WEBVTT 00:00:00.140 --> 00:00:02.020 What a cheery note to finish on, eh? 00:00:03.280 --> 00:00:04.759 David Soushi, ladies and gentlemen. 00:00:04.839 --> 00:00:07.080 Let me encourage you to grab a Bible, if you have it there, 00:00:08.040 --> 00:00:10.220 and turn to those two chapters. 00:00:10.380 --> 00:00:11.759 So Ecclesiastes chapter 11, 00:00:12.179 --> 00:00:15.880 and we'll be dipping into the first part of chapter 12 today as well. 00:00:15.960 --> 00:00:18.179 For those of you joining us, we've been in this little series 00:00:18.179 --> 00:00:21.000 in Ecclesiastes over the last little while. 00:00:22.719 --> 00:00:24.940 And it's been teaching us so much about life, 00:00:24.960 --> 00:00:26.320 and it's really been sobering us, 00:00:26.320 --> 00:00:28.440 and it's been helping us to slow down 00:00:28.440 --> 00:00:33.539 and to take stock and to ask some big questions 00:00:33.539 --> 00:00:36.200 about this thing called life. 00:00:36.280 --> 00:00:39.120 And we'll see that same vein kind of continue on this morning. 00:00:39.200 --> 00:00:39.900 So why don't we pray, 00:00:40.700 --> 00:00:43.020 and let's ask God to help us by his spirit this morning 00:00:43.020 --> 00:00:45.079 as we come to his living words. 00:00:46.420 --> 00:00:49.079 Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for this morning. 00:00:50.140 --> 00:00:54.280 Lord, we've been thinking about the privilege it is to meet together, 00:00:54.280 --> 00:00:55.939 that we have the freedom to do that, 00:00:56.040 --> 00:00:57.740 that we remember those who gave their lives 00:00:57.740 --> 00:00:59.400 that we could have this freedom today. 00:01:00.359 --> 00:01:02.219 And we remember those around the world, 00:01:02.300 --> 00:01:03.160 our brothers and sisters, 00:01:03.400 --> 00:01:05.400 for whom it is a difficult thing to meet. 00:01:06.099 --> 00:01:08.540 And so, Lord, we would want to take advantage 00:01:08.540 --> 00:01:11.340 of this glorious opportunity that we have 00:01:11.340 --> 00:01:13.299 to make full use of it. 00:01:13.799 --> 00:01:16.200 And so, Lord, we pray that as we turn to your word, 00:01:16.260 --> 00:01:20.439 we pray that the prayer of the psalmist in Psalm 119, 00:01:20.439 --> 00:01:24.500 that you would open our eyes so that we may contemplate 00:01:24.500 --> 00:01:28.599 and see wonderful things from your law. 00:01:28.920 --> 00:01:31.280 And that is our prayer, Father, knowing that you will answer us, 00:01:31.599 --> 00:01:33.859 because we pray in Jesus' precious name. 00:01:34.159 --> 00:01:34.459 Amen. 00:01:34.459 --> 00:01:34.559 Amen. 00:01:36.179 --> 00:01:38.859 Well, when I was growing up, 00:01:38.919 --> 00:01:40.819 any time we used to travel anywhere in the car, 00:01:41.059 --> 00:01:44.559 my dad always insisted on picking the music for the car journey. 00:01:44.759 --> 00:01:48.659 So, car journeys in the Shanks household for us growing up, 00:01:49.379 --> 00:01:51.619 my childhood was kind of brought to you by artists 00:01:51.619 --> 00:01:57.039 like Spandu Ballet and Simply Red and Seal, 00:01:57.299 --> 00:01:58.359 and that was just the S's. 00:01:59.239 --> 00:02:01.659 Some looks of nods out there, you know what I'm talking about. 00:02:01.659 --> 00:02:02.920 Others just blank expressions. 00:02:03.099 --> 00:02:04.859 YouTube is a wonderful thing. 00:02:04.959 --> 00:02:06.179 Okay, go and check them out. 00:02:06.619 --> 00:02:09.659 And another artist that used to make an appearance now and again 00:02:09.659 --> 00:02:13.280 was Scotland's probably best-known singer, 00:02:13.579 --> 00:02:15.139 one of the best-known singers for this guy, Rod Stewart. 00:02:15.280 --> 00:02:18.120 And we've been thinking about our unchanging God this morning, 00:02:18.180 --> 00:02:20.879 and if you need proof of the fact that we live in a world that changes, 00:02:21.639 --> 00:02:23.800 okay, check out his hairstyle. 00:02:24.199 --> 00:02:24.659 There you go. 00:02:25.280 --> 00:02:29.000 Rod Stewart was in a band that we used to listen to called The Faces. 00:02:30.060 --> 00:02:30.259 Okay? 00:02:30.259 --> 00:02:33.899 And one of their best-selling songs was called Ooh La La, 00:02:34.039 --> 00:02:34.879 and it went like this. 00:02:34.899 --> 00:02:35.799 This was the chorus. 00:02:37.239 --> 00:02:42.899 I wish that I knew what I know now when I was younger. 00:02:43.599 --> 00:02:44.699 And remember this one? 00:02:46.019 --> 00:02:46.239 Okay? 00:02:46.379 --> 00:02:49.979 I wish that I knew what I know now when I was younger. 00:02:50.039 --> 00:02:51.479 This was one of their best-selling songs. 00:02:51.739 --> 00:02:55.739 And I imagine it was because people clicked. 00:02:55.819 --> 00:02:57.280 And this is what we do with song lyrics, isn't it? 00:02:57.280 --> 00:02:58.680 We click with what people are saying. 00:02:58.740 --> 00:03:02.199 We understand the experiences that they're talking about. 00:03:02.199 --> 00:03:05.739 So he's singing about an experience that we can all tap into. 00:03:06.799 --> 00:03:11.159 You know how we kind of go through life, and life teaches us things, doesn't it? 00:03:12.060 --> 00:03:14.019 And we experience as human beings. 00:03:14.719 --> 00:03:15.699 And we learn. 00:03:16.560 --> 00:03:17.500 And we grow. 00:03:17.500 --> 00:03:22.439 And how often do we look back on life, and we say to ourselves, 00:03:22.659 --> 00:03:27.439 if only I had known what I know now, if only I had known it then. 00:03:28.280 --> 00:03:35.759 Because if I had known it then, then maybe I would have done things a little bit differently in life. 00:03:35.759 --> 00:03:39.979 And you see people, don't you, in your life, you see them in danger of making the same mistakes, 00:03:40.099 --> 00:03:42.120 things that you learned, things that you did when you were young. 00:03:42.399 --> 00:03:45.319 And you think to yourself, you think, please don't make that mistake. 00:03:46.219 --> 00:03:47.439 Please don't make that mistake. 00:03:47.579 --> 00:03:51.539 Let me teach you what life has taught me. 00:03:52.799 --> 00:03:55.199 And this is kind of what's going on in these verses today. 00:03:56.340 --> 00:03:56.899 You got them there. 00:03:56.979 --> 00:03:58.780 This is the teacher. 00:03:58.780 --> 00:04:03.000 This is Solomon, who we've seen him over these chapters, 00:04:03.159 --> 00:04:07.219 has come to terms with the vanity of life. 00:04:07.300 --> 00:04:10.580 That's kind of a better translation of the word meaningless that we read there. 