WEBVTT

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 Well, good morning, church. It's good to see you all this morning. Would you turn with me again to the book of Ecclesiastes?

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 Today, we're nearing the end of the book, not quite the end. We'll do one more sermon after today, but we're near the end.

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 We're looking at chapter 11, verse 7, and we'll read through chapter 12, verse 7.

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 So, chapter 11, verse 7, chapter 12, verse 7.

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 So, let me pray for us, and then I'll read our text.

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 Father, as we come to your Word, we ask that you would give us ears to hear and hearts ready to receive what it is your Spirit is saying to us through these words.

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 Lord, lift our eyes to you by your Spirit. Help us to see Christ in His glory, that in beholding His glory, we might be changed more and more into His image as you intend us to be.

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 We pray this in His mighty name. Amen.

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 All right, Ecclesiastes 11, 7 through 12, 7.

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 It says this,

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 So, act one, scene three of Shakespeare's play Hamlet.

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 And at the climax of his speech to his son, Laertes, the character Polonius says this.

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 Do you remember what he says?

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 This above all, this above all, to thine own self be true.

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 Here's the sum of wisdom that Polonius wants to impart to his son.

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 Before his son leaves for the university, this father says,

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 This above all, to thine own self be true.

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 Now, as late moderns broaching the second quarter of the 21st century, this sort of life wisdom is the kind we've grown very accustomed to, right?

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 We love the sound of this.

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 To thine own self be true.

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 Who would argue with that today?

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 And isn't that the key to real flourishing, right?

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 Who wouldn't tell their son or their daughter leaving for college the same thing?

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 Be true to yourself.

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 Be authentic.

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 Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

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 Now, the irony in Shakespeare's play is that these words come from Polonius.

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 Now, if you've read Hamlet, you know that Polonius is not the paragon of wisdom and a life well lived,

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 but he's a self-serving, meddling, and downright unpleasant bore.

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 You see, for Shakespeare, to thine own self be true, is actually the pompous, hypocritical, and empty advice of a man who ends up spying on his own children

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 and who dies hiding behind a curtain in order to eavesdrop on a private conversation.

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 Not exactly the sort of character from whom you want to take overarching life wisdom, right?

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 Now, consider how different that is.

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 Consider how different that is to what we've been considering this semester in the book of Ecclesiastes.

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 Unlike Polonius, the speaker of Ecclesiastes actually tried to live life to the fullest under the sun.

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 He actually pursued pleasure and wealth and wisdom and set his mind to build a lasting legacy.

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 He was true to himself in the deepest degree.

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 He lived the life most of us are telling ourselves we ought to be living.

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 Be authentic.

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 Live your truth.

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 To thine own self be true.

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 And for the most part, Ecclesiastes achieved that goal.

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 But what did he find?

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 He found that it was fleeting and it was empty.

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 The vanity of vanities.

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 And so, here, as Ecclesiastes nears the end of his exploration of life under the sun,

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 as he now begins to sum up the message he wants to pass on to the next generation,

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 the hard-earned wisdom he's won, the key to real flourishing,

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 his central message becomes this.

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 Remember your creator in the days of your youth.

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 It's not a message of self-centeredness or self-actualization or self-expression,

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 but God-centeredness.

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 That's the key.

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 Remember your creator in the days of your youth.

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 Now, with our time together, I want to meditate on why and how.

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 Why should we remember our creator in the days of our youth?

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 And how can we do that?

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 First, let's meditate on why.

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 Why should we remember our creator in the days of our youth?

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 And I think we can point to at least three reasons that Ecclesiastes has been putting up before us.

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 And the first is this.

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 Remembering our creator in the days of our youth is the only pathway to lasting joy in our youth.

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 And this message runs throughout the book of Ecclesiastes.

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 As Ecclesiastes has lived for wealth and for pleasure and for fame,

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 he found that it was all empty.

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 And then when he turned to base his life on earthly wisdom and earthly philosophy,

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 he found that that too couldn't provide the meaning and stability that his soul was looking for.

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 In fact, even the best human wisdom, which was certainly better than foolishness, of course,

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 but even the best of human wisdom was at the end of the day, fleeting.

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 It was vanity.

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 What does this mean?

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 It means that lasting joy can only be found not by living life exclusively for what's under the sun.

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 Instead, we must seek the one who created all these things.

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 Only in relationship with our creator will life have lasting meaning.

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 Too often we think,

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 I'll care about God when I'm older.

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 When I'm young,

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 I want to live.

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 But Ecclesiastes comes to us and says,

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 listen,

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 life apart from your creator isn't living.

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 It's chasing the wind.

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 It's chasing the wind.

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 Trust me.

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 I've tried it.

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 When Beth and I first moved to New Haven,

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 we would make regular trips to Ikea to get things for our apartment.

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 Some of you may be moved here this summer and have been to Ikea far more than you care to admit.

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 Right?

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 And if you've ever purchased furniture at Ikea,

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 you know that when you bring it home,

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 it doesn't look anything like it looks like on the showroom floor.

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 It comes in a flat brown cardboard box.

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 And when you open the box,

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 you don't find inside the box a nice piece of furniture all ready to go.

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 You basically find a bunch of pieces and parts.

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 It doesn't look anything like a sofa or a bookshelf.

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 You have to put it all together.

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 But thankfully,

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 as you shake out all the hardware and the particle board,

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 there's a set of instructions

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 with that weird nondescript guy there,

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 whatever his name is,

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 the Ikea guy.

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 Now,

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 does it make much sense

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 to look at that pile of parts

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 that you know you really want to become your sofa

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 and say,

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 who needs instructions?

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 When I'm young,

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 I want to live.

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 And just plunge headlong into the project.

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 How many hours will go by

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 before you realize

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 that you're just chasing the wind?

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 And come on,

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 in our town,

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 some of you are very mechanically adept

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 and very skilled.

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 But come on,

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 a lot of us are not that mechanically skilled,

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 right?

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 That's not what brought us to New Haven.

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 Wouldn't your time have been better spent

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 remembering

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 that this piece of furniture

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 was designed by someone

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 who in grace has showed you

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 how it all goes together?

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 And friends,

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 if that's true of a piece of furniture,

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 how much more true of a human life?

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 You have a designer

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 who wants to show you

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 how it all goes together,

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 who wants to show you

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 how life is meant to be lived

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 because He made it for you

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 as a gift.

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 Remember your Creator

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 in the days of your youth.

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 That's the path to joy.

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 But let's press this point a little deeper.

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 What if,

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 in the days of your youth,

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 you meet not just with success

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 or prosperity

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 and all the pieces fitting together,

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 but with failure

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 or adversity?

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 What about when trials come?

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 It's easy to think

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 that trials and hardships

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 are actually barriers

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 to believing in God.

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 That adversity makes it harder

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 to believe in God.

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 And the truth is

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 we never want to downplay

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 genuine questions

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 or genuine doubts, right?

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 Ecclesiastes is a book

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 that welcomes questions

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 and doubts.

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 And given the fact

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 that Ecclesiastes

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 is in the Bible,

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 that must mean that God

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 welcomes your genuine questions

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 and doubts too.

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 He's put a whole book in there

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 so that you can know,

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 you can bring your doubts

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 and questions to Him.

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 But when it comes to trials

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 and hardships,

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 Scripture doesn't come

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 and answer all of our questions,

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 but it does offer hope.

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 If you believe that life

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 is ultimately

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 a random series of accidents,

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 time and matter

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 and energy and chance

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 sort of just bouncing off

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 of one another,

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 then suffering really

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 is meaningless.

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 And you have very few resources

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 to face it.

