Just a matter of time . . .
Notes
Transcript
Intro - Change is hard
Intro - Change is hard
Steve - Walk on egg shells
Anytime there was a change, he respond with anger and frustration
None of us like change.
Ecclesiastes - 3:1-15 - Preacher - King Solomon
Looks at the meaning of life
This life is filled with change (1-8)
some of it permanent (1-3a)
Some of it temporary
Some of it cyclical
Most of it connected to en emotion
Change is hard because it is most often deeply emotional
Dan Curry - Associate Pastor at 1st Baptist of Warrenton
Friend, died somewhat unexpectedly. A friend in ministry and in our body pump class at the YMCA 3 days a week.
We have all lost people to death and this is deeply emotional.
Change is hard because it has emotion attached to it. Yet, it is a basic fact of life.
Things change.
This life is filled with opportunities to live (9-13)
Men stay busy working
We were created to work
sin damaged this and our work is often misguided and misused
It is why we go back to Scripture to hear how we are to live in this life
Busyness is used by God for good
God has placed eternity in our hearts
we are created to live and to work
sin added death and pain to work
We should not resist this but embrace it
with joy
and doing good
God has created us to work and to live, this is a part of our life.
US Government is a movement to let others work so I don’y have to. This will lead to depression. This is not why we were created.
Our emotional health is also attached to our work
Viktor Frankl’s - Man’s Search for Meaning - Psychiatrists in a Nazi Concentration Camp
Lived through it and determined that what kept most Jews alive was purpose. If they had a job in the camp, they most likely lived, unless killed by the Nazis.
Many died of a lack of purpose.
This life is filled with God’s promises (14-15)
God’s work is eternal
ours is not
our world changes and is dying
God’s promises are not limited by these lifecycles
our emotions should be attached to this truth
God is immutable
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
never changing and his promises cannot be undone
His church will survive and be rescued
His people will be saved
Man cannot thwart the promises of God
Some believe that the church is headed for hard times. The US Culture is trending away from being supportive of faith and religion. It is very well documented to be anti-Christian.
Yet, we know that the promise that God’s church will prevail, that we see in Revelation, is true and promised by God.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Although we know these things, we are all still very afraid of change.
We know that this life is filled with change, that it is filled with opportunities to live, and that it is filled with God’s promises.
Yet, we often live differently. Is it because we don’t believe these things? Is it because we don’t like them? Is it because we don’t understand them?
I would argue that it is most likely, that deep down, we may not believe them.
The cynicism of the author is the same tone we carry with us.
But, as we come back to these truths I would propose to you that they should encourage to live differently.
In light of the world being filled with change, we as Christians should embrace the change instead of always fighting it.
If God is sovereign and this is his world, he will make the works of man “good.”
Military reactionary force - we plan and plan, yet when the circumstances of life change we simply adapt and overcome.
We as Christians have to learn to adapt and overcome. God is on the throne and this will end well. We will be saved and we must never forget that.
In light of the fact that this life provides opportunities to live, we need to embrace every interaction and exchange that each day brings.
God is providing opportunities for us to be involved in his redemptive work.
He does not need us, but he does use us.
We should see everything in our life as an opportunity provided by God, and seize it with Joy and by doing good.
23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— 29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
In light of the fact that this life includes God’s promises, we should live a life of faith.
Many of us live a life of faith to an extent, and then we need proof.
God’s promises cannot be thwarted by any man or spiritual being.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Let us live this life, not as the world, fearful of change or even death itself. Let us grow in our faith by clinging to the promises of God, that we are a people, no matter what happens around us, that will be saved.
Let us look to the fulfillment of these wonderful promises of God, and do the work he has given us to do, with joy and to his glory.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
AMEN