WEBVTT

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 Would you pray with me as we begin?

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 Our Father in heaven, our eyes are so often on ourselves

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 and it's quite overwhelming when we just focus on ourselves

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 and we pray that you would speak to us this morning through Isaiah 40

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 and just lift our eyes above to look at you, to see you clearly.

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 Lord, we can't do this by our own strength.

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 We need your help to do this.

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 So please show us your glory this morning.

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 In Jesus' name, amen.

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 Well, do you feel the burden of trying to create paradise on earth?

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 You know that mirage that is just up ahead of you

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 where everything in life is finally sorted and in place.

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 Your health being under control, enough money in the bank

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 for bills and lifestyle and then a buffer.

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 Succeeding in your work or study, feeling competent, important,

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 but not too stressed.

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 Having that intimate relationship with not major arguments.

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 Your children respecting you and thriving at school,

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 feeling like you belong in the church community.

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 Having that perfect balance between family and church

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 and leisure and work and sleeping well at night.

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 And maybe you really want people around you to come to know Jesus

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 and you want people to be integrated in the church,

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 growing in their faith and love,

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 and you want society ordered in a way that pleases God.

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 It can be overwhelming at times, can't it?

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 Sounds pretty good.

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 Sometimes we feel close to getting it, don't we?

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 We're just on the verge of that mirage.

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 Like when we get accepted for that job,

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 we think everything else will just fall into place.

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 But I think the rest of the time,

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 our usual experience is we're just striving

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 to create this paradise.

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 And it can just feel like a burden.

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 It can feel very heavy.

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 Especially when one of two things happens.

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 First, sometimes we encounter people

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 who have a different idea of paradise

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 and their idea of paradise just gets in the way of mine.

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 Or just things beyond our control.

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 Just make all our efforts useless.

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 So do you feel the burden of trying to create paradise?

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 In the time of Isaiah, speaking chapter 40,

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 Israel was meant to be Yahweh's unique covenant people,

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 living in Yahweh's promised land,

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 with him ruling and protecting them

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 through their king,

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 and having Yahweh dwelling among them,

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 represented by the grand temple that Solomon built.

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 But at this point in time,

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 because of the seemingly unstoppable force

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 of the Babylonian empire,

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 they lived outside the land.

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 Their last king to sit on the throne

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 had his eyes plucked out.

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 And the temple is burnt down and demolished.

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 If you were living then,

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 how confident would you be

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 that your God alone created the heavens and the earth?

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 How confident would you be

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 that God's plan for his world is on track?

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 How confident are you today?

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 that God alone created and rules all things,

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 and therefore his plan is on track?

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 We need to appreciate who created all things.

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 This morning we're not going to spend our time

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 looking into the details of how God created the world,

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 the debate, the discussion,

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 whether it's seven literal days or not,

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 the age of the universe.

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 These questions are fine to investigate.

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 But to live well,

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 we need to know what God's purpose for his creation is.

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 We need to know the who and the why.

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 So that's why we're looking at Isaiah 40,

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 because Isaiah 40 just has these brilliant images

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 that help us look up and see the who.

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 So let's do that.

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 Verse 12.

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 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand?

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 And marked off the heavens with a span.

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 Now, I've used this illustration a couple of years ago.

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 The average hand span is somewhere between 15 and 25 centimetres.

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 And if you imagine our sun in the sky,

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 if its diameter is represented as one millimetre,

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 then the distance from the sun to Earth is about 10 centimetres.

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 There are hundreds of millions of stars in our galaxy alone.

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 And if you were to measure the distance

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 to our nearest neighbour,

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 on the scale we're using,

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 it would be 30 kilometres away.

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 And God measures the entire universe.

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 It's about that.

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 All the earth,

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 all the heavens are simple

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 and easily held

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 with a single hand

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 by the Lord alone.

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 Verse 13 and 14.

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 Who has measured the spirit of the Lord?

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 Or what man shows him his counsel?

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 Whom did he consult?

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 And who made him understand?

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 Who taught him the path of justice

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 and taught him knowledge

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 and showed him the way of understanding?

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 The Lord did not need a training course.

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 He didn't need a YouTube video.

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 He didn't need a second opinion

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 to check his calculations.

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 He didn't need a team of labourers

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 to do the heavy lifting.

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 He didn't even need a Bunnings.

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 He did it

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 all by his own power and wisdom.

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 Verse 28.

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 Have you not known?

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 Have you not heard?

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 The Lord is the everlasting God,

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 the creator of the ends of the earth.

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 Do you not know?

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 And it's not like God began all things

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 and then just sat back

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 and let it run its course.

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 No, our creator continually sustains

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 and governs all things.

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 Have a look and listen and imagine

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 verses 21 to 26.

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 Do you not know?

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 Do you not hear?

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 Has it not been told you from the beginning?

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 Have you not understood

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 from the foundations of the earth?

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 It is he who sits above the circle of the earth

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 and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers.

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 Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain

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 and spreads them like a tent to dwell in.

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 Who brings princes to nothing

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 and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness.

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 Scarcely are they planted,

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 scarcely sown,

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 scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth

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 when he blows on them and they wither

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 and the tempest carries them off like stubble.

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 To whom then will you compare me

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 that I should be like him?

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 Says the Holy One.

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 Lift up your eyes on high

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 and see who created all these.

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 He who brings out their hosts by number,

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 calling them all by name,

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 by the greatness of his might

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 and because he is strong in power,

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 not one is missing.

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 Do you struggle like me to remember names?

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 Now people are important to me

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 but I just, I struggle.

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 You might have heard me last week

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 call Jamie's Cosima Cosumi.

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 Each of the millions of stars

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 in the billions of galaxies,

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 God knows them fully.

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 He knows them individually by name

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 and they are in the exact place

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 he wants them.

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 Isn't that good news?

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 If he can do it with the stars,

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 surely he knows us as well.

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 I'm reminded when I look at the Southern Cross

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 that one of those stars

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 is about 88 light years away.

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 That's probably longer than,

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 as in 88 years,

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 that's probably longer than I'm going to live on this earth.

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 And if God is sustaining that star,

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 it just reminds me that God is sustaining me.

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 It's in its place.

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 He's got me in my place as well.

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 What about society

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 and human power and politics?

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 Did you see the image there

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 that he used?

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 That unstoppable Babylonian army

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 that took you away, Israel?

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 They're like a single drop

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 in a bucket to me.

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 They're like the dust on the scales.

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 They don't even register.

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 All the might of human power

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 is like our herb garden at home.

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 We've got coriander and parsley.

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 But all of a sudden,

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 our basil turned from green to black.

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 There are forces much bigger than us

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 that we feel is just beyond our control,

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 but not to God.

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 To our Creator,

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 all flesh is like grass.

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 He easily controls them,

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 rules over them.

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 Do you think you're in control?

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 We often speak as Christians

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 as if it's a choice

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 whether we live dependent on God

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 or whether we try and strive

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 by our own strength.

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 And in terms of our own attitude,

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 that's a really good question

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 to reflect on.

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 But in terms of what just is,

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 our existence,

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 there is no choice.

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 You are utterly dependent

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 on your Creator.

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 You and I are dust.

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 We are grass.

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 We are extremely limited

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 and vulnerable

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 and utterly dependent.

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 Therefore,

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 life

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 and this world

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 should all be seen

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 as a gift,

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 not as something

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 we can

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 control.

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 The Lord

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 is the only one

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 who created

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 and governs

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 all things.

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 In year 12

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 at school,

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 for my design

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 and tech project,

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 I made this coffee table

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 and it had lights in it

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 and it's meant to flash

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 to the beat of the music

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 and I poured hours

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 and hours

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 into that project

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 and I needed a lot

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 of help with it as well.

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 Every millimetre,

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 I was so careful

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 and I put this

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 custom-made glass top

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 on it

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 so that it protected

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 the lights

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 and so that it could be

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 used as a coffee table.

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 Now,

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 fast forward

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 to a youth group event

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 at my house.

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 You already know

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 it's not going to end well.

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 And during a Bible study,

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 some boys decided

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 it would be a good idea

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 if this coffee table

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 was used as a chair

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 and the glass cracked

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 and so did my heart.

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 Because I made

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 the coffee table,

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 I had the right

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 to say what its purpose was

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 and what it wasn't for.

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 If it was one of you

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 who broke the table,

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 I really don't care that much.

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 I've moved on.

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 So what is God's purpose

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 in making human beings

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 and the entire cosmos?