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 And probably the best you can do

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 is avoid it

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 as long as you can.

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 But if there is a Creator

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 whose good and wise purposes

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 are being worked out

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 even in the midst of trials,

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 then even if you don't

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 and can't know

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 all the reasons,

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 you can know

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 that suffering

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 is not purposeless

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 or meaningless.

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 You see,

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 remembering your Creator

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 in the days of your youth,

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 it won't just save you

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 a lot of heartache,

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 it will also bring you

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 a lot of comfort

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 in the midst of heartache too.

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 But this is not just advice

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 for our younger years.

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 Why should we remember

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 our Creator

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 in the days of our youth?

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 It doesn't just bring joy

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 in our younger years,

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 but second,

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 remembering our Creator

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 in the days of our youth

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 is what brings peace

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 in old age.

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 Look again at verse 1

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 of chapter 12.

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 Remember also your Creator

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 in the days of your youth,

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 before the evil days come.

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 And that word evil there

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 can mean something like

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 before the trying

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 and troubling days come.

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 Before the evil days come

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 and the years draw near

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 of which you will say,

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 I have no pleasure in them.

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 And then,

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 in verses 2 through 6,

00:14:48.819 --> 00:14:50.259
 Ecclesiastes presents

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 this extended metaphor

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 of aging.

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 Look over those metaphors.

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 Don't you see there?

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 Our eyesight grows dim.

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 Our hands tremble.

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 Our hearing goes away.

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 Our hair turns gray.

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 If we have any,

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 our strength wanes.

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 Scan through these verses

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 for yourself.

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 Imagine how many of these images

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 of a household

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 are pictures of human aging.

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 Ecclesiastes is reminding us

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 that a day is coming

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 when the vigor of our youth

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 will pass

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 and old age will set in.

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 And we will find ourselves

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 beset with many limitations.

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 And friend,

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 as you begin to age,

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 what will keep you

00:15:48.160 --> 00:15:51.620
 from becoming increasingly bitter

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 or cynical

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 or afraid?

00:15:55.539 --> 00:15:59.219
 as all the things

00:15:59.219 --> 00:16:00.199
 that you used to be able

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 to do

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 and all the honor

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 and admiration

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 you used to receive

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 from others

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 begins to be lost.

00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:12.559
 Ecclesiastes says,

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 start practicing

00:16:14.139 --> 00:16:15.599
 now

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 what will be

00:16:17.659 --> 00:16:18.639
 your only hope

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 of peace then.

00:16:21.379 --> 00:16:22.680
 Start practicing

00:16:22.680 --> 00:16:24.500
 now,

00:16:24.759 --> 00:16:25.740
 young person.

00:16:26.840 --> 00:16:27.740
 Start practicing

00:16:27.740 --> 00:16:28.659
 now

00:16:28.659 --> 00:16:29.840
 what it means

00:16:29.840 --> 00:16:31.279
 to be a dependent

00:16:31.279 --> 00:16:32.740
 creature

00:16:32.740 --> 00:16:34.480
 before your

00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:35.580
 almighty creator.

00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:38.420
 Because the days

00:16:38.420 --> 00:16:39.639
 are swiftly coming

00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:41.500
 when you will be

00:16:41.500 --> 00:16:42.040
 dependent

00:16:42.040 --> 00:16:43.320
 whether you like it

00:16:43.320 --> 00:16:43.800
 or not.

00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:48.019
 And if you've learned

00:16:48.019 --> 00:16:49.560
 to lean

00:16:49.560 --> 00:16:50.620
 on your creator

00:16:50.620 --> 00:16:51.680
 in the days

00:16:51.680 --> 00:16:52.560
 of your youth,

00:16:53.659 --> 00:16:55.300
 then old age

00:16:55.300 --> 00:16:56.379
 will be

00:16:56.379 --> 00:16:57.259
 just one

00:16:57.259 --> 00:16:59.080
 more step

00:16:59.080 --> 00:17:00.240
 on the path

00:17:00.240 --> 00:17:01.120
 of learning

00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:02.440
 to rest

00:17:02.440 --> 00:17:03.680
 in God's goodness

00:17:03.680 --> 00:17:04.500
 and sovereignty.

00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:07.079
 If in the days

00:17:07.079 --> 00:17:07.759
 of your youth

00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:08.440
 you've already

00:17:08.440 --> 00:17:09.059
 come to grips

00:17:09.059 --> 00:17:09.620
 with the fact

00:17:09.620 --> 00:17:10.259
 that your life

00:17:10.259 --> 00:17:11.339
 is not your own

00:17:11.339 --> 00:17:12.720
 but a gift

00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:13.400
 from God

00:17:13.400 --> 00:17:14.980
 that you don't

00:17:14.980 --> 00:17:15.940
 belong to yourself

00:17:15.940 --> 00:17:17.200
 but you belong

00:17:17.200 --> 00:17:17.980
 to your creator

00:17:17.980 --> 00:17:19.059
 who made you,

00:17:20.220 --> 00:17:21.240
 then old age

00:17:21.240 --> 00:17:23.259
 won't steal

00:17:23.259 --> 00:17:24.039
 your dignity

00:17:24.039 --> 00:17:25.259
 or your hope

00:17:25.259 --> 00:17:26.400
 or your peace

00:17:26.400 --> 00:17:28.240
 because you've

00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:29.240
 already learned

00:17:29.240 --> 00:17:30.759
 that your dignity

00:17:30.759 --> 00:17:31.779
 and your hope

00:17:31.779 --> 00:17:33.160
 don't come

00:17:33.160 --> 00:17:34.640
 from your independence

00:17:34.640 --> 00:17:36.700
 or your productive

00:17:36.700 --> 00:17:37.539
 capacities.

00:17:37.539 --> 00:17:37.839
 peace.

00:17:39.960 --> 00:17:41.059
 They come from

00:17:41.059 --> 00:17:42.279
 being a creature

00:17:42.279 --> 00:17:45.019
 made in God's image

00:17:45.019 --> 00:17:48.460
 bearing the image

00:17:48.460 --> 00:17:50.220
 of a holy,

00:17:50.480 --> 00:17:50.799
 good,

00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:51.359
 loving,

00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:52.720
 and excellent

00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:53.339
 creator.

00:17:54.960 --> 00:17:56.720
 And so you can face

00:17:56.720 --> 00:17:57.639
 old age

00:17:57.639 --> 00:17:59.200
 with peace

00:17:59.200 --> 00:18:01.720
 because you've already

00:18:01.720 --> 00:18:02.299
 learned

00:18:02.299 --> 00:18:03.980
 where your true

00:18:03.980 --> 00:18:04.379
 dignity

00:18:04.379 --> 00:18:05.099
 comes from.

00:18:07.099 --> 00:18:08.299
 And old age

00:18:08.299 --> 00:18:10.200
 far from stealing

00:18:10.200 --> 00:18:10.839
 it away

00:18:10.839 --> 00:18:13.180
 makes it shine

00:18:13.180 --> 00:18:13.779
 all the more.

00:18:20.099 --> 00:18:21.079
 But what if you've

00:18:21.079 --> 00:18:21.680
 already come

00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:22.839
 to the brink

00:18:22.839 --> 00:18:23.500
 of old age

00:18:23.500 --> 00:18:25.339
 and maybe you're

00:18:25.339 --> 00:18:26.000
 starting to realize

00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:26.759
 that you haven't

00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:27.819
 lived your younger

00:18:27.819 --> 00:18:28.980
 years remembering

00:18:28.980 --> 00:18:29.819
 your creator?

