Make Your Life Count

INTRODUCTION:

Put pictures on the screen of famous individuals and ask the teens to name one (or a couple) of facts about the individual.

1. Hitler — is most famous for initiating World War II and orchestrating the Holocaust, the genocide of six million Jews and millions of other victims, making him a symbol of pure evil and tyranny responsible for immense global destruction and death. He rose to power as the dictator of Nazi Germany, spreading extremist ideologies like virulent anti-Semitism, racial supremacy, and anti-communism, fundamentally altering world history. 

2. Beethoven — revolutionary German composer and virtuoso pianist who bridged the Classical and Romantic eras. Renowned for his nine symphonies, he continued creating masterpieces despite losing his hearing, becoming one of the most celebrated musical geniuses in history, known for his intense, often temperamental, and independent nature. 

3. Martin Luther King Jr. — an American civil rights activist and Baptist minister who was a leader of the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968. 

4. Al Capone — notorious American gangster who led the "Chicago Outfit" crime syndicate during Prohibition, dominating illegal alcohol, gambling, and prostitution rackets. Nicknamed "Scarface" he was famously convicted of tax evasion in 1931, serving time in Alcatraz before dying of cardiac arrest caused by syphilis.

5. Christopher Columbus — an Italian explorer and navigator from the Republic of Genoa who completed four Spanish-based voyages across the Atlantic Ocean sponsored by the Catholic Monarchs, opening the way for the widespread European exploration and colonization of the Americas.

6. Osama Bin Laden — Osama bin Laden (1957–2011) was the Saudi-born founder of the militant organization al-Qaeda, responsible for orchestrating the September 11, 2001, attacks that killed 2,977 victims. He was a radical pan-Islamist who funded global terrorist attacks, was stripped of his Saudi citizenship in 1994, and was killed by U.S. forces in 2011.

7. Charles Spurgeon — renowned British Baptist preacher known as the "Prince of Preachers," who pastored London's Metropolitan Tabernacle for 38 years. Despite no formal theological training, he preached to over 10 million people, wrote ~150 books, and founded orphanages and a pastor's college.

Were all of these people we just named good people? However, did these individuals live with the intention to make their lives count?

I believe that most people that are living today, most people that have ever lived, and most people who ever will live, live with the intention to make their lives count for something. Now, many of us will never live with the notoriety of the individuals we just named, but our lives will count for something.

What are some of the ways the unbelievers live with the intention to make their lives count? (living for a sports record, volunteering at a pet or homeless shelter, giving money to different causes, etc.)

Humanity desires to live with a purpose. We want our life to carry meaning. And here’s the big idea of Genesis 10-11.

Make your life count by pursuing your created purpose.

This statement is actually the opposite of what we find in Genesis 10-11, which we’ll see in a moment. Tonight we’re going to see the Consequence of pursuing significance apart from God’s purpose, the Example of pursuing significance against God’s purpose, and the Hope of pursuing significance through God’s purpose.

The CONSEQUENCE of pursuing significance apart from God’s purpose.

We’ve been following two distinct paths on our journey from Eden to Egypt — God’s way & the Serpent’s way.

What are some examples of these two ways? (Cain, man’s wickedness, Noah’s cursed son Ham)

And this is where we’ve left off, with the cursing of the son of Ham. Noah’s descendents (his sons) are left to populate the earth. And it’s here we find the consequence for pursuing significance apart from God’s purpose.

Those who pursue significance apart from God’s purpose, detract from God’s glory.

Genesis 10 introduces us to many significant characters in the biblical narrative — characters significant in the story of Israel.

Where is Moses when he is writing Genesis? Who is he writing to?

As Moses is retracing Ham’s history, he is giving the Israelites the origin story for their fiercest enemies — past, present, and future.

Look at Genesis 10:6

Genesis 10:6 KJV 1900

6 And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim (Egypt), and Phut, and Canaan.

Can anyone spot one of the Israelites enemies?

The Israelites had just spent four hundred years in slavery to this cursed son of Ham. The wounds were still fresh. Ham’s son Mizraim detracted from God’s glory by eventually becoming the enemy of God’s people.

