A Life Well Lived

[0:00] Let's just pray.

[0:18] Heavenly Father, we thank you for your word and for this time to consider eternal truths.! Help us, Lord, to have hearts that are receptive.! Speak to your word and to your word.

[0:29] Amen, Lord, to us. Help us to hear your voice. Help us to listen and do what you want us to do. For your praise we ask in Jesus' name. Amen.

[0:41] If you've got your Bible, Psalm 90. We're going to stand and just read the one verse, can we? Stretch your legs there. Psalm 90 and verse 12.

[0:54] Psalm 90 verse 12. So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

[1:05] Let's read it together, shall we? So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Amen.

[1:15] Please be seated. My topic tonight is a life well lived. What makes for a good life?

[1:26] What is man's origin, purpose and destiny? What's a good life? You know, there's different definitions, there's different views about what makes a good life. It's a good thing to reflect on and to be aware of, to understand.

[1:40] What does God say is a good life? What does God count as a worthwhile life? A life that's meaningful, that's worthwhile. You know, it's something timely for me when one of my friends has passed away, as I mentioned this morning.

[1:53] Matt, who people might know, usually attended the morning services, although now and again he was attending. And I was exhorting him when I saw him.

[2:06] He often used to call me and ask me to come and see him. And I sat in his home numbers of times and always made a point of not giving him false hope.

[2:18] I think that's very important when we know that we're not sure where someone's at spiritually, that we don't leave them with false hope. That they think that they're a Christian when they're not. That they think that they're going to heaven when they're not.

[2:31] And I'm not sure with that. I'm not God. I'm glad I'm not God. That I don't have to decide whether Matt is in heaven or not right now. But we leave his destiny with his maker.

[2:42] But all we can do is say what God says we have to do to be saved. And if we haven't done it, then there's really only one place that we will go. And that is hell.

[2:55] So it's important that we number our days and apply our hearts unto wisdom. And consider what is a worthwhile life. The world would classify lives as worthwhile, dependent on their status or their fame or glory.

[3:11] Or how many toys they have, as it were. How much wealth they amass for themselves. But what is a good life?

[3:22] What is a good life? Let's just consider, firstly, about the different philosophies of life. The different philosophies of life. And again, this is set against that backdrop of eventually our life will come to an end.

[3:36] Our life will end. You're not going to live forever on this earth. You're not going to live forever. I know my dad tries. He thinks he's going to get to 100 years old.

[3:47] He's had a birthday lately. But we know that my dad will not live forever. Not on this earth, anyway. And so it's important to consider what is a life well lived.

[3:57] And what really makes a good life a good life? It's a term people use, again, against the backdrop of the fact of death as the reality for all of us, unless the Lord comes and takes us meantime, is that we will die.

[4:14] And someone has said live so that the preacher doesn't have to lie at your funeral. That's important, isn't it? You want to live a life that's honest and genuine, that we're a fair dinkum kind of person.

[4:27] And there's different philosophies about life. Let me look at some of those with you. For example, some have a fatalistic view. A fatalistic view. And what the fatalist says, just accept your own fate.

[4:41] Life is futile. It's a state of pure despair. Whatever you do, you can't change your destiny. Life is hard and then you die.

[4:51] All you can do is make the best of the hand you've been dealt. That's fatalism. You might believe in that tonight. No? No. Another view is the hedonistic view.

[5:04] You might be a hedonist. Hedonism means a life totally devoted to the pursuit and enjoyment of pleasure. A life devoted to the pursuit of pleasure.

[5:17] As if that's all there is to it. Just please yourself. It's like the man mentioned in Luke 12. Luke 12. He is some rich kind of person.

[5:28] Who's just amassing wealth to himself. And he's got this farm. And he's just filling his barns chock-a-block full of as much as he can gather. And he thinks he's got himself pretty set up for the years ahead.

[5:42] So he can just sit back and take it easy. And Luke 12 verse 9 he says to himself, I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years.

[5:52] Take thine ease. Eat, drink and be merry. Take it easy. Eat, drink and be merry. But then we know in the context of Luke 12, God says to him, You fool, you fool.