00:18:29.819 --> 00:18:33.419
 What if all of this

00:18:33.419 --> 00:18:34.139
 is just now

00:18:34.139 --> 00:18:34.879
 coming into view

00:18:34.879 --> 00:18:35.279
 for you?

00:18:35.359 --> 00:18:35.960
 Is it too late

00:18:35.960 --> 00:18:36.480
 to begin?

00:18:39.179 --> 00:18:40.000
 Not at all.

00:18:41.879 --> 00:18:42.279
 Ecclesiastes

00:18:42.279 --> 00:18:43.059
 aims his words

00:18:43.059 --> 00:18:43.619
 at the young

00:18:43.619 --> 00:18:45.519
 but there's good

00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:46.139
 reason to think

00:18:46.139 --> 00:18:47.039
 that he speaks

00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:48.200
 as an old man.

00:18:50.319 --> 00:18:51.240
 He came to

00:18:51.240 --> 00:18:52.000
 his realization

00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:53.379
 late in life

00:18:53.379 --> 00:18:56.019
 and so can you.

00:18:57.899 --> 00:18:58.679
 You don't need

00:18:58.679 --> 00:18:59.119
 to face

00:18:59.119 --> 00:18:59.899
 your latter years

00:18:59.899 --> 00:19:00.579
 apart from the

00:19:00.579 --> 00:19:01.219
 truth that there

00:19:01.219 --> 00:19:01.879
 is a God

00:19:01.879 --> 00:19:03.000
 who created

00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:03.819
 all things

00:19:03.819 --> 00:19:05.459
 and who created

00:19:05.459 --> 00:19:06.479
 us human beings

00:19:06.479 --> 00:19:07.439
 in his own image

00:19:07.439 --> 00:19:08.500
 to love

00:19:08.500 --> 00:19:09.099
 and know

00:19:09.099 --> 00:19:10.019
 and serve him.

00:19:10.979 --> 00:19:11.779
 It is not

00:19:11.779 --> 00:19:12.179
 too late

00:19:12.179 --> 00:19:12.579
 to come

00:19:12.579 --> 00:19:13.099
 to the deep

00:19:13.099 --> 00:19:13.579
 realization

00:19:13.579 --> 00:19:14.359
 that your life

00:19:14.359 --> 00:19:15.139
 is not

00:19:15.139 --> 00:19:15.859
 a meaningless

00:19:15.859 --> 00:19:16.419
 blip

00:19:16.419 --> 00:19:17.339
 in a silent

00:19:17.339 --> 00:19:17.919
 cosmos

00:19:17.919 --> 00:19:18.659
 but your life

00:19:18.659 --> 00:19:19.339
 is the gift

00:19:19.339 --> 00:19:20.339
 of a loving

00:19:20.339 --> 00:19:21.159
 and good God

00:19:21.159 --> 00:19:22.579
 who calls you

00:19:22.579 --> 00:19:23.299
 to himself

00:19:23.299 --> 00:19:25.019
 to know him

00:19:25.019 --> 00:19:26.579
 and to love him

00:19:26.579 --> 00:19:28.240
 and to worship him

00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:29.919
 with as many days

00:19:29.919 --> 00:19:30.720
 as you have left

00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:32.659
 and to turn

00:19:32.659 --> 00:19:33.000
 to him

00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:33.579
 in hope

00:19:33.579 --> 00:19:36.019
 that as a creature

00:19:36.019 --> 00:19:37.139
 made in his image

00:19:37.139 --> 00:19:38.339
 you were created

00:19:38.339 --> 00:19:39.220
 to live forever

00:19:39.220 --> 00:19:40.220
 in his presence.

00:19:41.819 --> 00:19:42.980
 The end of our passage

00:19:42.980 --> 00:19:43.399
 says

00:19:43.399 --> 00:19:45.460
 the dust returns

00:19:45.460 --> 00:19:46.039
 to the earth

00:19:46.039 --> 00:19:46.859
 as it was

00:19:46.859 --> 00:19:48.919
 and the spirit

00:19:48.919 --> 00:19:51.079
 returns to God

00:19:51.079 --> 00:19:52.599
 who gave it.

00:19:52.599 --> 00:19:58.459
 And this brings us

00:19:58.459 --> 00:19:59.419
 to the third reason

00:19:59.419 --> 00:20:00.659
 why we must remember

00:20:00.659 --> 00:20:01.379
 our creator

00:20:01.379 --> 00:20:02.539
 in the days

00:20:02.539 --> 00:20:03.099
 of our youth.

00:20:03.599 --> 00:20:04.619
 It's not just about

00:20:04.619 --> 00:20:06.119
 joy in our younger years

00:20:06.119 --> 00:20:06.719
 and peace

00:20:06.719 --> 00:20:07.699
 in our older years.

00:20:08.259 --> 00:20:09.559
 It's also about hope

00:20:09.559 --> 00:20:11.039
 when our years

00:20:11.039 --> 00:20:11.859
 come to an end.

00:20:13.539 --> 00:20:13.859
 You see

00:20:13.859 --> 00:20:14.759
 verses 2 through 6

00:20:14.759 --> 00:20:15.659
 aren't just

00:20:15.659 --> 00:20:16.839
 an allegory

00:20:16.839 --> 00:20:17.879
 of old age.

00:20:18.839 --> 00:20:19.639
 They are

00:20:19.639 --> 00:20:21.139
 at the same time

00:20:21.140 --> 00:20:23.840
 deeply apocalyptic

00:20:23.840 --> 00:20:24.800
 imagery

00:20:24.800 --> 00:20:27.000
 of God's

00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:28.960
 final judgment

00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:30.200
 and reckoning

00:20:30.200 --> 00:20:31.280
 of creation.

00:20:33.460 --> 00:20:34.620
 When the sun

00:20:34.620 --> 00:20:35.220
 and the moon

00:20:35.220 --> 00:20:35.880
 and the stars

00:20:35.880 --> 00:20:36.700
 are darkened

00:20:36.700 --> 00:20:37.920
 and all the earth

00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:38.840
 is silenced

00:20:38.840 --> 00:20:39.980
 before the creator

00:20:39.980 --> 00:20:41.700
 when he comes

00:20:41.700 --> 00:20:42.660
 to judge the earth

00:20:42.660 --> 00:20:43.780
 in perfect justice

00:20:43.780 --> 00:20:47.680
 see in those images

00:20:47.680 --> 00:20:49.540
 and hear in those images

00:20:49.539 --> 00:20:50.159
 resonance

00:20:50.159 --> 00:20:51.579
 of what the prophets

00:20:51.579 --> 00:20:52.460
 spoke of.

00:20:54.099 --> 00:20:55.379
 When in deeply

00:20:55.379 --> 00:20:56.480
 symbolic language

00:20:56.480 --> 00:20:57.359
 they talked about

00:20:57.359 --> 00:20:58.180
 the creator

00:20:58.180 --> 00:20:58.980
 coming back

00:20:58.980 --> 00:20:59.859
 to his creation

00:20:59.859 --> 00:21:01.279
 and his glory

00:21:01.279 --> 00:21:02.599
 being so weighty

00:21:02.599 --> 00:21:03.879
 that even the stars

00:21:03.879 --> 00:21:05.019
 fall from the sky

00:21:05.019 --> 00:21:07.639
 and we stand

00:21:07.639 --> 00:21:08.539
 before the one

00:21:08.539 --> 00:21:10.839
 who is awesome

00:21:10.839 --> 00:21:12.599
 in holiness.