Look at Genesis 10:14

Genesis 10:14 KJV 1900

14 And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (out of whom came Philistim,) and Caphtorim.

Can anyone spot one of the Israelites enemies?

This is a glimpse into the future enemies of Israel.

Look at Genesis 10:15-19

Genesis 10:15–19 KJV 1900

15 And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, and Heth, 16 And the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgasite, 17 And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite, 18 And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad. 19 And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha.

Every preacher makes a silly joke about mosquitoes whenever they read of ites… But in reality, that’s what these families are like. They are the annoying, always showing up, enemies of God.

Does anyone know what an aptronym means? “an apt name”

Here are a couple of “apt names.” Let’s see if you can guess what they are known for:

Lord Russell Brain (Neurologist): A leading British neurologist.

Thomas Crapper (Sanitary Engineer): Improved and popularized the flush toilet in the 19th century.

William Wordsworth (Poet): Key figure in English Romantic poetry.

William Wayne Justice (Judge): Federal judge known for civil rights rulings.

Names carry meaning. Our culture doesn’t necessarily choose names based on their meaning, but for many other cultures in the world and especially ancient Middle East this was the case.

Let’s see a couple of our names and what they mean:

Jeremiah — Yahweh will exalt

Amanda — "Worthy of love," "beloved," or "lovable".

Anthony — "Priceless one," "Inestimable," "Highly praiseworthy," or sometimes "Flourishing".

Alice — Noble, nobility, noble kind, or exalted.

Ava — "life," "birdlike," "desired," and "voice".

Connor — "Lover of hounds," "wolf lover," or sometimes "high desire".

In Genesis 10, we’re introduced to a final detractor of God’s glory…

Genesis 10:8–10 KJV 1900

8 And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the Lord: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord. 10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.

What does it mean to be called a Nimrod?

In reality, Nimrod means rebellious or rebel.

Nimrod built the kingdoms of Babylon (10:10) and Assyria (10:11). And these two nations would go on to later conquer Israel and plunge them into exile. (we’ll see more about Nimrod in a moment)

These are the men of Genesis 10. The men who pursued significance apart from God’s purpose. The men who detracted from God’s glory.

Did anyone look up what it means that God repented? (raise your hand)

Essentially, God was sorrowful of his making of man because of their decisions to pursue their own purposes which resulted in only evil continually. Why was he sorrowful? Because when man pursues significance apart from God’s purpose, the consequence is they detract from God’s glory.

Application: What might this look like in our lives today? How can we be detractors from God’s glory?

Teens can detract from God’s glory by choosing dishonesty when telling the truth would reflect integrity.

They can do so by treating others with cruelty or exclusion instead of love and compassion.

They detract from God’s glory when they misuse social media to spread negativity, gossip, or pride.

Choosing selfishness over service and humility can pull attention away from God’s character.

Ignoring or mocking faith to fit in with peers can diminish their witness.

They can detract from God’s glory by prioritizing popularity, pleasure, or possessions above what is right.

Responding to conflict with anger or revenge instead of forgiveness can misrepresent God’s grace.

Adults can detract from God’s glory by acting with hypocrisy, saying one thing about faith while living another.

They do so when they treat coworkers, family, or strangers with impatience or unkindness.

Putting success, money, or status above integrity can shift honor away from God.

Adults detract from God’s glory when they ignore injustice or benefit from it in silence.

Using words to gossip, manipulate, or tear others down misrepresents God’s truth.

Choosing comfort and convenience over obedience and service can dull their witness.

Responding to stress with bitterness rather than trust can obscure God’s faithfulness.

Humanity has a tendency to detract from God’s glory and the ultimate expression of this in unbelief. (*gospel application)

Two of my all-time favorite movies are Miracle on Ice and Mr. Holland’s Opus. There’s a link between them even though one of them is a hockey movie and the other is the life story of a high-school band teacher.

The "Miracle on Ice" was a historic 1980 Winter Olympic ice hockey game where a team of young American amateurs and college players defeated the defending gold-medalist Soviet Union 4-3 on February 22 in Lake Placid, New York. Coached by Herb Brooks and captained by Mike Eruzione, the underdog U.S. team shocked the world, later beating Finland to win the gold medal.

