0:01 [Music] I want to share a few words and hopefully we can get some help uh more help as we proceed in this conference here. The theme again is been rooted in Christ and and being fruitful 0:19 in our youthful in our younger years. So I I intend to continue on that theme. There's a verse we heard yesterday in one of the messages or in the message yesterday that we only had one that uh struck me a bit and I want to start from 0:33 that from Psalm 1. Um in Psalm 1 it says here speaking of that man who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly or stand in the path of sinners. His delight is in the law of the Lord. It says in verse three that it 0:51 shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water and that brings forth its fruit in season. That's where that's what struck me yesterday when I I was looking and listening to that message says he brings he or she brings fruit in 1:09 its season. And that word season especially is what I want to begin with. And as I thought on that, the implication of that word season is uh there's a time for something, right? There's a season for whatever. In this case, it says that 1:28 man or woman will be fruitful in its season. There's only a window you have to do certain things. And so God expects that while you're in that season, if you're a man walking with Christ, expects fruitfulness in your life. in mind 1:46 because there will be another season where things change and you're not able to do what you should have done. That is what I want to uh speak on today. In Ecclesiastes 3, Solomon speaks of a season for everything under the sun. 2:04 And it says that there's a season to be born and a season to die. I hope you know, I'm sure you know that. But many times we act as though we're going to live forever. Especially when we're young. We think we have many years 2:20 ahead of us. But the reality is we're all going to die if Jesus terries. Death is coming for each one. And you don't have as many years as you think you do. Life is short. So I'd like to look at that. Again, when 2:38 we're young, we think we have many years ahead of us. We have all those plans, wonderful plans, grand plans that everyone in this room wants to attain or achieve, thinking I have my life to leave as they say. But the reality is 2:56 it's shorter than you think. And I know because as I've gotten older also, I see my time is I think I've lived more than half my life. Definitely because I may not even leave. I'm 47 now. I don't know that I live to be 94. It's possible, but 3:15 the chances of that are the odds are quite against me for that. So, I definitely have lived more than half my life now. It's going by quickly and let us do what we need to do while God has given us the opportunity. So, there's a 3:31 season for everything. Solomon says, a time to be born and a time to die. It's good to think about death not in a morbid way but it's it helps you stay grounded that my time is coming also it'll be over for me soon what am I 3:49 concentrating my energy my efforts on I want to look at that today and the Bible has a lot to say on this and I hopefully you can get something out of this meeting now uh when the scriptures speak of when the Bible mentions a verse 4:07 over and over again in the Old Testament and the New Testament. It's good to pay good attention to what it's saying. And I want to look at one such verse. It comes up in the Old Testament. It comes up in the New. I say we slow down and see why God is 4:25 doing that, reminding us both in the Old and New Testament. And this verse that I want to look at is in First Peter chapter 1. In 1 Peter chapter 1, Peter says this. Um, I'm going to start from verse 4:44 23. 1 Peter 1:23. Peter says this, "Have it been born again, not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible through the word of God, which lives and abides forever. 5:01 Because all flesh is as the grass is as grass and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers and his flowers its flower falls away but the word of the Lord endures forever. Peter is quoting from Isaiah 5:21 40. And this theme, this idea that where we blossom once and very quickly we wither away essentially we die is what it's saying there. That theme comes through several in several parts of the Bible. In James chapter 4, it's even 5:40 more sobering where James says our lives are like like the vapor. You know, with a plant you have a couple of hours, maybe a couple of days, but with vapor you only have a couple of seconds and it's over. James chapter 4, towards the 5:53 end of that chapter, he says that you must remember that it's your life will be over quicker than you know. Certainly in light of eternity, it's really a fraction of a drop in the all the oceans combined. It'll go by quickly. And why 6:10 am I saying this? The