WEBVTT

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 Well, good morning, church. Would you turn with me one last time to the book of Ecclesiastes.

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 We are in chapter 12, verses 8 through 14. We've come to the end of our study in this rich and challenging

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! And we get to hear today what Ecclesiastes calls the end of the matter. We come to the epilogue of

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 this book where the main message is summed up for us. When all has been said and all has been heard,

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 here is the main thing. So, as you turn to chapter 12 of Ecclesiastes, let me pray.

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 Father, how we long to be people of wisdom,

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 people who know what it means to live life as it is meant to be lived.

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 Give us ears to hear what the conclusion of this great book of Ecclesiastes has to say to us,

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 this book that you have inspired and preserved and through which you continue to speak today.

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 Guide us by your Spirit and lead us to your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,

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 in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are found. In His name we pray. Amen.

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 All right, Ecclesiastes 12, 8 through 14.

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 Vanity of vanity, says the preacher, all is vanity.

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 Being wise, besides being wise, the preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying

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 and arranging many proverbs with great care. The preacher sought to find words of delight,

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 and uprightly he wrote words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads,

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 and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings. They are given by one shepherd.

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 My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books, there is no end, and much study is a

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 weariness of the flesh. The end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God and keep His commandments,

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 for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment,

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 with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

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 So, in this book of Ecclesiastes, we've been on a quest, a quest to discover the life well lived.

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 Or as verse 13 puts it, we've been on a quest to discover what is the whole duty of man.

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 That is, how might we live such that we could look back over our lives

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 and say, I've done all that I was meant to do. With this life I've been given, I've lived it well.

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 Now, are you on a quest to discover the life well lived?

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 Of course you are. Who isn't? Who doesn't want to look back over their life and say, I've lived it well.

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 With this life I've been given, I've done all that I was meant to do.

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 But, in this quest for the well lived life, Ecclesiastes has found many dead ends.

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 In fact, at times, Ecclesiastes has felt like nothing but a series of dead ends.

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 After all, listen to the words that serve as the bookends, as the frame for this quest.

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 Chapter 1, verse 2. Chapter 12, verse 8.

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 Vanity of vanities, says the preacher.

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 All.

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 But the life well lived, it's chasing the wind.

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 So, it seems that we've ended where we began.

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 Vanity.

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 So, is that it?

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 Is it all just a dead end?

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 Is there no such thing as the life well lived?

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 Are we just back where we started?

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 Well, yes and no.

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 Remember T.S. Eliot's famous lines near the end of his poem, Four Quartets?

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 He says,

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 We shall not cease from exploration.

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 And the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and to know the place for the first time.

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 We've come back to this realization that all is vanity.

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 But what do we now know now that we've taken this quest?

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 Well, we know that in order to really find lasting meaning, lasting substance, lasting joy in this life,

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 in order to really find the life well lived, we need more than just life under the sun.

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 When the preacher says,

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 All is vanity,

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 the all he's referring to is all of life considered apart from God, our Creator.

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 And all there really means all.

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 There is no creaturely reality that can hold up the weight of a human life.

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 Your soul is like a treasure of gold.

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 It is heavy with beauty and glory and worth.

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 And the tragedy is that we try to hold up this golden treasure

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 with the thin reeds of pleasure and power and worldly wisdom.

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 And they all break.

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 And the soul falls with them.

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 But what can hold us up

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 if every creaturely reality is nothing but vanity and a fleeting breath?

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 Only the Creator.

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 Ecclesiastes is showing us

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 that we have to look beyond the frame.

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 The quest from chapter 1, verse 2, to chapter 12, verse 8,

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 has not been a dead end.

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 It has followed every alternative path

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 so that we might find the only true lasting road to a life well lived.

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 And that's why in the epilogue to this great book,

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 verse 11 can take this book so full of its dead end explorations

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 and place it among the words of the truly wise

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 and describe it like goads and like nails.

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 What's a goad?

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 Well, a goad was a sharp stick

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 that a shepherd would use

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 to direct sheep away from harmful paths.

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 And has not Ecclesiastes been like a goad?

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 Has it not prodded us and poked us

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 to see the futility

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 of so many of the dead end paths

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 that we're prone to take?

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 Try pleasure, Ecclesiastes has said.

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 See where it leads.

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 Try power.

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 Try wealth.

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 Try earthly wisdom.

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 Let's take those paths

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 and see that they're all vanity.

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 But after the goad comes the nail.

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 And then, you see, like a nail firmly fixed,

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 Ecclesiastes has given us something

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 that at last is stable and secure,

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 a place not just to hang a coat,

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 not just to hang a bag,

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 not just to hang a few bits of choice advice.

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 No, here is an anchor

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 upon which you can hang your whole life.

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 Your soul, in all of its weighty beauty,

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 can rest here and be secure and never fall.

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 You know, it's sort of like we've been staring

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 at a painting in a museum.

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 And inside the frame,

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 there's this picture of human life

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 that's ultimately empty and fleeting.

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 And as our eyes move across the picture,

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 we come to the edge,

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 we come to the frame,

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 and then we scan over

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 and we hit the frame again,

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 and we come down

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 and we hit the frame again.

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 And we think,

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 but everything I see in this picture is vanity.

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 And the more you stare at the picture

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 within the frame,

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 the more empty life becomes.

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 And your heart sinks

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 and your spirit drops.

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 Is this all there is?

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 All is empty.

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 But then one of those,

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 you know, one of the guys in the museum

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 with the blue coat comes over

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 and taps you on the shoulder and says,

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 friend,

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 friend,

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 look beyond the frame.

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 Lift up your eyes.

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 Turn around.

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 Lift up your gaze.

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 There is more to be seen.

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 So as Ecclesiastes comes to an end,

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 as we return to the frame of vanity

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 in verse 8,

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 we're beckoned

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 to leave vanity behind,

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 to step beyond the frame,

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 to leave the dead-end paths,

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 and to find

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 that the life well lived

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 is the life lived

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 in the presence of God.

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 verse 13 and 14,

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 the end of the matter.

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 All has been heard.

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 Fear God

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 and keep His commandments,

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 for this is the whole duty of man.

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 For God will bring every deed

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 into judgment

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 with every secret thing,

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 whether good or evil.

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 And so in these last two verses,

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 we see

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 the contours

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 of a life well lived.

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 We see first

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 the heart

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 of a life well lived.

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 And what is that heart?

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 It's a heart

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 that fears God.

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 What does it mean

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 to fear God?

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 In the Bible,

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 to fear God

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 means to live

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 in awe

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 of His reality.

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 And that's a bit different

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 than how we usually

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 use the word fear,

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 isn't it?

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 We usually say

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 we're afraid of something

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 because we're scared

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 it's going to hurt us

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 and we want to run away

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 and hide, right?

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 But this kind of fear,

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 the fear of God,

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 doesn't necessarily mean

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 you want to run away

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 or hide.

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 It's the sort of feeling

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 you get in the presence

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 of something

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 truly majestic,

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 truly great.

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 Natural beauty

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 perhaps provides

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 the best analogy.

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 You know,

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 when you stand

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 on the edge

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 of something like

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 the Grand Canyon

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 or when you see

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 20-foot waves

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 rise in the ocean

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 during a storm,

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 that combination

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 of power

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 and beauty

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 fills your heart

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 with awe.

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 And yes,

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 you know

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 that a 20-foot wave

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 is dangerous

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 and so it's scary

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 in that sense.

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 but even if it

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 wasn't going to hurt you,

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 even if you were

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 safe on the shore,

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 you would still

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 look at it in awe.

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 That's a bit

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 of what the fear

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 of God means.

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 To understand

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 God's character,

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 the perfection

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 of power

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 and beauty,

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 of wisdom

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 and goodness,

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 to understand

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 the excellence

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 of God's character

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 and being

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 and to feel

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 the reality

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 of it.

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 And to fear

00:13:19.939 --> 00:13:20.439
 God

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 means

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 that the reality

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 of God

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 is the shaping

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 reality

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 of your life.

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 It means

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 that you care

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 more

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 about what

00:13:32.079 --> 00:13:33.100
 pleases God

00:13:33.100 --> 00:13:34.399
 than what pleases

00:13:34.399 --> 00:13:35.059
 other people.

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 It means

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 that you care

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 more about

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 God's approval

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 or disapproval

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 than the approval

00:13:41.659 --> 00:13:42.959
 of your colleagues

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 or neighbors

00:13:43.579 --> 00:13:44.419
 or classmates.

00:13:45.639 --> 00:13:46.279
 It means

00:13:46.279 --> 00:13:47.100
 that the reality

00:13:47.100 --> 00:13:47.980
 of God

00:13:47.980 --> 00:13:49.379
 is the standard

00:13:49.379 --> 00:13:50.519
 by which you

00:13:50.519 --> 00:13:51.379
 measure all

00:13:51.379 --> 00:13:52.019
 other wisdom,

00:13:52.240 --> 00:13:53.100
 all other goodness,

00:13:53.319 --> 00:13:54.100
 all other beauty.

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 That's why

00:13:57.740 --> 00:13:58.219
 verse 12

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 can say,

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 My son,

00:14:00.620 --> 00:14:01.559
 beware of anything

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 beyond these,

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 of making many books

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 there is no end,

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 and much study

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 is a weariness

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 of the flesh.

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 You know,

00:14:10.420 --> 00:14:10.800
 those words

00:14:10.800 --> 00:14:11.600
 weren't just penned

00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:11.940
 in the midst

00:14:11.940 --> 00:14:12.779
 of finals week,

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 right?

00:14:17.399 --> 00:14:17.899
 Ecclesiastes,

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 notice,

00:14:18.540 --> 00:14:19.100
 Ecclesiastes

00:14:19.100 --> 00:14:19.740
 isn't saying

00:14:19.740 --> 00:14:20.120
 we should

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 never

00:14:21.100 --> 00:14:22.720
 read books,

00:14:22.860 --> 00:14:23.560
 never study,

00:14:23.779 --> 00:14:25.080
 never explore ideas

00:14:25.080 --> 00:14:25.600
 and see where

00:14:25.600 --> 00:14:26.139
 they lead.

00:14:27.340 --> 00:14:28.159
 He's saying

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 beware.

00:14:31.300 --> 00:14:31.820
 Beware

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 of chasing

00:14:32.800 --> 00:14:33.360
 after

00:14:33.360 --> 00:14:34.560
 every new idea.

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 You can always

00:14:36.759 --> 00:14:38.079
 find one more

00:14:38.079 --> 00:14:39.299
 path to explore,

00:14:39.619 --> 00:14:40.739
 one more idea

00:14:40.739 --> 00:14:41.539
 to chase,

00:14:41.819 --> 00:14:42.839
 one more pleasure

00:14:42.839 --> 00:14:44.319
 to experiment with.

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 Humans will

00:14:45.579 --> 00:14:46.459
 always be

00:14:46.459 --> 00:14:47.259
 contriving

00:14:47.259 --> 00:14:48.339
 yet another way

00:14:48.339 --> 00:14:49.319
 to try to find

00:14:49.319 --> 00:14:50.299
 meaning and purpose

00:14:50.299 --> 00:14:51.759
 under the sun

00:14:51.759 --> 00:14:53.059
 apart from God.

00:14:54.339 --> 00:14:55.259
 But in the end,

00:14:57.079 --> 00:14:57.559
 Ecclesiastes

00:14:57.559 --> 00:14:58.419
 says it will only

00:14:58.419 --> 00:15:00.439
 lead to weariness.

00:15:00.440 --> 00:15:04.860
 real wisdom.