00:21:16.899 --> 00:21:17.500
 Friend,

00:21:17.599 --> 00:21:18.319
 imagine facing

00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:18.839
 that day

00:21:18.839 --> 00:21:20.579
 having lived

00:21:20.579 --> 00:21:21.339
 your whole life

00:21:21.339 --> 00:21:22.779
 for wealth

00:21:22.779 --> 00:21:23.359
 or pleasure

00:21:23.359 --> 00:21:24.000
 or fame.

00:21:25.139 --> 00:21:25.839
 Imagine facing

00:21:25.839 --> 00:21:26.179
 that day

00:21:26.179 --> 00:21:26.519
 having lived

00:21:26.519 --> 00:21:27.179
 your whole life

00:21:27.179 --> 00:21:27.799
 for wisdom

00:21:27.799 --> 00:21:29.179
 or knowledge.

00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:30.500
 Imagine facing

00:21:30.500 --> 00:21:30.879
 that day

00:21:30.879 --> 00:21:31.299
 having lived

00:21:31.299 --> 00:21:31.879
 your whole life

00:21:31.879 --> 00:21:32.980
 even for morality

00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:33.839
 and good works

00:21:33.839 --> 00:21:35.619
 but not having

00:21:35.619 --> 00:21:36.240
 lived them

00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:38.240
 for God

00:21:38.240 --> 00:21:39.799
 your creator.

00:21:42.679 --> 00:21:43.679
 Imagine facing

00:21:43.679 --> 00:21:44.039
 that day

00:21:44.039 --> 00:21:44.619
 when the creator

00:21:44.619 --> 00:21:45.559
 finally calls

00:21:45.559 --> 00:21:46.559
 creation to account

00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:47.679
 and realizing

00:21:47.679 --> 00:21:48.619
 that you've

00:21:48.619 --> 00:21:49.139
 lived your whole

00:21:49.139 --> 00:21:49.539
 life

00:21:49.539 --> 00:21:51.240
 using God's

00:21:51.240 --> 00:21:51.940
 good gifts

00:21:51.940 --> 00:21:54.059
 but having

00:21:54.059 --> 00:21:55.139
 given no thought

00:21:55.139 --> 00:21:56.079
 to him

00:21:56.079 --> 00:21:57.099
 the giver

00:21:57.099 --> 00:21:59.399
 but instead

00:21:59.399 --> 00:21:59.740
 having

00:21:59.740 --> 00:22:01.079
 functionally

00:22:01.079 --> 00:22:01.960
 rejected him

00:22:01.960 --> 00:22:02.639
 in your heart.

00:22:06.559 --> 00:22:07.700
 What will you

00:22:07.700 --> 00:22:08.319
 and I bring

00:22:08.319 --> 00:22:08.779
 to God

00:22:08.779 --> 00:22:09.399
 on that day

00:22:09.399 --> 00:22:10.279
 when he calls

00:22:10.279 --> 00:22:11.159
 our lives

00:22:11.160 --> 00:22:11.800
 to account?

00:22:15.800 --> 00:22:16.279
 Remember

00:22:16.279 --> 00:22:17.080
 your creator

00:22:17.080 --> 00:22:19.080
 in the days

00:22:19.080 --> 00:22:19.740
 of your youth

00:22:19.740 --> 00:22:21.680
 before the sun

00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:22.180
 and moon

00:22:22.180 --> 00:22:22.580
 and stars

00:22:22.580 --> 00:22:23.080
 give way

00:22:23.080 --> 00:22:25.140
 and before

00:22:25.140 --> 00:22:25.640
 the picture

00:22:25.640 --> 00:22:26.320
 is shattered

00:22:26.320 --> 00:22:26.960
 of the fountain

00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:30.460
 before the creator

00:22:30.460 --> 00:22:30.960
 returns

00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:31.560
 to reclaim

00:22:31.560 --> 00:22:32.279
 his creation

00:22:32.279 --> 00:22:33.180
 in perfect

00:22:33.180 --> 00:22:33.900
 judgment.

00:22:33.900 --> 00:22:38.440
 As C.S. Lewis

00:22:38.440 --> 00:22:39.000
 said in that

00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:39.620
 memorable part

00:22:39.620 --> 00:22:40.360
 of mere Christianity

00:22:40.360 --> 00:22:40.759
 he said

00:22:40.759 --> 00:22:41.480
 that won't be

00:22:41.480 --> 00:22:42.019
 the day

00:22:42.019 --> 00:22:43.840
 for choosing

00:22:43.840 --> 00:22:44.519
 sides

00:22:44.519 --> 00:22:46.280
 it will be

00:22:46.280 --> 00:22:46.759
 the day

00:22:46.759 --> 00:22:48.120
 when it is

00:22:48.120 --> 00:22:48.519
 revealed

00:22:48.519 --> 00:22:49.240
 whose side

00:22:49.240 --> 00:22:50.000
 you are

00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:50.640
 truly on

00:22:50.640 --> 00:22:52.340
 and on that

00:22:52.340 --> 00:22:52.780
 day it will

00:22:52.780 --> 00:22:53.400
 be no use

00:22:53.400 --> 00:22:54.019
 saying that

00:22:54.019 --> 00:22:54.560
 you choose

00:22:54.560 --> 00:22:55.000
 to bow

00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:55.860
 before God

00:22:55.860 --> 00:22:57.580
 when in fact

00:22:57.580 --> 00:22:58.160
 you are

00:22:58.160 --> 00:22:58.880
 unable

00:22:58.880 --> 00:22:59.759
 to stand.

00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:04.879
 But how

00:23:04.879 --> 00:23:05.460
 can a creature

00:23:05.460 --> 00:23:05.920
 stand

00:23:05.920 --> 00:23:06.839
 before the creator?

00:23:08.680 --> 00:23:09.799
 Because after all

00:23:09.799 --> 00:23:10.299
 we humans

00:23:10.299 --> 00:23:10.920
 are not just

00:23:10.920 --> 00:23:11.339
 creatures

00:23:11.339 --> 00:23:11.859
 are we?

00:23:13.140 --> 00:23:13.660
 Beautiful

00:23:13.660 --> 00:23:14.900
 in his image

00:23:14.900 --> 00:23:15.279
 yes

00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:16.539
 but we are

00:23:16.539 --> 00:23:16.980
 not just

00:23:16.980 --> 00:23:17.420
 creatures

00:23:17.420 --> 00:23:18.980
 we are

00:23:18.980 --> 00:23:19.359
 sinners.

00:23:22.879 --> 00:23:23.619
 In light

00:23:23.619 --> 00:23:24.059
 of that

00:23:24.059 --> 00:23:25.539
 how

00:23:25.539 --> 00:23:27.099
 how should

00:23:27.099 --> 00:23:27.599
 we remember

00:23:27.599 --> 00:23:28.259
 our creator?

00:23:29.759 --> 00:23:30.859
 we have seen

00:23:30.859 --> 00:23:31.500
 why we need

00:23:31.500 --> 00:23:31.980
 to do it

00:23:31.980 --> 00:23:33.220
 but now

00:23:33.220 --> 00:23:33.519
 we need

00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:33.960
 to consider

00:23:33.960 --> 00:23:34.480
 how

00:23:34.480 --> 00:23:36.259
 how do

00:23:36.259 --> 00:23:36.799
 we remember

00:23:36.799 --> 00:23:37.500
 our creator?