question I must be asking myself and you also is what am I what is my what am I spending my energy on? Those things that you think are important, you'll soon find they're not. And that's why Solomon uh when he 6:28 finishes that book of Ecclesiastes chapter 12, the the beginning of that chapter says, "Remember your creator in the days of your youth. When you're young, remember God." that will matter before if you continue in that 6:45 Ecclesiastes 12 before the time when all those things that are interesting to you now they will not be at some point and that's just the reality boys sex whatever it might be money as you get older you start to see there's another 7:01 things that matter I'm going to die soon all those things that I thought were fantastic traveling and all those that felt wow and I see that even in my parents you know my head. All the things that were pleasurable and we thought we 7:15 thought were great when they were young, no pleasure in them anymore. Food, good food, good wine, good this. I don't want them. That's not what matters. Solomon is saying in Ecclesiastes 12, remember God now before those days come. It's 7:33 very important. It's coming for you and it's coming for me. Death that is the end of our life. So let's consider that all the time. What am I living for? It's essentially the question I'm asking you. What are you living for? What am I 7:51 living for? The only way that life can be meaningful. I'd say this if I were not a Christian, honestly, I'd be a depressed person. And I'm I'm not exaggerating when I say that because I consider whatever it is I have or I've attained, 8:10 even my family, my wife, my children, I'm going to leave all that behind one day. So why all this whatever it is, money, the greatest treasure, earthly treasure that I have is my my wife and kids. But even that, I'm going to leave 8:27 it behind. So what's all this about? If I were not a Christian, I'd be thinking, why all this? Why? All the rat race, all this achievement and attainment, I'm going to leave it behind. I think like that. And I say again, if I were not one 8:44 who has a hope in the Lord Jesus, these things are meaningless, as great as they appear. And I'm surprised that human beings, just the average human being does not think like that. Oh, why all this power, political power, 8:59 fame, notoriety, going to leave it all behind. So what? Why is why I think like that? It's meaningless. But thank God it does not have to be right. The only thing that makes life worthwhile for me is that hope that all 9:19 that I'm doing right must be to the honor of the Lord. It makes it worthwhile everything the big things the small king the small things I mentioned family even raising children okay it's worthwhile because I want to do it I am doing it to the honor 9:37 of the Lord there's nothing so fantastic about I mean having children is a great thing but animals have children right animals have children so if that's all that excites us that I have a kid or I'm paired up with a man or woman in 9:51 marriage those are all wonderful things. But if that's all that excites me, animals do some of these things. I thought on that, too. You know, God told the animals be fruitful and multiply. So, what's so fantastic about that? If 10:06 that's all that I'm pursuing, but for you and I, the command is to do all these things to the honor of the Lord, then it matters. Then it'll count. Now, I'm not trying to be high sounding here. This is actually how it must be 10:23 for you and me. So much so that even the mundane things of life at home cleaning and all of those things doing you can actually come to a place where you ask yourself Lord do you have pleasure in this things I'm doing the 10:39 simple things and if you can uh determine that yeah I want to do this thing well my job for example well to the honor of the lord it means something even my work everything will mean something that's the wonder of this life 10:55 we're talking about here that I've set Jesus before all that I am and all that I'm doing. Then it'll matter. Please think on this. Think on this. It'll happen. The time will come again when you find all this the things that 11:14 exciting in your youth, the things you're pursuing in your youth, it's not as exciting anymore. And you must start to ask that same question that I as I do. What's the meaning of all this attainment of whatever it might be? I'm 11:32 going to leave it behind. That's quite the depressing thought. People don't think like that. I I don't know. And I've talked to unbelievers. Why do you realize you're going to die? Yeah. Some say when I die, I die. Really? And I 11:44 think they say that because they haven't come to the edge of death yet. That's why they feel when I die, it's over. No. When death stares you in the face, that thought will change right now because God is still merciful. People speak like 11:57 that. I've heard I've had people say that to me many times. I don't believe it. And I don't believe that man knows what he's saying. It's because God is merciful to him. He has strength. He thinks when death comes, it's over. How 12:11 could that be? Someone was saying the other day, I heard now he believes when we die, we'll die like the rats, like animals. Is that so? God made you in his image and you suppose that when you die, you're going to die like that animal there. 