00:15:06.200 --> 00:15:06.980
 The heart

00:15:06.980 --> 00:15:07.880
 of a life

00:15:07.880 --> 00:15:08.620
 well lived

00:15:08.620 --> 00:15:10.600
 is fearing God.

00:15:12.440 --> 00:15:13.620
 There is no book,

00:15:14.160 --> 00:15:14.840
 no podcast,

00:15:15.240 --> 00:15:16.200
 no TED Talk

00:15:16.200 --> 00:15:17.080
 that will give

00:15:17.080 --> 00:15:18.580
 a better foundation

00:15:18.580 --> 00:15:19.400
 for a life

00:15:19.400 --> 00:15:19.920
 well lived

00:15:19.920 --> 00:15:20.520
 than this.

00:15:21.720 --> 00:15:22.340
 Fear

00:15:22.340 --> 00:15:23.540
 God.

00:15:25.160 --> 00:15:25.940
 After all,

00:15:26.180 --> 00:15:27.060
 what else

00:15:27.060 --> 00:15:28.520
 could you put

00:15:28.520 --> 00:15:29.420
 at the center

00:15:29.420 --> 00:15:30.180
 of your life?

00:15:30.440 --> 00:15:31.100
 that could

00:15:31.100 --> 00:15:32.060
 compare to this.

00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:33.720
 God

00:15:33.720 --> 00:15:34.960
 is the perfection

00:15:34.960 --> 00:15:35.620
 of beauty,

00:15:36.280 --> 00:15:37.020
 the pinnacle

00:15:37.020 --> 00:15:37.680
 of righteousness,

00:15:37.840 --> 00:15:38.400
 the sum

00:15:38.400 --> 00:15:39.000
 and source

00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:39.640
 of all truth,

00:15:39.920 --> 00:15:41.080
 the very ground

00:15:41.080 --> 00:15:42.400
 of being

00:15:42.400 --> 00:15:43.420
 itself.

00:15:43.560 --> 00:15:44.240
 God is the one

00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:45.440
 from whom

00:15:45.440 --> 00:15:46.820
 and through whom

00:15:46.820 --> 00:15:47.860
 and to whom

00:15:47.860 --> 00:15:49.140
 are all things.

00:15:51.440 --> 00:15:52.240
 Why would you

00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:54.460
 dance in the shadows

00:15:54.460 --> 00:15:56.140
 when you can

00:15:56.140 --> 00:15:57.840
 step into the light

00:15:57.840 --> 00:15:59.420
 and be flooded

00:15:59.420 --> 00:16:00.060
 with light?

00:16:00.440 --> 00:16:03.180
 fear God.

00:16:05.720 --> 00:16:07.040
 But how can we grow?

00:16:07.140 --> 00:16:08.260
 How can we grow

00:16:08.260 --> 00:16:09.380
 in the fear

00:16:09.380 --> 00:16:09.880
 of God?

00:16:11.560 --> 00:16:12.180
 Well, friends,

00:16:12.220 --> 00:16:12.860
 on the one hand,

00:16:12.920 --> 00:16:13.880
 the fear of God

00:16:13.880 --> 00:16:14.520
 is ultimately

00:16:14.520 --> 00:16:15.780
 something that only

00:16:15.780 --> 00:16:17.480
 God's Holy Spirit

00:16:17.480 --> 00:16:18.220
 can bring about

00:16:18.220 --> 00:16:19.020
 in the human heart.

00:16:20.020 --> 00:16:21.020
 Only the Holy Spirit

00:16:21.020 --> 00:16:22.340
 can open the eyes

00:16:22.340 --> 00:16:22.880
 of our hearts

00:16:22.880 --> 00:16:23.600
 to understand

00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:24.400
 and worship God

00:16:24.400 --> 00:16:25.660
 as God truly is.

00:16:25.659 --> 00:16:27.919
 but on the other hand,

00:16:27.980 --> 00:16:28.699
 the means

00:16:28.699 --> 00:16:29.839
 that the Holy Spirit

00:16:29.839 --> 00:16:31.679
 uses to do His work

00:16:31.679 --> 00:16:33.439
 is so often

00:16:33.439 --> 00:16:35.000
 and regularly

00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:36.779
 the Word

00:16:36.779 --> 00:16:38.500
 He has inspired.

00:16:39.939 --> 00:16:40.919
 Do you want

00:16:40.919 --> 00:16:41.379
 to grow

00:16:41.379 --> 00:16:42.439
 in the fear of God?

00:16:42.980 --> 00:16:43.740
 Do you want

00:16:43.740 --> 00:16:44.799
 the reality of God

00:16:44.799 --> 00:16:45.659
 to be the controlling

00:16:45.659 --> 00:16:46.959
 reality of your life

00:16:46.959 --> 00:16:47.879
 so that you can

00:16:47.879 --> 00:16:48.559
 be liberated

00:16:48.559 --> 00:16:49.919
 from all the petty

00:16:49.919 --> 00:16:50.679
 little fears

00:16:50.679 --> 00:16:51.779
 that drive you?

00:16:51.779 --> 00:16:54.480
 then meditate

00:16:54.480 --> 00:16:55.519
 upon the character

00:16:55.519 --> 00:16:56.179
 of God

00:16:56.179 --> 00:16:57.299
 revealed

00:16:57.299 --> 00:16:58.919
 in the Word of God.

00:17:00.439 --> 00:17:01.860
 Study His attributes.

00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:04.339
 Ascribe to Him

00:17:04.339 --> 00:17:05.680
 the glory He deserves.

00:17:06.799 --> 00:17:07.599
 Praise God

00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:08.500
 for who He is.

00:17:09.639 --> 00:17:11.339
 Meditate on His perfections.

00:17:12.339 --> 00:17:14.660
 When you read Scripture,

00:17:15.599 --> 00:17:17.680
 prayerfully keep an eye out

00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:19.140
 for those descriptions

00:17:19.140 --> 00:17:21.019
 of who God is

00:17:21.019 --> 00:17:23.120
 and what He is like.

00:17:25.380 --> 00:17:25.680
 You know,

00:17:25.720 --> 00:17:27.140
 often we go

00:17:27.140 --> 00:17:27.620
 to Scripture

00:17:27.620 --> 00:17:28.360
 looking for

00:17:28.360 --> 00:17:29.840
 a little bit of advice

00:17:29.840 --> 00:17:30.480
 to do this

00:17:30.480 --> 00:17:31.039
 and a little bit

00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:31.860
 of comfort to do that

00:17:31.860 --> 00:17:32.560
 and those are good.

00:17:32.640 --> 00:17:33.640
 We should go to God's Word

00:17:33.640 --> 00:17:34.340
 for everything.

00:17:35.880 --> 00:17:36.820
 But do we go

00:17:36.820 --> 00:17:39.000
 to behold God

00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:40.480
 as He has revealed

00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:41.560
 Himself to us?

00:17:45.240 --> 00:17:46.380
 Go to see

00:17:46.380 --> 00:17:47.140
 His holiness.

00:17:48.380 --> 00:17:49.299
 His righteousness,

00:17:50.120 --> 00:17:51.320
 His faithfulness,

00:17:51.900 --> 00:17:52.720
 His goodness,

00:17:53.779 --> 00:17:54.720
 His sovereignty,

00:17:54.980 --> 00:17:55.940
 His majesty,

00:17:56.320 --> 00:17:58.140
 His timeless eternity.

00:18:00.660 --> 00:18:01.740
 Do you need help

00:18:01.740 --> 00:18:02.560
 doing this?

00:18:03.860 --> 00:18:04.920
 Of course you do.

00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:05.640
 We all do.

00:18:06.100 --> 00:18:07.060
 We all need help

00:18:07.060 --> 00:18:07.720
 learning more

00:18:07.720 --> 00:18:08.620
 about who God

00:18:08.620 --> 00:18:09.299
 reveals Himself

00:18:09.299 --> 00:18:10.259
 to be in Scripture.

00:18:10.600 --> 00:18:11.259
 And thankfully,

00:18:11.400 --> 00:18:12.400
 God has raised up

00:18:12.400 --> 00:18:13.019
 teachers throughout

00:18:13.019 --> 00:18:13.880
 the history of the church

00:18:13.880 --> 00:18:14.460
 who help us

00:18:14.460 --> 00:18:15.519
 take the truths

00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:15.940
 of Scripture

00:18:15.940 --> 00:18:16.900
 about who God is

00:18:16.900 --> 00:18:18.100
 and understand them

00:18:18.100 --> 00:18:18.960
 and apply them

00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:20.220
 and make them shine.

00:18:22.860 --> 00:18:23.880
 You might consider

00:18:23.880 --> 00:18:24.500
 reading a book

00:18:24.500 --> 00:18:26.120
 like J.I. Packer's

00:18:26.120 --> 00:18:27.280
 Knowing God,

00:18:27.940 --> 00:18:28.800
 a wonderful book

00:18:28.800 --> 00:18:29.900
 to begin meditating

00:18:29.900 --> 00:18:31.700
 on who God is

00:18:31.700 --> 00:18:32.420
 and His glory

00:18:32.420 --> 00:18:33.920
 so that you might grow

00:18:33.920 --> 00:18:34.860
 in the fear of Him.

00:18:34.859 --> 00:18:37.059
 You might read a little bit

00:18:37.059 --> 00:18:38.500
 each day with your daily

00:18:38.500 --> 00:18:39.179
 Bible reading

00:18:39.179 --> 00:18:41.219
 and then spend time

00:18:41.219 --> 00:18:41.759
 each day

00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:43.279
 worshiping God

00:18:43.279 --> 00:18:45.639
 simply for who He is

00:18:45.640 --> 00:18:48.780
 and pray.

00:18:48.780 --> 00:18:49.960
 And pray that the Holy Spirit

00:18:49.960 --> 00:18:50.660
 would allow

00:18:50.660 --> 00:18:51.940
 the right awe

00:18:51.940 --> 00:18:52.900
 of God's reality

00:18:52.900 --> 00:18:53.620
 to rise up

00:18:53.620 --> 00:18:54.259
 in your heart

00:18:54.259 --> 00:18:55.800
 because that

00:18:55.800 --> 00:18:56.960
 is the heart

00:18:56.960 --> 00:18:58.360
 of a life well lived.

00:18:59.480 --> 00:19:00.580
 Fear God.

00:19:03.100 --> 00:19:04.200
 But in verse 13,

00:19:04.280 --> 00:19:05.240
 we also see

00:19:05.240 --> 00:19:06.480
 not just the heart

00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:07.180
 of a life well lived

00:19:07.180 --> 00:19:08.100
 but the direction

00:19:08.100 --> 00:19:09.440
 of a life well lived.

00:19:09.920 --> 00:19:11.060
 What is the direction

00:19:11.060 --> 00:19:11.980
 of a life

00:19:11.980 --> 00:19:13.380
 that is well lived?

00:19:13.380 --> 00:19:14.560
 Verse 13 says,

00:19:15.800 --> 00:19:16.360
 fear God

00:19:16.360 --> 00:19:17.980
 and keep

00:19:17.980 --> 00:19:20.480
 His commandments.

00:19:22.360 --> 00:19:23.540
 How different that is

00:19:23.540 --> 00:19:24.600
 from most of the advice

00:19:24.600 --> 00:19:25.860
 we receive

00:19:25.860 --> 00:19:26.940
 about living

00:19:26.940 --> 00:19:27.820
 a well lived life.

