Ecclesiastes 3:1-2a
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
Every culture has a recognition, service, or acknowledgement for the passing of this life. Solomon, the writer of these words, is contrasting life events throughout the next seven verses:
Planting – uprooting
Removing – building
Weeping – laughing
Loving – hating
A time to be born and a time to die.
Most of us have experienced many of these life events.
There is a season for everything.
Some of you have had a season of learning about cancer or different kinds of illnesses you have not even heard of before.
You or your loved one went through a season of treatments, a season of remission.
Then came a season of return.
A season of homecoming for your spouse, family member or friend.
And now it is a season of life without them.
Job anticipated this season while he was very ill.
Job 19:25-27
I know that my redeemer lives,
and that in the end he will stand on the earth.
26 And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet in my flesh I will see God;
27 I myself will see Him
with my own eyes—I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!
Latest statistic – 100% of humankind die.
Often, funerals are only time of thinking about this and we do not like thinking that someday my life, our lives, your life ends.
Job knows this and knows that God will stand on this earth and Job will see him.
Job will not be a ghost or a spirit
In my flesh, I will see him
New body
The good news is that the next chapter can be a season of seeing God.
John 14:1-7
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7 If you really know Me, you will know My Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.”
One of the guys that should know this stuff does not know it! Thomas tells Jesus he does not know the way.
Jesus does not say the way to meet Him is by:
Doing more good things than bad things.
Church attendance
Being perfect
Praying every day
Memorizing the Bible
That is good news for you and I.
Jesus says, Believe God, believe me.
When we do that – something incredible happens in our lives. We discover God is good, holy, right, wise, pure and amazing! When our junk is given to Him, we enjoy peace, freedom from guilt and shame.
The Holy Spirit is the presence of God to guide us into all His ways. We want to do life God’s ways, because God’s ways work and our ways do not.
Jesus knew His disciples and followers were going to enter a troubling season. Jesus was going to die and before He was raised from the dead, they would be despondent.
The things Jesus tells them are the same things we need today:
Believe God, believe Jesus.
This may be your season to do that. It is as simple as saying, "Sorry, Thank you, Please."
Sorry – for the things I have done wrong in my life. I now turn from everything that I know is wrong.
Thank you - for dying for on cross for me so I can be forgiven and set free.
Please - come into my life by Your Holy Spirit, to be with me forever.
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
Every culture has a recognition, service, or acknowledgement for the passing of this life. Solomon, the writer of these words, is contrasting life events throughout the next seven verses:
Planting – uprooting
Removing – building
Weeping – laughing
Loving – hating
A time to be born and a time to die.
Most of us have experienced many of these life events.
There is a season for everything.
Some of you have had a season of learning about cancer or different kinds of illnesses you have not even heard of before.
You or your loved one went through a season of treatments, a season of remission.
Then came a season of return.
A season of homecoming for your spouse, family member or friend.
And now it is a season of life without them.
Job anticipated this season while he was very ill.
Job 19:25-27
I know that my redeemer lives,
and that in the end he will stand on the earth.
26 And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet in my flesh I will see God;
27 I myself will see Him
with my own eyes—I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!
Latest statistic – 100% of humankind die.
Often, funerals are only time of thinking about this and we do not like thinking that someday my life, our lives, your life ends.
Job knows this and knows that God will stand on this earth and Job will see him.
Job will not be a ghost or a spirit
In my flesh, I will see him
New body
The good news is that the next chapter can be a season of seeing God.
John 14:1-7
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7 If you really know Me, you will know My Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.”
One of the guys that should know this stuff does not know it! Thomas tells Jesus he does not know the way.
Jesus does not say the way to meet Him is by:
Doing more good things than bad things.
Church attendance
Being perfect
Praying every day
Memorizing the Bible
That is good news for you and I.
Jesus says, Believe God, believe me.
When we do that – something incredible happens in our lives. We discover God is good, holy, right, wise, pure and amazing! When our junk is given to Him, we enjoy peace, freedom from guilt and shame.
The Holy Spirit is the presence of God to guide us into all His ways. We want to do life God’s ways, because God’s ways work and our ways do not.
Jesus knew His disciples and followers were going to enter a troubling season. Jesus was going to die and before He was raised from the dead, they would be despondent.
The things Jesus tells them are the same things we need today:
Believe God, believe Jesus.
This may be your season to do that. It is as simple as saying, "Sorry, Thank you, Please."
Sorry – for the things I have done wrong in my life. I now turn from everything that I know is wrong.
Thank you - for dying for on cross for me so I can be forgiven and set free.
Please - come into my life by Your Holy Spirit, to be with me forever.
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