to us, but what it means is that they were captive, but God turned their captivity. In other words, he brought them freedom and liberation.

The Psalm is not dated, but it's most likely written during the time of Cyrus’ reign, where the children of Israel were allowed to go back and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.

This is a picture of the second Exodus, if you will. The captives being freed.

What it is to you and I is a picture of our freedom and liberation, that which was bought by the blood of Jesus Christ.

(Ill.) You know, for me, it's been over 25 years now since I placed my faith in Jesus. What I find is it's good to go back and remember just exactly what Jesus did for me on that day. (My Testimony - of where I was earlier, then at that point, and what Jesus did for me! He gave me a BETTER life, PURPOSE and a PASSION!)

Church, for just a few moments right now, why don't you go back to the time in which you realized you'd passed from death into life, when your faith was placed in what Jesus did for you?

Some of you may not have ever experienced that. Let me just say you don't know what you're missing until you do. (Ill.) Probably the closest thing I can relate that to is having children. You can try to consider what it might be like, but you do not know what it's like to be a parent until you have your first child.

We see their remembrance for God's deliverance.

Reaction to His Power & Providence (v1b-2a)

I love the visualization of these verses.

The Psalmist is literally in wonder. He likens it into a dream. Then what comes next is the laughing and the singing. That God not only could but would do that for them.

(Ill.) When I think of where I was, I am amazed. Not as much that God could save me, but rather that He would. (Ill.) To be honest, I wouldn't give up much of nothing for me.

But God gave up not only something but everything for me. God gave up the best of the best for me. I do not understand why, but I'm so thankful that He did.

There's a lot of people that are so disillusioned with their worth. They come from the perspective that somehow God owes them something. Spoiled, bratty children is what the majority of people act like - EVEN CHRISTIANS!

I am under no disillusion like that. I am amazed and I wonder it's almost as if it's a dream that God would do something so great for me!

We see the realization of His power and His providence that God not only could deliver but that He would provide that deliverance as well.

Recognition by the Heathen of God’s Favor (v2b)

Now we see the Psalmist saying that God's favor has not become blind unto the rest of the world, but that it is on full display - To where the heathen themselves recognize it.

Let's consider for a moment the order of things: The redemption of God's people, Their reaction to that - that obviously brings about the next point that is the recognition by those around.

Church, it just stands to reason that if God does something so great for you like save your never-dying soul, your reaction should be as such. It's where other people take notice.

Part of the reason why the heathen don't see the need for Jesus is because those that profess Jesus don't demonstrate the joy and wonder that salvation should bring.

It should be evident in our hearts that God has made a change in us, not only in our actions, but in our attitudes.

We see a recognition by the heathen of God's favor.

Response of Praise for His Goodness (v3)

Lastly, we see the response that they showed to God's great grace that he bestowed upon them. That was they recognized it and praised him for it.

One of the reasons I wanted to spend time today on Testimonies is because I don't think we do that enough. We hear some praises here and there, but if God blessed us in relation to our praises, we'd be a whole lot worse off.

Psalm 18:1–3 “I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: So shall I be saved from mine enemies.”

Church, has God been good to you? Are you ashamed to praise him publicly? Is it too much for you to set your pride and comfort aside and recognize the great God that he is before men?

Psalm 22:22 “I will declare thy name unto my brethren: In the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.” Psalm 22:25 “My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.”

We look back with Thanksgiving: We Remember what God has done FOR us, IN us and THROUGH us - and we praise His name accordingly.

We Look Back With Thanksgiving.

II. Look Forward with Expectation (v4-6)

From here, the perspective changes. It goes from looking back to a plea in the moment, and to the future.

A Prayer for Revival (v4)

It's interesting as you get to v4. They once recognized the turning of their captivity. Now, they're asking again the same.

Some commentators believe that they're referring to the exodus to go and build and now they're asking God's blessings. But I think for our purposes, we can see something deeper and more meaningful.

(Ill.) There are technically three different applications for the word sanctification (def) setting apart concerning the Christian: Practical, progressive, and perfect.

Practical: Set apart when saved.

Progressive: A renewing of our mind.

Perfect: A setting apart upon death - forever to be with the LORD.

As we look at verse number one and we consider that captivity that the Lord has delivered us from in relation to salvation, then when we get to number four and he says "Turn again our captivity at the streams of the South," we can consider that a renewing of our mind.

(Ill.) When I was born again 25 years ago, my soul was saved, but my mind at that point had not been transformed like my soul was. That has been a progressive process over the last 25 years and will continue for however long I am left on this earth.

Paul tells us: Romans 12:1–2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” He's talking to Christians, and he's telling them that they need to be transformed by the renewing of their mind.

You and I, our prayers should continually be one for revival. One to which our minds are brought from the captivity that they've been in from this world and to the liberation that is in Christ Jesus.

We see a prayer for revival.

A Principle Recognized (v5)

Verse number five is connected to the last verse. It's a summary statement of what is to come.

(Ill.) The farmer, as he's going about his business, toiling and slaving away in springtime, it's arduous work. It is not fun per se, but it is needful. The reason he does that is two-fold: First It's necessary, but secondly He knows that there's joy coming at harvest time! That all of the labor is not in vain, but there will come a harvest!

Church, I'm here to tell you that if you will do the labor, you will enjoy a harvest.

We as Christians need to consider this time of our life, whether you are young or old. This is the springtime of our existence.

Now is the time to be planting and watering. Now is the time to be laboring and toiling. It's not a time to rest.

When you consider all of eternity, and as James said, that our life is but a vapor. This is the very beginning of our existence. We need to treat it as such if we want to see a harvest.

We must be using our time, our treasures, our talents, our testimony to plant and water the gospel unto the hearts of men that we may hope to see a harvest of souls in due season.

And that brings us to the last point, a promise in which to rest.

A Promise in Which to Rest (v6)

Notice that one word: doubtless. There is no doubt that if we will go forth and bear that precious seed of the gospel, we will come and there will be a time of rejoicing where we will bring the sheaves in.

Galatians 6:7–9 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

Church, if you want in the summer and fall to bring in a harvest, you got to plant in the spring. This holds true for crops of the field, as well as spiritual things.

If you hope to reap spiritual harvest, you must be planting spiritual seeds. Thank God we have a promise in which to rest that if we do so, we will!

We can look forward with expectation of what God will do.

Conclusion

All that will, I'd like us to gather around the altar tonight with this attitude in mind: thanking God for the multitude of blessings he's given us this past year and the expectation of a harvest. We pray God gives us a heart of planters.

If you're lost today, you still have time to be saved in 2025. It's still possible that 2026 will never come for any of us.