12:30 I smile and I know that man is saying that when death really stares them in the face, that thought will change. When the reality of everything coming to an end, it'll change. So think about this. The only thing that 12:46 makes life worthwhile is to sert is to set God before me. And that's why I believe it says so even of Jesus on earth in Acts two that he has set the father before him. That that's a wonderful verse to remember. Acts two and 25 onwards. I've 13:06 set the Lord before me. Even Jesus had to live that way or else everything else even for him would be meaningless. But I've set my father before me. You and I must say the same. I've said Jesus before me in all things. Then it 13:24 matters. Everything will matter. Getting married will matter. Uh uh coming to this retreat will matter. Jesus, I'm looking to you. I'm doing this, Lord. to honor you. Help me to your glory, Lord. You know the Bible says that all 13:44 that we do, Jesus, I want you first. You'll find that it matters, life then becomes exciting. It becomes worthwhile. Everything becomes worthwhile. There must not be any task we do where where it just we just do it and and and it 14:02 just goes away like that. It must matter. everything we do, my resting, my sleeping, my waking up, my having a job, everything. And the Lord, the Holy Spirit can actually bring that to be if we're serious about saying, "Jesus, I 14:18 want to do this for you. I want to." That's how life can have a meaning, have true meaning for you and me. The end is coming. It's coming very quickly. very quickly think of eternity. 14:37 What is this life? And God will have to explain that one day. Why give us all this few years? When does eternity? Why? What? Why does Moses said once that 70 years is all we have 80 years if we have more strength? 14:56 But even there in Psalm 90, he says it all flies away very quickly. It's filled with toil and and then it flies away. So this theme again runs through. If you have time, just search for this. Moses said the same thing. Uh Psalm 39, teach 15:12 me how to remind me. Help me to number my days to see how frail, how weak I am. This is David, that mighty man of God. I'm a weak man. And even there he says my years, my days are like the breath, it pass away. So I think about such 15:30 things and it it's a good thing. I love I love to think about that my time is coming. Not in a scary way but to help me help me press on even more devotedly to the Lord. It's going to be over soon. My lovely children, my lovely wife, my 15:47 lovely even the church, my earthly people, you're going to leave them behind. It's all going to go. What what will matters what you have done in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. And so I want to share a few things here as far as uh 16:01 the solution to this dilemma. I've said some of it here. This dilemma of the meaningless the meaninglessness of all things earthly things. How then almost I live so I can I am my life can count. One of the things I think this is a 16:19 truth to me that matters above almost pretty much above all and it's this to make sure every day that God finds pleasure in me. It's a simple thing but I think it covers everything else right that God can look down and say I'm 16:38 happy with you. And when I say that I don't mean in terms of what I'm doing or what I've done for God. That's another misconception we have that God finds pleasure in me because I've done some work, because I've done some task, even 16:51 ministry. No, just by my life, what's inside, he can look in my thoughts and see this man's heart is is clear. His heart is pure. His motives are good. His desire is to walk with me imperfect, imperfectly as 17:09 though that might be. But the motive is right for the son of mine or that daughter of mine. So living a life that pleases God. To me that's the most important thing. And I want to encourage you sometime uh as you read the Bible 17:24 old and new there are few people like that that God says I find pleasure in him. Right? Jesus of course being the greatest example. I find pleasure in him. And I've looked at some of these lives starting even with Jesus that it's 17:39 not because of what he did primarily. It's just because of how we live. Think of Enoch. Enoch only appears a few