00:04:10.920 --> 00:04:11.319 Vanity. 00:04:12.039 --> 00:04:12.219 Right? 00:04:13.759 --> 00:04:14.680 It's fleeting. 00:04:14.920 --> 00:04:17.180 You try and grasp it, and you can't grasp it. 00:04:17.220 --> 00:04:19.420 But when you think you've got it sussed, it kind of eludes you. 00:04:19.819 --> 00:04:23.500 And I think the key thing is it's got a lack of permanence to it. 00:04:23.500 --> 00:04:29.600 And this week's been brought to us by things with a lack of permanence to them. 00:04:30.379 --> 00:04:31.519 What's this week been about? 00:04:31.699 --> 00:04:33.439 It's been about fireworks, hasn't it? 00:04:34.420 --> 00:04:34.579 Right? 00:04:34.639 --> 00:04:36.920 We watched them on Tuesday night with the girls. 00:04:37.000 --> 00:04:37.500 What happens? 00:04:37.620 --> 00:04:38.420 Boom, it goes up. 00:04:38.500 --> 00:04:39.259 Boom, it looks great. 00:04:39.339 --> 00:04:40.199 And boom, it's gone. 00:04:41.360 --> 00:04:42.339 Boom, it looks great. 00:04:42.379 --> 00:04:42.879 It looks great. 00:04:42.959 --> 00:04:43.839 And boom, it's gone. 00:04:44.480 --> 00:04:44.720 Boom. 00:04:44.819 --> 00:04:46.300 And you just watch the whole city. 00:04:46.800 --> 00:04:48.480 Just fireworks, fireworks, fireworks, fireworks. 00:04:48.480 --> 00:04:50.519 You had some wonderful-looking fireworks, 00:04:50.899 --> 00:04:52.920 and you had some measly-looking fireworks. 00:04:53.899 --> 00:04:54.620 But do you know what? 00:04:54.660 --> 00:04:55.540 They were here one minute. 00:04:55.620 --> 00:04:57.100 They looked great, and boom, they were gone. 00:04:57.959 --> 00:04:58.740 This is what he's saying. 00:05:00.459 --> 00:05:03.180 Life is vanity. 00:05:04.699 --> 00:05:06.360 And he's feeling the pain of it. 00:05:06.540 --> 00:05:10.720 And so many of us have been saying that what this guy is saying in this book about life, 00:05:11.660 --> 00:05:13.740 the pain that he's feeling, the questions that he's asking, 00:05:13.819 --> 00:05:18.019 so many of us have been commenting to one another that this is kind of life as we know it. 00:05:18.019 --> 00:05:20.120 That's why we call the series Life as We Know It. 00:05:23.500 --> 00:05:26.720 You see, the big certainty in this book is death. 00:05:26.899 --> 00:05:29.339 And the last kind of two chapters of this book, 00:05:30.519 --> 00:05:33.319 Solomon's been facing up to the reality of life, to death. 00:05:33.680 --> 00:05:37.199 And he wants to pass on the wisdom that life has taught him. 00:05:38.620 --> 00:05:39.680 Like, in the last two chapters, 00:05:39.839 --> 00:05:45.699 are him telling us how we should live in light of the vanity of life. 00:05:45.699 --> 00:05:47.939 And the key verse for us today, the one that holds it together, 00:05:48.079 --> 00:05:49.539 is verse 1 of chapter 12. 00:05:49.659 --> 00:05:50.219 You've got it there. 00:05:51.279 --> 00:05:52.479 Remember one thing from today? 00:05:53.019 --> 00:05:54.279 Please remember more than one thing, 00:05:54.500 --> 00:05:56.500 but this is the key verse this morning. 00:05:58.099 --> 00:06:01.180 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth. 00:06:03.099 --> 00:06:07.599 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth. 00:06:07.639 --> 00:06:09.519 So he's got the youth in mind. 00:06:09.519 --> 00:06:13.299 You want to track this thread all the way through verse 9. 00:06:13.479 --> 00:06:14.060 What does he say? 00:06:14.199 --> 00:06:17.459 You who are young, be happy while you are young, 00:06:17.680 --> 00:06:20.819 and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. 00:06:20.859 --> 00:06:21.839 Again, verse 10. 00:06:21.979 --> 00:06:24.419 So then banish anxiety from your heart, 00:06:24.740 --> 00:06:26.439 and cast off the troubles of your body, 00:06:26.680 --> 00:06:30.419 for youth and vigor are vanity. 00:06:30.560 --> 00:06:32.199 So he's got the youth in his mind here. 00:06:33.339 --> 00:06:36.399 I think we can, youth is an age of life thing. 00:06:36.479 --> 00:06:39.199 I think we can assume that's the people he's got in mind. 00:06:39.199 --> 00:06:42.019 But I think we can also probably extend its parameters 00:06:42.019 --> 00:06:47.219 to also include a kind of stage of life thing, a mindset. 00:06:47.860 --> 00:06:49.039 Because we all know in our lives, don't we? 00:06:49.060 --> 00:06:54.339 We all know older people who we describe as being immature for their years. 00:06:54.579 --> 00:06:58.879 And we would know younger people who we would describe as being mature for their years. 00:06:58.939 --> 00:07:01.159 So this is not just about the number of hours and minutes 00:07:01.159 --> 00:07:02.519 that you happen to have lived on earth. 00:07:03.279 --> 00:07:04.459 This is about a mindset. 00:07:06.360 --> 00:07:08.180 What is it about the young? 00:07:08.180 --> 00:07:11.579 Surely it's that they never stop to take stock of life. 00:07:11.660 --> 00:07:14.180 They never pause to ask life's big questions. 00:07:15.060 --> 00:07:18.019 People who are running around from thing to thing to thing to thing. 00:07:18.100 --> 00:07:19.800 They're set on climbing the career ladder. 00:07:20.259 --> 00:07:21.780 They're set on progressing in life. 00:07:22.000 --> 00:07:24.280 They want and strive to achieve great things, 00:07:24.379 --> 00:07:26.120 and they want to make their life count. 00:07:27.399 --> 00:07:30.639 And they never stop to consider the vanity of life. 00:07:30.639 --> 00:07:36.419 And I turned on the TV the other night, and on came Channel 5. 00:07:37.339 --> 00:07:40.719 And there was a documentary on Channel 5 about the Titanic. 00:07:42.560 --> 00:07:43.979 And do you know what the documentary was called? 00:07:44.039 --> 00:07:47.639 I could see it in the kind of subtitles there to reflect on Channel 5. 00:07:47.699 --> 00:07:49.519 It was called The Unsinkable Ship. 00:07:49.519 --> 00:07:52.799 That's what they nicknamed it, wasn't it? 00:07:53.039 --> 00:07:54.060 The Unsinkable Ship. 00:07:55.000 --> 00:07:58.199 And by all accounts, you read people from around the time, 00:07:58.319 --> 00:07:59.740 they totally believed that was true. 00:08:00.339 --> 00:08:01.620 Totally believed that was true. 00:08:01.959 --> 00:08:04.199 In fact, I went on Google after this and checked it out. 00:08:04.259 --> 00:08:05.699 I got really into the Titanic this week. 00:08:06.039 --> 00:08:09.000 Did you know that they reckoned that there should have been 00:08:09.000 --> 00:08:12.879 48 lifeboats on board the Titanic to cater for the amount of people? 