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 We really need to know

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 the answer to this question

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 and amazingly,

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 God has revealed it to us.

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 Now,

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 we could

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 glean the answers

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 from Isaiah 40.

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 It is

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 very clear

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 in Isaiah 40

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 but let's flip back

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 to Genesis 2.

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 So could you turn back

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 to Genesis 2

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 with me?

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 To get to the heart

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 of God's purpose,

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 how would you answer

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 this question?

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 Whose home

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 did God build?

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 Is earth

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 a home for people

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 or is it a home

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 for God?

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 If your first thoughts

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 are anything like mine,

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 you might be thinking

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 God doesn't need a home.

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 The whole universe

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 isn't big enough

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 to contain God.

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 And you'd be right.

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 The Bible says that clearly.

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 And then you consider

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 the precision

00:16:11.720 --> 00:16:12.799
 and the complexity

00:16:12.799 --> 00:16:14.720
 of this world

00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:17.200
 and it's just amazing.

00:16:17.700 --> 00:16:18.820
 Life thrives.

00:16:19.240 --> 00:16:20.259
 The ocean is full

00:16:20.259 --> 00:16:20.779
 of weird

00:16:20.779 --> 00:16:21.820
 and wonderful things.

00:16:22.740 --> 00:16:23.180
 The earth

00:16:23.180 --> 00:16:24.080
 is just covered

00:16:24.080 --> 00:16:25.000
 with plants

00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:25.620
 and animals

00:16:25.620 --> 00:16:26.680
 and people

00:16:26.680 --> 00:16:27.759
 and the sky

00:16:27.759 --> 00:16:28.720
 is full of birds.

00:16:30.500 --> 00:16:31.519
 We might think

00:16:31.519 --> 00:16:32.240
 it's clearly

00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:32.920
 designed

00:16:32.920 --> 00:16:33.560
 for physical

00:16:33.560 --> 00:16:34.720
 beings.

00:16:35.759 --> 00:16:36.300
 And again,

00:16:37.300 --> 00:16:38.200
 the Bible says

00:16:38.200 --> 00:16:38.860
 that clearly.

00:16:40.560 --> 00:16:41.480
 It is a home

00:16:41.480 --> 00:16:42.019
 for us.

00:16:42.019 --> 00:16:44.000
 But Genesis 2

00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:45.079
 gives an even

00:16:45.079 --> 00:16:46.980
 fuller explanation

00:16:46.980 --> 00:16:49.139
 for why God

00:16:49.139 --> 00:16:49.919
 made everything.

00:16:50.519 --> 00:16:51.139
 The key

00:16:51.139 --> 00:16:52.079
 is in the first

00:16:52.079 --> 00:16:52.819
 three verses.

00:16:55.819 --> 00:16:57.139
 Thus the heavens

00:16:57.139 --> 00:16:57.720
 and the earth

00:16:57.720 --> 00:16:58.360
 were finished

00:16:58.360 --> 00:17:00.220
 and all the host

00:17:00.220 --> 00:17:00.579
 of them.

00:17:01.779 --> 00:17:03.159
 And on the seventh day

00:17:03.159 --> 00:17:04.000
 God finished

00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:04.660
 his work

00:17:04.660 --> 00:17:06.039
 that he had done

00:17:06.039 --> 00:17:07.720
 and he rested

00:17:07.720 --> 00:17:09.440
 on the seventh day

00:17:09.440 --> 00:17:10.660
 from all his work

00:17:10.660 --> 00:17:11.720
 that he had done.

00:17:12.880 --> 00:17:13.820
 So God blessed

00:17:13.820 --> 00:17:14.480
 the seventh day

00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:15.240
 and made it holy

00:17:15.240 --> 00:17:16.460
 because on it

00:17:16.460 --> 00:17:17.759
 God rested

00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:19.420
 from all the work

00:17:19.420 --> 00:17:20.800
 that he had done

00:17:20.800 --> 00:17:21.540
 in creation.

00:17:22.820 --> 00:17:23.620
 Now God does not

00:17:23.620 --> 00:17:24.580
 grow tired or weary.

00:17:24.920 --> 00:17:25.420
 He didn't need

00:17:25.420 --> 00:17:26.300
 to have a sit down

00:17:26.300 --> 00:17:27.340
 because he was tired.

00:17:28.259 --> 00:17:29.620
 For God to rest

00:17:29.620 --> 00:17:31.779
 means something

00:17:31.779 --> 00:17:32.560
 along the lines

00:17:32.560 --> 00:17:33.840
 of God enjoying,

00:17:34.779 --> 00:17:36.440
 God having the purpose

00:17:36.440 --> 00:17:37.620
 for which he made

00:17:37.620 --> 00:17:38.220
 the world.

00:17:38.220 --> 00:17:40.680
 God

00:17:40.680 --> 00:17:40.740
 so

00:17:40.740 --> 00:17:43.220
 like a car enthusiast

00:17:43.220 --> 00:17:44.880
 who after putting

00:17:44.880 --> 00:17:46.180
 the engine back together

00:17:46.180 --> 00:17:47.519
 goes for a drive

00:17:47.519 --> 00:17:49.839
 after all the work

00:17:49.839 --> 00:17:50.600
 of construction

00:17:50.600 --> 00:17:51.740
 enjoys

00:17:51.740 --> 00:17:52.980
 the car

00:17:52.980 --> 00:17:54.900
 or like sitting

00:17:54.900 --> 00:17:56.100
 around the family

00:17:56.100 --> 00:17:57.279
 table after cooking

00:17:57.279 --> 00:17:57.720
 a home

00:17:57.720 --> 00:17:59.039
 home cooked meal.

00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:00.920
 It's enjoying

00:18:00.920 --> 00:18:01.799
 your creation

00:18:01.799 --> 00:18:03.559
 or like a builder

00:18:03.559 --> 00:18:04.380
 and his family

00:18:04.380 --> 00:18:05.140
 moving in

00:18:05.140 --> 00:18:06.059
 to his home

00:18:06.059 --> 00:18:07.279
 after the construction

00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:07.940
 is complete.

00:18:12.059 --> 00:18:12.980
 Notice that

00:18:12.980 --> 00:18:13.799
 unlike

00:18:13.799 --> 00:18:15.839
 the other six days

00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:17.299
 of creation

00:18:17.299 --> 00:18:19.240
 that there's a

00:18:19.240 --> 00:18:20.859
 definite finishing point

00:18:20.859 --> 00:18:21.519
 with those.

00:18:21.839 --> 00:18:22.519
 There was evening

00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:23.519
 and there was morning

00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:24.379
 the first day.

00:18:24.740 --> 00:18:25.359
 There was evening

00:18:25.359 --> 00:18:26.200
 and there was morning

00:18:26.200 --> 00:18:27.079
 the second day.

00:18:27.339 --> 00:18:28.500
 But for the seventh day

00:18:28.500 --> 00:18:29.480
 there is no finish.

00:18:30.859 --> 00:18:31.700
 The theme

00:18:31.700 --> 00:18:32.740
 of God's rest

00:18:32.740 --> 00:18:34.160
 runs all the way

00:18:34.160 --> 00:18:34.879
 through the Bible.

00:18:34.880 --> 00:18:39.500
 For God to rest

00:18:39.500 --> 00:18:41.500
 is for God

00:18:41.500 --> 00:18:42.420
 to enjoy

00:18:42.420 --> 00:18:43.300
 the purpose

00:18:43.300 --> 00:18:43.940
 for which

00:18:43.940 --> 00:18:45.140
 he made the earth

00:18:45.140 --> 00:18:47.260
 and the entire cosmos.

00:18:50.340 --> 00:18:51.280
 So have a listen

00:18:51.280 --> 00:18:52.360
 to John Walton's

00:18:52.360 --> 00:18:52.760
 explanation.

00:18:53.080 --> 00:18:54.080
 I think he helped me

00:18:54.080 --> 00:18:55.340
 understand this

00:18:55.340 --> 00:18:55.900
 a bit clearer.

00:18:56.360 --> 00:18:57.240
 This is what he says.

00:18:57.240 --> 00:18:59.200
 On the seventh day

00:18:59.200 --> 00:19:00.299
 we finally discover

00:19:00.299 --> 00:19:01.079
 that God has been

00:19:01.079 --> 00:19:02.359
 working to achieve

00:19:02.359 --> 00:19:03.099
 a rest.