00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:28.680
 You know,

00:19:28.760 --> 00:19:29.060
 money,

00:19:29.640 --> 00:19:30.000
 fame,

00:19:30.360 --> 00:19:30.820
 impact,

00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:31.220
 friendship,

00:19:31.520 --> 00:19:31.920
 community,

00:19:32.180 --> 00:19:32.500
 family,

00:19:32.700 --> 00:19:32.960
 service,

00:19:33.060 --> 00:19:33.700
 these are the sorts

00:19:33.700 --> 00:19:34.160
 of ideals

00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:35.080
 that get held up

00:19:35.080 --> 00:19:36.320
 as, you know,

00:19:36.340 --> 00:19:36.880
 when you're really

00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:37.400
 on track

00:19:37.400 --> 00:19:38.500
 to live a well lived life.

00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:39.160
 Right?

00:19:39.420 --> 00:19:40.240
 But a truly

00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:41.140
 well lived life

00:19:41.140 --> 00:19:42.660
 is a life lived

00:19:42.660 --> 00:19:44.080
 in obedience

00:19:44.080 --> 00:19:46.180
 to God's commands.

00:19:48.720 --> 00:19:50.259
 Why is this the case?

00:19:50.980 --> 00:19:52.420
 Why obedience

00:19:52.420 --> 00:19:53.620
 to God's commands?

00:19:55.360 --> 00:19:55.920
 Well,

00:19:55.980 --> 00:19:56.800
 because God

00:19:56.800 --> 00:19:58.200
 is the creator

00:19:58.200 --> 00:19:59.279
 of all things.

00:20:00.420 --> 00:20:01.779
 He not only knows

00:20:01.779 --> 00:20:03.640
 how our human lives

00:20:03.640 --> 00:20:04.320
 work best,

00:20:04.820 --> 00:20:05.880
 but He also knows

00:20:05.880 --> 00:20:07.019
 how the very created

00:20:07.019 --> 00:20:08.340
 order works best.

00:20:09.620 --> 00:20:10.540
 Think of it this way.

00:20:10.539 --> 00:20:11.619
 When a carpenter

00:20:11.619 --> 00:20:12.940
 or a craftsman

00:20:12.940 --> 00:20:13.619
 is working

00:20:13.619 --> 00:20:15.019
 with a piece of wood,

00:20:15.799 --> 00:20:16.639
 they have to pay

00:20:16.639 --> 00:20:17.960
 very careful attention

00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:18.579
 to what?

00:20:19.119 --> 00:20:20.079
 To the grain

00:20:20.079 --> 00:20:20.599
 of the wood.

00:20:21.299 --> 00:20:22.379
 To the direction

00:20:22.379 --> 00:20:23.139
 and orientation

00:20:23.139 --> 00:20:23.899
 of the fibers

00:20:23.899 --> 00:20:24.319
 of the wood

00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:25.079
 as it is grown

00:20:25.079 --> 00:20:25.680
 in the tree.

00:20:25.819 --> 00:20:26.000
 Right?

00:20:27.180 --> 00:20:28.019
 Woodworkers know

00:20:28.019 --> 00:20:29.079
 that as they cut

00:20:29.079 --> 00:20:29.960
 and as they plane

00:20:29.960 --> 00:20:30.879
 and as they finish

00:20:30.879 --> 00:20:31.220
 the wood,

00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:32.359
 they have to work

00:20:32.359 --> 00:20:34.359
 with the grain.

00:20:35.899 --> 00:20:36.379
 Otherwise,

00:20:36.639 --> 00:20:37.039
 the wood

00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:38.019
 will simply chip

00:20:38.019 --> 00:20:39.200
 and splinter.

00:20:40.700 --> 00:20:41.799
 Going against

00:20:41.799 --> 00:20:42.559
 the grain

00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:44.000
 is a recipe

00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:45.599
 for ruining

00:20:45.599 --> 00:20:46.579
 the wood

00:20:46.579 --> 00:20:47.500
 and ruining

00:20:47.500 --> 00:20:48.559
 the project.

00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:50.899
 But if you can learn

00:20:50.899 --> 00:20:51.480
 to work

00:20:51.480 --> 00:20:52.559
 with the grain,

00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:54.700
 then you can create

00:20:54.700 --> 00:20:55.500
 things of beauty

00:20:55.500 --> 00:20:56.859
 and stability

00:20:56.859 --> 00:20:58.180
 and integrity.

00:21:00.379 --> 00:21:01.279
 And friends,

00:21:01.480 --> 00:21:02.759
 that is true

00:21:02.759 --> 00:21:05.039
 of our lives

00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:06.180
 as a whole.

00:21:07.740 --> 00:21:08.079
 You see,

00:21:08.200 --> 00:21:09.460
 God's commands

00:21:09.460 --> 00:21:10.220
 describe,

00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:11.200
 as it were,

00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:13.059
 the very grain

00:21:13.059 --> 00:21:14.140
 of the universe,

00:21:14.900 --> 00:21:15.740
 the grain

00:21:15.740 --> 00:21:17.059
 of created reality.

00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:18.539
 And so,

00:21:18.660 --> 00:21:19.180
 to obey

00:21:19.180 --> 00:21:20.279
 God's commands

00:21:20.279 --> 00:21:22.259
 is to live life

00:21:22.259 --> 00:21:23.599
 with the grain

00:21:23.599 --> 00:21:24.940
 of reality itself,

00:21:25.640 --> 00:21:26.480
 to live life

00:21:26.480 --> 00:21:27.200
 with the grain

00:21:27.200 --> 00:21:28.500
 of God's created order.

00:21:29.940 --> 00:21:30.440
 You see,

00:21:30.500 --> 00:21:30.879
 what that means

00:21:30.879 --> 00:21:32.359
 is that God's commands

00:21:32.359 --> 00:21:33.359
 are not some

00:21:33.359 --> 00:21:35.099
 sort of external

00:21:35.099 --> 00:21:36.339
 dictates

00:21:36.339 --> 00:21:36.779
 that are just

00:21:36.779 --> 00:21:37.919
 imposed upon

00:21:37.919 --> 00:21:39.179
 the foreign material

00:21:39.179 --> 00:21:40.119
 of the world.

00:21:40.839 --> 00:21:41.119
 Right?

00:21:41.579 --> 00:21:42.059
 No.

00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:43.559
 Because God

00:21:43.559 --> 00:21:44.859
 created all things.

00:21:45.279 --> 00:21:46.079
 Because He called

00:21:46.079 --> 00:21:46.839
 all things

00:21:46.839 --> 00:21:47.559
 into being

00:21:47.559 --> 00:21:48.619
 and fashioned them

00:21:48.619 --> 00:21:49.559
 according to His will.

00:21:49.879 --> 00:21:50.479
 Because of that,

00:21:50.539 --> 00:21:51.119
 God's commands

00:21:51.119 --> 00:21:52.359
 are His gracious

00:21:52.359 --> 00:21:53.059
 description

00:21:53.059 --> 00:21:54.379
 of the very grain

00:21:54.379 --> 00:21:55.159
 of the reality

00:21:55.159 --> 00:21:56.079
 He has made.

00:21:59.079 --> 00:22:00.559
 If it seems

00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:01.419
 to us

00:22:01.419 --> 00:22:03.480
 like God's commands

00:22:03.480 --> 00:22:04.779
 are strange

00:22:04.779 --> 00:22:06.539
 or counterintuitive

00:22:06.539 --> 00:22:08.179
 or out of place

00:22:08.179 --> 00:22:09.119
 or unrealistic,

00:22:09.119 --> 00:22:12.059
 it is not because

00:22:12.059 --> 00:22:13.159
 God's commands

00:22:13.159 --> 00:22:14.359
 are out of step

00:22:14.359 --> 00:22:15.079
 with reality,

00:22:15.079 --> 00:22:17.720
 but because we are.

00:22:20.919 --> 00:22:22.339
 Keeping God's commands

00:22:22.339 --> 00:22:23.659
 are the direction

00:22:23.659 --> 00:22:25.319
 of a life well lived.

00:22:25.319 --> 00:22:28.799
 But how do we

00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:29.700
 keep His commands?

00:22:31.119 --> 00:22:31.799
 How do we

00:22:31.799 --> 00:22:32.799
 keep God's commandments?

00:22:33.159 --> 00:22:33.720
 Anyone who has

00:22:33.720 --> 00:22:34.339
 tried to live

00:22:34.339 --> 00:22:35.319
 according to God's

00:22:35.319 --> 00:22:36.119
 commands set forth

00:22:36.119 --> 00:22:36.639
 in Scripture

00:22:36.639 --> 00:22:38.079
 will sooner

00:22:38.079 --> 00:22:39.299
 rather than later

00:22:39.299 --> 00:22:40.879
 be able to say

00:22:40.879 --> 00:22:41.819
 what the Apostle Paul

00:22:41.819 --> 00:22:42.559
 said in Romans

00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:43.259
 chapter 7.

00:22:44.259 --> 00:22:45.659
 The things I want

00:22:45.659 --> 00:22:46.099
 to do,

00:22:46.740 --> 00:22:47.700
 I don't do.

00:22:48.359 --> 00:22:49.159
 And the things

00:22:49.159 --> 00:22:50.299
 I don't want to do,

00:22:50.679 --> 00:22:51.480
 those are the very

00:22:51.480 --> 00:22:52.339
 things I keep

00:22:52.339 --> 00:22:53.220
 on doing.

00:22:53.220 --> 00:22:55.200
 You see,

00:22:55.259 --> 00:22:56.019
 the human heart

00:22:56.019 --> 00:22:56.860
 by itself

00:22:56.860 --> 00:22:58.200
 cannot keep

00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.940
 God's commands.

00:23:00.180 --> 00:23:01.259
 There's a power

00:23:01.259 --> 00:23:02.039
 in us

00:23:02.039 --> 00:23:03.620
 that seems

00:23:03.620 --> 00:23:04.319
 to keep

00:23:04.319 --> 00:23:05.500
 driving us

00:23:05.500 --> 00:23:06.220
 to go

00:23:06.220 --> 00:23:07.600
 against the grain

00:23:07.600 --> 00:23:08.200
 of God's

00:23:08.200 --> 00:23:08.920
 good commandments.

00:23:09.880 --> 00:23:10.460
 And this

00:23:10.460 --> 00:23:11.640
 power

00:23:11.640 --> 00:23:13.039
 that drives

00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:13.559
 us against

00:23:13.559 --> 00:23:14.180
 the grain

00:23:14.180 --> 00:23:15.740
 is what the

00:23:15.740 --> 00:23:16.519
 Bible calls

00:23:16.519 --> 00:23:17.480
 sin.

00:23:17.480 --> 00:23:19.980
 And because

00:23:19.980 --> 00:23:20.880
 this power

00:23:20.880 --> 00:23:21.960
 is inside

00:23:21.960 --> 00:23:22.579
 of us,

00:23:23.099 --> 00:23:24.220
 there is no

00:23:24.220 --> 00:23:25.660
 outside-in

00:23:25.660 --> 00:23:26.259
 approach

00:23:26.259 --> 00:23:27.160
 that will fix

00:23:27.160 --> 00:23:27.360
 it.

00:23:28.120 --> 00:23:29.160
 We can try

00:23:29.160 --> 00:23:29.940
 to learn more

00:23:29.940 --> 00:23:30.539
 about the moral

00:23:30.539 --> 00:23:31.000
 life.

00:23:31.259 --> 00:23:32.000
 We can try

00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:32.620
 to learn more

00:23:32.620 --> 00:23:33.339
 about virtue.

00:23:33.640 --> 00:23:34.200
 We can try

00:23:34.200 --> 00:23:35.079
 harder to put

00:23:35.079 --> 00:23:36.099
 it into practice.