[6:06] You fool. You fool. That's what happened with the man in Luke 12. The Bible doesn't condone hedonism, but it does teach that God-given pleasure can be an element in your life.

[6:20] God gives pleasure, but it's not the pursuit of pleasure that is the be-all and end-all of our lives. Another philosophy is intellectualism.

[6:33] Intellectualism. Some think the answer is intellectualism. So, look, it's about expanding those grey cells that we've got. Some have got more than others. I know I'm getting less and less of them every day.

[6:46] But some think the answer is intellectualism. Build up your brains, your knowledge, your wisdom. There's a man like that in Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes. The wise man sought after much learning and wisdom and knowledge.

[6:59] But he did not find this in itself was the answer that he needed. In Ecclesiastes 1 verse 18, it reads, For in much wisdom is much grief, and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

[7:13] So intellectualism is another philosophy that fails us. Another philosophy is materialism. We can adopt a materialistic approach of life. Materialism.

[7:24] It places an emphasis on physical things, on material things. Now, our Lord says to us in Luke 12 verse 15, He said unto them, Take heed and beware of covetousness, for a man's life consists not in abundance of things which he possesses.

[7:40] A man's life doesn't consist in having abundance of things. For some, life is all about the ego. The ego, they stroke their ego. They think that it's all about me.

[7:51] It's all about me. It's about their self-fulfillment. About self-will. About self-esteem. You know, some Christians make a big fuss about self-esteem. There's some preachers that go on and on and on about self-esteem.

[8:03] As if the self is something they should be glorified. It's wrong. It's not the right philosophy for our life. Another philosophy is nihilism.

[8:14] Nihilism. In other words, nothingness. Nothingness. Nihilism says that our existence is futile. Our existence is futile. Without meaning, without purpose.

[8:26] We live in a state of purposelessness. Absolute disbelief. It's a bit like atheism. Like atheism. It's like a wise woman was telling me just today.

[8:38] If there was no God, there would be no atheists. It's foolishness, honestly. Atheism is foolishness. Some would use the philosophy of humanism.

[8:50] They call themselves humanists. They deny any power or moral value superior to that of humanity. They reject religion in favour of a belief in the advancement of humanity by its own efforts.

[9:03] Humanism. Humanism. For the humanist, everything centres upon humans. As if humans are so great and mighty. Everything centres upon humans.

[9:14] Upon humans' capacities. Upon humans' values. Upon humans' worth. How easily we humans can get an inflated idea about ourselves.

[9:25] As if there's something great about this tiny little speck in this universe. The speck being planet Earth, let alone the speck that is a person such as me.

[9:38] Contrast this with how God considers a human being. In Psalm 8 verses 3 to 4. The psalmist says, When I consider the heavens, the work of thy fingers, and the moon, and the stars, which thou hast ordained.

[9:55] What is man? What is man that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man that thou visitest him.

[10:06] Now we can get an overrated view about ourselves. We can get an overrated view about our own self-importance. And that's what the humanist does.

[10:17] Another view is secularism. Secularism. In this view, the world and our lives revolve around where we're just concerned with this present life itself.

[10:30] As if this present life is all there is to live. As if there's nothing above or beyond this present life. How short-sighted is that?

[10:44] How long do we live for? Even if we have a long life. It's really just a blink in the scheme of things, isn't it? How short-sighted to miss out on the world to come.

[10:55] By being so blinkered and short-sighted just looking at this present world. That's what secularism teaches. It's about the world.

[11:06] Secular meaning the world. What does God say about the world? In 1 John 2, that familiar one from verse 15. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.

[11:18] If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

[11:37] And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof. But he that doeth the will of God abideth forever. This world, and all the attractions and distractions of this world, will pass away.

[11:52] But he that does God's will, the will of God, he who knows God, shall live forever. Abide forever. What constitutes a good life? A good life.

[12:04] Will you abide forever? Will you abide forever? Will you dwell forever? If you do the will of God, you will.

[12:17] There is an alternative. There is an alternative to the failing secular thinking and worldly philosophies that this world would push on you. There's something much deeper, much greater, much more important.

[12:32] Much more to place a priority upon. As we read, our Lord says to us, in Matthew 6, verse 33, But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.