00:19:04.120 --> 00:19:04.940
 God does not

00:19:04.940 --> 00:19:05.759
 set up the cosmos

00:19:05.759 --> 00:19:07.319
 so that only people

00:19:07.319 --> 00:19:08.599
 will have a place.

00:19:09.660 --> 00:19:10.779
 He also sets up

00:19:10.779 --> 00:19:11.240
 the cosmos

00:19:11.240 --> 00:19:12.539
 to serve

00:19:12.539 --> 00:19:13.039
 as

00:19:13.039 --> 00:19:14.000
 his

00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:15.259
 temple

00:19:15.259 --> 00:19:18.039
 in which

00:19:18.039 --> 00:19:20.000
 he will find

00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:20.539
 rest.

00:19:20.539 --> 00:19:26.019
 to serve

00:19:26.019 --> 00:19:26.299
 as

00:19:26.299 --> 00:19:27.059
 his

00:19:27.059 --> 00:19:28.000
 temple

00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:29.619
 in which

00:19:29.619 --> 00:19:30.599
 he will find

00:19:30.599 --> 00:19:31.079
 rest.

00:19:32.079 --> 00:19:33.279
 It is the place

00:19:33.279 --> 00:19:34.000
 where God

00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:35.079
 can be known

00:19:35.079 --> 00:19:35.940
 and related

00:19:35.940 --> 00:19:36.480
 to

00:19:36.480 --> 00:19:37.359
 by his

00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:37.940
 people

00:19:37.940 --> 00:19:39.879
 who gladly

00:19:39.879 --> 00:19:40.519
 live under

00:19:40.519 --> 00:19:41.299
 his rule

00:19:41.299 --> 00:19:42.220
 and enjoy

00:19:42.220 --> 00:19:43.420
 the blessings

00:19:43.420 --> 00:19:44.420
 of his presence.

00:19:44.420 --> 00:19:48.279
 we're told

00:19:48.279 --> 00:19:48.980
 that the heavens

00:19:48.980 --> 00:19:49.580
 exist

00:19:49.580 --> 00:19:50.259
 to declare

00:19:50.259 --> 00:19:50.860
 the glory

00:19:50.860 --> 00:19:51.480
 of God.

00:19:52.640 --> 00:19:53.600
 If they're just

00:19:53.600 --> 00:19:54.279
 a place

00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:55.560
 for us to live

00:19:55.560 --> 00:19:56.820
 you've got to say

00:19:56.820 --> 00:19:58.140
 the billions

00:19:58.140 --> 00:19:58.800
 of galaxies

00:19:58.800 --> 00:20:00.120
 is a bit

00:20:00.120 --> 00:20:00.800
 of overkill

00:20:00.800 --> 00:20:02.960
 but

00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:04.380
 if the heavens

00:20:04.380 --> 00:20:05.140
 exist

00:20:05.140 --> 00:20:06.039
 for God

00:20:06.039 --> 00:20:06.800
 in all his

00:20:06.800 --> 00:20:07.340
 glory

00:20:07.340 --> 00:20:08.539
 to be known

00:20:08.539 --> 00:20:09.420
 by his people

00:20:09.420 --> 00:20:10.400
 then a universe

00:20:10.400 --> 00:20:11.620
 full of stars

00:20:11.620 --> 00:20:12.660
 that makes us

00:20:12.660 --> 00:20:13.640
 feel so very

00:20:13.640 --> 00:20:14.180
 small

00:20:14.180 --> 00:20:14.920
 and yet

00:20:14.920 --> 00:20:15.519
 so full

00:20:15.519 --> 00:20:16.160
 of joy

00:20:16.160 --> 00:20:16.560
 as we

00:20:16.560 --> 00:20:17.259
 stand in

00:20:17.259 --> 00:20:17.799
 awe

00:20:17.799 --> 00:20:18.320
 underneath

00:20:18.320 --> 00:20:18.799
 them

00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:20.380
 then they're

00:20:20.380 --> 00:20:20.720
 about the

00:20:20.720 --> 00:20:21.340
 right size.

00:20:25.140 --> 00:20:26.160
 The earth

00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:26.779
 you walk

00:20:26.779 --> 00:20:27.080
 on

00:20:27.080 --> 00:20:28.380
 is a place

00:20:28.380 --> 00:20:28.960
 for God

00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:29.840
 to be known

00:20:29.840 --> 00:20:31.220
 and worshipped.

00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:37.160
 How does

00:20:37.160 --> 00:20:37.519
 that sit

00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:37.860
 with you?

00:20:40.860 --> 00:20:41.740
 I hope

00:20:41.740 --> 00:20:42.000
 you have

00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:42.820
 mixed feelings

00:20:42.819 --> 00:20:42.919
 things.

00:20:44.119 --> 00:20:44.799
 On the one

00:20:44.799 --> 00:20:45.500
 hand I hope

00:20:45.500 --> 00:20:46.359
 you feel

00:20:46.359 --> 00:20:46.819
 a sense

00:20:46.819 --> 00:20:47.460
 of peace

00:20:47.460 --> 00:20:48.179
 and joy

00:20:48.179 --> 00:20:48.919
 knowing that

00:20:48.919 --> 00:20:49.519
 everything

00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:50.119
 exists,

00:20:50.259 --> 00:20:50.839
 your life

00:20:50.839 --> 00:20:51.799
 exists

00:20:51.799 --> 00:20:53.039
 for a greater

00:20:53.039 --> 00:20:53.779
 purpose than

00:20:53.779 --> 00:20:54.259
 yourself.

00:20:54.779 --> 00:20:55.460
 There's a joy

00:20:55.460 --> 00:20:55.879
 in that.

00:20:57.720 --> 00:20:58.439
 On the other

00:20:58.439 --> 00:20:59.599
 hand I hope

00:20:59.599 --> 00:20:59.960
 you feel

00:20:59.960 --> 00:21:00.439
 threatened

00:21:00.440 --> 00:21:04.080
 that if

00:21:04.080 --> 00:21:04.860
 life is

00:21:04.860 --> 00:21:05.420
 pure

00:21:05.420 --> 00:21:06.519
 gift

00:21:06.519 --> 00:21:09.539
 and it's

00:21:09.539 --> 00:21:09.920
 up to

00:21:09.920 --> 00:21:10.759
 my creator

00:21:10.759 --> 00:21:12.480
 to decide

00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:13.080
 how I should

00:21:13.080 --> 00:21:13.480
 live my

00:21:13.480 --> 00:21:13.880
 life

00:21:13.880 --> 00:21:14.460
 and my

00:21:14.460 --> 00:21:14.920
 purpose

00:21:14.920 --> 00:21:15.600
 is to have

00:21:15.600 --> 00:21:16.539
 God at the

00:21:16.539 --> 00:21:16.920
 centre

00:21:16.920 --> 00:21:17.960
 of everything

00:21:17.960 --> 00:21:18.759
 and for me

00:21:18.759 --> 00:21:19.220
 to worship

00:21:19.220 --> 00:21:19.700
 him

00:21:19.700 --> 00:21:20.580
 and for him

00:21:20.580 --> 00:21:20.960
 to get

00:21:20.960 --> 00:21:21.340
 all the

00:21:21.340 --> 00:21:21.799
 glory

00:21:21.799 --> 00:21:26.220
 it threatens

00:21:26.220 --> 00:21:27.299
 us being

00:21:27.299 --> 00:21:27.820
 at the centre.

00:21:27.819 --> 00:21:35.039
 this earth

00:21:35.039 --> 00:21:36.679
 and the

00:21:36.679 --> 00:21:37.200
 entire

00:21:37.200 --> 00:21:37.679
 cosmos

00:21:37.679 --> 00:21:38.240
 is a

00:21:38.240 --> 00:21:38.619
 temple

00:21:38.619 --> 00:21:39.720
 a home

00:21:39.720 --> 00:21:40.379
 for God

00:21:40.379 --> 00:21:40.859
 to get

00:21:40.859 --> 00:21:41.339
 all the

00:21:41.339 --> 00:21:41.740
 glory.