00:08:13.519 --> 00:08:15.099 Do you know how many lifeboats there were? 00:08:15.100 --> 00:08:15.660 20. 00:08:18.220 --> 00:08:19.120 20 boats. 00:08:19.800 --> 00:08:22.280 Because people believed this was the unsinkable ship. 00:08:23.480 --> 00:08:24.379 20 boats. 00:08:25.040 --> 00:08:27.700 And they thought to themselves, because this is the unsinkable ship, 00:08:27.800 --> 00:08:31.280 how about we cut our costs, and how about we free up room on the deck, 00:08:31.600 --> 00:08:34.600 and we'll go for less than half of the amount of boats that we think we should need. 00:08:34.659 --> 00:08:35.899 Because we won't be needing them. 00:08:39.399 --> 00:08:40.920 Solomon's got it in his sights. 00:08:40.919 --> 00:08:46.459 It's the people who are trying to live titanic kind of lives. 00:08:46.939 --> 00:08:47.860 It's never going to happen to me. 00:08:48.579 --> 00:08:49.479 Never going to happen to me. 00:08:50.539 --> 00:08:53.699 And he says to the youth, he says, 00:08:53.839 --> 00:08:57.779 remember your creator in the days of your youth. 00:08:59.719 --> 00:09:00.079 Right? 00:09:00.139 --> 00:09:01.459 Now, the logical thing to ask is, 00:09:01.559 --> 00:09:07.500 what does it mean to remember your creator in the days of your youth? 00:09:07.559 --> 00:09:09.679 Well, let's just take two things from this passage this morning, 00:09:09.679 --> 00:09:10.459 from these verses. 00:09:10.639 --> 00:09:12.799 And I thoroughly believe in prayer this week. 00:09:12.859 --> 00:09:15.319 This is what the Lord would want to teach us as a congregation. 00:09:15.679 --> 00:09:18.339 Here's the first thing remembering our creator will mean. 00:09:18.699 --> 00:09:21.859 It will mean thinking about what has been given to us. 00:09:23.559 --> 00:09:26.039 So Solomon wants us to think about everything that we have. 00:09:26.279 --> 00:09:26.359 Right? 00:09:26.399 --> 00:09:27.500 Just think about that in your mind. 00:09:27.579 --> 00:09:28.500 Everything that we have. 00:09:28.500 --> 00:09:34.200 So our jobs, our health, our skills, our friends and family, 00:09:34.360 --> 00:09:37.820 our possessions, our money, you name it, and keep on going. 00:09:38.080 --> 00:09:40.480 He wants us to think about the entire sum of our lives. 00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:45.860 And he wants us to acknowledge, to come to the place where we put our hands up and say, 00:09:45.980 --> 00:09:46.700 yes, he's right. 00:09:46.820 --> 00:09:47.759 End of verse five. 00:09:48.899 --> 00:09:50.820 That God makes everything. 00:09:52.759 --> 00:09:53.300 Now, what is he saying? 00:09:53.340 --> 00:09:53.920 It's all his. 00:09:55.340 --> 00:09:56.399 It's all his. 00:09:57.080 --> 00:10:00.039 It's wisdom, recognizing that it's not our stuff. 00:10:00.039 --> 00:10:02.740 It's not our stuff. 00:10:05.059 --> 00:10:05.699 It's all his. 00:10:05.799 --> 00:10:10.959 And in light of that, Solomon is pleading with us to use what we have for God's glory 00:10:10.959 --> 00:10:13.559 and according to his purposes. 00:10:13.639 --> 00:10:14.659 Let me just show you how this works. 00:10:14.740 --> 00:10:15.679 Come with me, verse one. 00:10:15.719 --> 00:10:18.879 If you've got an ESV, it reads, cast your bread upon the waters. 00:10:20.199 --> 00:10:24.039 I think captured well by the NIV, if you've got an NIV, it says, ship your grain across 00:10:24.039 --> 00:10:27.459 the sea and after many days you will receive a return. 00:10:27.839 --> 00:10:29.939 Because what's going on here, what he's picturing is a king. 00:10:30.559 --> 00:10:35.639 Putting his finest exports of his country on a boat, getting a crew together and sending 00:10:35.639 --> 00:10:38.620 them off to a faraway country to trade and to make a profit. 00:10:39.219 --> 00:10:44.019 And the image is he's sitting there looking for his crew to come back with good news about 00:10:44.019 --> 00:10:45.059 what they have made. 00:10:45.120 --> 00:10:47.240 So he's sitting there waiting for it to come back. 00:10:48.740 --> 00:10:49.620 And again, do you see it? 00:10:49.679 --> 00:10:52.839 Similarly, verse two, give a portion to seven or to eight. 00:10:52.839 --> 00:10:56.799 So I think he's talking there about giving generously while it's in our power to do it. 00:10:57.359 --> 00:11:00.879 Giving generously to those who need it. 00:11:03.120 --> 00:11:04.939 Because you don't know what tomorrow's going to bring. 00:11:05.939 --> 00:11:09.479 And you don't know whether the power you've got today to do something is not going to be 00:11:09.479 --> 00:11:10.819 there tomorrow. 00:11:12.379 --> 00:11:12.599 Right? 00:11:12.679 --> 00:11:14.639 And just tap into the imagery that he's using here. 00:11:14.699 --> 00:11:15.120 Do you see it? 00:11:15.179 --> 00:11:16.379 You can't stop it raining. 00:11:16.519 --> 00:11:17.159 That's what he's saying. 00:11:17.659 --> 00:11:18.699 You can't stop it raining. 00:11:18.700 --> 00:11:22.879 Like, boy, I wish that was true living in this country. 00:11:22.960 --> 00:11:23.060 Right? 00:11:23.100 --> 00:11:24.080 That was Monday, wasn't it? 00:11:24.100 --> 00:11:24.660 What did they say? 00:11:25.520 --> 00:11:27.180 Rain of biblical proportions. 00:11:27.440 --> 00:11:28.820 It's a phrase we use here. 00:11:29.560 --> 00:11:30.680 You can't stop it raining. 00:11:30.759 --> 00:11:32.180 And you can't stop a tree falling. 00:11:32.300 --> 00:11:34.400 There's an inevitability by what he's saying here. 00:11:35.540 --> 00:11:36.720 You can't stop it. 00:11:36.720 --> 00:11:41.220 But, verse four, don't go making excuses that you're waiting for the perfect conditions 00:11:41.220 --> 00:11:44.060 before you will invest what God has given you for his glory. 00:11:44.240 --> 00:11:46.160 Because you have no idea when they will come. 00:11:46.400 --> 00:11:48.120 And you've not even got an idea what they are. 00:11:48.700 --> 00:11:52.879 It seems to me what he's saying. 00:11:52.960 --> 00:11:53.680 Now, remember what he's saying. 00:11:53.759 --> 00:11:57.900 In light of this book, he's learned that the fear of the Lord, right, is the best way 00:11:57.900 --> 00:11:58.940 to live one's life. 00:11:59.280 --> 00:12:03.600 What he's saying is trust the Lord with what he's giving you and get going. 00:12:06.020 --> 00:12:08.400 And he reflects on two things about the way God works. 