00:23:36.519 --> 00:23:36.799
 You know,

00:23:36.880 --> 00:23:37.720
 like Benjamin

00:23:37.720 --> 00:23:38.180
 Franklin,

00:23:38.279 --> 00:23:38.779
 we can keep

00:23:38.779 --> 00:23:39.440
 a meticulous

00:23:39.440 --> 00:23:40.579
 practice of

00:23:40.579 --> 00:23:41.180
 sharpening our

00:23:41.180 --> 00:23:41.900
 moral character,

00:23:42.360 --> 00:23:43.559
 focusing on one

00:23:43.559 --> 00:23:44.480
 virtue at a time,

00:23:44.799 --> 00:23:45.339
 keeping track

00:23:45.339 --> 00:23:45.819
 of it in our

00:23:45.819 --> 00:23:46.220
 journal,

00:23:46.839 --> 00:23:47.299
 charting how

00:23:47.299 --> 00:23:47.899
 much progress

00:23:47.899 --> 00:23:48.559
 we made each

00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:48.839
 week,

00:23:48.939 --> 00:23:49.339
 each month,

00:23:49.379 --> 00:23:49.879
 each quarter.

00:23:51.799 --> 00:23:52.559
 And we can

00:23:52.559 --> 00:23:53.220
 even join

00:23:53.220 --> 00:23:53.939
 together in

00:23:53.939 --> 00:23:54.639
 community with

00:23:54.639 --> 00:23:55.039
 others who

00:23:55.039 --> 00:23:55.740
 are striving

00:23:55.740 --> 00:23:56.399
 for the same

00:23:56.399 --> 00:23:56.919
 goals.

00:23:58.259 --> 00:23:59.240
 But all of

00:23:59.240 --> 00:23:59.939
 these things,

00:24:00.200 --> 00:24:01.139
 while good

00:24:01.139 --> 00:24:01.879
 in themselves,

00:24:03.299 --> 00:24:05.419
 are outside-in

00:24:05.419 --> 00:24:07.059
 attempts to

00:24:07.059 --> 00:24:08.299
 fix an

00:24:08.299 --> 00:24:09.679
 inside problem.

00:24:11.119 --> 00:24:11.839
 It's sort of

00:24:11.839 --> 00:24:12.819
 like painting

00:24:12.819 --> 00:24:13.379
 the outside

00:24:13.379 --> 00:24:14.079
 of a house

00:24:14.079 --> 00:24:15.879
 house, when

00:24:15.879 --> 00:24:16.159
 the real

00:24:16.159 --> 00:24:17.579
 problem is

00:24:17.579 --> 00:24:17.859
 that the

00:24:17.859 --> 00:24:18.619
 foundation is

00:24:18.619 --> 00:24:19.039
 cracked.

00:24:22.359 --> 00:24:23.039
 The only

00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:23.359
 hope we

00:24:23.359 --> 00:24:24.460
 have of

00:24:24.460 --> 00:24:25.119
 keeping God's

00:24:25.119 --> 00:24:25.519
 commandments

00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:26.539
 and living

00:24:26.539 --> 00:24:27.019
 with a grain

00:24:27.019 --> 00:24:27.599
 of reality

00:24:27.599 --> 00:24:29.039
 is an

00:24:29.039 --> 00:24:30.039
 inside-out

00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:30.539
 solution.

00:24:31.779 --> 00:24:32.599
 We need the

00:24:32.599 --> 00:24:33.099
 sin in our

00:24:33.099 --> 00:24:33.720
 hearts to be

00:24:33.720 --> 00:24:34.259
 dealt with

00:24:34.259 --> 00:24:35.220
 on the inside

00:24:35.220 --> 00:24:36.659
 so that then

00:24:36.659 --> 00:24:37.599
 our outward

00:24:37.599 --> 00:24:38.240
 actions can

00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:38.579
 begin to

00:24:38.579 --> 00:24:39.079
 change.

00:24:39.859 --> 00:24:40.539
 And where

00:24:40.539 --> 00:24:40.939
 does this

00:24:40.939 --> 00:24:42.319
 inside-out

00:24:42.319 --> 00:24:43.159
 solution come

00:24:43.160 --> 00:24:43.480
 from?

00:24:45.340 --> 00:24:46.200
 It comes

00:24:46.200 --> 00:24:46.820
 from God.

00:24:47.880 --> 00:24:49.440
 God, in

00:24:49.440 --> 00:24:50.300
 His grace,

00:24:50.880 --> 00:24:51.660
 has made a

00:24:51.660 --> 00:24:53.360
 way for a

00:24:53.360 --> 00:24:54.940
 new power to

00:24:54.940 --> 00:24:55.580
 begin inside

00:24:55.580 --> 00:24:57.259
 of us that

00:24:57.259 --> 00:24:58.360
 can liberate

00:24:58.360 --> 00:24:59.240
 us and

00:24:59.240 --> 00:25:00.180
 empower us to

00:25:00.180 --> 00:25:01.019
 obey God's

00:25:01.019 --> 00:25:01.460
 commands from

00:25:01.460 --> 00:25:01.940
 the heart,

00:25:02.800 --> 00:25:03.800
 that can subdue

00:25:03.800 --> 00:25:04.540
 the power of

00:25:04.540 --> 00:25:04.840
 sin.

00:25:06.860 --> 00:25:07.580
 Listen to how

00:25:07.580 --> 00:25:08.259
 Paul describes

00:25:08.259 --> 00:25:08.740
 it in Romans

00:25:08.740 --> 00:25:09.540
 8, just

00:25:09.540 --> 00:25:10.460
 after confessing

00:25:10.460 --> 00:25:11.360
 the things I

00:25:11.360 --> 00:25:11.880
 want to do,

00:25:11.880 --> 00:25:12.480
 I don't do,

00:25:12.540 --> 00:25:12.920
 the things I

00:25:12.920 --> 00:25:13.420
 don't want to

00:25:13.420 --> 00:25:13.700
 do, I

00:25:13.700 --> 00:25:14.100
 just keep

00:25:14.100 --> 00:25:14.480
 on doing

00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:14.740
 them.

00:25:14.960 --> 00:25:15.320
 He says,

00:25:15.420 --> 00:25:16.280
 where do I

00:25:16.280 --> 00:25:16.780
 go for

00:25:16.780 --> 00:25:17.220
 rescue?

00:25:18.820 --> 00:25:19.560
 He says in

00:25:19.560 --> 00:25:20.000
 Romans 8,

00:25:21.360 --> 00:25:21.920
 God has

00:25:21.920 --> 00:25:23.400
 done what

00:25:23.400 --> 00:25:24.120
 the law

00:25:24.120 --> 00:25:25.500
 weakened by

00:25:25.500 --> 00:25:26.160
 the flesh

00:25:26.160 --> 00:25:27.200
 could not

00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:27.520
 do.

00:25:28.280 --> 00:25:28.820
 You see,

00:25:28.880 --> 00:25:29.520
 the law is

00:25:29.520 --> 00:25:30.120
 the ultimate

00:25:30.120 --> 00:25:31.080
 outside-in

00:25:31.080 --> 00:25:31.520
 approach,

00:25:31.640 --> 00:25:32.280
 trying to

00:25:32.280 --> 00:25:33.080
 do better

00:25:33.080 --> 00:25:33.700
 in our own

00:25:33.700 --> 00:25:34.280
 willpower.

00:25:35.720 --> 00:25:36.300
 But God

00:25:36.300 --> 00:25:36.820
 has done what

00:25:36.820 --> 00:25:37.220
 the law

00:25:37.220 --> 00:25:37.700
 weakened by

00:25:37.700 --> 00:25:38.000
 the flesh

00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.480
 could not

00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:38.760
 do.

00:25:38.759 --> 00:25:39.779
 How?

00:25:40.779 --> 00:25:41.759
 By sending

00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:42.240
 His own

00:25:42.240 --> 00:25:42.640
 Son.

00:25:43.779 --> 00:25:44.039
 In the

00:25:44.039 --> 00:25:44.700
 likeness of

00:25:44.700 --> 00:25:45.500
 sinful flesh

00:25:45.500 --> 00:25:46.559
 and for

00:25:46.559 --> 00:25:47.059
 sin,

00:25:47.359 --> 00:25:48.539
 He condemned

00:25:48.539 --> 00:25:49.579
 sin in the

00:25:49.579 --> 00:25:50.799
 flesh in order

00:25:50.799 --> 00:25:52.119
 that the

00:25:52.119 --> 00:25:52.460
 righteous

00:25:52.460 --> 00:25:53.339
 requirement of

00:25:53.339 --> 00:25:53.700
 the law

00:25:53.700 --> 00:25:54.700
 might be

00:25:54.700 --> 00:25:55.339
 fulfilled in

00:25:55.339 --> 00:25:56.400
 us who

00:25:56.400 --> 00:25:57.740
 walk not

00:25:57.740 --> 00:25:58.339
 according to

00:25:58.339 --> 00:25:58.879
 the flesh,

00:25:59.619 --> 00:26:00.599
 but according

00:26:00.599 --> 00:26:01.779
 to the

00:26:01.779 --> 00:26:02.180
 Spirit.

00:26:03.539 --> 00:26:04.240
 What Paul is

00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:04.900
 saying is this,

00:26:04.900 --> 00:26:05.800
 God the

00:26:05.800 --> 00:26:06.540
 Father sent

00:26:06.540 --> 00:26:07.280
 His Son to

00:26:07.280 --> 00:26:08.660
 take on our

00:26:08.660 --> 00:26:09.540
 fully human

00:26:09.540 --> 00:26:10.019
 nature in

00:26:10.019 --> 00:26:10.720
 the Incarnation

00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:11.880
 and united

00:26:11.880 --> 00:26:12.400
 to our

00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:12.920
 humanity.

00:26:13.060 --> 00:26:13.519
 Jesus not

00:26:13.519 --> 00:26:14.080
 only lived a

00:26:14.080 --> 00:26:14.620
 perfect life

00:26:14.620 --> 00:26:15.120
 for us,

00:26:15.420 --> 00:26:16.019
 but also

00:26:16.019 --> 00:26:16.840
 died to

00:26:16.840 --> 00:26:17.620
 pay sin's

00:26:17.620 --> 00:26:18.259
 penalty for

00:26:18.259 --> 00:26:18.540
 us.

00:26:19.220 --> 00:26:19.759
 And on the

00:26:19.759 --> 00:26:20.200
 third day,

00:26:20.280 --> 00:26:20.740
 when Jesus

00:26:20.740 --> 00:26:21.680
 rose again,

00:26:22.060 --> 00:26:23.120
 He demonstrated

00:26:23.120 --> 00:26:24.220
 that sin

00:26:24.220 --> 00:26:24.980
 was defeated.

00:26:26.340 --> 00:26:27.000
 And now,

00:26:27.120 --> 00:26:27.720
 for everyone

00:26:27.720 --> 00:26:28.460
 who admits

00:26:28.460 --> 00:26:28.740
 that they

00:26:28.740 --> 00:26:29.360
 can't beat

00:26:29.360 --> 00:26:29.800
 sin on their

00:26:29.800 --> 00:26:30.060
 own,

00:26:30.519 --> 00:26:30.940
 and who

00:26:30.940 --> 00:26:31.380
 turn and

00:26:31.380 --> 00:26:31.920
 trust in

00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:32.320
 Christ as

00:26:32.320 --> 00:26:32.600
 the one

00:26:32.600 --> 00:26:33.280
 who did,

00:26:33.279 --> 00:26:34.480
 God not

00:26:34.480 --> 00:26:35.099
 only promises

00:26:35.099 --> 00:26:35.859
 to forgive

00:26:35.859 --> 00:26:36.660
 their sins

00:26:36.660 --> 00:26:37.079
 on account

00:26:37.079 --> 00:26:37.359
 of what

00:26:37.359 --> 00:26:38.000
 Jesus did,

00:26:38.220 --> 00:26:38.599
 but He

00:26:38.599 --> 00:26:39.200
 promises to

00:26:39.200 --> 00:26:39.859
 give them

00:26:39.859 --> 00:26:40.619
 new hearts

00:26:40.619 --> 00:26:40.940
 through the

00:26:40.940 --> 00:26:41.619
 Holy Spirit.