00:21:44.419 --> 00:21:45.000
 Now perhaps

00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:45.439
 you're wondering

00:21:45.439 --> 00:21:46.099
 why I'm using

00:21:46.099 --> 00:21:46.399
 the word

00:21:46.399 --> 00:21:46.799
 temple

00:21:46.799 --> 00:21:48.179
 it seems

00:21:48.179 --> 00:21:48.500
 a little

00:21:48.500 --> 00:21:48.960
 religious

00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:50.799
 but

00:21:50.799 --> 00:21:51.679
 temple

00:21:51.679 --> 00:21:52.460
 gets across

00:21:52.460 --> 00:21:53.059
 the idea

00:21:53.059 --> 00:21:53.480
 of

00:21:53.480 --> 00:21:55.220
 the divine

00:21:55.220 --> 00:21:56.220
 dwelling place

00:21:56.220 --> 00:21:57.920
 and temple

00:21:57.920 --> 00:21:58.700
 gets across

00:21:58.700 --> 00:21:59.200
 the idea

00:21:59.200 --> 00:22:00.019
 that it's

00:22:00.019 --> 00:22:00.759
 from this

00:22:00.759 --> 00:22:01.180
 place

00:22:01.180 --> 00:22:01.819
 that God

00:22:01.819 --> 00:22:02.680
 rules

00:22:02.680 --> 00:22:05.019
 and temple

00:22:05.019 --> 00:22:05.860
 also

00:22:05.860 --> 00:22:06.460
 pictures

00:22:06.460 --> 00:22:07.500
 us people

00:22:07.500 --> 00:22:09.600
 as priests

00:22:09.600 --> 00:22:12.360
 whose job

00:22:12.360 --> 00:22:12.819
 is to

00:22:12.819 --> 00:22:13.220
 worship

00:22:13.220 --> 00:22:14.000
 the Lord

00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:16.880
 and whose

00:22:16.880 --> 00:22:17.759
 job is to

00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:18.819
 represent God

00:22:18.819 --> 00:22:19.579
 to one

00:22:19.579 --> 00:22:19.960
 another

00:22:19.960 --> 00:22:21.839
 and as we

00:22:21.839 --> 00:22:22.360
 rule this

00:22:22.360 --> 00:22:23.140
 world under

00:22:23.140 --> 00:22:23.440
 God's

00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:23.880
 authority.

00:22:23.880 --> 00:22:29.940
 So although

00:22:29.940 --> 00:22:30.880
 we are

00:22:30.880 --> 00:22:31.540
 creatures

00:22:31.540 --> 00:22:33.440
 mankind

00:22:33.440 --> 00:22:34.880
 is unique

00:22:34.880 --> 00:22:35.540
 in all

00:22:35.540 --> 00:22:35.840
 God's

00:22:35.840 --> 00:22:36.340
 creation.

00:22:37.500 --> 00:22:38.340
 We're told

00:22:38.340 --> 00:22:38.820
 in Genesis

00:22:38.820 --> 00:22:39.320
 1 that

00:22:39.320 --> 00:22:39.880
 God made

00:22:39.880 --> 00:22:40.700
 people male

00:22:40.700 --> 00:22:41.260
 and female

00:22:41.260 --> 00:22:42.200
 in his

00:22:42.200 --> 00:22:42.700
 image.

00:22:44.640 --> 00:22:45.400
 To be in

00:22:45.400 --> 00:22:46.000
 God's image

00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:46.560
 it doesn't

00:22:46.560 --> 00:22:47.340
 just mean

00:22:47.340 --> 00:22:47.600
 that we

00:22:47.600 --> 00:22:48.460
 are persons

00:22:48.460 --> 00:22:50.460
 who have

00:22:50.460 --> 00:22:51.300
 the faculties

00:22:51.300 --> 00:22:52.000
 to think

00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:53.000
 and to feel

00:22:53.000 --> 00:22:53.599
 and to

00:22:53.599 --> 00:22:54.119
 communicate

00:22:54.119 --> 00:22:55.079
 to make

00:22:55.079 --> 00:22:55.680
 choices

00:22:55.680 --> 00:22:56.259
 to have

00:22:56.259 --> 00:22:56.839
 relationship

00:22:56.839 --> 00:22:59.099
 all these

00:22:59.099 --> 00:22:59.420
 things are

00:22:59.420 --> 00:23:00.119
 true to

00:23:00.119 --> 00:23:00.440
 be in the

00:23:00.440 --> 00:23:00.779
 image of

00:23:00.779 --> 00:23:01.019
 God

00:23:01.019 --> 00:23:02.259
 but all

00:23:02.259 --> 00:23:02.480
 these

00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:02.900
 things

00:23:02.900 --> 00:23:04.599
 serve a

00:23:04.599 --> 00:23:04.819
 greater

00:23:04.819 --> 00:23:05.359
 purpose

00:23:05.359 --> 00:23:07.880
 to reflect

00:23:07.880 --> 00:23:08.519
 God's

00:23:08.519 --> 00:23:09.400
 very character

00:23:09.400 --> 00:23:10.400
 as we

00:23:10.400 --> 00:23:11.140
 live in

00:23:11.140 --> 00:23:11.700
 relationship

00:23:11.700 --> 00:23:12.339
 with him

00:23:12.339 --> 00:23:14.819
 as we

00:23:14.819 --> 00:23:15.299
 worship

00:23:15.299 --> 00:23:15.960
 him

00:23:15.960 --> 00:23:16.500
 as we

00:23:16.500 --> 00:23:17.160
 represent

00:23:17.160 --> 00:23:18.099
 him

00:23:18.099 --> 00:23:19.579
 to the

00:23:19.579 --> 00:23:20.039
 rest of

00:23:20.039 --> 00:23:20.619
 creation.

00:23:20.619 --> 00:23:27.139
 God's

00:23:27.139 --> 00:23:27.679
 rest

00:23:27.679 --> 00:23:29.479
 God's

00:23:29.479 --> 00:23:30.039
 purpose

00:23:30.039 --> 00:23:32.179
 is for

00:23:32.179 --> 00:23:32.759
 God to

00:23:32.759 --> 00:23:33.579
 be present

00:23:33.579 --> 00:23:36.079
 with his

00:23:36.079 --> 00:23:37.139
 worshipful

00:23:37.139 --> 00:23:37.779
 people

00:23:37.779 --> 00:23:39.159
 his image

00:23:39.159 --> 00:23:39.500
 bearing

00:23:39.500 --> 00:23:40.039
 people

00:23:40.039 --> 00:23:40.879
 in

00:23:40.879 --> 00:23:41.439
 paradise

00:23:41.439 --> 00:23:42.799
 and all

00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:43.299
 this

00:23:43.299 --> 00:23:45.459
 for his

00:23:45.459 --> 00:23:45.939
 glory

00:23:45.939 --> 00:23:46.559
 to fill

00:23:46.559 --> 00:23:47.079
 the earth.

00:23:47.079 --> 00:23:47.139
 God

00:23:47.139 --> 00:23:47.179
 God

00:23:47.179 --> 00:23:47.239
 God

00:23:47.239 --> 00:23:50.599
 God

00:23:50.619 --> 00:23:51.219
 God

00:23:51.219 --> 00:23:53.019
 God

00:23:53.019 --> 00:23:53.159
 God

00:23:53.159 --> 00:23:55.079
 God

00:23:55.079 --> 00:23:55.459
 But this

00:23:55.459 --> 00:23:57.459
 isn't our

00:23:57.459 --> 00:23:58.539
 usual everyday

00:23:58.539 --> 00:23:59.799
 experience of

00:23:59.799 --> 00:24:00.539
 life is it?

00:24:02.119 --> 00:24:03.359
 The blessings

00:24:03.359 --> 00:24:04.599
 that flow like a

00:24:04.599 --> 00:24:05.419
 river from God's

00:24:05.419 --> 00:24:06.059
 presence are

00:24:06.059 --> 00:24:07.299
 often far from

00:24:07.299 --> 00:24:07.799
 our everyday

00:24:07.799 --> 00:24:08.559
 experience.

00:24:10.639 --> 00:24:12.239
 So I watched a

00:24:12.239 --> 00:24:12.979
 movie recently

00:24:12.979 --> 00:24:14.779
 based on

00:24:14.779 --> 00:24:16.219
 the 2004

00:24:16.219 --> 00:24:17.000
 tsunami

00:24:17.000 --> 00:24:17.759
 that hit

00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:18.559
 in Indonesia

00:24:18.559 --> 00:24:20.599
 and it

00:24:20.599 --> 00:24:21.220
 just pictures

00:24:21.220 --> 00:24:21.859
 a family

00:24:21.859 --> 00:24:22.500
 on holiday

00:24:22.500 --> 00:24:22.940
 by the

00:24:22.940 --> 00:24:23.220
 pool

00:24:23.220 --> 00:24:23.539
 and the

00:24:23.539 --> 00:24:23.960
 parents

00:24:23.960 --> 00:24:25.039
 are arguing

00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:25.619
 about

00:24:25.619 --> 00:24:26.559
 whether they

00:24:26.559 --> 00:24:26.980
 should move

00:24:26.980 --> 00:24:27.539
 house when

00:24:27.539 --> 00:24:27.819
 they get

00:24:27.819 --> 00:24:28.980
 back home

00:24:28.980 --> 00:24:31.079
 when suddenly

00:24:31.079 --> 00:24:32.779
 the tsunami

00:24:32.779 --> 00:24:33.319
 hits.