00:23:40.500 --> 00:23:41.059
 And here

00:23:41.059 --> 00:23:41.400
 the Bible

00:23:41.400 --> 00:23:42.339
 gives a

00:23:42.339 --> 00:23:42.559
 somewhat

00:23:42.559 --> 00:23:43.059
 surprising

00:23:43.059 --> 00:23:43.619
 answer

00:23:43.619 --> 00:23:45.799
 because you

00:23:45.799 --> 00:23:45.960
 know the

00:23:45.960 --> 00:23:46.480
 natural human

00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:47.259
 response

00:23:47.259 --> 00:23:48.119
 seems to be

00:23:48.119 --> 00:23:48.900
 well if we are

00:23:48.900 --> 00:23:49.200
 going to

00:23:49.200 --> 00:23:49.680
 remember our

00:23:49.680 --> 00:23:50.059
 creator

00:23:50.059 --> 00:23:51.019
 then we have

00:23:51.019 --> 00:23:51.720
 to lift

00:23:51.720 --> 00:23:52.240
 our thoughts

00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:52.879
 up to God

00:23:52.879 --> 00:23:54.259
 we have to

00:23:54.259 --> 00:23:54.960
 somehow

00:23:54.960 --> 00:23:56.180
 seek

00:23:56.180 --> 00:23:57.160
 God above

00:23:57.160 --> 00:23:57.640
 we have to

00:23:57.640 --> 00:23:58.519
 climb up

00:23:58.519 --> 00:23:59.500
 out of our

00:23:59.500 --> 00:24:00.259
 mundane existence

00:24:00.259 --> 00:24:01.000
 somehow

00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:01.880
 someway

00:24:01.880 --> 00:24:02.859
 get to God

00:24:02.859 --> 00:24:03.960
 and many

00:24:03.960 --> 00:24:04.619
 religions will

00:24:04.619 --> 00:24:05.259
 offer you a

00:24:05.259 --> 00:24:06.440
 path for

00:24:06.440 --> 00:24:07.440
 achieving some

00:24:07.440 --> 00:24:08.339
 sort of

00:24:08.339 --> 00:24:09.140
 transcendent

00:24:09.140 --> 00:24:09.819
 connection

00:24:09.819 --> 00:24:11.900
 some kind of

00:24:11.900 --> 00:24:12.660
 path that you

00:24:12.660 --> 00:24:13.279
 can climb

00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:16.680
 but Christianity

00:24:16.680 --> 00:24:17.259
 is very

00:24:17.259 --> 00:24:17.740
 different

00:24:17.740 --> 00:24:19.819
 Christianity

00:24:19.819 --> 00:24:20.859
 says you can't

00:24:20.859 --> 00:24:21.559
 actually climb

00:24:21.559 --> 00:24:21.920
 your way to

00:24:21.920 --> 00:24:22.180
 God

00:24:22.180 --> 00:24:23.619
 not through

00:24:23.619 --> 00:24:24.319
 moral efforts

00:24:24.319 --> 00:24:25.519
 not through

00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:25.859
 spiritual

00:24:25.859 --> 00:24:26.519
 practices

00:24:26.519 --> 00:24:28.720
 you and I

00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:29.559
 are creatures

00:24:29.559 --> 00:24:30.879
 finite

00:24:30.879 --> 00:24:32.000
 limited

00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:33.539
 we can't

00:24:33.539 --> 00:24:34.359
 traverse the

00:24:34.359 --> 00:24:35.079
 distance

00:24:35.079 --> 00:24:36.440
 between our

00:24:36.440 --> 00:24:37.660
 finite existence

00:24:37.660 --> 00:24:38.759
 and God's

00:24:38.759 --> 00:24:39.379
 infinitely

00:24:39.379 --> 00:24:40.700
 holy

00:24:40.700 --> 00:24:41.900
 presence

00:24:41.900 --> 00:24:43.379
 but more

00:24:43.379 --> 00:24:43.980
 than that

00:24:43.980 --> 00:24:45.000
 we're sinners

00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:46.180
 we're flawed

00:24:46.180 --> 00:24:46.980
 and fallen

00:24:46.980 --> 00:24:50.660
 there's no

00:24:50.660 --> 00:24:51.539
 way we can

00:24:51.539 --> 00:24:52.400
 get from us

00:24:52.400 --> 00:24:53.640
 to God

00:24:53.640 --> 00:24:54.720
 the only

00:24:54.720 --> 00:24:55.280
 hope

00:24:55.280 --> 00:24:56.560
 we have

00:24:56.560 --> 00:24:58.940
 of remembering

00:24:58.940 --> 00:24:59.720
 our creator

00:24:59.720 --> 00:25:01.480
 and being in

00:25:01.480 --> 00:25:02.460
 relationship with

00:25:02.460 --> 00:25:03.080
 our creator

00:25:03.080 --> 00:25:06.140
 is if the

00:25:06.140 --> 00:25:06.780
 creator comes

00:25:06.780 --> 00:25:07.640
 down to us

00:25:07.640 --> 00:25:13.019
 only if the

00:25:13.019 --> 00:25:13.480
 creator

00:25:13.480 --> 00:25:15.460
 remembers us

00:25:15.460 --> 00:25:17.440
 will we have

00:25:17.440 --> 00:25:18.060
 any hope of

00:25:18.060 --> 00:25:18.840
 remembering him

00:25:18.839 --> 00:25:22.740
 and that

00:25:22.740 --> 00:25:23.139
 friends is

00:25:23.139 --> 00:25:23.879
 exactly

00:25:23.879 --> 00:25:25.220
 what the

00:25:25.220 --> 00:25:25.679
 earliest

00:25:25.679 --> 00:25:26.419
 Christians

00:25:26.419 --> 00:25:27.799
 believed

00:25:27.799 --> 00:25:29.199
 and proclaimed

00:25:29.199 --> 00:25:30.379
 had happened

00:25:30.379 --> 00:25:31.699
 in the

00:25:31.699 --> 00:25:32.339
 person of

00:25:32.339 --> 00:25:33.139
 Jesus Christ

00:25:33.139 --> 00:25:35.599
 the creator

00:25:35.599 --> 00:25:37.139
 had come

00:25:37.139 --> 00:25:38.159
 to us

00:25:38.159 --> 00:25:41.000
 listen to

00:25:41.000 --> 00:25:41.220
 what the

00:25:41.220 --> 00:25:41.839
 apostle Paul

00:25:41.839 --> 00:25:42.639
 wrote about

00:25:42.639 --> 00:25:43.099
 Jesus

00:25:43.099 --> 00:25:44.639
 during the

00:25:44.639 --> 00:25:44.980
 lifetime

00:25:44.980 --> 00:25:45.639
 of the

00:25:45.639 --> 00:25:46.299
 eyewitnesses

00:25:46.299 --> 00:25:46.699
 of Jesus

00:25:46.699 --> 00:25:47.379
 ministry

00:25:47.379 --> 00:25:48.339
 Paul writes

00:25:48.339 --> 00:25:48.699
 this

00:25:48.700 --> 00:25:49.059
 when there

00:25:49.059 --> 00:25:49.460
 were plenty

00:25:49.460 --> 00:25:49.799
 of people

00:25:49.799 --> 00:25:50.140
 around

00:25:50.140 --> 00:25:50.980
 who lived

00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:51.420
 with Jesus