00:26:42.759 --> 00:26:43.220
 That is,

00:26:43.460 --> 00:26:44.259
 everyone who

00:26:44.259 --> 00:26:45.299
 trusts in

00:26:45.299 --> 00:26:45.819
 Jesus as

00:26:45.819 --> 00:26:46.160
 Lord is

00:26:46.160 --> 00:26:47.240
 granted a

00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:48.259
 new internal

00:26:48.259 --> 00:26:49.359
 power by

00:26:49.359 --> 00:26:50.119
 the Holy Spirit

00:26:50.119 --> 00:26:50.759
 to enable

00:26:50.759 --> 00:26:51.359
 them from

00:26:51.359 --> 00:26:52.099
 the inside

00:26:52.099 --> 00:26:53.379
 out now to

00:26:53.379 --> 00:26:54.139
 obey God's

00:26:54.139 --> 00:26:54.519
 commands.

00:26:57.720 --> 00:26:58.319
 Friend,

00:26:58.379 --> 00:26:58.779
 do you

00:26:58.779 --> 00:27:00.559
 know this

00:27:00.559 --> 00:27:01.579
 inside-out

00:27:01.579 --> 00:27:02.359
 power?

00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:03.980
 that only

00:27:03.980 --> 00:27:05.379
 comes through

00:27:05.379 --> 00:27:06.339
 Jesus Christ,

00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:07.480
 the one who

00:27:07.480 --> 00:27:08.399
 condemned sin

00:27:08.399 --> 00:27:08.960
 in the flesh

00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:09.680
 so that you

00:27:09.680 --> 00:27:10.700
 might be made

00:27:10.700 --> 00:27:11.660
 alive to walk

00:27:11.660 --> 00:27:12.559
 in His Spirit.

00:27:13.980 --> 00:27:14.799
 Do you

00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:15.339
 know that?

00:27:17.480 --> 00:27:18.339
 Of course,

00:27:19.319 --> 00:27:20.019
 Ecclesiastes,

00:27:20.279 --> 00:27:20.019
!

00:27:20.019 --> 00:27:20.500
 right,

00:27:20.799 --> 00:27:21.639
 only saw the

00:27:21.639 --> 00:27:22.839
 need and the

00:27:22.839 --> 00:27:23.859
 importance of

00:27:23.859 --> 00:27:24.720
 keeping God's

00:27:24.720 --> 00:27:25.059
 commands.

00:27:25.980 --> 00:27:27.180
 But today,

00:27:27.660 --> 00:27:29.819
 we also see

00:27:29.819 --> 00:27:31.139
 the lengths

00:27:31.139 --> 00:27:32.339
 that God

00:27:32.339 --> 00:27:33.039
 has gone

00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:34.519
 to make

00:27:34.519 --> 00:27:35.339
 us able

00:27:35.339 --> 00:27:36.039
 to keep

00:27:36.039 --> 00:27:36.759
 His commands,

00:27:38.019 --> 00:27:39.679
 sending His

00:27:39.679 --> 00:27:40.399
 own Son for

00:27:40.399 --> 00:27:40.759
 us,

00:27:41.980 --> 00:27:42.559
 pouring out

00:27:42.559 --> 00:27:43.139
 His Spirit

00:27:43.139 --> 00:27:43.939
 upon us.

00:27:45.299 --> 00:27:45.980
 So,

00:27:46.059 --> 00:27:46.419
 have you

00:27:46.419 --> 00:27:47.859
 trusted in

00:27:47.859 --> 00:27:48.399
 the risen

00:27:48.399 --> 00:27:49.119
 Lord Jesus

00:27:49.119 --> 00:27:50.759
 to receive

00:27:50.759 --> 00:27:51.959
 this enabling

00:27:51.959 --> 00:27:53.439
 and empowering

00:27:53.439 --> 00:27:54.619
 grace?

00:27:54.619 --> 00:27:54.719
 us?

00:27:55.919 --> 00:27:56.839
 Or are you

00:27:56.839 --> 00:27:57.839
 still trying

00:27:57.839 --> 00:27:59.639
 the outside-in

00:27:59.639 --> 00:28:00.119
 approach?

00:28:01.879 --> 00:28:02.699
 And how

00:28:02.699 --> 00:28:03.359
 much longer

00:28:03.359 --> 00:28:03.939
 will you

00:28:03.939 --> 00:28:04.679
 keep trying

00:28:04.679 --> 00:28:06.659
 until you

00:28:06.659 --> 00:28:08.019
 realize you

00:28:08.019 --> 00:28:08.479
 need a much

00:28:08.479 --> 00:28:09.759
 more radical

00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:11.059
 solution?

00:28:12.059 --> 00:28:12.899
 Not a new

00:28:12.899 --> 00:28:13.399
 strategy,

00:28:13.839 --> 00:28:15.419
 but a new

00:28:15.419 --> 00:28:17.199
 heart that

00:28:17.199 --> 00:28:17.739
 only God

00:28:17.739 --> 00:28:18.259
 in Christ

00:28:18.259 --> 00:28:18.679
 by His

00:28:18.679 --> 00:28:19.219
 Spirit can

00:28:19.219 --> 00:28:19.559
 give.

00:28:19.559 --> 00:28:23.319
 But friends,

00:28:23.379 --> 00:28:23.779
 don't you see,

00:28:24.079 --> 00:28:24.839
 don't you see

00:28:24.839 --> 00:28:25.919
 what good

00:28:25.919 --> 00:28:26.980
 news this is?

00:28:27.419 --> 00:28:27.919
 God doesn't

00:28:27.919 --> 00:28:28.539
 just create a

00:28:28.539 --> 00:28:29.279
 world and

00:28:29.279 --> 00:28:29.679
 then reveal

00:28:29.679 --> 00:28:30.179
 His commands

00:28:30.179 --> 00:28:30.759
 that describe

00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:31.279
 the grain of

00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:31.619
 that world

00:28:31.619 --> 00:28:32.220
 and then say,

00:28:32.539 --> 00:28:33.539
 good luck,

00:28:34.319 --> 00:28:35.259
 have fun with

00:28:35.259 --> 00:28:35.559
 that.

00:28:36.779 --> 00:28:37.379
 God is

00:28:37.379 --> 00:28:37.839
 willing to

00:28:37.839 --> 00:28:38.899
 condescend to

00:28:38.899 --> 00:28:39.259
 us,

00:28:39.319 --> 00:28:39.799
 sinners though

00:28:39.799 --> 00:28:40.359
 we are,

00:28:41.119 --> 00:28:42.220
 willingly live

00:28:42.220 --> 00:28:42.859
 and die and

00:28:42.859 --> 00:28:43.639
 rise again so

00:28:43.639 --> 00:28:44.059
 that we might

00:28:44.059 --> 00:28:44.799
 be filled with

00:28:44.799 --> 00:28:45.339
 His very

00:28:45.339 --> 00:28:46.179
 Spirit and

00:28:46.179 --> 00:28:46.819
 being able to

00:28:46.819 --> 00:28:47.899
 live at last

00:28:47.899 --> 00:28:48.879
 with the grain

00:28:48.880 --> 00:28:49.160
 of His

00:28:49.160 --> 00:28:50.100
 created world.

00:28:51.060 --> 00:28:51.540
 Of course,

00:28:51.600 --> 00:28:52.220
 we'll never

00:28:52.220 --> 00:28:53.160
 live that

00:28:53.160 --> 00:28:53.840
 perfectly in

00:28:53.840 --> 00:28:54.200
 this life.

00:28:54.600 --> 00:28:55.200
 Sin still

00:28:55.200 --> 00:28:55.940
 remains in

00:28:55.940 --> 00:28:56.520
 our hearts

00:28:56.520 --> 00:28:57.340
 even after

00:28:57.340 --> 00:28:58.220
 becoming new

00:28:58.220 --> 00:28:58.700
 creations.

00:28:59.820 --> 00:29:00.380
 And it will

00:29:00.380 --> 00:29:00.900
 remain there

00:29:00.900 --> 00:29:01.760
 until the

00:29:01.760 --> 00:29:02.480
 new creation

00:29:02.480 --> 00:29:03.020
 when Christ

00:29:03.020 --> 00:29:03.440
 returns.

00:29:04.080 --> 00:29:04.940
 But as we

00:29:04.940 --> 00:29:05.720
 keep in step

00:29:05.720 --> 00:29:06.060
 with His

00:29:06.060 --> 00:29:06.360
 Spirit,

00:29:06.480 --> 00:29:07.160
 as we depend

00:29:07.160 --> 00:29:07.620
 upon His

00:29:07.620 --> 00:29:08.640
 enabling grace,

00:29:09.060 --> 00:29:09.600
 this new

00:29:09.600 --> 00:29:10.300
 birth inside

00:29:10.300 --> 00:29:11.200
 of us will

00:29:11.200 --> 00:29:12.080
 surely work

00:29:12.080 --> 00:29:13.080
 itself out

00:29:13.080 --> 00:29:13.800
 and our

00:29:13.800 --> 00:29:14.980
 lives will

00:29:14.980 --> 00:29:16.980
 become lives

00:29:16.980 --> 00:29:18.760
 well lived.

00:29:18.880 --> 00:29:19.020
 life.

00:29:22.700 --> 00:29:23.940
 So Ecclesiastes

00:29:23.940 --> 00:29:24.520
 ends by

00:29:24.520 --> 00:29:25.220
 showing us

00:29:25.220 --> 00:29:26.380
 the heart

00:29:26.380 --> 00:29:27.580
 and the

00:29:27.580 --> 00:29:28.680
 direction of

00:29:28.680 --> 00:29:29.260
 a life well

00:29:29.260 --> 00:29:29.600
 lived.

00:29:29.940 --> 00:29:30.680
 Fear God,

00:29:31.420 --> 00:29:31.780
 keep His

00:29:31.780 --> 00:29:32.180
 commandments.

00:29:33.620 --> 00:29:33.980
 But there's

00:29:33.980 --> 00:29:34.300
 one more

00:29:34.300 --> 00:29:34.520
 thing.

00:29:36.220 --> 00:29:36.560
 In the

00:29:36.560 --> 00:29:37.080
 final verse

00:29:37.080 --> 00:29:37.320
 of the

00:29:37.320 --> 00:29:37.540
 book,

00:29:38.080 --> 00:29:39.280
 we see

00:29:39.280 --> 00:29:40.500
 the horizon

00:29:40.500 --> 00:29:41.700
 of a life

00:29:41.700 --> 00:29:42.160
 well lived.

00:29:43.160 --> 00:29:43.860
 What is the

00:29:43.860 --> 00:29:44.660
 horizon that

00:29:44.660 --> 00:29:45.280
 we must look

00:29:45.280 --> 00:29:46.760
 toward if we

00:29:46.760 --> 00:29:47.400
 are to live

00:29:47.400 --> 00:29:47.980
 the well lived

00:29:47.980 --> 00:29:48.339
 life?