00:24:35.980 --> 00:24:36.759
 All their

00:24:36.759 --> 00:24:37.480
 plans come

00:24:37.480 --> 00:24:37.960
 to nothing.

00:24:41.900 --> 00:24:42.539
 Sickness

00:24:42.539 --> 00:24:44.819
 hunts us

00:24:44.819 --> 00:24:45.220
 down.

00:24:45.220 --> 00:24:47.200
 our

00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:47.759
 environment

00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:48.480
 is more

00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:49.140
 exploited

00:24:49.140 --> 00:24:50.160
 than

00:24:50.160 --> 00:24:50.660
 protected.

00:24:56.740 --> 00:24:57.519
 And this

00:24:57.519 --> 00:24:58.000
 week our

00:24:58.000 --> 00:24:58.680
 attention has

00:24:58.680 --> 00:24:59.140
 been drawn

00:24:59.140 --> 00:24:59.480
 to the

00:24:59.480 --> 00:24:59.920
 abortion

00:24:59.920 --> 00:25:00.420
 laws in

00:25:00.420 --> 00:25:00.880
 Australia.

00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:02.759
 We live

00:25:02.759 --> 00:25:03.039
 in this

00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:03.600
 society

00:25:03.600 --> 00:25:04.759
 that pours

00:25:04.759 --> 00:25:05.360
 so much

00:25:05.360 --> 00:25:06.059
 money into

00:25:06.059 --> 00:25:06.480
 healthcare

00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:08.160
 and yet

00:25:08.160 --> 00:25:08.420
 at the

00:25:08.420 --> 00:25:09.140
 same time

00:25:09.140 --> 00:25:10.480
 says that

00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:11.059
 we can

00:25:11.059 --> 00:25:11.700
 decide to

00:25:11.700 --> 00:25:12.120
 destroy

00:25:12.120 --> 00:25:12.579
 life.

00:25:12.579 --> 00:25:15.199
 And then

00:25:15.199 --> 00:25:15.599
 there's our

00:25:15.599 --> 00:25:16.299
 relationships.

00:25:18.119 --> 00:25:18.519
 Would you

00:25:18.519 --> 00:25:19.059
 say that

00:25:19.059 --> 00:25:19.919
 your usual

00:25:19.919 --> 00:25:20.659
 experience

00:25:20.659 --> 00:25:22.279
 is that we

00:25:22.279 --> 00:25:22.879
 treat one

00:25:22.879 --> 00:25:23.339
 another with

00:25:23.339 --> 00:25:23.799
 the character

00:25:23.799 --> 00:25:24.319
 of God?

00:25:28.039 --> 00:25:28.599
 God's

00:25:28.599 --> 00:25:29.119
 presence

00:25:29.119 --> 00:25:30.179
 and the

00:25:30.179 --> 00:25:31.019
 paradise that

00:25:31.019 --> 00:25:31.779
 flows from

00:25:31.779 --> 00:25:32.439
 his presence,

00:25:32.579 --> 00:25:33.259
 his rule,

00:25:34.379 --> 00:25:35.139
 is just not

00:25:35.139 --> 00:25:35.699
 our everyday

00:25:35.699 --> 00:25:36.439
 experience.

00:25:36.440 --> 00:25:41.400
 God says

00:25:41.400 --> 00:25:41.660
 in his

00:25:41.660 --> 00:25:42.100
 word there's

00:25:42.100 --> 00:25:42.380
 a very

00:25:42.380 --> 00:25:42.880
 good reason

00:25:42.880 --> 00:25:43.240
 for that

00:25:43.240 --> 00:25:43.519
 and we're

00:25:43.519 --> 00:25:43.720
 going to

00:25:43.720 --> 00:25:44.279
 explore this

00:25:44.279 --> 00:25:44.759
 more next

00:25:44.759 --> 00:25:45.140
 Sunday.

00:25:46.960 --> 00:25:47.440
 But let

00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:47.720
 me say

00:25:47.720 --> 00:25:48.059
 for now,

00:25:48.580 --> 00:25:49.460
 ever since

00:25:49.460 --> 00:25:50.100
 the first

00:25:50.100 --> 00:25:50.840
 man Adam

00:25:50.840 --> 00:25:51.940
 reached up

00:25:51.940 --> 00:25:53.240
 in direct

00:25:53.240 --> 00:25:54.019
 disobedience

00:25:54.019 --> 00:25:54.380
 to his

00:25:54.380 --> 00:25:54.840
 creator

00:25:54.840 --> 00:25:57.440
 and he

00:25:57.440 --> 00:25:57.900
 didn't do

00:25:57.900 --> 00:25:58.180
 it by

00:25:58.180 --> 00:25:58.600
 accident,

00:25:59.440 --> 00:26:01.140
 he wanted

00:26:01.140 --> 00:26:01.860
 to become

00:26:01.860 --> 00:26:02.620
 like God

00:26:02.620 --> 00:26:03.680
 even though

00:26:03.680 --> 00:26:05.100
 as God's

00:26:05.100 --> 00:26:05.820
 priest and

00:26:05.820 --> 00:26:06.580
 image bearer

00:26:06.580 --> 00:26:07.080
 in God's

00:26:07.080 --> 00:26:07.380
 temple,

00:26:07.700 --> 00:26:08.460
 he already

00:26:08.460 --> 00:26:09.759
 enjoyed the

00:26:09.759 --> 00:26:11.060
 greatest status

00:26:11.060 --> 00:26:12.539
 and purpose

00:26:12.539 --> 00:26:13.259
 and relationship

00:26:13.259 --> 00:26:13.880
 possible.

00:26:16.920 --> 00:26:17.640
 Adam and

00:26:17.640 --> 00:26:18.279
 everyone

00:26:18.279 --> 00:26:19.039
 descended from

00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:19.560
 him since

00:26:19.560 --> 00:26:20.680
 has tried to

00:26:20.680 --> 00:26:21.500
 usurp

00:26:21.500 --> 00:26:22.940
 God's place

00:26:22.940 --> 00:26:23.519
 in the

00:26:23.519 --> 00:26:23.880
 world.

00:26:25.680 --> 00:26:26.700
 Kick him

00:26:26.700 --> 00:26:27.060
 off the

00:26:27.060 --> 00:26:27.400
 throne.

00:26:27.400 --> 00:26:30.560
 As if

00:26:30.560 --> 00:26:30.920
 you and

00:26:30.920 --> 00:26:31.400
 I can

00:26:31.400 --> 00:26:31.980
 control

00:26:31.980 --> 00:26:32.300
 our

00:26:32.300 --> 00:26:32.720
 world,

00:26:33.220 --> 00:26:33.640
 creating

00:26:33.640 --> 00:26:34.240
 our own

00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:34.820
 version of

00:26:34.820 --> 00:26:35.340
 paradise

00:26:35.340 --> 00:26:36.080
 and all

00:26:36.080 --> 00:26:36.519
 this

00:26:36.519 --> 00:26:39.040
 without a

00:26:39.040 --> 00:26:39.480
 need to

00:26:39.480 --> 00:26:40.180
 know God

00:26:40.180 --> 00:26:40.820
 or worship

00:26:40.820 --> 00:26:41.400
 God.

00:26:44.360 --> 00:26:45.120
 And the

00:26:45.120 --> 00:26:45.700
 consequences

00:26:45.700 --> 00:26:46.200
 of this

00:26:46.200 --> 00:26:46.800
 have been

00:26:46.800 --> 00:26:47.300
 felt

00:26:47.300 --> 00:26:48.440
 ever since.