verses in the Old Testament. Genesis uh chapter five about seven or six or seven verses only. That's all it says of him 17:55 there. And it says he walked with God at the end of his life. In Hebrews um Hebrews 11, it says of this that he had this testimony about him. I want to let's look at that verse. He had this testimony about him that while he was on 18:13 earth, he pleased God. What a wonderful thing to for God to say about a man. It's the most important thing I think. Hebrews chapter 11 and vers five. Verse five. By faith, Enoch walked, was taken away 18:31 so that he did not see death. He was not found because God took him away. But before, that's a good before he was taken away, God had this testimony about this man. He pleased me. That's the That's the wonderful epitap that we can have on our grave. People 18:51 may say this or say that. You blessed. He was a good man. He gave to the poor. He gave to church. He he served. But the greatest epitap there is for God to say, "This man pleased me." That's why Enoch to me is a great example. There's not much said about 19:08 him, but all the This is enough. That's all I need to know about Enoch that God testified this man pleased me. That's must be our pursuit. Also, I say again, it's not it's not that pleasure that God finds in a man. It's not primarily 19:26 because of what he or she has done that will come but from his or her her life. This is to me is the most important thing and it brings rest also because I don't want to rush off to do this and do that which is another temptation we 19:42 might have now that he pleased me. And so if you have some time, read the scriptures that way. Not only the life of of men to whom God said this, but even the things that please God in different parts of scripture, you'll see 19:58 that God has no pleasure in such and such or God has pleasure in this. I take time to see when I see such verses, I want to see what what is this. As an example, I mentioned in our meeting yesterday uh Psalm 147 where he says 20:14 there that verse 10 and 11, God does not have pleasure uh in the strength of a horse or the legs of a man. In other words, in your ability, your natural ability, God has no pleasure in that. But he has pleasure in the one who fears 20:31 him and hopes in his mercy. That's an example of a verse I talked in my heart. God has no pleasure in my own abilities, my natural abilities. He wants me to lean on him. If you see a verse like that, you must remember it. All right? I 20:46 have no pleasure in this. I have pleasure in that. You see that all through the Bible, old and new. When you see such verses, take time. What is it that makes God happy? That's essentially what I'm saying to you. Remember it and 21:01 strive with the strength of the spirit to be that way. the one I just mentioned to you now in Psalm 147 is huge because many times we do things and even though we're saying it's to the glory of God but unconsciously very subtle way it's 21:16 your strength Jesus never lived that way and that's why he said several times at least three times in the the book of John the son can do nothing I can I cannot speak of my own my own wisdom what I see what I hear I do I speak, I 21:35 judge. Think of the son of God. It's quite a amazing statement. And we read it and we just pass on and say, "Okay, but no, you got to think on that. Jesus, the son of God, filled with the Holy Spirit, saying to you and me, I can't do 21:51 anything of myself." because he realized that if he tried to do anything preach I'm sure he could preach he could have preached a very fantastic message that may have even impacted the people but he dared not do it he dare not do it even 22:06 once uh because he understood I must rely on the strength of my father I can do nothing and so that's an example and the testimony of the life of Jesus also was that He pleased the father. He said so in John 8:29 22:26 that uh the father is with me. The one who sent me is all is with me because I always let's look at that one verse two before I move on here so you can see it for yourself. I always Jesus says that that must be the pursuit of our own 22:40 lives too. Always Jesus says I can't I can't say that I'm am there yet. None of us I think is always means all the time because that our sensitivity to the Lord is not where it should be but we must grow. John 8:29 Jesus says I always 22:58 that's an amazing testimony for him to say that always do the things that please him. So this matter of pleasing God I think to me is the most important thing. think of my own child or your uh my child the thing I want from him as to 23:14 whatever it is he's doing things according to what I've asked him to that brings me pleasure that must be the same for us in our interactions with God or else what is the meaning of it all even your good works