A0141_Life is Not a Destination
Date: 29th June 2003 (Sunday AM) Ref: A0141
Place: Kambah P.S.
Title: Life is not a Destination
Text: & Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Illust: On my bookshelf, I have a number of Biographies/Autobiographies. Men like Billy Graham, Nelson Mandela, Yitzak Rabin & others. These are an account of someone’s life either by the person themselves or by another person. They are fascinating as they give you insight into the lives of people normally that have achieved some measure of fame or success. As you read through them you see that they have led lives with defeats, setbacks, success, and achievement. With the benefit of being able to read their whole life set out before you, you can see how the events of their lives & the choices they made shaped the destiny of their life.
I. Life is Not a Destination
A. Timeless Truth
i. In our text this morning we have a timeless truth that we need to understand. If you read through this it is a series of opposites. ~ This morning what is your life like? I am not talking about right at this very moment, look back, what do you see?
ii. If you have been alive for any length of time you see good times, but you also see painful times, hard time, times of anguish, fear, uncertainty & even despair. ~ Now Look forward, what do you see, what do you dream?
iii. Why is it we all dream for everything to be peaches & cream. Goals of achievement & success. Sunshine & laughter, reaping, dancing, gaining, keeping, loving & peace. It is a beautiful picture! When I have that I will have “arrived”, but is it life, is it real? & Vs 1.
B. Hardships of Life are a Reality
i. A common error that we have in our thinking is to think that life is a destination Ecclesiastes 9:11 (NKJV) 11I returned and saw under the sun that— The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all. is in direct opposition to this error, this is thinking of the natural, carnal man & it is wrong thinking
ii. The problem is that people who have this error in their thinking can't deal with the realities of the hardships of life. Look back again; see the good times & the bad. Is there any reason to think that your life will not have both on into the future? Our text this morning specifically says you will! There are seasons in your life for all sides of the coin.
iii. The truth is that you will not always achieve your dreams, things wont’ always (hardly ever) work out how you dreamed. In your work, home life, marriage, school, social life, ministry aspirations. The grave danger is that if you seek to have your identities fulfilled in your achievements & the attainment of your goals, then when invariably you enter a “time to” mourn, lose, weep, be broken down, You will be messed up – “Why is this happening? This is not how it’s supposed to turn out”.
II. Life is a Test
A. Everything is a Test
i. What we need to grasp is that the true nature of life is that it really is a test. ~ More a series of tests. Jeremiah 12:5 (NKJV) 5 “If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, Then how can you contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, In which you trusted, they wearied you, Then how will you do in the floodplain of the Jordan? ~ God moves us through the stages of life & as we move through these stages we face new tests.
ii. Moses life was a succession of tests; In Egypt, at the Burning bush, the Dead Sea, when God was judging the people with death, & at Kadesh Barnea. His responses set his destiny. & Num 20:7-12 ~ In the same way the children of Israel, Deuteronomy 8:2 (NKJV) 2 And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. Abraham, David, Daniel, Elijah, Saul, Adam & even Jesus were tested. The bible is the record of men & women facing the tests of life. They didn’t pass every test & Set their destinies.
iii. How you respond to the test, during the stage of life you are in will determine your destiny ~ everything you face at home, at work or even at church is a test. Every issue that arises in your life, every phone call, every email, every time you are offended, when you turn on the TV, get onto the Internet. You are tested. The circumstances of life both the good & the bad are a test.
B. The Journey of Life
i. At work, we did in one year over $70Million in sales. But that was 4 years ago. Nobody cares. Because what matters is not what was, but what is & what will be. Your life is not measured by past achievements but by the present test. How you face this test will determine your destiny.
ii. Life is not a destination but a journey, you will never arrive (this side of eternity) & even then, what does it mean ‘eternity’ we are going somewhere; God has a purpose & a plan for your life. Illust: Over the triple doorways of the Cathedral of Milan there are three inscriptions spanning the splendid arches. Over one is carved a beautiful wreath of roses, and underneath is the legend. “All that which pleases is but for a moment.” Over the other is sculptured a cross, and the words, “All that which troubles us is but for a moment.” But underneath the great central entrance to the main aisle is the inscription, “That only is important which is eternal.”
iii. All you have to do is face the current test. ~ There is a time to heal & time to be sick, How many know praying is not a magical incantation that gets you everything you want. God wants to do something in your life. That’s why we face the tests we face. Illust: Bismarck, speaking with Andrew White, US ambassador to Germany, said of immortality: “I do not doubt it, even for a moment. This life is too sad, too incomplete, to satisfy our highest aspirations and desires. It is meant to be a struggle to ennoble us. Can the struggle be in vain? I think not. Final perfection, I believe in, a perfection which God has in store for us.”
III. The Hope That We Have
A. Hope that is In Us
i. You see we have a hope, knowing that God is doing something ~ Romans 5:3-5 (NKJV) 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. We can have Hope, for Praise God we are not left to go through the tests on our own We have a High Priest who the writer of Hebrews tells us Hebrews 7:25 (NKJV) 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. “Intercedes”
ii. Jesus is our Great High Priest and while other failed the tests, He did not! Yet he was tested. Hebrews 4:15 (NKJV) 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Gk word for Tempted is “to be Tested”
iii. And we know that Hebrews 13:5b (NKJV) 5…... For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you. We see when Peter was tested. Luke 22:31-32 (NKJV) 31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” ~ The Message translation puts it this way; “Simon stay on your toes. Satan has tried his best to separate all of you from me, like chaff from wheat. Simon, I’ve prayed for you in particular that you do not give in or give out. When you have come through the time of testing, turn to your companions and give them a fresh start.” Even though peter failed the Test Jesus didn't fail him
B. Relationship with Jesus.
i. Your Hope through the tests along the journey of life is found in Christ ~ Colossians 1:27 (NKJV) 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
ii. Don’t be deceived chasing satisfaction from the things of this world, will only disappoint when you come up short. Real satisfaction will be found only in Christ - Philippians 1:21 (NKJV) 21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. It is your relationship with Jesus that matters & how you handle the tests of the moment, through his strength.