00:29:49.579 --> 00:29:49.860
 Well,

00:29:50.000 --> 00:29:50.519
 according to

00:29:50.519 --> 00:29:50.900
 the last

00:29:50.900 --> 00:29:51.259
 verse of

00:29:51.259 --> 00:29:51.680
 this book,

00:29:52.039 --> 00:29:53.339
 it is God's

00:29:53.339 --> 00:29:55.240
 perfect and

00:29:55.240 --> 00:29:55.900
 complete

00:29:55.900 --> 00:29:57.319
 judgment.

00:30:01.039 --> 00:30:01.799
 This is

00:30:01.799 --> 00:30:02.279
 really the

00:30:02.279 --> 00:30:02.940
 only thing

00:30:02.940 --> 00:30:04.420
 that can

00:30:04.420 --> 00:30:04.900
 give life

00:30:04.900 --> 00:30:05.819
 any lasting

00:30:05.819 --> 00:30:07.259
 meaning.

00:30:10.440 --> 00:30:11.120
 Arthur Miller

00:30:11.120 --> 00:30:11.680
 wrote a play

00:30:11.680 --> 00:30:12.000
 called

00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:13.160
 After the Fall,

00:30:13.700 --> 00:30:14.319
 and in that

00:30:14.319 --> 00:30:14.539
 play,

00:30:14.620 --> 00:30:14.900
 one of the

00:30:14.900 --> 00:30:15.319
 characters,

00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:15.920
 Quentin,

00:30:15.920 --> 00:30:17.039
 sort of

00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:17.420
 gets at

00:30:17.420 --> 00:30:18.779
 this when

00:30:18.779 --> 00:30:19.200
 he says,

00:30:19.680 --> 00:30:20.140
 it's a long

00:30:20.140 --> 00:30:20.380
 quote,

00:30:20.480 --> 00:30:20.920
 but I think

00:30:20.920 --> 00:30:21.240
 it's really

00:30:21.240 --> 00:30:21.680
 meaningful.

00:30:22.300 --> 00:30:22.900
 This character

00:30:22.900 --> 00:30:23.400
 in Arthur

00:30:23.400 --> 00:30:23.940
 Miller's play

00:30:23.940 --> 00:30:24.100
 says,

00:30:24.160 --> 00:30:24.279
 you know,

00:30:24.340 --> 00:30:24.620
 for many

00:30:24.620 --> 00:30:25.019
 years I

00:30:25.019 --> 00:30:25.380
 looked at

00:30:25.380 --> 00:30:26.300
 life like

00:30:26.300 --> 00:30:26.680
 a case

00:30:26.680 --> 00:30:27.080
 at law.

00:30:28.080 --> 00:30:28.420
 It was

00:30:28.420 --> 00:30:28.779
 a series

00:30:28.779 --> 00:30:29.539
 of proofs.

00:30:30.180 --> 00:30:30.519
 When

00:30:30.519 --> 00:30:30.680
 you're

00:30:30.680 --> 00:30:31.019
 young,

00:30:31.700 --> 00:30:32.200
 you prove

00:30:32.200 --> 00:30:32.759
 how brave

00:30:32.759 --> 00:30:33.220
 you are

00:30:33.220 --> 00:30:33.940
 or smart.

00:30:35.000 --> 00:30:35.420
 Then,

00:30:35.600 --> 00:30:36.039
 what a

00:30:36.039 --> 00:30:36.480
 good lover.

00:30:36.900 --> 00:30:37.220
 Then,

00:30:37.340 --> 00:30:37.620
 a good

00:30:37.620 --> 00:30:38.019
 father.

00:30:38.120 --> 00:30:38.620
 And finally,

00:30:38.720 --> 00:30:39.340
 how wise

00:30:39.340 --> 00:30:40.039
 or powerful.

00:30:40.560 --> 00:30:41.320
 But underlying

00:30:41.320 --> 00:30:41.700
 it all,

00:30:41.759 --> 00:30:42.500
 I see now

00:30:42.500 --> 00:30:42.819
 there was

00:30:42.819 --> 00:30:43.720
 a presumption

00:30:43.720 --> 00:30:45.440
 that one

00:30:45.440 --> 00:30:46.140
 moved on

00:30:46.140 --> 00:30:46.619
 an upward

00:30:46.619 --> 00:30:47.640
 path towards

00:30:47.640 --> 00:30:48.640
 some elevation

00:30:48.640 --> 00:30:49.259
 where,

00:30:49.460 --> 00:30:50.220
 God knows

00:30:50.220 --> 00:30:50.500
 what,

00:30:50.680 --> 00:30:51.279
 I would be

00:30:51.279 --> 00:30:52.140
 justified or

00:30:52.140 --> 00:30:53.000
 even condemned,

00:30:53.079 --> 00:30:53.720
 a verdict

00:30:53.720 --> 00:30:54.359
 anyway.

00:30:56.460 --> 00:30:57.279
 And then the

00:30:57.279 --> 00:30:57.819
 character says,

00:30:58.019 --> 00:30:59.160
 I think now

00:30:59.160 --> 00:30:59.619
 that my

00:30:59.619 --> 00:31:00.779
 disaster really

00:31:00.779 --> 00:31:02.200
 began when

00:31:02.200 --> 00:31:02.940
 I looked up

00:31:02.940 --> 00:31:04.279
 one day and

00:31:04.279 --> 00:31:04.859
 the bench

00:31:04.859 --> 00:31:05.519
 was empty.

00:31:06.839 --> 00:31:07.740
 No judge

00:31:07.740 --> 00:31:08.200
 in sight.

00:31:09.119 --> 00:31:09.960
 And all

00:31:09.960 --> 00:31:10.720
 that remained

00:31:10.720 --> 00:31:12.100
 was the

00:31:12.100 --> 00:31:12.579
 endless

00:31:12.579 --> 00:31:13.680
 argument

00:31:13.680 --> 00:31:14.920
 with oneself.

00:31:16.299 --> 00:31:16.519
 The

00:31:16.519 --> 00:31:17.339
 pointless

00:31:17.339 --> 00:31:18.779
 litigation

00:31:18.779 --> 00:31:20.500
 of existence

00:31:20.500 --> 00:31:21.779
 before

00:31:21.779 --> 00:31:22.980
 an empty

00:31:22.980 --> 00:31:24.000
 bench.

00:31:25.279 --> 00:31:26.120
 Which,

00:31:26.220 --> 00:31:26.460
 of course,

00:31:26.519 --> 00:31:26.900
 is another

00:31:26.900 --> 00:31:27.660
 way of saying

00:31:27.660 --> 00:31:29.799
 despair.

00:31:33.680 --> 00:31:34.640
 If the

00:31:34.640 --> 00:31:35.019
 bench is

00:31:35.019 --> 00:31:35.380
 empty,

00:31:35.720 --> 00:31:36.059
 friends,

00:31:37.519 --> 00:31:38.059
 then human

00:31:38.059 --> 00:31:39.740
 life is

00:31:39.740 --> 00:31:40.400
 just one

00:31:40.400 --> 00:31:41.859
 long,

00:31:41.859 --> 00:31:43.539
 despairing,

00:31:44.420 --> 00:31:45.279
 pointless

00:31:45.279 --> 00:31:45.960
 litigation

00:31:45.960 --> 00:31:47.339
 of existence.

00:31:48.779 --> 00:31:49.740
 Because what

00:31:49.740 --> 00:31:50.220
 you do

00:31:50.220 --> 00:31:51.799
 or don't

00:31:51.799 --> 00:31:52.120
 do

00:31:52.120 --> 00:31:53.880
 really doesn't

00:31:53.880 --> 00:31:54.299
 matter in

00:31:54.299 --> 00:31:54.720
 the end.

00:31:59.180 --> 00:32:00.120
 But what

00:32:00.120 --> 00:32:00.400
 if the

00:32:00.400 --> 00:32:00.680
 bench

00:32:00.680 --> 00:32:01.779
 isn't

00:32:01.779 --> 00:32:02.500
 empty?

00:32:02.500 --> 00:32:05.420
 what if

00:32:05.420 --> 00:32:05.700
 everything

00:32:05.700 --> 00:32:06.319
 you do

00:32:06.319 --> 00:32:07.680
 does

00:32:07.680 --> 00:32:08.099
 matter?

00:32:09.500 --> 00:32:09.980
 Down

00:32:09.980 --> 00:32:10.680
 even to

00:32:10.680 --> 00:32:11.019
 the little

00:32:11.019 --> 00:32:11.640
 things,

00:32:11.980 --> 00:32:12.500
 even the

00:32:12.500 --> 00:32:13.000
 things no

00:32:13.000 --> 00:32:13.359
 one else

00:32:13.359 --> 00:32:13.640
 sees,

00:32:13.859 --> 00:32:14.559
 every secret

00:32:14.559 --> 00:32:14.980
 thing,

00:32:15.220 --> 00:32:15.579
 as verse

00:32:15.579 --> 00:32:16.299
 14 says.

00:32:17.059 --> 00:32:17.619
 What if

00:32:17.619 --> 00:32:18.279
 every dollar

00:32:18.279 --> 00:32:18.980
 that you

00:32:18.980 --> 00:32:19.519
 spend,

00:32:20.160 --> 00:32:20.640
 and every

00:32:20.640 --> 00:32:21.279
 word that

00:32:21.279 --> 00:32:22.019
 you speak,

00:32:22.539 --> 00:32:23.019
 and every

00:32:23.019 --> 00:32:23.680
 simple act

00:32:23.680 --> 00:32:24.440
 of kindness

00:32:24.440 --> 00:32:24.960
 toward your

00:32:24.960 --> 00:32:25.500
 spouse,

00:32:25.599 --> 00:32:25.859
 or your

00:32:25.859 --> 00:32:26.359
 child,

00:32:26.440 --> 00:32:26.740
 or your

00:32:26.740 --> 00:32:27.079
 neighbor,

00:32:27.380 --> 00:32:27.779
 what if

00:32:27.779 --> 00:32:28.319
 all of

00:32:28.319 --> 00:32:29.440
 that mattered,

00:32:29.720 --> 00:32:30.460
 and mattered

00:32:30.460 --> 00:32:31.799
 for eternity?

00:32:32.500 --> 00:32:33.500
 What if

00:32:33.500 --> 00:32:34.099
 the whole

00:32:34.099 --> 00:32:34.380
 of your

00:32:34.380 --> 00:32:34.680
 life,

00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:35.380
 every

00:32:35.380 --> 00:32:35.960
 moment of

00:32:35.960 --> 00:32:36.079
 it,

00:32:36.319 --> 00:32:36.759
 wasn't a

00:32:36.759 --> 00:32:37.519
 flicker

00:32:37.519 --> 00:32:38.099
 on the

00:32:38.099 --> 00:32:38.799
 blank screen

00:32:38.799 --> 00:32:39.099
 of a

00:32:39.099 --> 00:32:39.380
 pointless

00:32:39.380 --> 00:32:39.920
 and meaningless

00:32:39.920 --> 00:32:40.500
 universe,

00:32:40.759 --> 00:32:41.539
 but what if

00:32:41.539 --> 00:32:41.920
 it was a

00:32:41.920 --> 00:32:42.279
 meaningful

00:32:42.279 --> 00:32:43.240
 thread in

00:32:43.240 --> 00:32:43.779
 a created

00:32:43.779 --> 00:32:44.720
 order headed

00:32:44.720 --> 00:32:45.519
 toward eternity

00:32:45.519 --> 00:32:46.059
 with a

00:32:46.059 --> 00:32:46.720
 holy God,

00:32:47.519 --> 00:32:47.920
 a God

00:32:47.920 --> 00:32:48.779
 who sees

00:32:48.779 --> 00:32:49.880
 every deed,

00:32:50.539 --> 00:32:51.000
 and who

00:32:51.000 --> 00:32:51.940
 will vindicate

00:32:51.940 --> 00:32:52.819
 or condemn

00:32:52.819 --> 00:32:54.180
 every act

00:32:54.180 --> 00:32:55.500
 in perfect

00:32:55.500 --> 00:32:56.099
 righteousness?