so please think on that what 23:33 are the things that bring God pleasure it's all over the Bible you'll see it if you go through the old than you. Whenever you see it that way, mark it. Write it down. I want to do that thing. Or what it is that brings him this 23:48 pleasure. I want to run away from that. Learn that. And and I believe the Lord can help us in that matter also. Uh in so I I was saying earlier that bringing pleasure to God is not necessarily what we do for him, but that is important 24:06 too. And it's only important if what we're doing is in accordance to his instructions. Um, you know, I I was thinking of uh where James says, you know, there's a James chapter 2. Let's look at one verse where James says that we are justified 24:25 by works. I mean, that sounds contradictory to everything we knew. We know in the New Testament. Paul says several times, we're justified by faith. uh we are saved by you saved by grace through faith not of our own and all of that is 24:44 this contradictory for James chapter 2 verse 24 to say we're saved by work we're justified by works that's an amazing verse to me if I had not known the other parts of Bible and if another human being had told me that I'd say 24:57 that man is a heretic or something like that but the Holy Spirit says we're justified by works and I thought on that verse what works then it must be a work that is born out of obedience to God because the example he gives there is of 25:12 Abraham right who sacrificed God told him to sacrifice his son that's that in and of itself is another mystery that why would God give an instruction to a man to sacrifice his child when that is against God's nature he told Moses more than 25:29 once you must not anyone who sacrifices their child must be stoned you see that in Leviticus in Deuteronomy. But here God is saying to Moses, to Abraham, go sacrifice your son. That's another mystery there. But he was testing him 25:44 clearly. Uh the point I'm trying to make here is Abraham did what he did and other things even live his father's land out of obedience. That is the work. Works matter, but not works born out of 26:01 our own initiative. It must be the works of God that he has told you to do that will matter on that day. Lest we find we've done many wonderful things, many good things, many things recorded by human beings as being fantastic, but you 26:19 find on that day meaningless. It must be the works of obedience. Let's remember that. And even when Paul says in Ephesians 2:8 and9 that we're saved by grace through faith, it says it's not of our own. It's not of it's not it's 26:35 not out of our own. It's not of our own doing. It's not by works. And what it means there is not of your own works. He's not saying works don't matter. He's saying your works don't matter. Your doing doesn't matter. It must be the 26:49 works. Because in other parts of the New Testament, Titus for example, he says to Titus, remind them those who believed to be careful to maintain good works. I think that's in Titus chapter 3, to maintain good works. So yeah, Titus 3:8, 27:07 be careful to maintain good works. So that matter, what matters is the works God has commanded you to do. It matters. Remember James 2:24. You're justified by works. The works that God has given you to do on this 27:26 earth. Each of us in this room has that. Ephesians 2 says the same that he's prepared in advance for each one of us. It's different. And that's why you must not look at someone else why they have a great min. All that is I'm I asked the 27:42 Lord to save me from that a long time ago. I don't that's what God has called them to be. They have to fulfill it. As a woman, maybe just caring for the home. That's what God has given me to do. I must do 27:58 that as a student at this time. You must ask the Lord for this works. Whatever it is, ministry, am I to go feed the poor? If that's what God has asked you to do, you must do it. Or else you find you're off on a different path that is against 28:15 his will. It's very important to remember that. works matter. Works born out of obedience. You're justified by those or else your faith is meaningless. And even in that he in that James 2, another amazing thing that James says there that where 28:32 it says in Genesis 15 that Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. You know when God showed him the stars, you know the fulfillment of that that Genesis 15 is in James says there that it's when it 28:47 was fulfilled when Abraham went let's look at that when Abraham went ahead and obeyed God. It's quite a mystery. Every time I've read Genesis 15 verse 6, I've always thought, okay, Abraham saw the stars. He believed God. 29:05 Wonderful. He was counted to him for righteousness. But James says the fulfillment of that verse James chapter 2 verse 23. The fulfillment of J of Genesis 15 is here. It's not just Abraham believed God. Okay, he did. But it was fulfilled 29:22 when he obeyed God. That's where that works again comes in. It's not just a faith. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. That's a great start. Then how is your life now playing out? or else it's just an empty faith. So I'm saying 29:39 again, you must seek these things while you're young. Jesus, what do you have for me? I want to do them. What do you have for me, Lord, today? Must be a daily thing also. Help me today to do your works, to do your will. And I'm not 29:57 talking sp ministry. Everything is spiritual actually, but I'm not talking ministry. Your work is a spiritual work. your your marriage is a spiritual thing raising your children but I'm saying it's it doesn't we think of ministry or 30:11 something like that all the time no I'm speaking of daily life which is a spiritual task doing my job is a spiritual thing you must ask the Lord how must I do it what would you have me do today so still getting on this matter 30:28 time is time is short if you miss it today okay God is merciful You might be able to pick it up tomorrow, but for many of For all of us, I think we've missed so many, many days doing our own thing. The time is short. It's going to be over 30:45 soon. God forbid that we have to look back and find all this time was wasted and doing even good things, but we're contrary to the good works that God created for me to do. And then lastly also I want to say the 31:04 only another way the third way I'd say that life is meaningful is that even when we do these things for the Lord uh it must be for his glory. Now this sounds simple enough. We've heard it many times u but there's a there's a 31:21 temptation a temptation tremendous temptation to seek some glory for myself in a subtle way. You you never admit it. You will say no it's not so but it is so for all that temptation is strong that something I say it's for the glory of the Lord for 31:40 glory of Jesus but very in a subtle way we may seek we do seek a bit of recognition honor whatever it might be no everything and this is it sounds simple but it's not to come to the point 31:56 where Jesus it's only God is only for you 100%. It's not easy. It's actually impossible to do in your own strength. I'm sure you some might be thinking, "No, I said I I do it for the glory of God." Trust me, this is a very subtle 32:13 thing and God sees it. We can't deceive. We cannot deceive him. You must strive. You must fight. You must ask for the strength of the spirit to ensure everything everything is done to the glory of God. Full stop. That's it. 32:31 People recognize it as such. People recognize you come to the place where that doesn't matter at all. It's not easy. I'm telling you, it's not not only is it not easy, it's impossible to be really devoid of your own self in 32:47 everything. It's impossible. It's tough. Tougher than it seems. Uh and it's so because we're basically insincere. We always think we think that's another deception that we think I'm doing it for the glory of Jesus. But there's still something 33:02 there. The eyes of the Lord pierce pierces pierce through every man's heart. He sees clearly, right? Just because God keeps quiet and he doesn't he just okay he he let him think that he's doing this for me. But even 1% of 33:18 that is for himself, God many times may overlook it, but it's not good. He sees it. There's a thing proverb that says the eyes of the Lord like a candlestick that searches that search through the innermost part of a man. He sees you can 33:37 even what you don't see God sees it. Even when you honestly think I'm doing this to the glory of God. God's eyes can see that. Even though he may think, you know, honestly think, but it's not. So, he can see to the depth of 33:52 everything. So you must ask the Holy Spirit to bring you and me to that point. Jesus, this is for you. I don't want anything. But our nature is not like that. Our nature is to want something. Uh uh Paul says once um 1 Corinthians 15 34:11 that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Anything that is of of myself will be rejected. You must be by the spirit of Christ and for his honor. It's not easy. I'm telling you, you must cry for this. Even when you think you've achieved it, 34:31 not or you've come closer to it or even you must still cry because God sees the depth of your heart. And many times it's still a mixture there. Little though it might be, but it's still there. That's again where Jesus is our example. This 34:47 man Jesus, he had come to that point where it's not for me. It's to the glory of my father. John 12, he says there should I be delivered from dying. No, this is why I came, father, glorify your name. 35:05 He meant that. Jesus really meant that. When we