00:26:53.400 --> 00:26:54.019
 When

00:26:54.019 --> 00:26:54.400
 mankind

00:26:54.400 --> 00:26:55.220
 was kicked

00:26:55.220 --> 00:26:55.640
 out of the

00:26:55.640 --> 00:26:56.120
 Garden of

00:26:56.120 --> 00:26:56.380
 Eden,

00:26:57.400 --> 00:26:58.540
 do you

00:26:58.540 --> 00:26:58.720
 think

00:26:58.720 --> 00:26:59.500
 paradise

00:26:59.500 --> 00:27:01.460
 was the

00:27:01.460 --> 00:27:01.820
 greatest

00:27:01.820 --> 00:27:02.640
 thing we

00:27:02.640 --> 00:27:03.040
 lost?

00:27:10.300 --> 00:27:11.080
 If

00:27:11.080 --> 00:27:11.720
 paradise

00:27:11.720 --> 00:27:12.860
 is the

00:27:12.860 --> 00:27:13.180
 greatest

00:27:13.180 --> 00:27:13.640
 thing we

00:27:13.640 --> 00:27:14.100
 lost,

00:27:15.820 --> 00:27:16.360
 then we're

00:27:16.360 --> 00:27:16.580
 going to

00:27:16.580 --> 00:27:17.680
 spend all

00:27:17.680 --> 00:27:18.440
 our effort

00:27:18.440 --> 00:27:19.259
 trying to

00:27:19.259 --> 00:27:19.519
 get it

00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:19.820
 back.

00:27:24.259 --> 00:27:24.960
 I think

00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:25.540
 we try to

00:27:25.540 --> 00:27:25.940
 do this

00:27:25.940 --> 00:27:26.500
 individually

00:27:26.500 --> 00:27:27.019
 and as

00:27:27.019 --> 00:27:27.140
 a

00:27:27.140 --> 00:27:27.680
 society.

00:27:33.460 --> 00:27:34.099
 Or do

00:27:34.099 --> 00:27:34.519
 you agree

00:27:34.519 --> 00:27:35.339
 with John

00:27:35.339 --> 00:27:35.720
 Walton

00:27:35.720 --> 00:27:36.039
 again?

00:27:36.799 --> 00:27:37.200
 He gives

00:27:37.200 --> 00:27:37.779
 this answer.

00:27:39.900 --> 00:27:40.640
 In the

00:27:40.640 --> 00:27:41.140
 aftermath

00:27:41.140 --> 00:27:42.240
 of the

00:27:42.240 --> 00:27:42.660
 fall,

00:27:43.380 --> 00:27:43.619
 the

00:27:43.619 --> 00:27:44.019
 greatest

00:27:44.019 --> 00:27:44.740
 loss was

00:27:44.740 --> 00:27:45.059
 not

00:27:45.059 --> 00:27:45.519
 paradise.

00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:47.799
 It was

00:27:47.799 --> 00:27:48.240
 God's

00:27:48.240 --> 00:27:48.759
 presence.

00:27:48.759 --> 00:27:48.880
 God's

00:27:48.880 --> 00:27:48.900
 presence.

00:27:48.900 --> 00:27:48.940
 God's

00:27:48.940 --> 00:27:48.960
 presence.

00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:49.019
 God's

00:27:49.019 --> 00:27:49.079
 presence.

00:27:49.079 --> 00:27:49.240
 God's

00:27:49.240 --> 00:27:49.519
 presence.

00:27:49.519 --> 00:27:50.140
 God's

00:27:50.140 --> 00:27:50.920
 presence.

00:27:50.920 --> 00:27:51.019
 God's

00:27:51.019 --> 00:27:51.519
 presence.

00:27:51.519 --> 00:27:52.019
 God's

00:27:52.019 --> 00:27:52.519
 presence.

00:27:52.519 --> 00:27:53.019
 God's

00:27:53.019 --> 00:27:53.519
 presence.

00:27:53.519 --> 00:27:55.019
 God's

00:27:55.019 --> 00:27:56.480
 presence.

00:27:56.500 --> 00:27:59.019
 God's

00:27:59.019 --> 00:27:59.079
 presence.

00:27:59.079 --> 00:27:59.240
 What was

00:27:59.240 --> 00:27:59.720
 the greatest

00:27:59.720 --> 00:28:00.279
 thing we

00:28:00.279 --> 00:28:02.700
 lost after

00:28:02.700 --> 00:28:03.200
 the fall?

00:28:03.480 --> 00:28:05.160
 Paradise or

00:28:05.160 --> 00:28:05.500
 God's

00:28:05.500 --> 00:28:05.819
 presence?

00:28:11.819 --> 00:28:12.880
 We come

00:28:12.880 --> 00:28:13.140
 to the

00:28:13.140 --> 00:28:13.559
 question,

00:28:15.259 --> 00:28:16.339
 will God's

00:28:16.339 --> 00:28:17.019
 rest,

00:28:19.019 --> 00:28:20.740
 his purpose

00:28:20.740 --> 00:28:21.559
 for creation

00:28:21.559 --> 00:28:22.480
 be achieved?

00:28:22.480 --> 00:28:23.480
 God's

00:28:23.480 --> 00:28:24.539
 presence.

00:28:24.539 --> 00:28:24.799
 Those who

00:28:24.799 --> 00:28:25.759
 first heard

00:28:25.759 --> 00:28:26.980
 Isaiah 40

00:28:26.980 --> 00:28:27.900
 would have

00:28:27.900 --> 00:28:28.960
 had no

00:28:28.960 --> 00:28:30.299
 circumstantial

00:28:30.299 --> 00:28:31.480
 evidence to

00:28:31.480 --> 00:28:32.059
 give them

00:28:32.059 --> 00:28:32.980
 confidence that

00:28:32.980 --> 00:28:33.940
 God's rest

00:28:33.940 --> 00:28:35.099
 will be

00:28:35.099 --> 00:28:35.559
 achieved.

00:28:36.920 --> 00:28:37.380
 And they

00:28:37.380 --> 00:28:39.259
 knew that

00:28:39.259 --> 00:28:39.839
 they were in

00:28:39.839 --> 00:28:40.740
 such desperate

00:28:40.740 --> 00:28:41.720
 situation because

00:28:41.720 --> 00:28:42.900
 they had

00:28:42.900 --> 00:28:43.700
 rejected God.

00:28:43.700 --> 00:28:50.700
 God's

00:28:50.700 --> 00:28:51.740
 desire God's

00:28:51.740 --> 00:28:52.319
 presence,

00:28:53.160 --> 00:28:55.539
 most of

00:28:55.539 --> 00:28:55.880
 all,

00:28:56.759 --> 00:28:57.299
 then these

00:28:57.299 --> 00:28:58.039
 words of

00:28:58.039 --> 00:28:58.880
 Isaiah 40

00:28:58.880 --> 00:28:59.640
 will be the

00:28:59.640 --> 00:29:00.319
 best news

00:29:00.319 --> 00:29:00.920
 to you.

00:29:02.740 --> 00:29:03.539
 From

00:29:03.539 --> 00:29:04.200
 verse 3,

00:29:05.279 --> 00:29:06.460
 a voice

00:29:06.460 --> 00:29:07.580
 cries,

00:29:09.140 --> 00:29:09.680
 in the

00:29:09.680 --> 00:29:10.100
 wilderness

00:29:10.100 --> 00:29:11.220
 prepare the

00:29:11.220 --> 00:29:12.160
 way of the

00:29:12.160 --> 00:29:12.600
 Lord.

00:29:13.500 --> 00:29:13.900
 Make

00:29:13.900 --> 00:29:14.740
 straight in

00:29:14.740 --> 00:29:15.160
 the desert

00:29:15.160 --> 00:29:15.779
 a highway

00:29:15.779 --> 00:29:16.340
 for our

00:29:16.340 --> 00:29:16.680
 God.

00:29:17.019 --> 00:29:17.740
 Every valley

00:29:17.740 --> 00:29:18.200
 shall be

00:29:18.200 --> 00:29:18.820
 lifted up

00:29:18.820 --> 00:29:19.460
 and every

00:29:19.460 --> 00:29:20.259
 mountain and

00:29:20.259 --> 00:29:20.800
 hill be

00:29:20.800 --> 00:29:21.519
 made low.

00:29:21.920 --> 00:29:22.560
 The uneven

00:29:22.560 --> 00:29:23.380
 ground shall

00:29:23.380 --> 00:29:24.019
 become level

00:29:24.019 --> 00:29:24.660
 and the

00:29:24.660 --> 00:29:25.500
 rough places

00:29:25.500 --> 00:29:26.420
 a plain.