00:32:57.980 --> 00:32:58.779
 What if

00:32:58.779 --> 00:32:59.279
 the bench

00:32:59.279 --> 00:33:00.539
 isn't

00:33:00.539 --> 00:33:01.059
 empty?

00:33:02.500 --> 00:33:05.519
 It's

00:33:05.519 --> 00:33:05.980
 surprising

00:33:05.980 --> 00:33:06.579
 how this

00:33:06.579 --> 00:33:06.920
 book of

00:33:06.920 --> 00:33:07.519
 Ecclesiastes

00:33:07.519 --> 00:33:07.900
 ends,

00:33:07.980 --> 00:33:08.279
 isn't it?

00:33:09.079 --> 00:33:09.759
 For pages

00:33:09.759 --> 00:33:10.319
 and pages

00:33:10.319 --> 00:33:11.259
 we hear the

00:33:11.259 --> 00:33:11.819
 book wrestle

00:33:11.819 --> 00:33:12.500
 with the

00:33:12.500 --> 00:33:12.859
 fleeting

00:33:12.859 --> 00:33:13.319
 vanity

00:33:13.319 --> 00:33:13.940
 of existence

00:33:13.940 --> 00:33:14.480
 under the

00:33:14.480 --> 00:33:14.700
 sun,

00:33:14.819 --> 00:33:15.240
 exploring

00:33:15.240 --> 00:33:15.559
 every

00:33:15.559 --> 00:33:15.940
 dead-end

00:33:15.940 --> 00:33:16.400
 path,

00:33:16.460 --> 00:33:17.000
 and exhausting

00:33:17.000 --> 00:33:17.359
 every

00:33:17.359 --> 00:33:17.980
 earth-bound

00:33:17.980 --> 00:33:18.440
 road,

00:33:18.559 --> 00:33:19.380
 only to

00:33:19.380 --> 00:33:19.920
 discover

00:33:19.920 --> 00:33:20.660
 that

00:33:20.660 --> 00:33:21.319
 creation

00:33:21.319 --> 00:33:22.460
 leads us

00:33:22.460 --> 00:33:23.279
 headlong

00:33:23.279 --> 00:33:24.059
 to our

00:33:24.059 --> 00:33:24.519
 Creator.

00:33:26.099 --> 00:33:26.680
 And in

00:33:26.680 --> 00:33:27.099
 view of

00:33:27.099 --> 00:33:27.799
 this God,

00:33:29.180 --> 00:33:30.059
 no longer

00:33:30.059 --> 00:33:30.839
 does nothing

00:33:30.839 --> 00:33:31.220
 matter,

00:33:31.220 --> 00:33:33.720
 but everything

00:33:33.720 --> 00:33:34.200
 does.

00:33:35.720 --> 00:33:36.380
 Everything

00:33:36.380 --> 00:33:36.980
 matters.

00:33:37.960 --> 00:33:38.319
 Everything

00:33:38.319 --> 00:33:39.160
 has substance.

00:33:39.799 --> 00:33:40.420
 Nothing is

00:33:40.420 --> 00:33:40.920
 in vain,

00:33:41.680 --> 00:33:42.400
 because a

00:33:42.400 --> 00:33:42.740
 good and

00:33:42.740 --> 00:33:43.240
 holy God

00:33:43.240 --> 00:33:43.839
 has created

00:33:43.839 --> 00:33:44.380
 all things,

00:33:44.620 --> 00:33:45.000
 and this

00:33:45.000 --> 00:33:45.339
 God will

00:33:45.339 --> 00:33:46.519
 not allow

00:33:46.519 --> 00:33:47.660
 His creation

00:33:47.660 --> 00:33:48.380
 to go

00:33:48.380 --> 00:33:49.279
 unnoticed.

00:33:50.559 --> 00:33:51.400
 And He

00:33:51.400 --> 00:33:51.900
 will call

00:33:51.900 --> 00:33:52.860
 the entire

00:33:52.860 --> 00:33:53.579
 story of

00:33:53.579 --> 00:33:54.079
 creation

00:33:54.079 --> 00:33:54.819
 and every

00:33:54.819 --> 00:33:55.720
 work done

00:33:55.720 --> 00:33:56.400
 within it

00:33:56.400 --> 00:33:57.759
 to account.

00:33:57.759 --> 00:33:59.140
 God

00:33:59.140 --> 00:34:00.259
 will

00:34:00.259 --> 00:34:00.759
 save us

00:34:00.759 --> 00:34:05.000
 from the

00:34:05.000 --> 00:34:05.259
 creation

00:34:05.259 --> 00:34:05.859
 and

00:34:05.859 --> 00:34:05.940
 God.

00:34:05.940 --> 00:34:06.480
 The reality

00:34:06.480 --> 00:34:06.900
 of God

00:34:06.900 --> 00:34:07.339
 as Creator

00:34:07.339 --> 00:34:07.779
 and Judge

00:34:07.779 --> 00:34:08.539
 saves us

00:34:08.539 --> 00:34:09.059
 from the

00:34:09.059 --> 00:34:09.719
 despair of

00:34:09.719 --> 00:34:10.239
 meaningless.

00:34:10.760 --> 00:34:11.199
 We're

00:34:11.199 --> 00:34:11.780
 saved!

00:34:13.260 --> 00:34:13.860
 But does

00:34:13.860 --> 00:34:14.179
 it not

00:34:14.179 --> 00:34:14.519
 simply

00:34:14.519 --> 00:34:15.000
 introduce

00:34:15.000 --> 00:34:15.639
 another

00:34:15.639 --> 00:34:16.099
 despair

00:34:16.099 --> 00:34:16.460
 in its

00:34:16.460 --> 00:34:16.940
 place?

00:34:19.099 --> 00:34:19.659
 Who

00:34:19.659 --> 00:34:20.239
 can stand

00:34:20.239 --> 00:34:20.719
 before a

00:34:20.719 --> 00:34:21.000
 perfect

00:34:21.000 --> 00:34:21.500
 judge?

00:34:23.199 --> 00:34:23.579
 I mean,

00:34:23.639 --> 00:34:24.119
 think about

00:34:24.119 --> 00:34:24.340
 it.

00:34:24.340 --> 00:34:26.079
 every

00:34:26.079 --> 00:34:26.720
 secret

00:34:26.720 --> 00:34:27.260
 thought.

00:34:29.079 --> 00:34:29.640
 That's

00:34:29.640 --> 00:34:30.380
 pretty

00:34:30.380 --> 00:34:30.980
 harrowing,

00:34:31.019 --> 00:34:31.380
 isn't it?

00:34:31.900 --> 00:34:32.260
 Look at

00:34:32.260 --> 00:34:32.680
 these stained

00:34:32.680 --> 00:34:32.920
 glass

00:34:32.920 --> 00:34:33.300
 windows.

00:34:34.200 --> 00:34:34.559
 Imagine

00:34:34.559 --> 00:34:35.059
 every

00:34:35.059 --> 00:34:35.440
 secret

00:34:35.440 --> 00:34:35.820
 thought

00:34:35.820 --> 00:34:36.019
 was

00:34:36.019 --> 00:34:36.480
 displayed

00:34:36.480 --> 00:34:36.700
 on

00:34:36.700 --> 00:34:36.880
 these

00:34:36.880 --> 00:34:37.100
 stained

00:34:37.100 --> 00:34:37.320
 glass

00:34:37.320 --> 00:34:37.600
 windows.

00:34:37.720 --> 00:34:37.860
 Who

00:34:37.860 --> 00:34:38.059
 would

00:34:38.059 --> 00:34:38.360
 stay

00:34:38.360 --> 00:34:38.519
 in

00:34:38.519 --> 00:34:38.720
 this

00:34:38.720 --> 00:34:39.140
 sanctuary?

00:34:40.260 --> 00:34:40.519
 We'd

00:34:40.519 --> 00:34:40.780
 all be

00:34:40.780 --> 00:34:41.019
 running

00:34:41.019 --> 00:34:41.320
 for the

00:34:41.320 --> 00:34:41.620
 door.

00:34:44.620 --> 00:34:45.200
 If

00:34:45.200 --> 00:34:45.579
 every

00:34:45.579 --> 00:34:46.000
 deed,

00:34:46.140 --> 00:34:46.400
 even

00:34:46.400 --> 00:34:46.640
 our

00:34:46.640 --> 00:34:46.940
 secret

00:34:46.940 --> 00:34:47.340
 thoughts

00:34:47.340 --> 00:34:47.480
 are

00:34:47.480 --> 00:34:47.820
 exposed,

00:34:47.960 --> 00:34:48.079
 who

00:34:48.079 --> 00:34:48.320
 could

00:34:48.320 --> 00:34:49.180
 possibly

00:34:49.180 --> 00:34:50.280
 be

00:34:50.280 --> 00:34:50.820
 justified?

00:34:54.340 --> 00:34:56.120
 But,

00:34:56.200 --> 00:34:56.400
 friends,

00:34:56.460 --> 00:34:56.840
 the good

00:34:56.840 --> 00:34:57.480
 news of

00:34:57.480 --> 00:34:58.000
 the gospel

00:34:58.000 --> 00:34:58.840
 tells us

00:34:58.840 --> 00:35:00.380
 that the

00:35:00.380 --> 00:35:01.640
 one who

00:35:01.640 --> 00:35:02.960
 sits on

00:35:02.960 --> 00:35:03.640
 the bench

00:35:03.640 --> 00:35:05.640
 is also

00:35:05.640 --> 00:35:06.320
 the one

00:35:06.320 --> 00:35:07.500
 who hung

00:35:07.500 --> 00:35:08.519
 from the

00:35:08.519 --> 00:35:08.940
 cross.

00:35:10.260 --> 00:35:11.820
 The one

00:35:11.820 --> 00:35:12.920
 shepherd,

00:35:13.720 --> 00:35:14.320
 God,

00:35:15.180 --> 00:35:16.000
 who utters

00:35:16.000 --> 00:35:16.559
 the words

00:35:16.559 --> 00:35:17.079
 of wisdom

00:35:17.079 --> 00:35:17.780
 described in

00:35:17.780 --> 00:35:18.320
 verse 11.

00:35:18.760 --> 00:35:19.140
 That's what

00:35:19.140 --> 00:35:19.980
 Ecclesiastes is

00:35:19.980 --> 00:35:20.480
 talking about

00:35:20.480 --> 00:35:20.720
 there.

00:35:21.000 --> 00:35:21.559
 These words

00:35:21.559 --> 00:35:21.940
 of wisdom

00:35:21.940 --> 00:35:22.539
 come from

00:35:22.539 --> 00:35:23.260
 one shepherd

00:35:23.260 --> 00:35:23.760
 ultimately,

00:35:23.760 --> 00:35:25.160
 all true

00:35:25.160 --> 00:35:25.740
 wisdom is

00:35:25.740 --> 00:35:26.300
 God's

00:35:26.300 --> 00:35:26.680
 wisdom.