00:25:51.420 --> 00:25:51.920
 and knew

00:25:51.920 --> 00:25:52.180
 Jesus

00:25:52.180 --> 00:25:52.740
 and walked

00:25:52.740 --> 00:25:53.039
 with him

00:25:53.039 --> 00:25:53.299
 and could

00:25:53.299 --> 00:25:53.960
 testify to

00:25:53.960 --> 00:25:54.140
 him

00:25:54.140 --> 00:25:54.920
 Paul writes

00:25:54.920 --> 00:25:55.279
 this

00:25:55.279 --> 00:25:56.299
 he says

00:25:56.299 --> 00:25:57.319
 Jesus

00:25:57.319 --> 00:25:57.759
 Christ

00:25:57.759 --> 00:25:58.160
 is the

00:25:58.160 --> 00:25:58.620
 image

00:25:58.620 --> 00:25:58.920
 of the

00:25:58.920 --> 00:25:59.319
 invisible

00:25:59.319 --> 00:25:59.860
 God

00:25:59.860 --> 00:26:00.740
 and the

00:26:00.740 --> 00:26:01.279
 rightful

00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:01.680
 owner

00:26:01.680 --> 00:26:02.279
 of all

00:26:02.279 --> 00:26:02.880
 creation

00:26:02.880 --> 00:26:04.180
 because

00:26:04.180 --> 00:26:05.100
 by him

00:26:05.100 --> 00:26:06.200
 all things

00:26:06.200 --> 00:26:06.880
 were created

00:26:06.880 --> 00:26:07.840
 in heaven

00:26:07.840 --> 00:26:08.180
 and on

00:26:08.180 --> 00:26:08.460
 earth

00:26:08.460 --> 00:26:09.460
 visible

00:26:09.460 --> 00:26:10.220
 and invisible

00:26:10.220 --> 00:26:11.100
 whether

00:26:11.100 --> 00:26:11.600
 thrones

00:26:11.600 --> 00:26:12.640
 or dominions

00:26:12.640 --> 00:26:13.100
 or rulers

00:26:13.100 --> 00:26:13.840
 or authorities

00:26:13.840 --> 00:26:15.100
 all things

00:26:15.100 --> 00:26:15.819
 were created

00:26:15.819 --> 00:26:17.000
 through him

00:26:17.000 --> 00:26:18.279
 and for

00:26:18.279 --> 00:26:18.600
 him

00:26:18.599 --> 00:26:19.559
 and he's

00:26:19.559 --> 00:26:20.240
 before all

00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:20.679
 things

00:26:20.679 --> 00:26:22.159
 and in him

00:26:22.159 --> 00:26:22.699
 all things

00:26:22.699 --> 00:26:23.379
 hold together

00:26:23.379 --> 00:26:29.279
 what did

00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:31.039
 the eyewitnesses

00:26:31.039 --> 00:26:32.000
 of Jesus's

00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:32.559
 ministry

00:26:32.559 --> 00:26:33.679
 see

00:26:33.679 --> 00:26:38.639
 they saw him

00:26:38.639 --> 00:26:39.139
 heal the

00:26:39.139 --> 00:26:39.480
 sick

00:26:39.480 --> 00:26:41.799
 and they saw

00:26:41.799 --> 00:26:42.359
 him restore

00:26:42.359 --> 00:26:42.959
 sight to the

00:26:42.959 --> 00:26:43.339
 blind

00:26:43.339 --> 00:26:45.559
 and they saw

00:26:45.559 --> 00:26:46.000
 him cause

00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:46.480
 the weak

00:26:46.480 --> 00:26:46.980
 to walk

00:26:46.980 --> 00:26:47.419
 again

00:26:47.419 --> 00:26:49.319
 and they

00:26:49.319 --> 00:26:49.639
 saw him

00:26:49.639 --> 00:26:50.740
 calm storms

00:26:50.740 --> 00:26:51.839
 and cast

00:26:51.839 --> 00:26:52.439
 out demons

00:26:52.439 --> 00:26:53.819
 and they saw

00:26:53.819 --> 00:26:54.379
 him even

00:26:54.379 --> 00:26:55.000
 raise the

00:26:55.000 --> 00:26:55.480
 dead to

00:26:55.480 --> 00:26:55.899
 life

00:26:55.899 --> 00:26:59.419
 who could

00:26:59.419 --> 00:27:00.199
 do such

00:27:00.199 --> 00:27:00.619
 a thing

00:27:00.619 --> 00:27:01.919
 who could

00:27:01.919 --> 00:27:02.439
 exercise

00:27:02.439 --> 00:27:03.319
 such complete

00:27:03.319 --> 00:27:03.939
 control

00:27:03.939 --> 00:27:04.419
 over the

00:27:04.419 --> 00:27:04.959
 material

00:27:04.959 --> 00:27:05.500
 of the

00:27:05.500 --> 00:27:05.859
 created

00:27:05.859 --> 00:27:06.339
 order

00:27:06.339 --> 00:27:07.399
 both seen

00:27:07.399 --> 00:27:08.099
 and unseen

00:27:08.099 --> 00:27:12.539
 friends

00:27:12.539 --> 00:27:13.459
 it was not

00:27:13.459 --> 00:27:14.339
 without

00:27:14.339 --> 00:27:15.980
 evidence

00:27:15.980 --> 00:27:16.839
 that the

00:27:16.839 --> 00:27:17.279
 earliest

00:27:17.279 --> 00:27:17.859
 Christians

00:27:17.859 --> 00:27:18.539
 proclaimed

00:27:18.539 --> 00:27:19.099
 Jesus

00:27:19.099 --> 00:27:19.980
 to be

00:27:19.980 --> 00:27:20.419
 one

00:27:20.419 --> 00:27:21.019
 with

00:27:21.019 --> 00:27:21.439
 God

00:27:21.439 --> 00:27:23.459
 the very

00:27:23.459 --> 00:27:23.959
 creator

00:27:23.959 --> 00:27:24.379
 of all

00:27:24.379 --> 00:27:24.839
 things

00:27:24.839 --> 00:27:26.099
 the one

00:27:26.099 --> 00:27:26.699
 through whom

00:27:26.699 --> 00:27:27.740
 and by whom

00:27:27.740 --> 00:27:28.740
 all things

00:27:28.740 --> 00:27:29.319
 exist

00:27:29.319 --> 00:27:34.740
 but look

00:27:34.740 --> 00:27:35.119
 again

00:27:35.119 --> 00:27:35.799
 at that

00:27:35.799 --> 00:27:36.299
 evidence

00:27:36.299 --> 00:27:37.539
 and what

00:27:37.539 --> 00:27:37.839
 do you

00:27:37.839 --> 00:27:38.179
 see

00:27:38.179 --> 00:27:40.839
 you see

00:27:40.839 --> 00:27:41.759
 the broken

00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:42.599
 made whole

00:27:42.599 --> 00:27:44.439
 and you see

00:27:44.439 --> 00:27:45.039
 chaos

00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:45.519
 restored

00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:46.200
 to order

00:27:46.200 --> 00:27:48.179
 you see

00:27:48.179 --> 00:27:48.799
 frightened

00:27:48.799 --> 00:27:49.599
 fishermen

00:27:49.599 --> 00:27:50.899
 brought peace

00:27:50.899 --> 00:27:51.359
 in the midst

00:27:51.359 --> 00:27:52.000
 of a storm

00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:52.339
 you see

00:27:52.339 --> 00:27:53.059
 death

00:27:53.059 --> 00:27:54.299
 pushed back