[12:52] It's about getting the priorities right. There is an alternative to secular thinking and worldly philosophies. As we seek first that which really matters. God calls it the abundant life.

[13:06] The abundant life. A life more abundant. He tells us in John 10, verse 10, He's been talking about how He is, the Lord Jesus is, the good shepherd.

[13:17] And in contrast that with the thief and with the hireling. He says the thief comes not but for to steal and to kill and to destroy.

[13:29] I am come. In contrast to everybody else. I am come that they might have life and have it more abundantly. A good life comes from knowing the Saviour.

[13:43] From knowing the Lord Jesus Christ. And knowing Him in time. As we read in Hebrews 9. It says, And as it is appointed unto man once to die.

[13:58] But after this, the judgment. What time is your appointment? You might get that call. Unexpectedly. Totally out of the blue. Now that's why I answered me there.

[14:10] No, not really. Now that's why you might get that call out of the blue that just stops you in your tracks. Stops you doing what you're doing. You know, you thought you were going to do something and boom, the appointment comes.

[14:20] Yeah. God's got it in His calendar for you. It's appointed. There's an appointment. It might be this year. It might be this month.

[14:32] It might be this week. It's appointed unto man once to die. And after this, the judgment. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many.

[14:44] And unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation. He's coming back. And it's appointed. It's appointed. It's appointed. That time of our death is set in God's clock, in God's calendar.

[14:59] And so it's important that evaluation of what is a good life. As I think of my friend Matt, who's passed away. I think, what was his life? Was it worthwhile? Was there something to show for it?

[15:10] It was cut short, sadly, by his drunkenness. I'm being honest. I don't know where he is today. I grieve for him.

[15:23] I was really heartbroken to hear that he passed away. And that was just recent news. And what a shame. What a tragic, tragic shame.

[15:33] A life cut short. A life, perhaps tragically, missing God's life. I don't know.

[15:44] It's not through my lack of telling Him. I tell you that. I'm thankful of that. I'm glad I didn't pat Him on the back and say you're going to heaven, Matt. Because I can't be sure that He was. I can only pray that something of what I said to Him sunk in.

[15:57] Somehow, God's mercy and grace. He called on His name. He said He talks to God a lot. But I don't know. Sometimes we can talk and talk and say prayers, but not really know Him. Not really know Him.

[16:08] It's important that you know Him tonight. If there's nothing more that I can say to you, it's important that you know Him. So you don't leave this place thinking, I'm a Christian. I prayed a prayer one day.

[16:19] I went out the front. I was baptized. I did this and did that. I'm a Christian. Are you really? Do you know Him? Does He know you? Or will He say, depart from me. I never knew you.

[16:30] You're kidding yourself. What is a good life? A good life comes from making truly good choices. From knowing God. Knowing Him. And Him knowing you.

[16:41] Knowing you. Knowing you. Knowing you. For Him to know you. For you to belong to Him. To become a child of God. A son. A daughter. Of the living God. To make those choices that really count.

[16:53] To have that character. That life. That's based on internal realities. On internal truths. Because the fact is. You were created for God. You were created for God.

[17:05] In Revelation 4.11. There's people crying out. Thou art worthy, O Lord. To receive glory. And honour. And power. For Thou hast created all things.

[17:17] And for Thy pleasure. They are and were created. You were created. Not for your own pleasure. But for God's pleasure. You were created. So you could please Him. So you could come.

[17:28] In His grace. To know Him. What does God expect of us? He wants us to be. Creatures. That are. Giving Him glory. Sometimes we make a distinction.

[17:41] In our lives. Between the sacred. And the secular. I was talking in part. This morning of that. Where it's like you're living. A dichotomy. You know. Like you're living. The Christian life.

[17:51] When you come to a meeting. Or you're amongst Christian folk. And then you're like a chameleon. You change shape. And your language. And your attitude. And behaviour. When you're around non-Christians.

[18:04] But God doesn't want us to have a distinction. Between the sacred. And the secular. He wants you to have a life. Well lived. A life. Well lived.