00:12:08.480 --> 00:12:09.000 You see it there. 00:12:09.120 --> 00:12:11.040 Firstly, he reflects on the way God works. 00:12:11.120 --> 00:12:12.280 Firstly, that it's mysterious. 00:12:12.540 --> 00:12:13.080 Look what he says. 00:12:13.440 --> 00:12:14.620 He talks about the wind. 00:12:15.620 --> 00:12:17.660 Have you no idea where the wind's coming and going? 00:12:17.659 --> 00:12:20.500 No idea how it works. 00:12:20.819 --> 00:12:24.679 And I remember in my lawyer days, I used to work for energy companies. 00:12:24.759 --> 00:12:29.199 What we used to do is we used to negotiate for them deals with the landowner so that they 00:12:29.199 --> 00:12:31.740 could put their wind turbines on the land, right? 00:12:31.799 --> 00:12:32.480 That's what we used to do. 00:12:33.419 --> 00:12:38.559 And these big companies would pour money and time and resources into working out how the 00:12:38.559 --> 00:12:39.639 wind would come and go. 00:12:39.719 --> 00:12:41.600 So that's where they could put their wind turbines. 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:46.259 And they ended up, when they got it, they would put 20 or 30 on a big piece of land to maximize 00:12:46.259 --> 00:12:48.100 profit, but be to hedge their bets. 00:12:48.680 --> 00:12:50.960 They had a clue how the wind worked, how it would blow. 00:12:52.960 --> 00:12:54.159 It's not the way he's saying, isn't it? 00:12:54.180 --> 00:12:55.460 You don't know how God is at work. 00:12:55.620 --> 00:13:02.040 If you think about it, if we see Jesus saying the exact same thing to Nicodemus in John chapter 00:13:02.040 --> 00:13:02.740 three, don't we? 00:13:02.740 --> 00:13:06.919 Nicodemus trying to figure it out from a human point of view. 00:13:07.940 --> 00:13:13.200 And Jesus says, you cannot see the work of God, how God works through his Holy Spirit. 00:13:14.539 --> 00:13:20.419 There's a mystery to how God works, but there's also, it's mysterious, but it's marvelous. 00:13:21.240 --> 00:13:21.960 See what he says? 00:13:22.019 --> 00:13:24.840 He takes us to the womb and he says, what an amazing thing that is. 00:13:25.840 --> 00:13:27.980 What an incredible thing that is. 00:13:27.980 --> 00:13:32.360 And no one really understands how that works. 00:13:34.340 --> 00:13:35.500 But it's an amazing thing. 00:13:35.560 --> 00:13:39.279 I remember with both of our girls being blown away by the 12-week scan, the 20-week scan, 00:13:39.379 --> 00:13:41.639 little feet, little hands thinking, man, you can see the heart. 00:13:43.080 --> 00:13:44.100 How does this work? 00:13:44.320 --> 00:13:45.480 What an incredible thing. 00:13:45.519 --> 00:13:46.560 I don't understand it. 00:13:47.639 --> 00:13:48.100 But you know what? 00:13:48.120 --> 00:13:52.200 I know that child every single day of his or her life is in the hands of this God. 00:13:54.060 --> 00:13:56.220 God's work is marvelous and it's mysterious. 00:13:56.399 --> 00:13:57.259 That's what he's saying. 00:13:57.980 --> 00:14:02.159 And in the light of that, we need to enjoy what he's given us and use it for his glory. 00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:05.840 And all the while, and I think this is a really sobering part of this passage, 00:14:06.779 --> 00:14:11.320 all the while knowing that we will have to give an account for how we have used the things 00:14:11.320 --> 00:14:14.620 that God has given us in this life. 00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:19.360 And I think we need to feel the weight of what he's saying there, 00:14:19.440 --> 00:14:21.779 the seriousness of it when he says it in verse 9. 00:14:21.779 --> 00:14:26.339 For all these things, God will bring us into judgment. 00:14:26.519 --> 00:14:28.019 And otherwise, he will have the last say. 00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:29.600 He will ask us, what have you done? 00:14:30.339 --> 00:14:31.079 What have you done? 00:14:33.139 --> 00:14:35.019 I mean, sitting there thinking, I don't quite get that. 00:14:35.240 --> 00:14:38.740 Friends, let me just say this week to me, last two weeks have proved that we do get this. 00:14:38.740 --> 00:14:39.220 Right? 00:14:39.639 --> 00:14:42.860 I don't know if you saw it on the news this week that the Glasgow, or a few weeks ago, 00:14:42.919 --> 00:14:44.519 the Glasgow Lord Provost stepped down. 00:14:44.620 --> 00:14:45.440 Anyone see that in the news? 00:14:46.200 --> 00:14:46.980 She stepped down. 00:14:47.539 --> 00:14:48.180 What did she do? 00:14:48.259 --> 00:14:54.340 She spent £8,000 on outfits, including, and I wrote it down, 23 pairs of shoes. 00:14:55.539 --> 00:14:55.940 Right? 00:14:55.940 --> 00:14:59.220 If you're in the private sector, nobody's caring how you're spending the money. 00:14:59.400 --> 00:15:01.860 Buy the Jimmy Choo back catalogue for all we care. 00:15:01.940 --> 00:15:02.180 Right? 00:15:02.940 --> 00:15:04.080 But why did we care? 00:15:05.240 --> 00:15:07.160 Because it was our money she was spending. 00:15:08.160 --> 00:15:12.560 And she should be held to account for how she has used our stuff. 00:15:13.300 --> 00:15:17.440 And so why do we think, friends, that it would work any differently to the God who made us 00:15:17.440 --> 00:15:23.320 and created us in his image gloriously, but he's given us stuff to use for his glory? 00:15:23.320 --> 00:15:26.080 It's a very sobering thought what he says here, isn't it? 00:15:27.020 --> 00:15:27.840 And we get that. 00:15:28.780 --> 00:15:29.600 We get that. 00:15:30.800 --> 00:15:34.680 He's telling us to make the most of the opportunities that we have today. 00:15:34.780 --> 00:15:35.500 Don't sit in it. 00:15:36.020 --> 00:15:41.240 Make the most of the opportunities that you have today, trusting our marvellous and mysterious God, 00:15:41.300 --> 00:15:43.700 because you do not know if tomorrow we'll be there. 00:15:45.300 --> 00:15:48.160 So the questions that this passage would ask us at this point, 00:15:48.880 --> 00:15:52.020 it would ask all of us, right, as a church community, are we sowing? 00:15:53.320 --> 00:15:55.840 I think in particular, are we sowing the word? 00:15:57.020 --> 00:15:58.640 Are we telling people about Jesus? 00:15:58.780 --> 00:16:02.440 Are we making the most of every single opportunity afforded to us? 00:16:02.740 --> 00:16:07.100 Are we taking risks for the kingdom and for the renown of the Lord Jesus in this city? 00:16:08.680 --> 00:16:10.220 Or are we playing it safe? 00:16:10.760 --> 00:16:14.460 And are we playing around with the stuff that God has given us? 00:16:16.140 --> 00:16:18.580 You know, remember that Rod Stewart song back at the start, right? 