00:27:54.299 --> 00:27:55.299
 and life

00:27:55.299 --> 00:27:55.919
 restored

00:27:55.919 --> 00:27:57.980
 you see

00:27:57.980 --> 00:27:58.740
 these mighty

00:27:58.740 --> 00:27:59.200
 deeds

00:27:59.200 --> 00:27:59.660
 that Jesus

00:27:59.660 --> 00:27:59.960
 did

00:27:59.960 --> 00:28:00.480
 were not

00:28:00.480 --> 00:28:00.759
 just

00:28:00.759 --> 00:28:01.660
 evidence

00:28:01.660 --> 00:28:02.100
 that Jesus

00:28:02.100 --> 00:28:02.519
 was the

00:28:02.519 --> 00:28:03.039
 creator

00:28:03.039 --> 00:28:04.120
 although

00:28:04.120 --> 00:28:04.660
 certainly

00:28:04.660 --> 00:28:05.059
 that

00:28:05.059 --> 00:28:07.940
 but that

00:28:07.940 --> 00:28:08.420
 he was also

00:28:08.420 --> 00:28:09.140
 the redeemer

00:28:09.140 --> 00:28:11.259
 that he had

00:28:11.259 --> 00:28:11.600
 come to

00:28:11.600 --> 00:28:12.100
 heal

00:28:12.100 --> 00:28:12.900
 the broken

00:28:12.900 --> 00:28:13.500
 creation

00:28:13.500 --> 00:28:15.259
 he'd come

00:28:15.259 --> 00:28:16.340
 to reconcile

00:28:16.340 --> 00:28:17.500
 sinners

00:28:17.500 --> 00:28:18.220
 to himself

00:28:18.220 --> 00:28:20.340
 and to

00:28:20.340 --> 00:28:20.580
 do

00:28:20.580 --> 00:28:21.480
 supremely

00:28:21.480 --> 00:28:22.200
 what only

00:28:22.200 --> 00:28:22.460
 God

00:28:22.460 --> 00:28:22.960
 could do

00:28:22.960 --> 00:28:25.319
 forgive

00:28:25.319 --> 00:28:26.039
 sins

00:28:26.039 --> 00:28:28.620
 and how

00:28:28.619 --> 00:28:28.959
 would the

00:28:28.959 --> 00:28:29.319
 creator

00:28:29.319 --> 00:28:29.959
 forgive

00:28:29.959 --> 00:28:30.739
 the sins

00:28:30.739 --> 00:28:31.019
 of his

00:28:31.019 --> 00:28:31.479
 creatures

00:28:31.479 --> 00:28:34.639
 this way

00:28:34.639 --> 00:28:36.359
 on the cross

00:28:36.359 --> 00:28:36.719
 Jesus

00:28:36.719 --> 00:28:37.759
 underwent

00:28:37.759 --> 00:28:38.839
 that divine

00:28:38.839 --> 00:28:39.299
 judgment

00:28:39.299 --> 00:28:39.939
 that sinners

00:28:39.939 --> 00:28:40.679
 deserved

00:28:40.679 --> 00:28:43.159
 so that we

00:28:43.159 --> 00:28:43.699
 sinners could

00:28:43.699 --> 00:28:44.219
 receive the

00:28:44.219 --> 00:28:45.179
 perfect righteousness

00:28:45.179 --> 00:28:45.859
 that Jesus

00:28:45.859 --> 00:28:46.419
 deserved

00:28:46.420 --> 00:28:50.240
 and so this

00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:51.140
 really is

00:28:51.140 --> 00:28:52.259
 the only

00:28:52.259 --> 00:28:52.700
 way

00:28:52.700 --> 00:28:53.940
 to remember

00:28:53.940 --> 00:28:54.720
 your creator

00:28:54.720 --> 00:28:55.500
 rightly

00:28:55.500 --> 00:28:56.759
 and fully

00:28:56.759 --> 00:28:59.620
 we must

00:28:59.620 --> 00:29:00.160
 look

00:29:00.160 --> 00:29:01.100
 upon the

00:29:01.100 --> 00:29:01.660
 face of

00:29:01.660 --> 00:29:02.500
 Jesus Christ

00:29:02.500 --> 00:29:03.640
 crucified

00:29:03.640 --> 00:29:04.279
 and risen

00:29:04.279 --> 00:29:06.240
 for in

00:29:06.240 --> 00:29:06.880
 Jesus Christ

00:29:06.880 --> 00:29:07.360
 our creator

00:29:07.360 --> 00:29:07.960
 lived among

00:29:07.960 --> 00:29:08.400
 us and we

00:29:08.400 --> 00:29:08.840
 have seen

00:29:08.840 --> 00:29:09.480
 his glory

00:29:09.480 --> 00:29:10.700
 glory as

00:29:10.700 --> 00:29:11.279
 of the only

00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:12.180
 son from

00:29:12.180 --> 00:29:12.600
 the father

00:29:12.600 --> 00:29:13.120
 full of

00:29:13.120 --> 00:29:13.620
 grace and

00:29:13.620 --> 00:29:13.980
 truth

00:29:13.980 --> 00:29:15.680
 and in

00:29:15.680 --> 00:29:16.440
 Jesus Christ

00:29:16.440 --> 00:29:17.019
 crucified

00:29:17.019 --> 00:29:17.700
 and risen

00:29:17.700 --> 00:29:18.380
 our sins

00:29:18.380 --> 00:29:18.960
 can be

00:29:18.960 --> 00:29:19.380
 forgiven

00:29:19.380 --> 00:29:20.740
 only in

00:29:20.740 --> 00:29:21.480
 his work

00:29:21.480 --> 00:29:22.099
 can we

00:29:22.099 --> 00:29:22.599
 face

00:29:22.599 --> 00:29:23.160
 death

00:29:23.160 --> 00:29:23.660
 and judgment

00:29:23.660 --> 00:29:24.339
 with hope

00:29:24.339 --> 00:29:25.579
 because he

00:29:25.579 --> 00:29:26.180
 died and

00:29:26.180 --> 00:29:26.920
 faced that

00:29:26.920 --> 00:29:27.299
 judgment

00:29:27.299 --> 00:29:28.500
 for all

00:29:28.500 --> 00:29:28.900
 who turn

00:29:28.900 --> 00:29:29.360
 from sin

00:29:29.360 --> 00:29:29.779
 and trust

00:29:29.779 --> 00:29:30.200
 in him

00:29:30.200 --> 00:29:33.620
 you see

00:29:33.620 --> 00:29:33.799
 friends

00:29:33.799 --> 00:29:34.220
 the good

00:29:34.220 --> 00:29:34.740
 news

00:29:34.740 --> 00:29:35.200
 of the

00:29:35.200 --> 00:29:35.680
 gospel

00:29:35.680 --> 00:29:38.099
 is that

00:29:38.099 --> 00:29:38.559
 when we

00:29:38.559 --> 00:29:39.240
 had rejected

00:29:39.240 --> 00:29:39.819
 and forgotten

00:29:39.819 --> 00:29:40.519
 our creator

00:29:40.519 --> 00:29:42.519
 our creator

00:29:42.519 --> 00:29:42.980
 remembered

00:29:42.980 --> 00:29:43.440
 us

00:29:43.440 --> 00:29:44.740
 and he

00:29:44.740 --> 00:29:45.059
 came and

00:29:45.059 --> 00:29:45.420
 he lived

00:29:45.420 --> 00:29:46.080
 among us

00:29:46.080 --> 00:29:47.340
 accomplishing

00:29:47.340 --> 00:29:47.900
 everything

00:29:47.900 --> 00:29:48.580
 necessary

00:29:48.580 --> 00:29:50.620
 so that

00:29:50.620 --> 00:29:51.000
 we might

00:29:51.000 --> 00:29:51.320
 repent

00:29:51.320 --> 00:29:51.640
 and be

00:29:51.640 --> 00:29:52.200
 reconciled

00:29:52.200 --> 00:29:52.600
 to him

00:29:52.600 --> 00:29:54.900
 and so