[18:14] Such that your character doesn't change. Depending on the people you're around. And I like to hope that that's. That's true for me. It hasn't always been true for me. When I first became a Christian.

[18:26] At a school place. It was a different Andrew Craig. From the Andrew Craig. In the church. Now that can be something. We can all make that mistake.

[18:38] We can be two faced. But God wants us to have a life. Well lived. The whole of our life. So that we're not pretending. We're not putting it on.

[18:48] Or putting it off. It's full time. You're a full time Christian. You're a full time minister. And that's how I see it. God helping me with my secular life. In the workplace.

[18:59] I work a full time job. And I'm a Christian in the workplace. I'm not afraid to be a Christian. In the workplace. And I urge you. One and all to have that same attitude. In the school place.

[19:09] In the workplace. Be an out and out Christian. Don't be afraid. To stand. And be such that your character. Is not blemished. Because you have one thing here.

[19:20] And another thing there. There shouldn't be a distinction. Between the sacred. And the secular. I look at my regular job. And for me it's like a ministry. It's like a ministry.

[19:30] Because there's a sense where I work. Which I'm thankful for. It's a lot of giving to other people. It's caring for people. Amongst the most vulnerable people. In our society.

[19:41] And I thank God. For the opportunity to work in such an environment. I know not every job has such an opportunity. As that. But wherever we work. We're ministering to other people.

[19:52] In one way or another. And we're wanting to do the best job that we can. Because we're doing it. As the real boss. Isn't the boss who sits behind the desk. Who can get the paycheck from. The real boss is the Lord Jesus.

[20:03] He's the one. He's the master that we serve. As we read in Ephesians. Comparing how a servant serves the master. When we're in a workplace. We're not here just to do it with eye service.

[20:14] When we're getting watched by the supervisor. To do the right thing. But we want it to be 100%. Doing a good job. For the people who we work for. And so we want to have a life well lived.

[20:26] That it's all the time. Not just some of the time. And friends. How do we have a life well lived? The answers are here. The answers in this book. It's right here in our hands. The answers are in our hands.

[20:38] Because it says in 2 Peter 1. Verse 3. That according to us. His divine power. Has given unto us all things. All things that pertain unto life and godliness.

[20:49] All things that relate to life and godliness. All the instructions are here. In this book. The B-I-B-L-E. Basic instructions before leaving earth.

[21:00] B-I-B-L-E. That's what we need. It's life and godliness. Is in this book. The truth. And there's exceeding great and precious promises. We read in 2 Peter 1 verse 4.

[21:12] Not only does this tell us what happened in the past. And what God has prophesied to happen in the future. But how to live in the here and now. In the here and now. In God's great. Exceeding great and precious promises.

[21:25] Whereby we can be partakers of the divine nature. Having escaped the corruption. That is in the world through lust. So life is to know him. To know him. And this book shows us how.

[21:35] It's more than the vain trinkets. We can amass for ourselves here below. Some people act as if the here and now is all there is. We can make that mistake. We can make that mistake.

[21:47] Where our life is so consumed. With amassing the trinkets. And toys. The vain treasures of this life. And missing out. On what really counts.

[21:58] On that which is to come. It's like the philosophy. That someone has described it as this. He who dies with the most toys wins. You heard that one? He who dies with the most toys wins.

[22:11] So when perhaps one day Bill Gates dies. He's won because he's got the most money in his bank account. He's the one who's won. He's the one who's made a life. He's the one who's made a success with his life.

[22:22] Because he's got fame and glory. And everybody knows him. And he's the richest man on planet earth. But he could miss out. Because the one who wins isn't the one who's got the most toys.

[22:36] Because he who dies with the most toys still dies. It's not about gathering wealth. It's nice to have a degree of wealth. So hopefully you can use it wisely to help others.

[22:48] And to be useful. And kind. And generous. But he who has the most toys still dies. It's not about gathering wealth for yourself.

[23:01] It's like Paul put it in perspective. In Philippians 3 verse 7 he says. What things were gained to me. All the things that Paul considered gained. He had credentials.

[23:13] He had learning. He had a heritage. He had such. As far as his CV would have looked. He had everything that was counted as value.