00:35:27.560 --> 00:35:28.580
 That one

00:35:28.580 --> 00:35:29.000
 shepherd

00:35:29.000 --> 00:35:30.160
 God who

00:35:30.160 --> 00:35:30.900
 utters

00:35:30.900 --> 00:35:31.520
 words of

00:35:31.520 --> 00:35:31.860
 wisdom,

00:35:32.560 --> 00:35:33.500
 the one

00:35:33.500 --> 00:35:33.940
 judge

00:35:33.940 --> 00:35:34.580
 God who

00:35:34.580 --> 00:35:35.060
 renders

00:35:35.060 --> 00:35:35.700
 perfect

00:35:35.700 --> 00:35:36.100
 judgment

00:35:36.100 --> 00:35:36.500
 in verse

00:35:36.500 --> 00:35:37.060
 14,

00:35:38.560 --> 00:35:38.960
 is the

00:35:38.960 --> 00:35:39.260
 same

00:35:39.260 --> 00:35:39.720
 God

00:35:39.720 --> 00:35:41.400
 who stood

00:35:41.400 --> 00:35:42.020
 in the

00:35:42.020 --> 00:35:42.540
 place of

00:35:42.540 --> 00:35:42.820
 sinners

00:35:42.820 --> 00:35:44.020
 and was

00:35:44.020 --> 00:35:44.480
 condemned

00:35:44.480 --> 00:35:44.760
 unto

00:35:44.760 --> 00:35:45.240
 death

00:35:45.240 --> 00:35:46.500
 so that

00:35:46.500 --> 00:35:46.980
 all who

00:35:46.980 --> 00:35:47.440
 trust in

00:35:47.440 --> 00:35:47.740
 Him

00:35:47.740 --> 00:35:48.680
 might be

00:35:48.680 --> 00:35:49.200
 justified

00:35:49.200 --> 00:35:50.480
 and live.

00:35:50.480 --> 00:35:50.539
 hope.

00:35:53.019 --> 00:35:53.800
 And so

00:35:53.800 --> 00:35:54.119
 there is

00:35:54.119 --> 00:35:54.659
 not just

00:35:54.659 --> 00:35:55.780
 meaning,

00:35:56.780 --> 00:35:57.840
 but hope.

00:36:00.240 --> 00:36:01.139
 The message

00:36:01.139 --> 00:36:01.820
 of the apostles

00:36:01.820 --> 00:36:02.400
 from the

00:36:02.400 --> 00:36:03.139
 earliest days

00:36:03.139 --> 00:36:03.740
 was this.

00:36:04.219 --> 00:36:04.920
 God has

00:36:04.920 --> 00:36:05.380
 fixed a

00:36:05.380 --> 00:36:06.380
 day on

00:36:06.380 --> 00:36:06.679
 which He

00:36:06.679 --> 00:36:07.059
 will judge

00:36:07.059 --> 00:36:07.539
 the world

00:36:07.539 --> 00:36:08.280
 in righteousness

00:36:08.280 --> 00:36:10.619
 by a

00:36:10.619 --> 00:36:11.440
 man whom

00:36:11.440 --> 00:36:11.860
 He has

00:36:11.860 --> 00:36:12.260
 appointed.

00:36:13.300 --> 00:36:13.699
 And of

00:36:13.699 --> 00:36:14.039
 this,

00:36:14.440 --> 00:36:14.820
 He has

00:36:14.820 --> 00:36:15.519
 given assurance

00:36:15.519 --> 00:36:16.240
 to all

00:36:16.239 --> 00:36:17.739
 by raising

00:36:17.739 --> 00:36:18.139
 Him from

00:36:18.139 --> 00:36:18.599
 the dead.

00:36:20.079 --> 00:36:20.679
 And when

00:36:20.679 --> 00:36:21.099
 that day

00:36:21.099 --> 00:36:21.599
 comes,

00:36:22.419 --> 00:36:22.899
 those who

00:36:22.899 --> 00:36:23.419
 have trusted

00:36:23.419 --> 00:36:24.059
 in Christ,

00:36:24.279 --> 00:36:24.619
 as the

00:36:24.619 --> 00:36:25.119
 Gospel of

00:36:25.119 --> 00:36:25.639
 John says,

00:36:25.719 --> 00:36:26.259
 will not

00:36:26.259 --> 00:36:26.719
 come into

00:36:26.719 --> 00:36:27.119
 judgment,

00:36:28.199 --> 00:36:28.739
 but will

00:36:28.739 --> 00:36:29.439
 pass from

00:36:29.439 --> 00:36:30.000
 death to

00:36:30.000 --> 00:36:30.339
 life.

00:36:31.799 --> 00:36:33.000
 This is

00:36:33.000 --> 00:36:33.759
 the horizon

00:36:33.759 --> 00:36:34.599
 of a life

00:36:34.599 --> 00:36:35.519
 well lived,

00:36:36.219 --> 00:36:37.479
 to trust in

00:36:37.479 --> 00:36:38.059
 Christ for

00:36:38.059 --> 00:36:38.679
 our final

00:36:38.679 --> 00:36:39.279
 justification,

00:36:40.159 --> 00:36:41.019
 and to know

00:36:41.019 --> 00:36:41.459
 that because

00:36:41.459 --> 00:36:42.500
 Christ rose

00:36:42.500 --> 00:36:42.879
 from the

00:36:42.879 --> 00:36:43.339
 grave,

00:36:43.619 --> 00:36:44.359
 our labors

00:36:44.359 --> 00:36:44.899
 are not

00:36:44.899 --> 00:36:45.399
 in vain,

00:36:45.400 --> 00:36:46.460
 but that

00:36:46.460 --> 00:36:46.880
 everything

00:36:46.880 --> 00:36:47.460
 matters.

00:36:50.180 --> 00:36:50.880
 And so

00:36:50.880 --> 00:36:51.200
 this is

00:36:51.200 --> 00:36:51.460
 where the

00:36:51.460 --> 00:36:51.940
 quest has

00:36:51.940 --> 00:36:52.440
 led us.

00:36:53.240 --> 00:36:53.740
 On this

00:36:53.740 --> 00:36:54.460
 quest for

00:36:54.460 --> 00:36:55.160
 a well lived

00:36:55.160 --> 00:36:55.539
 life,

00:36:55.619 --> 00:36:55.780
 we've

00:36:55.780 --> 00:36:56.360
 discovered

00:36:56.360 --> 00:36:57.019
 that on

00:36:57.019 --> 00:36:57.340
 the one

00:36:57.340 --> 00:36:57.579
 hand,

00:36:57.639 --> 00:36:57.940
 it is

00:36:57.940 --> 00:36:58.260
 true.

00:36:58.720 --> 00:36:59.360
 All is

00:36:59.360 --> 00:36:59.840
 vanity,

00:37:00.200 --> 00:37:00.980
 vanity of

00:37:00.980 --> 00:37:01.500
 vanities.

00:37:02.240 --> 00:37:02.539
 Yes,

00:37:02.639 --> 00:37:02.940
 that's

00:37:02.940 --> 00:37:03.360
 true,

00:37:04.200 --> 00:37:05.380
 but only

00:37:05.380 --> 00:37:06.139
 to those

00:37:06.139 --> 00:37:07.380
 who refuse

00:37:07.380 --> 00:37:08.099
 to look

00:37:08.099 --> 00:37:08.780
 beyond the

00:37:08.780 --> 00:37:09.119
 frame,

00:37:09.980 --> 00:37:10.680
 only to

00:37:10.680 --> 00:37:11.000
 those who

00:37:11.000 --> 00:37:11.700
 remain on

00:37:11.700 --> 00:37:12.019
 the dead

00:37:12.019 --> 00:37:12.599
 end paths,

00:37:12.880 --> 00:37:13.260
 only to

00:37:13.260 --> 00:37:13.559
 those who

00:37:13.559 --> 00:37:14.440
 persist in

00:37:14.440 --> 00:37:15.019
 chasing the

00:37:15.019 --> 00:37:15.380
 wind.

00:37:15.400 --> 00:37:17.660
 But for

00:37:17.660 --> 00:37:18.119
 those who

00:37:18.119 --> 00:37:20.380
 turn and

00:37:20.380 --> 00:37:20.800
 come to

00:37:20.800 --> 00:37:21.340
 know the

00:37:21.340 --> 00:37:21.980
 God who

00:37:21.980 --> 00:37:22.720
 raised Jesus

00:37:22.720 --> 00:37:23.200
 from the

00:37:23.200 --> 00:37:23.599
 dead,

00:37:24.000 --> 00:37:24.660
 our Creator

00:37:24.660 --> 00:37:25.039
 and our

00:37:25.039 --> 00:37:25.619
 Redeemer,

00:37:26.539 --> 00:37:26.960
 all their

00:37:26.960 --> 00:37:27.579
 life is

00:37:27.579 --> 00:37:30.579
 full with

00:37:30.579 --> 00:37:31.619
 unspeakable

00:37:31.619 --> 00:37:32.980
 meaning and

00:37:32.980 --> 00:37:34.500
 purpose and

00:37:34.500 --> 00:37:35.519
 lasting joy.

00:37:36.780 --> 00:37:37.559
 And as we

00:37:37.559 --> 00:37:38.420
 fear God,

00:37:38.860 --> 00:37:39.519
 and as we

00:37:39.519 --> 00:37:40.360
 obey God,

00:37:40.740 --> 00:37:41.180
 and as we

00:37:41.180 --> 00:37:41.980
 look to God's

00:37:41.980 --> 00:37:42.619
 judgment to

00:37:42.619 --> 00:37:43.039
 make all

00:37:43.039 --> 00:37:43.760
 things new,

00:37:43.760 --> 00:37:45.020
 then we

00:37:45.020 --> 00:37:45.400
 will live

00:37:45.400 --> 00:37:46.500
 lives that

00:37:46.500 --> 00:37:46.920
 are not

00:37:46.920 --> 00:37:47.360
 in vain,

00:37:48.000 --> 00:37:49.000
 but lives

00:37:49.000 --> 00:37:49.220
 that will

00:37:49.220 --> 00:37:50.000
 be meaningful,

00:37:50.400 --> 00:37:51.160
 gloriously

00:37:51.160 --> 00:37:51.800
 meaningful,

00:37:52.620 --> 00:37:54.840
 now and

00:37:54.840 --> 00:37:55.540
 for eternity.

00:37:57.280 --> 00:37:58.340
 Let's pray.

00:37:58.340 --> 00:38:02.720
 Christ,

00:38:02.720 --> 00:38:04.880
 in you,

00:38:05.079 --> 00:38:05.800
 all the

00:38:05.800 --> 00:38:06.380
 treasures of

00:38:06.380 --> 00:38:07.240
 wisdom and

00:38:07.240 --> 00:38:07.960
 knowledge are

00:38:07.960 --> 00:38:08.519
 found.

00:38:09.559 --> 00:38:10.539
 Oh, by your

00:38:10.539 --> 00:38:11.300
 Spirit will we

00:38:11.300 --> 00:38:12.140
 turn to you,

00:38:12.840 --> 00:38:13.760
 cling to you,

00:38:14.120 --> 00:38:14.900
 receive you,

00:38:15.500 --> 00:38:16.220
 follow you,

00:38:17.440 --> 00:38:18.100
 receive your

00:38:18.100 --> 00:38:18.600
 forgiveness,

00:38:19.760 --> 00:38:20.400
 receive your

00:38:20.400 --> 00:38:20.960
 power,

00:38:21.500 --> 00:38:23.620
 and live lives

00:38:23.620 --> 00:38:25.320
 that are truly

00:38:25.320 --> 00:38:25.700
 full,

00:38:25.699 --> 00:38:27.319
 full of your

00:38:27.319 --> 00:38:27.659
 meaning,

00:38:28.480 --> 00:38:28.899
 full of your

00:38:28.899 --> 00:38:29.359
 purpose,

00:38:30.099 --> 00:38:30.619
 full of your

00:38:30.619 --> 00:38:30.960
 joy.

00:38:31.859 --> 00:38:32.199
 Amen.