00:29:54.900 --> 00:29:55.420
 now

00:29:55.420 --> 00:29:58.640
 remember

00:29:58.640 --> 00:29:59.360
 your creator

00:29:59.360 --> 00:30:00.900
 and your

00:30:00.900 --> 00:30:01.400
 redeemer

00:30:01.400 --> 00:30:03.440
 Jesus Christ

00:30:03.440 --> 00:30:03.940
 the Lord

00:30:03.940 --> 00:30:05.660
 remember

00:30:05.660 --> 00:30:06.000
 him

00:30:06.000 --> 00:30:07.200
 now

00:30:07.200 --> 00:30:08.380
 live for

00:30:08.380 --> 00:30:08.660
 him

00:30:08.660 --> 00:30:09.600
 now

00:30:09.600 --> 00:30:11.480
 why would

00:30:11.480 --> 00:30:12.200
 you chase

00:30:12.200 --> 00:30:12.759
 after the

00:30:12.759 --> 00:30:13.180
 wind

00:30:13.180 --> 00:30:14.519
 when the

00:30:14.519 --> 00:30:14.880
 one who

00:30:14.880 --> 00:30:15.560
 commands

00:30:15.560 --> 00:30:16.080
 the wind

00:30:16.080 --> 00:30:16.340
 and the

00:30:16.340 --> 00:30:16.640
 waves

00:30:16.640 --> 00:30:17.259
 calls you

00:30:17.259 --> 00:30:17.700
 to follow

00:30:17.700 --> 00:30:18.320
 himself

00:30:18.320 --> 00:30:21.220
 with as

00:30:21.220 --> 00:30:22.000
 many years

00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:22.279
 as you

00:30:22.279 --> 00:30:22.900
 have left

00:30:22.900 --> 00:30:24.320
 whether you

00:30:24.320 --> 00:30:25.700
 have many

00:30:25.700 --> 00:30:26.340
 earthly years

00:30:26.340 --> 00:30:26.880
 ahead of you

00:30:26.880 --> 00:30:27.820
 or whether you

00:30:27.820 --> 00:30:28.299
 have more

00:30:28.299 --> 00:30:28.960
 earthly years

00:30:28.960 --> 00:30:29.880
 behind you

00:30:29.880 --> 00:30:31.400
 the reality

00:30:31.400 --> 00:30:31.980
 is there is

00:30:31.980 --> 00:30:32.580
 an eternity

00:30:32.580 --> 00:30:33.140
 to come

00:30:33.140 --> 00:30:35.200
 so remember

00:30:35.200 --> 00:30:35.920
 your creator

00:30:35.920 --> 00:30:37.900
 don't live

00:30:37.900 --> 00:30:37.900


00:30:37.900 --> 00:30:38.840
 another day

00:30:38.840 --> 00:30:40.120
 without making

00:30:40.120 --> 00:30:40.620
 him

00:30:40.620 --> 00:30:41.700
 the center

00:30:41.700 --> 00:30:42.080
 of your

00:30:42.080 --> 00:30:42.640
 thoughts

00:30:42.640 --> 00:30:43.259
 and your

00:30:43.259 --> 00:30:44.000
 affections

00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:44.539
 and your

00:30:44.539 --> 00:30:45.060
 desires

00:30:45.060 --> 00:30:45.820
 and your

00:30:45.820 --> 00:30:46.200
 goals

00:30:46.200 --> 00:30:46.920
 live for him

00:30:46.920 --> 00:30:47.440
 with all

00:30:47.440 --> 00:30:48.220
 your strength

00:30:48.220 --> 00:30:51.279
 and when

00:30:51.279 --> 00:30:51.960
 your strength

00:30:51.960 --> 00:30:52.560
 then begins

00:30:52.560 --> 00:30:53.200
 to wane

00:30:53.200 --> 00:30:55.220
 and when

00:30:55.220 --> 00:30:56.240
 your years

00:30:56.240 --> 00:30:56.620
 in this

00:30:56.620 --> 00:30:56.960
 earthly

00:30:56.960 --> 00:30:57.400
 pilgrimage

00:30:57.400 --> 00:30:58.000
 come to

00:30:58.000 --> 00:30:58.519
 an end

00:30:58.519 --> 00:31:01.480
 then may

00:31:01.480 --> 00:31:01.900
 we hear

00:31:01.900 --> 00:31:02.480
 well done

00:31:02.480 --> 00:31:04.079
 good and

00:31:04.079 --> 00:31:04.779
 faithful servant

00:31:04.779 --> 00:31:06.720
 enter into

00:31:06.720 --> 00:31:07.099
 the kingdom

00:31:07.099 --> 00:31:07.460
 of your

00:31:07.460 --> 00:31:07.779
 father

00:31:07.779 --> 00:31:09.339
 let's pray

00:31:09.339 --> 00:31:12.379
 holy spirit

00:31:12.379 --> 00:31:12.839
 we pray

00:31:12.839 --> 00:31:13.179
 that you

00:31:13.179 --> 00:31:13.659
 would come

00:31:13.659 --> 00:31:15.419
 and help

00:31:15.419 --> 00:31:16.079
 us to do

00:31:16.079 --> 00:31:16.759
 what this

00:31:16.759 --> 00:31:17.299
 passage

00:31:17.299 --> 00:31:18.259
 is saying

00:31:18.259 --> 00:31:18.980
 we must do

00:31:18.980 --> 00:31:20.439
 to turn

00:31:20.439 --> 00:31:21.019
 our hearts

00:31:21.019 --> 00:31:21.559
 to our

00:31:21.559 --> 00:31:22.039
 creator

00:31:22.039 --> 00:31:25.240
 lord

00:31:25.240 --> 00:31:25.699
 there's so

00:31:25.699 --> 00:31:26.399
 many things

00:31:26.399 --> 00:31:26.919
 that crowd

00:31:26.919 --> 00:31:27.579
 our minds

00:31:27.579 --> 00:31:28.500
 and our hearts

00:31:28.500 --> 00:31:29.379
 so many fears

00:31:29.379 --> 00:31:29.879
 so many

00:31:29.879 --> 00:31:30.579
 distractions

00:31:30.579 --> 00:31:32.179
 so many

00:31:32.179 --> 00:31:32.720
 worries

00:31:32.720 --> 00:31:34.199
 jesus

00:31:34.199 --> 00:31:34.859
 come and be

00:31:34.859 --> 00:31:35.439
 the prince of

00:31:35.439 --> 00:31:36.039
 peace in our

00:31:36.039 --> 00:31:36.439
 midst

00:31:36.439 --> 00:31:37.879
 open our

00:31:37.879 --> 00:31:38.579
 eyes to see

00:31:38.579 --> 00:31:39.159
 you as the

00:31:39.160 --> 00:31:40.060
 only trustworthy

00:31:40.060 --> 00:31:40.620
 one

00:31:40.620 --> 00:31:42.860
 that we might

00:31:42.860 --> 00:31:43.500
 follow you

00:31:43.500 --> 00:31:44.980
 and live our

00:31:44.980 --> 00:31:45.540
 days knowing

00:31:45.540 --> 00:31:46.060
 that we've been

00:31:46.060 --> 00:31:46.420
 forgiven

00:31:46.420 --> 00:31:47.840
 and that we

00:31:47.840 --> 00:31:48.220
 might know

00:31:48.220 --> 00:31:48.800
 the joy

00:31:48.800 --> 00:31:49.540
 and the peace

00:31:49.540 --> 00:31:50.060
 of following

00:31:50.060 --> 00:31:50.420
 you

00:31:50.420 --> 00:31:51.640
 in our

00:31:51.640 --> 00:31:52.259
 young age

00:31:52.259 --> 00:31:53.640
 and in our

00:31:53.640 --> 00:31:54.160
 old age

00:31:54.160 --> 00:31:55.460
 pray this in

00:31:55.460 --> 00:31:56.080
 jesus name

00:31:56.080 --> 00:31:56.660
 amen