say that, we may think we mean it, but again, God's eyes see at the bottom there. There's still something of myself. It must not be. So, um, let us all things to the honor of the Lord. 35:24 Time is short. I'm telling you, we'll soon get up the stage of this life and move on in judgment. It's appointed up to all of us to die once after that. We have to give an account. We all will. People don't think about that. I even say Christians, many of us 35:44 don't think about that. We hear it, but we quickly forget. You have to give an account one day. And the only way to be able to stand before the Lord is to ensure all that I have done has been let's look at that verse that 36:01 we know many times in Romans 11 has been from him and through him to him but I found that verse we don't quote the one before it also and that that's another that's that touches me uh Romans 11 uh 35 and 36 is the one that very very 36:19 important that's the only way that the matter Romans 11:36 that all things are for him and through him and to him and all the glory must be to him forever. But verse 35 is is another one uh verse 34 and 35 that I've thought unto and why 36:39 that matters to me is this verse 34 Romans 11 Paul says this uh who has known the mind of the Lord uh and has become his counselor. 35 says, "Who is first given to him, and it shall be repaid of him." You know what that means 36:54 to me? How can I I mean, if I stand before the Lord, what can I say? Um, how can I say that I've done such and such? Um, I've done such and such for the Lord and I deserve a reward. Who can say that? That I've done this 37:12 for no matter what it is you may think you've attained. No one can stand before God and say I deserve I deserve a reward. Nobody. That's why it says the same of Abraham in one of earlier in Romans that it's not a reward. Why are you going to give 37:28 reward to God who owns everything who give you the ability to do it? So remember that in everything coming from him through him and to him remember it. It's all all through in in God's mercy. I would never stand before God and say I 37:48 deserve anything. That's what it says in Romans 11:35. Remember that we don't deserve anything. The glory must be to the Lord Jesus Christ by whom we live. Again, this is a simple verse here. It's not easy. But you must come to that 38:05 conclusion. All that I am, all that I've done. I don't deserve any reward. I really don't. And not just say it superficial. It must be something that is impressing your own heart. I really don't because all that I have, all that 38:19 I've done is through God. He gave it to me. Uh David said once of of of God do we give back to him. 1 Chronicles 29, why can I g how can I glory? Because everything I've given to God, he gave me first. So this is a good thing to think about 38:38 all the time. Everything that I have is first of all he gave to me. It's like me giving you a gift and wrapping it up on my birthday and giving it back to me again. I gave it to you, brother. It's It's mine. It's mine. Even though I gave 38:54 it to you and everything belongs to God. So I just want to leave you with that thought. I think about it many times. I'll tell you that it's a good thought for me. Death. And that's why going to funerals and things like that, it's a 39:08 reminder of hearing someone died. Think of what the news we've heard heard in recent times of the plane crash. People wake up thinking, I'm going to be here, travel here, go to go here, go there. We think it'll happen, but it may 39:23 not. Think about that. And I wonder when those people woke up, I don't know, was there a trigger that a sense that something is going to happen today? I don't know. Sometimes I feel it happens, but many times I think nothing happens. 39:38 They just get on. People were taking selfies and all that in the plane. They didn't know in a couple seconds, a couple minutes, it'll be over. That can happen to any of us. Death is coming. How is it with you and with me? 39:55 Set Jesus Christ before you. Always leave an a life pleasing to God. I'm not talking ministry here. some great thing just my heart Jesus find pleasure here my heart and that's where that intimacy comes from 40:13 you can walk with him and fellowship with him pray with him pray to him have him speak to you also it comes from that life of pleasure before God so let's think about that uh Solomon says uh the place of mourning 40:33 or is better than a place of uh pleasure or mirth or party or feast. He's saying that because some of this places help us a place of mourning help us to remember my time is coming. 40:48 So may our time find us when that time of death comes or the return of Christ find us where we are to be. Jesus, by your strength, Lord, you were my pursuit on this earth. It'll 41:07 be worthwhile then. Amen. [Music]