Coach Herb Brooks had the difficult task of molding these individual hockey players from rival colleges into a fluid and functional team that lived for a purpose greater than themselves, a purpose outside of themselves.

Composer Glenn Holland believes that he'll eventually write a transcendent piece of music, but in the meantime he's taken a job at an Oregon high school. Though at first the job frustrates him, and his unconventional methods often draw the ire of the straight-laced vice principal, Mr. Holland grows to love his students as the temporary position stretches into a decades-long career -- and in the end, they reveal just how much they love him back.

These are examples of living for a purpose other than our own. Yet the biblical narrative of Genesis gives us an example of pursuing significance apart from God’s purpose.

The EXAMPLE of pursuing significance apart from God’s purpose.

Let’s read together this significant story.

Genesis 11:1–9 KJV 1900

1 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. 3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. 4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. 5 And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. 6 And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. 7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. 8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. 9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

Here are some indicators of those who pursue significance apart from God’s purpose that we find in these verses:

DISOBEDIENCE

How do these verses display the people’s disobedience?

In Genesis 9, the sons of Noah were given an Edenic command — be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth.

And verses 4 shows us their desire was contrary to the Lord’s desire. “lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.”

Remember: Obedience to God’s Word brings life. Disobedience to God’s Word brings death.

ARROGANCE

Verses 4 again reveals the arrogance of Nimrod and his kingdom. “let us build a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven…”

The tower is mean to be the centerpiece of an entire man-centered world.

Recall with me further into the biblical narrative, King Nebuchadnezzar who made a huge statue of himself, set it up, and had others worship it. (side note, this was in Babylon)

This is the tower of Babel. The arrogance of the people to reach into the heavens. Humanity can never get to God. God must come down.

PROMINENCE

Verse 4 continues… “let us make a name…”

This the dream of those who belong to Babylon. This is essentially the American dream. You can be anything you can dream. You can do anything you want. You can fulfill your purpose for your life.

This is the mantra of our world and perfectly summarizes the issues of the Tower of Babel — Live life according to your purpose.

Your purposes must be aligned with God’s purposes. You cannot live for two purposes.

Matthew 6:24

Matthew 6:24 KJV 1900

24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Application: Pursing our own purposes finds it’s roots in one thing — our man-centered nature. Think about the examples of detracting from God’s glory a couple of minutes ago:

They show a man-centered nature because the focus is on personal comfort, image, success, or approval rather than honoring God.

They reveal a man-centered nature by prioritizing self-interest and convenience over obedience to God’s character and commands.

They prove a man-centered nature because decisions are driven by fear of people, desire for control, or personal gain instead of faithfulness.

They demonstrate a man-centered nature when actions aim to protect reputation or pleasure rather than reflect God’s holiness.

They expose a man-centered nature by valuing what benefits the self more than what glorifies God.

We’ve got to be careful about the subtleties of our own hearts. Most conflict comes from pride. Pursuing our own significance is pride.

But we haven’t gotten to the best part of the genealogies… Moses leaves us with some hope.

The rebellious nations set up the redeemed nations.

The HOPE of pursuing God’s purpose.

Who do we know in this verse?

Genesis 11:26 KJV 1900

26 And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

God will always fulfill his promise to his people.

The rest of Genesis — and, really, the rest of the Old Testament — tells the story of how God begins to make good on his promise in Genesis 3:15, how he uses one family and then one nation to undo the curses of death and sin and separation from God.

Ultimately, this promise finds its resolution in Jesus which tells us one very encouraging point about us — God’s plan does not depend on you.

CONCLUSION

What does it look like to live according to God’s purpose? How can we make our lives count?

Here’s a Question and Answer from the Westminster Confession that highlights man’s purpose according to God’s purpose:

What is the chief and highest end of man? Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever.

1 Corinthians 10:31 KJV 1900

31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Living according to the serpent’s way/man’s way looks like disobedience, arrogance, and prominence.

Living according to God’s way looks like doing all according to the glory of God.

You want to make your life count this week? Glorify God wherever you are, in whatever you do, and whoever you’re with.