00:16:18.600 --> 00:16:20.780 Remember what we saw this guy Solomon do at chapter 2? 00:16:20.779 --> 00:16:22.419 Remember that? 00:16:23.100 --> 00:16:24.459 I mean, your boy had stuff, right? 00:16:25.559 --> 00:16:26.740 He had stuff. 00:16:27.819 --> 00:16:28.879 He had power. 00:16:29.720 --> 00:16:30.939 He had possessions. 00:16:31.659 --> 00:16:33.379 He had opportunities aplenty. 00:16:33.539 --> 00:16:36.600 And I wonder if this is, I just wonder, right, is this him looking back 00:16:36.600 --> 00:16:40.019 on what he did and what he had and thinking to himself, 00:16:40.159 --> 00:16:40.939 man, what was I doing? 00:16:42.519 --> 00:16:43.360 What was I doing? 00:16:43.360 --> 00:16:48.000 And he's saying, use what you have for the glory of the Lord. 00:16:48.080 --> 00:16:49.320 Think about what's been given to you. 00:16:49.399 --> 00:16:52.120 Second point, think about what will be taken from you. 00:16:52.220 --> 00:16:53.000 Let me go back on there. 00:16:53.180 --> 00:16:54.320 What will be taken from you? 00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:59.399 Why does he want people to get this fear of the Lord thing while they are young? 00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:01.379 That's the question, I guess, of this passage, isn't it? 00:17:01.399 --> 00:17:02.259 Why do you want them to get it? 00:17:02.519 --> 00:17:05.140 Well, notice the key word, and this is one of the key words in this passage. 00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:08.519 It's the words at the end of verse 1, and it's the word before. 00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:11.119 You see that word before? 00:17:12.279 --> 00:17:15.700 And he kind of throws it in there a couple of times in that chapter as well. 00:17:15.779 --> 00:17:16.139 Before. 00:17:16.359 --> 00:17:19.839 So there's something we need to get before something happens. 00:17:20.819 --> 00:17:24.720 He wants us to understand something before disaster happens. 00:17:24.759 --> 00:17:28.619 That's what he's saying because he lays out for us two realities 00:17:28.619 --> 00:17:31.779 that will happen to each one of us, and he wants us to learn the lesson 00:17:31.779 --> 00:17:34.839 before these things happen, before it is too late. 00:17:34.839 --> 00:17:37.339 And the first one of these is that our health will fade. 00:17:38.519 --> 00:17:39.680 That's what he's saying, right? 00:17:39.740 --> 00:17:43.359 Our health will fade. 00:17:45.019 --> 00:17:48.940 Verses 3 and 4, he's kind of getting us to picture our lives like a house, 00:17:49.519 --> 00:17:53.279 and he's saying, what are you going to do when that house starts to fall apart? 00:17:53.400 --> 00:17:54.980 We're facing it with our car at the minute. 00:17:55.099 --> 00:17:57.740 Our car, everything's failing. 00:17:58.599 --> 00:17:59.240 Everything's failing. 00:17:59.319 --> 00:18:00.779 It's the kind of same thing he's doing with our house. 00:18:00.779 --> 00:18:04.660 He gets us to picture our lives like a house, 00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:06.879 and his metaphor is all over the place here, right? 00:18:06.940 --> 00:18:08.139 The keepers of the house. 00:18:08.140 --> 00:18:09.100 You see that language? 00:18:09.460 --> 00:18:10.240 Person's arms. 00:18:10.360 --> 00:18:11.700 This is what many people think he's doing. 00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:15.440 The grinders going are a person's teeth. 00:18:15.620 --> 00:18:16.880 Strong men stooping. 00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:17.920 We get that one, right? 00:18:18.060 --> 00:18:19.720 That's backs hunching. 00:18:20.360 --> 00:18:21.960 Seeing dimly through windows. 00:18:22.080 --> 00:18:24.080 That's eyes that are beginning to fail. 00:18:24.300 --> 00:18:28.060 And later on, he talks about a grasshopper that's no longer able to spring. 00:18:28.220 --> 00:18:29.480 We get what he's saying here. 00:18:30.740 --> 00:18:32.940 It's a scary thing when this happens to us. 00:18:34.140 --> 00:18:35.080 You get his point. 00:18:35.079 --> 00:18:42.960 You know, it was Canadian artist Douglas Copeland, who, I think it's a genius, he once said of human beings, 00:18:43.079 --> 00:18:46.159 isn't it funny that we spend our youth trying to get money? 00:18:46.899 --> 00:18:49.779 And then when we're older, isn't it funny that we spend our money trying to get youth? 00:18:51.679 --> 00:18:52.919 Fascinating observation, isn't it? 00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:54.839 This guy's an atheist, I believe. 00:18:55.460 --> 00:18:56.099 Even a believer. 00:18:56.359 --> 00:18:58.839 It says, isn't that fascinating how we work as human beings? 00:18:58.960 --> 00:18:59.699 Bang on the money. 00:18:59.700 --> 00:19:02.740 And this is a scary thing, isn't it? 00:19:02.779 --> 00:19:03.220 Growing old. 00:19:04.460 --> 00:19:07.019 We're no longer able to do the things that we're able to do. 00:19:07.100 --> 00:19:08.220 It's a scary place to be. 00:19:09.519 --> 00:19:10.860 This is what he's picturing here. 00:19:11.700 --> 00:19:12.640 When our health will fade. 00:19:12.759 --> 00:19:14.400 Secondly, when disaster will strike. 00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:15.779 Verse 4. 00:19:16.220 --> 00:19:18.160 Again, just feel the metaphors, the imagery. 00:19:18.700 --> 00:19:19.940 When there are no more songs. 00:19:20.200 --> 00:19:21.299 No one's singing in the street. 00:19:21.299 --> 00:19:23.399 Verse 5. 00:19:23.559 --> 00:19:24.919 Where mourners are in the streets. 00:19:25.119 --> 00:19:27.419 And the gold bowl is broken. 00:19:27.559 --> 00:19:28.519 The jar is shattered. 00:19:28.700 --> 00:19:29.799 And the wheel is broken. 00:19:29.899 --> 00:19:32.700 So he's picturing those times in life where the storms hit. 00:19:34.180 --> 00:19:35.099 Where they hit. 00:19:36.119 --> 00:19:37.539 And we are left bare. 00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:43.799 And we're left to face up with the reality of the fleetingness of our existence. 00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:46.119 Now we all know those times in our life. 00:19:46.200 --> 00:19:48.879 And we all know, all will know those times in our life. 00:19:48.880 --> 00:19:54.400 And what he's saying here, friends, is that if you've built your identity as a human being. 