[23:26] Even of religious value. Of his heritage. Of his upbringing. Of his learning. And such like. But he says. What things that were gained to me.

[23:38] Those things I counted loss. For Christ. I counted them as loss. For Christ. And yea doubtless. And I count all things. But loss. For the excellency.

[23:48] Of the knowledge. Of Christ Jesus my Lord. Everything else just paled into insignificance. In contrast with the knowledge. Of the Lord Jesus Christ. He says he suffered the loss of all those things.

[24:00] Counting them. But done. That he may win Christ. Done. You know. How graphic. A picture. Of how he counted such things. It's just.

[24:12] Something. Foul. And discarded. Was in comparison. To the knowledge. Of Christ Jesus my Lord. And it does well to read through.

[24:23] Philippians 3. In more detail there. Being found in him having. Not having. My own righteousness. Which is of the law.

[24:34] But that which is through the faith of Christ. The righteousness which is of God. By faith. He counted everything. And just paling into insignificance.

[24:44] In contrast to knowing his saviour. To knowing God. By faith. That I may know him. And the power of his resurrection. The one who break the bars of hell.

[24:57] Break the bars of the stone. Rolled away from the tomb. He conquered death. And hell. In that resurrection. Rising to life again. And the fellowship of his sufferings.

[25:09] That I may know him. That I may know him. Friends. And then he talks about. How he reaches forth. Unto the things ahead. He talks about reaching. Forward to that prize.

[25:20] For the mark. For the prize. Of the high calling of God. Paul saw that contrast. Between this earthly life. And those things that he counted as valuable.

[25:32] Even of religious value. In contrast to. The excellency of the knowledge. Of Jesus Christ. His Lord. And friends. Think of your life now.

[25:44] Think of your life. What is a life well lived. In the Bible it says. He is our life. It says. In Colossians 3. Set your affection.

[25:55] On things above. Not on things on the earth. Verse 4. For Christ who is our life. Shall appear. Christ is our life. As 1 John 5 puts it.

[26:07] In verse 12. Here that hath the Son. Hath life. Here that hath not the Son. Of God. Hath not life. You know.

[26:18] You could put it in a simple. Mathematical equation. Couldn't you. Jesus equals life. Without Jesus. Equals death.

[26:30] Death. It's very simple really. Isn't it? The simple gospel is really very simple. And it says that. When we believe. When we trust him. We've passed from.

[26:42] Death. Unto life. It's a contrast. When you believe. Jesus Christ. You pass from living.

[26:52] In a state. Of death. Of not having. Real life. Passed over. As if you're passing over. A bridge. Over a chasm.

[27:03] As it were. Passing from death. Unto life. As a transaction. That is made. Now some people think. And I've had it. Expressed to me. Of late.

[27:13] By someone I love. And care for. That some. Some think. That a good life. Is one. Without guilt. You know.

[27:25] Put a big. Cross over God. As if. You somehow. Can imagine. There is no God. You put a big cross. Over God. Now I can do. What I like.

[27:36] If there is no God. There's no guilt. There's no such thing. As sin. There's no such thing. As doing good. Let alone. Doing bad. Because it's as much as.

[27:48] Any one of us. Decide. What's right or wrong. Some people think. That a good life. Is a life. Where we deny God. Where we just. Push God away. And pretend.

[27:58] That he doesn't exist. So we don't have to deal. With our sin. We don't have to deal. With our sin. Friends. It's a lie. You do have to deal. With your sin.

[28:09] Your sin. Is real. My sin. Is real. It has to be paid for. It's like a preacher. I heard one say. Someone is going to pay for your sin.

[28:20] Someone is going to pay for your sin. Every one of you. Here today. And listening here. Every one of you. Will have to. Someone. Has to pay.

[28:31] For your sin. Will it be you. Or will it be him. Will it be Jesus. Who pays for your sin. Because the Bible says that. He.

[28:43] Carried. In his body. The sins of the world. God put on him. The sin. Of the world. Even though the Lord Jesus.

[28:54] Was perfect. And without sin. All the sin. Of the world. Was put on him. Can you imagine that? All the bad things.