00:29:28.440 --> 00:29:28.940
 And the

00:29:28.940 --> 00:29:29.860
 glory of

00:29:29.860 --> 00:29:30.500
 the Lord

00:29:30.500 --> 00:29:32.100
 shall be

00:29:32.100 --> 00:29:33.080
 revealed.

00:29:35.040 --> 00:29:35.680
 And all

00:29:35.680 --> 00:29:37.180
 flesh shall

00:29:37.180 --> 00:29:37.840
 see it

00:29:37.840 --> 00:29:38.259
 together,

00:29:39.019 --> 00:29:39.700
 for the

00:29:39.700 --> 00:29:40.279
 mouth of

00:29:40.279 --> 00:29:40.800
 the Lord

00:29:40.800 --> 00:29:41.900
 has spoken.

00:29:42.160 --> 00:29:46.340
 the

00:29:46.340 --> 00:29:46.900
 one who

00:29:46.900 --> 00:29:47.240
 said,

00:29:47.640 --> 00:29:47.920
 let there

00:29:47.920 --> 00:29:48.640
 be light,

00:29:48.840 --> 00:29:49.480
 and light

00:29:49.480 --> 00:29:50.320
 flooded the

00:29:50.320 --> 00:29:50.900
 darkness,

00:29:52.560 --> 00:29:53.180
 says,

00:29:54.019 --> 00:29:54.779
 although you

00:29:54.779 --> 00:29:55.400
 have chosen

00:29:55.400 --> 00:29:55.980
 to live in

00:29:55.980 --> 00:29:56.380
 darkness,

00:29:56.600 --> 00:29:57.120
 I will

00:29:57.120 --> 00:29:57.779
 come near

00:29:57.779 --> 00:29:58.360
 to you.

00:30:02.060 --> 00:30:02.660
 The

00:30:02.660 --> 00:30:03.360
 glory of

00:30:03.360 --> 00:30:03.860
 the Lord

00:30:03.860 --> 00:30:05.060
 shall be

00:30:05.060 --> 00:30:05.540
 revealed.

00:30:06.580 --> 00:30:07.100
 And we

00:30:07.100 --> 00:30:07.800
 would never

00:30:07.800 --> 00:30:08.840
 have imagined

00:30:08.840 --> 00:30:09.700
 what God

00:30:09.700 --> 00:30:10.560
 meant by that

00:30:10.559 --> 00:30:11.359
 until we

00:30:11.359 --> 00:30:12.000
 read in the

00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:12.599
 New Testament,

00:30:13.480 --> 00:30:14.099
 in John's

00:30:14.099 --> 00:30:14.480
 Gospel,

00:30:15.480 --> 00:30:16.259
 and the

00:30:16.259 --> 00:30:17.079
 word became

00:30:17.079 --> 00:30:17.579
 flesh,

00:30:18.819 --> 00:30:19.559
 and dwelt

00:30:19.559 --> 00:30:20.639
 among us.

00:30:21.779 --> 00:30:22.539
 And we

00:30:22.539 --> 00:30:23.259
 have seen

00:30:23.259 --> 00:30:24.059
 his glory,

00:30:24.500 --> 00:30:25.599
 glory as of

00:30:25.599 --> 00:30:26.139
 the only

00:30:26.139 --> 00:30:27.000
 son from the

00:30:27.000 --> 00:30:27.399
 father,

00:30:27.720 --> 00:30:28.460
 full of

00:30:28.460 --> 00:30:29.259
 grace and

00:30:29.259 --> 00:30:29.799
 truth.

00:30:29.799 --> 00:30:29.859
 earth.

00:30:33.539 --> 00:30:34.579
 The one

00:30:34.579 --> 00:30:35.279
 who sits

00:30:35.279 --> 00:30:36.000
 above the

00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:36.599
 circle of

00:30:36.599 --> 00:30:36.940
 the earth

00:30:36.940 --> 00:30:37.819
 became like

00:30:37.819 --> 00:30:40.399
 grass with

00:30:40.399 --> 00:30:40.759
 us.

00:30:45.319 --> 00:30:46.680
 Seeing God

00:30:46.680 --> 00:30:48.240
 in the

00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:49.079
 flesh is

00:30:49.079 --> 00:30:49.819
 so much

00:30:49.819 --> 00:30:53.059
 clearer than

00:30:53.059 --> 00:30:53.539
 the old

00:30:53.539 --> 00:30:54.379
 temple building,

00:30:55.039 --> 00:30:55.919
 but he also

00:30:55.919 --> 00:30:56.539
 came for

00:30:56.539 --> 00:30:57.259
 another reason.

00:30:57.259 --> 00:31:00.079
 If you

00:31:00.079 --> 00:31:00.680
 think and

00:31:00.680 --> 00:31:02.640
 picture Solomon's

00:31:02.640 --> 00:31:03.359
 temple in

00:31:03.359 --> 00:31:04.839
 Jerusalem, it

00:31:04.839 --> 00:31:05.859
 was surrounded

00:31:05.859 --> 00:31:07.680
 by basins of

00:31:07.680 --> 00:31:08.619
 water for

00:31:08.619 --> 00:31:09.000
 washing.

00:31:10.400 --> 00:31:11.279
 The smell

00:31:11.279 --> 00:31:12.759
 of death from

00:31:12.759 --> 00:31:13.940
 animal sacrifices

00:31:13.940 --> 00:31:14.779
 for sin would

00:31:14.779 --> 00:31:15.559
 have surrounded

00:31:15.559 --> 00:31:16.339
 it day and

00:31:16.339 --> 00:31:16.700
 night.

00:31:19.240 --> 00:31:20.799
 And only the

00:31:20.799 --> 00:31:21.579
 high priest,

00:31:22.279 --> 00:31:23.180
 one person,

00:31:23.940 --> 00:31:24.519
 could enter

00:31:24.519 --> 00:31:25.420
 God's immediate

00:31:25.420 --> 00:31:26.879
 presence once a

00:31:26.880 --> 00:31:28.720
 year and

00:31:28.720 --> 00:31:29.080
 he couldn't

00:31:29.080 --> 00:31:29.700
 muck around.

00:31:32.280 --> 00:31:33.680
 That building

00:31:33.680 --> 00:31:35.880
 loudly proclaimed

00:31:35.880 --> 00:31:37.060
 that sinful,

00:31:37.540 --> 00:31:38.860
 God-usurping,

00:31:39.320 --> 00:31:40.160
 idolatrous

00:31:40.160 --> 00:31:41.140
 people could

00:31:41.140 --> 00:31:42.600
 only come so

00:31:42.600 --> 00:31:43.740
 close to God.

00:31:48.920 --> 00:31:50.220
 But in our

00:31:50.220 --> 00:31:51.000
 creator's

00:31:51.000 --> 00:31:51.740
 death,

00:31:52.940 --> 00:31:55.760
 on the

00:31:55.760 --> 00:31:56.220
 cross,

00:31:56.880 --> 00:31:58.660
 we are now

00:31:58.660 --> 00:31:59.220
 invited,

00:32:00.340 --> 00:32:00.900
 come near.

00:32:06.280 --> 00:32:07.480
 Come near.

00:32:07.480 --> 00:32:07.600
 Come near.

00:32:12.600 --> 00:32:13.720
 Know that you

00:32:13.720 --> 00:32:14.440
 are completely

00:32:14.440 --> 00:32:15.240
 cleansed.

00:32:15.240 --> 00:32:18.039
 God is

00:32:18.039 --> 00:32:19.839
 coming near.

00:32:19.839 --> 00:32:24.099
 God is

00:32:24.099 --> 00:32:24.819
 coming near to

00:32:24.819 --> 00:32:26.059
 us by making

00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.779
 our bodies

00:32:26.779 --> 00:32:27.640
 his home,

00:32:28.339 --> 00:32:28.839
 dwelling in

00:32:28.839 --> 00:32:29.359
 us by his

00:32:29.359 --> 00:32:29.759
 spirit.

00:32:35.700 --> 00:32:36.460
 As we have

00:32:36.460 --> 00:32:37.140
 come to see

00:32:37.140 --> 00:32:37.960
 his glory in

00:32:37.960 --> 00:32:38.500
 the Lord Jesus

00:32:38.500 --> 00:32:39.160
 Christ, we

00:32:39.160 --> 00:32:39.980
 worship him.