00:19:54.640 --> 00:19:55.940 On A, how you look. 00:19:56.280 --> 00:19:58.300 Or B, what you're able to do in life. 00:19:58.400 --> 00:19:59.560 See, even those things are gone. 00:20:01.080 --> 00:20:04.440 And you, the rug is taken well out from underneath your feet. 00:20:04.500 --> 00:20:05.480 And you are faced. 00:20:07.540 --> 00:20:10.200 You are floored by reality. 00:20:10.880 --> 00:20:13.940 Friends, he's telling us that you will be in for the fright of your life. 00:20:13.940 --> 00:20:21.039 And I've got a friend who's the football chaplain down at Hearts. 00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:24.860 And I've heard him talk about how he's always asking the players, 00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:27.200 Have you ever thought about what you're going to do when you retire? 00:20:28.620 --> 00:20:28.940 Right? 00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:30.920 Every single one of them, I'm sure he's said, would say, 00:20:31.059 --> 00:20:32.140 I don't want to think about that now. 00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:34.259 I don't want to think about that now. 00:20:34.340 --> 00:20:35.080 I don't think about that then. 00:20:36.259 --> 00:20:38.320 And he says, the only time that they will talk about it 00:20:38.320 --> 00:20:40.019 is when they get injured. 00:20:40.019 --> 00:20:44.500 And all of a sudden, this career that they have built 00:20:44.500 --> 00:20:46.460 on how they're able to perform, 00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:51.000 when that's almost before them is gone, 00:20:52.019 --> 00:20:55.500 then that's when they start to ask questions 00:20:55.500 --> 00:20:58.139 about what is going to happen to them. 00:20:58.440 --> 00:21:01.539 Do you remember that tragic story on our news last year 00:21:01.539 --> 00:21:05.940 when the 28-year-old Argentinian footballer 00:21:05.940 --> 00:21:07.279 gets on a plane in France 00:21:07.279 --> 00:21:09.940 with his biggest career move ahead of him? 00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:10.319 Right? 00:21:10.400 --> 00:21:11.639 The world is at his feet. 00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:13.059 He is all over the news. 00:21:13.160 --> 00:21:14.379 He gets on a plane in France 00:21:14.379 --> 00:21:17.119 to go to Cardiff to sign for his team, new team. 00:21:18.200 --> 00:21:19.839 And he crashes an English Channel. 00:21:22.599 --> 00:21:26.019 And the sobering reality of life is before us all. 00:21:27.059 --> 00:21:28.859 And this is what he is saying. 00:21:30.539 --> 00:21:34.359 Face up to the realities of life. 00:21:34.359 --> 00:21:38.319 Learn that your life is but a breath. 00:21:39.279 --> 00:21:42.859 And learn to live it in relation to the God who made you, 00:21:42.979 --> 00:21:44.039 submitting to him. 00:21:44.559 --> 00:21:47.219 And invest what you have now before it is too late. 00:21:47.220 --> 00:21:52.160 Let me just tell you from a pastoral point of view, friends, 00:21:52.220 --> 00:21:54.000 that you can tell somebody who's learned this 00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:55.059 and somebody who hasn't. 00:21:59.140 --> 00:22:00.059 You can tell it. 00:22:00.059 --> 00:22:03.460 Those who have taken to life. 00:22:04.039 --> 00:22:05.379 Sorry, those who have taken to heart 00:22:05.379 --> 00:22:07.779 what Jesus says in Matthew chapter 7. 00:22:08.919 --> 00:22:09.139 Right? 00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:11.919 You know that one there that Jesus is speaking to the listening crowd 00:22:11.919 --> 00:22:13.179 and he's getting them to think about 00:22:13.179 --> 00:22:15.480 what they are basing their life upon 00:22:15.480 --> 00:22:17.679 as he's just delivered the Sermon on the Mount. 00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:21.039 And he finishes it by talking about two men, doesn't he? 00:22:21.120 --> 00:22:24.100 Who's the fool in that parable? 00:22:24.279 --> 00:22:26.519 It's the guy who builds his house in the sand. 00:22:27.840 --> 00:22:28.000 Right? 00:22:28.259 --> 00:22:29.060 Unstable ground. 00:22:29.560 --> 00:22:30.900 And who is the wise man? 00:22:30.980 --> 00:22:33.700 The one who builds his house upon the rock. 00:22:35.799 --> 00:22:38.400 But the thing is, nobody wants a house that's on the rock. 00:22:38.519 --> 00:22:38.680 Right? 00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:40.700 We've all been on Airbnb and booked a holiday. 00:22:40.820 --> 00:22:42.660 Say, no, I want the house that's on the sand 00:22:42.660 --> 00:22:44.480 because I want the view of the sea. 00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:45.960 I want to hear the seagulls. 00:22:45.960 --> 00:22:47.420 I want the dolphins to be able to come up 00:22:47.420 --> 00:22:48.880 and deliver me breakfast in the morning. 00:22:48.980 --> 00:22:50.660 I don't want to be up here on the rock. 00:22:52.860 --> 00:22:54.160 But friends, what happened 00:22:54.160 --> 00:22:56.620 is that the storms came 00:22:56.620 --> 00:23:00.799 and the house on the sand didn't stand. 00:23:02.059 --> 00:23:04.400 The context, of course, in that parable, 00:23:04.500 --> 00:23:05.740 what is Jesus talking about? 00:23:05.779 --> 00:23:06.500 What is the rock? 00:23:06.600 --> 00:23:08.039 It is his words. 00:23:09.120 --> 00:23:10.720 In other words, it's him. 00:23:11.259 --> 00:23:14.940 It is him that we need to base our lives upon. 00:23:14.940 --> 00:23:16.240 Who he is. 00:23:16.640 --> 00:23:18.380 What he did for us on the cross. 00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:20.820 The son of God who loved me 00:23:20.820 --> 00:23:24.559 and who gave himself for me. 00:23:24.900 --> 00:23:26.519 Giving me his righteousness 00:23:26.519 --> 00:23:29.380 that I may come to know this holy God 00:23:29.380 --> 00:23:31.140 and call him Father. 00:23:32.660 --> 00:23:33.840 And this is what he's saying. 00:23:33.920 --> 00:23:34.860 This is true wisdom. 00:23:34.980 --> 00:23:37.160 To understand that your life is but a breath 00:23:37.160 --> 00:23:38.600 and to come and bow and say, 00:23:38.680 --> 00:23:40.080 Lord Jesus, I need you. 00:23:40.640 --> 00:23:41.980 Now, I don't often do this, okay? 00:23:41.980 --> 00:23:43.779 But let me just lift up a member 00:23:43.779 --> 00:23:45.039 of this congregation in here 00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:46.200 who I had a conversation with 00:23:46.200 --> 00:23:47.640 about six months ago. 00:23:48.779 --> 00:23:49.500 Evening service. 