[29:04] You've ever thought. Or done. All the good things. You've not done. All of your sin. Was put on Jesus Christ. But you need to claim. What he has done for you.

[29:15] You need to. Understand. My sin. Was nailed to that cross. When Jesus died. And shed his perfect blood. When Jesus died on that cross.

[29:26] My sin was there. 2,000 years ago. My sin was there. And it was paid for in full. Because Jesus paid for it there. Jesus paid for my sin. And we that know him today.

[29:39] You can say. Jesus paid for my sin. You can know that today. And you can. And you can know. What really freedom from guilt. Is. Because. Because.

[29:50] He's paid for it. He's paid for it. He's taken it. But for you to somehow. Put a cross over God. And pretend. He's not there. To pretend. That you don't have to deal. With your sin. You're just kidding yourself.

[30:01] You're just kidding yourself. You know. Friends. There's dead men walking. Dead men walking around. This community. Today. They're blind. And they're dead.

[30:12] They're dead. In their trespasses and sins. The Bible says. That people are dead. Without Christ. A life well lived. Is a life. In Christ. It's knowing him.

[30:24] It's knowing him. And then everything changes. As the transformation happens. So that we see. As the Lord Jesus says. Let your light so shine. Before men. That they see.

[30:34] Your good works. And glorify. Your Father. Which is in heaven. Matthew 5.16 Our real purpose. Is found then. Our real purpose. That real needing for life. Is to know him.

[30:45] To know him. To know him. To live. In that light. And so that. Any. Potential good that we do. Is all to his glory. To glorify our Father.

[30:57] That is in heaven. Our life. Can be devoted to something. Much more than just. This. Earthly. Life that we live. And there won't be. That artificial distinction.

[31:08] Some split between. The sacred. And the secular. A whole life. Is given to him. For his glory. So that we can be. Like Daniel. An excellent spirit.

[31:19] Was in him. He was a testimony. Where he served. In what he did. In every dimension. Of his life. There was an excellence. In his life. In his whole life. And so that.

[31:30] Our life can be. Unto his praise. So that we can. As it says in Psalm 150. Let everything. That has breath. Let everything. That has breath. Praise the Lord.

[31:42] Let everything. That has breath. Praise the Lord. Praise you. The Lord. You are created. For his glory. You are created. For his pleasure. You are created.

[31:53] For his praise. And so that. Any good. Any one of us. Can do. It is all glory. Glory. Glory. Unto him. Bless the Lord. Oh my soul.

[32:04] And all. That is within me. Bless. His holy name. Read Psalm 103. It is jam packed. With so many things. We think of. Bless the Lord. Oh my soul.

[32:14] Forget not. All his benefits. Everything. Good about our life. Is all unto his praise. And glory. Forget not. All his benefits. Who forgives all thy iniquities.

[32:25] Who heals all thy diseases. Who redeems thy life. From destruction. Who crowns thee with loving kindness. And tender mercies. Who satisfies thy mouth. With good things. So that thy youth is renewed.

[32:37] Like the eagles. God is good. And gracious to us. As far as the east. Is from the west. So far. So far. The east from the west. So far.

[32:48] You know. That's mind blowing. Isn't it? That's eternal. That's infinite. So far. As the east is from the west. So far. Has he removed. Our sins from us.

[33:00] And as a father. Pities his children. So that. Lord pities them. That fear him. And yet. It goes on to say. For a man. His days. Are as.

[33:11] Grass. As a flower of the field. So he flourishes. As. As autumn time. I know in our place. We've got this creeper. And the leaves are just starting to fall off. And it's like that.

[33:21] Isn't it? With the flowers. They bloom. And then. Only days later. They're dropping their pets all sand. It's all finished. You just as well. Throw them in the bin. And man is like that.

[33:33] We like the flower of the field. We like. Like the grass. That one day it's all green and blossoming. And before we know it. It's. It's gone. It's gone. Our lives. Our butter vapour.

[33:45] So teach us to number our days. That we may apply our hearts onto wisdom. Let every day count. Let every day count. In the context of the eternity.

[33:56] That we're living in. Read Psalm 103. We got through. A truly well lived life. Is in knowing him. A life of no regrets. A life that's fair dinkum.