00:32:40.700 --> 00:32:41.440
 And we no

00:32:41.440 --> 00:32:42.140
 longer live for

00:32:42.140 --> 00:32:43.099
 ourselves, we

00:32:43.099 --> 00:32:43.759
 live for him.

00:32:43.759 --> 00:32:45.140
 God is

00:32:45.140 --> 00:32:45.740
 going to be

00:32:45.740 --> 00:32:46.819
 renewed day

00:32:46.819 --> 00:32:48.900
 by day in

00:32:48.900 --> 00:32:49.619
 the image of

00:32:49.619 --> 00:32:50.220
 our creator.

00:32:51.220 --> 00:32:52.640
 As we reflect

00:32:52.640 --> 00:32:53.819
 the character of

00:32:53.819 --> 00:32:54.799
 the God whom we

00:32:54.799 --> 00:32:56.259
 worship, we

00:32:56.259 --> 00:32:56.940
 bring his

00:32:56.940 --> 00:32:58.640
 presence into

00:32:58.640 --> 00:33:00.500
 every aspect of

00:33:00.500 --> 00:33:01.019
 our life.

00:33:01.200 --> 00:33:02.460
 Every arena that

00:33:02.460 --> 00:33:04.359
 you walk in, we

00:33:04.359 --> 00:33:05.259
 can reflect God

00:33:05.259 --> 00:33:05.460
 in.

00:33:06.799 --> 00:33:07.700
 And we can fill

00:33:07.700 --> 00:33:08.660
 the world with

00:33:08.660 --> 00:33:09.220
 his glory.

00:33:09.220 --> 00:33:09.299
 glory.

00:33:11.600 --> 00:33:12.620
 We don't want

00:33:12.620 --> 00:33:13.680
 paradise without

00:33:13.680 --> 00:33:14.660
 God's presence.

00:33:16.240 --> 00:33:17.079
 We still

00:33:17.079 --> 00:33:18.079
 desperately want

00:33:18.079 --> 00:33:18.720
 paradise.

00:33:22.019 --> 00:33:22.720
 But we're

00:33:22.720 --> 00:33:23.539
 waiting for it.

00:33:23.900 --> 00:33:24.600
 We're waiting for

00:33:24.600 --> 00:33:25.640
 God's paradise.

00:33:26.519 --> 00:33:27.299
 Not our

00:33:27.299 --> 00:33:27.680
 version.

00:33:29.220 --> 00:33:29.720
 And we know

00:33:29.720 --> 00:33:30.460
 it's not yet.

00:33:30.700 --> 00:33:31.900
 It's coming, but

00:33:31.900 --> 00:33:32.559
 it's not yet.

00:33:32.559 --> 00:33:39.700
 we will wait

00:33:39.700 --> 00:33:41.799
 with certain

00:33:41.799 --> 00:33:42.859
 hope, knowing

00:33:42.859 --> 00:33:43.259
 that our

00:33:43.259 --> 00:33:45.339
 creator, who

00:33:45.339 --> 00:33:46.119
 does not grow

00:33:46.119 --> 00:33:47.059
 tired or weary,

00:33:48.259 --> 00:33:49.759
 will fully and

00:33:49.759 --> 00:33:50.919
 finally achieve

00:33:50.919 --> 00:33:51.619
 his rest.

00:33:51.740 --> 00:33:52.299
 And this is what

00:33:52.299 --> 00:33:55.139
 he says in

00:33:55.139 --> 00:33:56.179
 Revelation 21.

00:33:56.180 --> 00:34:00.940
 Then I saw a

00:34:00.940 --> 00:34:02.700
 new heaven and

00:34:02.700 --> 00:34:03.799
 a new earth.

00:34:04.720 --> 00:34:05.560
 For the first

00:34:05.560 --> 00:34:06.140
 heaven and the

00:34:06.140 --> 00:34:07.000
 first earth had

00:34:07.000 --> 00:34:08.280
 passed away, and

00:34:08.280 --> 00:34:09.420
 the sea was no

00:34:09.420 --> 00:34:09.780
 more.

00:34:10.700 --> 00:34:11.720
 And I saw the

00:34:11.720 --> 00:34:13.340
 holy city, the

00:34:13.340 --> 00:34:14.119
 new Jerusalem,

00:34:14.420 --> 00:34:15.720
 coming down out

00:34:15.720 --> 00:34:16.760
 of heaven from

00:34:16.760 --> 00:34:17.920
 God, prepared as

00:34:17.920 --> 00:34:19.579
 a bride adorned

00:34:19.579 --> 00:34:20.240
 for her husband.

00:34:21.460 --> 00:34:22.119
 And I heard a

00:34:22.119 --> 00:34:23.000
 loud voice from

00:34:23.000 --> 00:34:24.000
 the throne saying,

00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:27.800
 behold, the

00:34:27.800 --> 00:34:29.059
 dwelling place of

00:34:29.059 --> 00:34:30.519
 God is with

00:34:30.519 --> 00:34:31.179
 man.

00:34:32.360 --> 00:34:33.300
 He will dwell

00:34:33.300 --> 00:34:34.960
 with them, and

00:34:34.960 --> 00:34:35.739
 they will be his

00:34:35.739 --> 00:34:36.940
 people, and God

00:34:36.940 --> 00:34:37.739
 himself will be

00:34:37.739 --> 00:34:38.820
 with them as

00:34:38.820 --> 00:34:39.539
 their God.

00:34:39.780 --> 00:34:40.539
 He will wipe

00:34:40.539 --> 00:34:41.579
 every tear from

00:34:41.579 --> 00:34:42.780
 their eyes, and

00:34:42.780 --> 00:34:43.619
 death shall be no

00:34:43.619 --> 00:34:43.960
 more.

00:34:45.139 --> 00:34:45.739
 Neither shall

00:34:45.739 --> 00:34:46.500
 there be mourning,

00:34:46.699 --> 00:34:48.599
 nor crying, nor

00:34:48.599 --> 00:34:51.599
 pain any more, for

00:34:51.599 --> 00:34:52.440
 the former things

00:34:52.440 --> 00:34:52.880
 have passed

00:34:52.880 --> 00:34:53.260
 away.

00:34:54.000 --> 00:34:57.380
 And he who

00:34:57.380 --> 00:34:58.340
 was seated on

00:34:58.340 --> 00:34:59.420
 the throne said,

00:34:59.800 --> 00:35:02.219
 behold, I am

00:35:02.219 --> 00:35:03.360
 making everything

00:35:03.360 --> 00:35:04.159
 new.

00:35:06.719 --> 00:35:07.619
 Would you pray

00:35:07.619 --> 00:35:07.920
 with me?

00:35:19.800 --> 00:35:22.360
 Lord God, Father,

00:35:22.579 --> 00:35:23.340
 Son, and Holy

00:35:23.340 --> 00:35:25.340
 Spirit, we worship

00:35:25.340 --> 00:35:26.700
 you alone as the

00:35:26.700 --> 00:35:28.960
 creator and ruler

00:35:28.960 --> 00:35:30.019
 of all things.

00:35:33.780 --> 00:35:36.140
 Thank you for

00:35:36.140 --> 00:35:37.100
 coming near to

00:35:37.100 --> 00:35:37.579
 us.

00:35:43.220 --> 00:35:44.600
 Father, help us to

00:35:44.600 --> 00:35:45.180
 live for you

00:35:45.180 --> 00:35:45.519
 alone.

00:35:45.519 --> 00:35:49.019
 help us live

00:35:49.019 --> 00:35:52.679
 patiently, trusting

00:35:52.679 --> 00:35:54.739
 that you will

00:35:54.739 --> 00:35:55.759
 achieve your

00:35:55.759 --> 00:35:56.239
 purposes.

00:35:58.559 --> 00:35:59.679
 And Lord, use

00:35:59.679 --> 00:36:00.960
 us individually

00:36:00.960 --> 00:36:02.119
 and together as

00:36:02.119 --> 00:36:03.380
 your people for

00:36:03.380 --> 00:36:04.259
 your glory, we

00:36:04.259 --> 00:36:04.500
 pray.

00:36:05.000 --> 00:36:05.860
 In Jesus' name,

00:36:05.860 --> 00:36:06.360
 amen.

00:36:09.019 --> 00:36:09.340
 Amen.

00:36:09.340 --> 00:36:11.620
 Amen.

00:36:14.340 --> 00:36:15.340
 You

00:36:15.340 --> 00:36:15.380
 amen.

00:36:15.380 --> 00:36:15.940
 So, you