00:23:49.640 --> 00:23:50.299 And I really encourage you, 00:23:50.299 --> 00:23:51.579 if you don't come to the evening service, 00:23:51.640 --> 00:23:53.259 you can have these kind of conversations 00:23:53.259 --> 00:23:54.220 at the evening service 00:23:54.220 --> 00:23:55.319 that you might not be able to have 00:23:55.319 --> 00:23:56.839 at the morning service. 00:23:57.440 --> 00:23:58.519 And I asked Archie. 00:23:58.980 --> 00:24:00.000 Archie's a... 00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:01.279 He had his 90th birthday recently. 00:24:01.400 --> 00:24:02.920 Archie never tells us how old he is. 00:24:03.360 --> 00:24:04.819 But he had his 90th birthday. 00:24:04.900 --> 00:24:05.579 He's somewhere over there. 00:24:05.579 --> 00:24:08.099 And I said to him, 00:24:08.199 --> 00:24:09.839 Archie, how can I be praying for you this week? 00:24:11.220 --> 00:24:11.579 Right? 00:24:11.619 --> 00:24:13.119 And he's not short of physical pains. 00:24:13.679 --> 00:24:14.419 But he said to me, 00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:16.779 you can pray for my devotional life. 00:24:18.139 --> 00:24:18.740 In other words, 00:24:18.779 --> 00:24:20.879 you can pray for my walk with Jesus. 00:24:22.179 --> 00:24:24.359 Because what is it that he's learned through life? 00:24:24.399 --> 00:24:26.039 And he will have seen some stuff in his life. 00:24:26.079 --> 00:24:26.740 What does he learn? 00:24:27.059 --> 00:24:28.720 He's learned that when all this fades 00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:30.299 and all this goes, 00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:31.720 Jesus remains. 00:24:31.720 --> 00:24:36.299 And that is where he wants to be investing his time. 00:24:36.400 --> 00:24:38.100 And that will go in my ministry memoirs 00:24:38.100 --> 00:24:38.819 when I'm 80. 00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:41.620 About true wisdom in life. 00:24:43.700 --> 00:24:44.600 Solomon says, 00:24:45.579 --> 00:24:46.740 there's a guy who's learned it. 00:24:48.299 --> 00:24:51.200 Remember your creator 00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:53.700 in the days of your youth. 00:24:54.759 --> 00:24:55.200 Learn it. 00:24:55.279 --> 00:24:55.860 That's what he's saying. 00:24:56.000 --> 00:24:56.620 Learn it. 00:24:57.980 --> 00:25:00.000 Let's think about what's been given to us. 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:02.980 And let's think about what will be taken from us. 00:25:03.019 --> 00:25:04.880 And do you see how the two are intrinsically linked? 00:25:05.960 --> 00:25:06.819 Intrinsically linked. 00:25:07.880 --> 00:25:10.839 The understanding that our lives are in Christ's hands. 00:25:11.480 --> 00:25:11.599 Right? 00:25:11.619 --> 00:25:12.420 He holds it. 00:25:12.500 --> 00:25:13.480 He holds us. 00:25:14.180 --> 00:25:15.299 He'll never let us go. 00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:19.019 Understanding that our identity is built on him. 00:25:19.099 --> 00:25:21.539 The solid and unchanging rock. 00:25:21.640 --> 00:25:22.779 It frees us up 00:25:22.779 --> 00:25:25.740 to take gospel risks for the glory of God. 00:25:25.859 --> 00:25:27.400 And to take and make the most of 00:25:27.400 --> 00:25:29.180 every single opportunity 00:25:29.180 --> 00:25:32.040 that we had afforded in this life. 00:25:33.640 --> 00:25:34.660 Now just as we close, 00:25:34.720 --> 00:25:34.940 you're thinking, 00:25:35.040 --> 00:25:36.480 what does this look like for me? 00:25:37.960 --> 00:25:39.220 Well, let me just close by telling you 00:25:39.220 --> 00:25:40.180 a little story, okay? 00:25:40.220 --> 00:25:41.100 Of something that happened to me 00:25:41.100 --> 00:25:42.019 a couple of weeks ago. 00:25:43.780 --> 00:25:45.280 I took the girls to the, 00:25:45.380 --> 00:25:46.360 two little girls, 00:25:46.420 --> 00:25:47.500 took them to the Commonwealth pool. 00:25:48.259 --> 00:25:48.420 Okay? 00:25:48.460 --> 00:25:50.220 It was a couple of weeks ago, 00:25:50.280 --> 00:25:50.780 if you remember that. 00:25:50.840 --> 00:25:51.840 It was tipping it down. 00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:53.679 And we took our seat, 00:25:54.579 --> 00:25:55.659 waiting for our turn to go in. 00:25:55.699 --> 00:25:57.839 And there's a mum opposite us 00:25:57.839 --> 00:25:59.159 with two children. 00:25:59.399 --> 00:26:01.059 Two kind of similar age to our girls. 00:26:01.539 --> 00:26:02.839 And she's wearing a hoodie. 00:26:03.720 --> 00:26:04.459 And on the hoodie, 00:26:04.559 --> 00:26:05.759 it says Acts 29. 00:26:06.619 --> 00:26:06.779 Okay? 00:26:06.879 --> 00:26:08.699 Now, Acts 29 is a church planting movement 00:26:08.699 --> 00:26:09.339 around the world. 00:26:09.439 --> 00:26:10.639 Planting churches all over the world. 00:26:11.399 --> 00:26:12.000 Acts 29. 00:26:12.119 --> 00:26:13.399 And I just said to her across the table, 00:26:13.480 --> 00:26:13.679 I was like, 00:26:13.699 --> 00:26:14.339 I love your hoodie. 00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:15.939 There's a code for, 00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:16.699 I'm a Christian too. 00:26:16.859 --> 00:26:17.000 Right? 00:26:17.039 --> 00:26:18.000 We all know the game we're playing. 00:26:18.119 --> 00:26:18.879 I'm a Christian too. 00:26:18.880 --> 00:26:20.760 And she says, 00:26:20.840 --> 00:26:21.520 thank you so much. 00:26:21.660 --> 00:26:21.980 Do you know what? 00:26:22.640 --> 00:26:24.260 We go to Nidri Community Church. 00:26:25.420 --> 00:26:27.100 And I wrote down her phrase. 00:26:27.180 --> 00:26:27.660 She wrote this. 00:26:27.980 --> 00:26:29.040 And Jesus has saved me 00:26:29.040 --> 00:26:30.140 from all the naughty stuff. 00:26:30.680 --> 00:26:31.340 So she said. 00:26:31.620 --> 00:26:31.780 Right? 00:26:32.100 --> 00:26:33.560 And her face was beaming. 00:26:34.400 --> 00:26:35.300 I mean, beaming. 00:26:36.460 --> 00:26:37.820 Which was awesome to see. 00:26:38.440 --> 00:26:39.760 Just awesome to see. 00:26:39.920 --> 00:26:40.280 But then she, 00:26:40.380 --> 00:26:41.140 this was the best bit. 00:26:41.180 --> 00:26:42.500 She turned around and she said, 00:26:42.860 --> 00:26:44.700 she pointed me to a lady over here. 00:26:44.800 --> 00:26:45.060 She said, 00:26:45.080 --> 00:26:45.860 this is my friend. 