[34:07] A life that's full on. That's. That's dinky dire. That's true blue. That's. A life. That's invested. A life of no regrets. A life that is.

[34:20] Consistent. With integrity. And character. A life. That's lived. So that the preacher doesn't have to lie. At your funeral. A life.

[34:31] That's lived. Knowing that you've made a contribution. You've done something. Within your power to do. You've done good. Ecclesiastes tells us about vanity. Vanity.

[34:41] Vanity. The preacher cries. Right through the book. Of Ecclesiastes. Vanity. Vanity. All is vanities. Life is a vapour. And it sucks life. And he sums it all up at the end of the book.

[34:53] Right at the end of Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes 12 verse 13. The preacher. The wise man. He says. Let us hear the conclusion. Of the whole matter. Fear God.

[35:05] And keep his commandments. For this is the whole. Duty. Of man. Fear God. And keep his commandments. For this is the whole. Duty.

[35:15] Of man. That's the conclusion. So teach us to number our days. That we may apply. Our hearts unto wisdom. Fatalism. Life is futile.

[35:27] It's all fate. Hedonism. Pursuit of pleasure. Eat, drink and be merry. Intellectualism. As if somehow you can.

[35:39] Get enough knowledge. It's vanity. Materialism. As if material things are all that matters. The ego. Self esteem. Nihilism.

[35:50] The belief in nothingness. Atheism. Humanism. Secularism. Or would it be. To know him. To know him. To know him.

[36:01] Who is life eternal. To know him. Our maker. The one who. Clothed himself. With human skin. And was not remote. And distant. But came and visited us.

[36:12] He came and visited us. In the person of his son. He came and clothed himself. With human flesh. And bore. The shame. And the curse.

[36:23] Of the cross. And the curse. And shame. Of our own sin. And he paid in full. Do you know him?

[36:34] Let us pray. Lord Jesus. We thank you. That. You took. That. Step down. From the throne.

[36:51] You left behind. The glories. Of a place that. Eye. Has not seen. Nor has the ear heard. Nor has it entered. Into the heart of man.

[37:04] The glories. Of. That. Eternal. Dimension. That is heaven. You stepped down. And left heaven. Freely. Willingly. Coming down.

[37:15] To be born. As. A near human. Being. To be born. To live. To love.

[37:27] To touch. Man. And women. To save. To heal. To deliver. You came down. And then you stepped down.

[37:39] To be beaten. And. Bruised. To be spat upon. To be flogged. To be. To be.

[37:51] To be pierced. But most of all. To bear. The sin. Of many. To bear. The sin. Of sinful man. Such as me.

[38:02] Sinful. Human beings. To bear. The sin. Because the wages. Of sin. Is death. But the gift. Of God. Is eternal life.

[38:14] Through Jesus Christ. Our Lord. We thank you Lord. That. If there's any. Present here tonight. They'll consider. Life. And what it really means. And what is a good life.

[38:25] And they'll think. As Christians. How can I live that life. That is more. Pleasing. Unto you. That we that are Christians. Here today. We won't get caught up.

[38:36] In the rat race. That this world. Just wants to. Chase after the almighty dollar. And to get caught up. In all the. Trappings of this life.

[38:47] But Lord. We'll consider. The kingdom of God. And your righteousness. And we'll seek that. As our priority. And if there's any. Here tonight. Here to trust you. That they will.

[38:59] They will not rest. That you'll make them. Restless. That you'll make them. Restless. Until they find. Their rest in you. That you'll make them.

[39:10] Restless. That their philosophies. Are vain. That their religion. Is vain. If it is without you. If it is not. To know you.

[39:22] They've not yet. Passed from death. Unto life. They're still dead. In their trespasses. And sins. Lord help us. I pray for. People I care about.

[39:33] Here tonight. I pray that they'll. Turn to you tonight. Even now. Even now. Even now. By faith. That an eternal. Transaction can be done. Not through any.

[39:43] Manipulation of men. But by the. Uh. Conviction. Of your Holy Spirit. Make us restless. Lord. Till we find. Our rest in you.

[39:54] In Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Thank you.