A Difficult Goodbye

Have you ever had to say goodbye? Goodbye to a friend, a mentor, a family member or beloved pet? Goodbye to a job that you loved, or to a special place?

In our text today, the Apostle Paul calls the Ephesian elders together that he might say goodbye.

Read Acts 20:16-38

Pray

Goodbyes are certain

Solomon said, for everything there is a time and a season. Things change. People move on. One phase ends and another begins.

When things change, often sudden and unexpectedly, we must remember what was, and press on to what will come.

This was just such a time for the beloved church in Ephesus.

Because change is certain, goodbyes are certain.

Paul had come as a missionary - a builder

Romans 15:20 NASB95

And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, so that I would not build on another man’s foundation;

Turn to 1 Cor 3:9-11

His work of building in Ephesus had been completed. The Gospel had been proclaimed throughout the region. Many had come to Christ by faith. The church had been established and leadership had been appointed and discipled as elders. It was now time for him to move on.

There comes a time in construction when the builders leave and the people who live there must take over responsibility. Now was such a time.

Read Acts 20:22-25

Often-times goodbyes come from the normal ebb and flow of life - but sometimes they come suddenly and with devastating force.

We know this all too well. The unexpected, tragic loss. Disasters of so many sorts: sudden, drastic changes in health, in your job, or in relationships. All change is hard. Every goodbye is hard, but some are extremely difficult.

In this fallen, sin-cursed world, such changes are a certainty. Because we are still here, goodbyes, whatever their cause, are ultimately unavoidable.

Therefore, we must make most of the time and opportunities that we do have. That’s what Paul did.

Ephesians 5:16 NASB95

making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

Hebrews 3:13 NASB95

But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

He didn’t have much time, but knowing what he did, he wanted to ensure he said what needed said and the what he could to prepare these brothers for what was to come.

Are you prepared for goodbye?

Have you faced the reality of this or do you spend your energy on avoiding it? Are you making the most of the time to deal, to say what needs said, to leave it all on the table?

Paul did. May we follow his example of loving boldness (i.e. humility, with tears, etc.).

Goodbyes are a certainty in this world. They are also necessary

Goodbyes are necessary

It was necessary for Paul to leave, just as it was necessary for Jesus Himself to leave.

John 16:7 NASB95

“But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.

If change doesn’t come, growth cannot happen. God uses change and the goodbyes it brings to continue his building project.

Romans 8:28 NASB95

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

What is His purpose? While we don’t understand all of God’s ways, we do know who He is. He is good. He is faithful. He is the Redeemer and Savior. He is the One who sent His Son to die that we might live. He does, and has done all things for good and for His glory.

He uses what things for our good? All things.

Some things in building happen fast. You see a big impact, like the pouring of the foundation, or the framing and roofing. Other things happen slowly. They are done deep inside the walls. The work is more tedious, far more detailed. God uses all things. Don’t be discouraged. He isn’t done.

Sometimes to build new means demolishing the old. Ex. Donco - pouring loading dock wall too short. This too, though it feels like a setback - is progress according to Our Faithful Father.

James 1:2–4 NASB95

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Even goodbyes are useful and necessary for God’s redemptive purposes.

Goodbyes are not final in Christ

One reason we trust that God can redeem even the hardest things in this world, is that there is a reality that exists far beyond it. There is a future. There is a place and existence that transcends this broken, fallen world we are in this morning.

The news that Paul brought to Asia, and is still bringing to us here this morning is that - while our sins have condemned us before God - He, in His love and mercy, has acted sacrificially on our behalf. We fell, but He - by the precious blood of His son Jesus - has bought us back - REDEEMED!!!

Friend if you have not trusted in Him this morning, if you have not turned away from your way and your sin and cast yourself at His mercy then you are left under sin’s curse and are destined to be cast out from God in misery.

If, however, you have sensed the sweet pull of the truth of God’s loving sacrifice in your soul, and have responded in repentance and faith - you have life. Eternal life. Unending, enduring, abundant.

Not only do we have life, cemented in the resurrection of Jesus Himself, but we have hope.

Hope that every tear will be wiped away. Every Pain will be healed. Every loss and sorrow will be filled. Every saved loved one that we’ve said goodbye to, whether in life or in death, we will see again.

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 NASB95

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

May we grasp the reality of this message, and the urgency of it. May we, like Paul, be willing to live for it, and for others that they too may know such redemption.

Change is certain, but God hasn’t changed. Though the world around us be turned on it’s head, He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

His mercies, His love, His warnings and mission of redeeming grace are still fully and completely intact. He wants us to persevere. As a matter of fact, right now He is still working, still building, and this is part of that work. You are part of that work.