00:26:46.380 --> 00:26:46.560 Right? 00:26:46.580 --> 00:26:47.120 This is my friend. 00:26:47.320 --> 00:26:48.440 And I'm pretty sure she said, 00:26:48.440 --> 00:26:49.360 my friend's not a believer. 00:26:50.220 --> 00:26:51.539 But I've brought her along today 00:26:51.539 --> 00:26:52.240 because we're trying to do 00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:53.259 this whole life 00:26:53.259 --> 00:26:55.320 of disciple making thing. 00:26:56.180 --> 00:26:56.360 Right? 00:26:57.299 --> 00:26:57.660 Awesome. 00:26:58.220 --> 00:26:59.259 And outside, 00:26:59.580 --> 00:27:00.720 outside I said, 00:27:00.759 --> 00:27:01.340 oh, that's great. 00:27:01.400 --> 00:27:02.019 But inside I'm going, 00:27:02.160 --> 00:27:02.920 go on sister. 00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:04.340 Go on sister. 00:27:04.380 --> 00:27:05.120 Isn't that not awesome? 00:27:06.080 --> 00:27:06.440 That's what, 00:27:06.740 --> 00:27:08.039 but do you see how that is somebody 00:27:08.039 --> 00:27:08.980 who's learned this? 00:27:09.740 --> 00:27:11.740 That our lives are safe 00:27:11.740 --> 00:27:13.320 in Jesus' hands. 00:27:13.500 --> 00:27:14.559 That there is somebody 00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:15.640 who's learned to make the most 00:27:15.640 --> 00:27:17.120 of every single opportunity 00:27:17.119 --> 00:27:18.639 realizing that life is short. 00:27:18.699 --> 00:27:19.319 And let me tell you, 00:27:19.339 --> 00:27:20.079 we've got good friends 00:27:20.079 --> 00:27:20.839 who work down there. 00:27:21.339 --> 00:27:22.539 They'll tell you that life is short, 00:27:22.599 --> 00:27:23.619 reminded of it every day. 00:27:24.519 --> 00:27:25.979 She has learned that life is short, 00:27:26.099 --> 00:27:28.299 but her life is in Jesus' hands. 00:27:28.679 --> 00:27:30.119 And she is making every, 00:27:30.639 --> 00:27:32.219 making use of every single opportunity 00:27:32.779 --> 00:27:34.399 afforded to her. 00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:35.199 So friends, 00:27:35.239 --> 00:27:36.079 let me just finish with this. 00:27:36.159 --> 00:27:36.239 Right? 00:27:36.259 --> 00:27:37.419 This is what we were singing earlier. 00:27:37.799 --> 00:27:38.379 This is it. 00:27:38.439 --> 00:27:39.539 That's why we sang this song. 00:27:39.719 --> 00:27:39.879 Okay? 00:27:39.880 --> 00:27:43.060 When darkness veils his lovely face, 00:27:43.340 --> 00:27:46.120 I rest on his unchanging grace. 00:27:46.740 --> 00:27:49.180 In every high and stormy gale, 00:27:49.620 --> 00:27:51.980 my anchor holds within the veil. 00:27:52.460 --> 00:27:53.380 On Christ, 00:27:54.040 --> 00:27:55.680 the solid rock I stand. 00:27:56.260 --> 00:27:58.460 All other ground is sinking sand. 00:27:58.920 --> 00:28:01.660 All other ground is sinking sand. 00:28:01.840 --> 00:28:03.120 It's exactly what he's been saying 00:28:03.120 --> 00:28:04.120 in this passage this morning. 00:28:04.240 --> 00:28:05.620 Build your life on Christ. 00:28:06.280 --> 00:28:07.260 Build your life on him. 00:28:07.579 --> 00:28:08.200 Let's pray. 00:28:09.900 --> 00:28:11.180 And just before we close ourselves, 00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:13.379 why don't we just have a couple of moments of quiet, 00:28:13.519 --> 00:28:14.960 maybe just to gather our thoughts 00:28:14.960 --> 00:28:15.879 from the word today, 00:28:16.160 --> 00:28:18.220 but also just as before we head out 00:28:18.220 --> 00:28:19.460 into the business of another, 00:28:20.519 --> 00:28:21.400 another Sunday, 00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:21.920 another week, 00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:22.960 why don't we just gather our thoughts 00:28:22.960 --> 00:28:24.259 and bring our own prayers to God? 00:28:27.859 --> 00:28:29.980 So Jesus said in Matthew chapter seven, 00:28:31.200 --> 00:28:31.720 therefore, 00:28:31.980 --> 00:28:34.140 everyone who hears these words of mine 00:28:34.140 --> 00:28:35.660 and acts on them 00:28:35.660 --> 00:28:37.860 will be like a wise man 00:28:37.860 --> 00:28:39.660 who built his house on the rock. 00:28:40.560 --> 00:28:41.860 The rain fell, 00:28:42.180 --> 00:28:43.220 the rivers rose, 00:28:43.560 --> 00:28:46.080 and the winds blew and pounded that house. 00:28:46.720 --> 00:28:48.120 Yet it didn't collapse 00:28:48.120 --> 00:28:51.800 because its foundation was on the rock. 00:28:53.060 --> 00:28:54.160 Our heavenly father, 00:28:54.259 --> 00:28:55.600 we come to you this morning, 00:28:55.660 --> 00:28:56.220 this afternoon, 00:28:56.220 --> 00:28:57.700 with so many burdens 00:28:57.700 --> 00:28:59.759 and worries. 00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:01.539 And Lord, 00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:02.460 thank you so much 00:29:02.460 --> 00:29:03.359 that you are a God 00:29:03.359 --> 00:29:04.279 who tells us 00:29:04.279 --> 00:29:06.119 to cast our burdens on you 00:29:06.119 --> 00:29:07.779 because you care for us. 00:29:08.839 --> 00:29:09.059 And Lord, 00:29:09.099 --> 00:29:10.119 it's our prayer this week 00:29:10.119 --> 00:29:11.160 that you would help us 00:29:11.160 --> 00:29:14.180 to find our identity in Christ, 00:29:14.960 --> 00:29:19.259 to sit at his feet every day, 00:29:20.059 --> 00:29:22.019 remembering what he has done for us. 00:29:22.740 --> 00:29:22.980 Lord, 00:29:23.019 --> 00:29:24.240 we realize there's so many things 00:29:24.240 --> 00:29:25.139 that would distract us 00:29:25.139 --> 00:29:26.420 and compete for our attention, 00:29:26.539 --> 00:29:26.779 but Lord, 00:29:26.819 --> 00:29:28.139 we pray that you would help us 00:29:28.139 --> 00:29:30.819 to help keep our eyes fixed on him. 00:29:31.740 --> 00:29:31.980 Lord, 00:29:32.059 --> 00:29:33.799 thank you that you are good all the time 00:29:33.799 --> 00:29:35.660 and your steadfast love endures forever. 00:29:35.779 --> 00:29:36.660 We pray these things 00:29:36.660 --> 00:29:37.920 in his precious name. 00:29:38.319 --> 00:29:38.619 Amen. 00:29:38.619 --> 00:29:38.740 Amen. 00:29:38.799 --> 00:29:38.819 Amen. 00:29:38.819 --> 00:29:38.879 Amen. 00:29:38.879 --> 00:29:38.900 Amen. 00:29:38.900 --> 00:29:40.819 Amen. 00:29:40.819 --> 00:29:40.920 Amen. 00:29:40.920 --> 00:29:40.940 Amen. 00:29:40.940 --> 00:29:40.960 Amen.