1 00:00:00,960 –> 00:00:04,180 I want to focus today on an aspect of Christmas 2 00:00:04,180 –> 00:00:06,080 that is always with us, 3 00:00:06,080 –> 00:00:09,240 but it is sometimes forgotten or even ignored, 4 00:00:09,240 –> 00:00:11,960 and that is that there are some people 5 00:00:11,960 –> 00:00:15,340 who will be greatly missed. 6 00:00:15,340 –> 00:00:17,160 And just thinking around the congregation, 7 00:00:17,160 –> 00:00:20,520 this will be true for many of us again this year. 8 00:00:20,520 –> 00:00:22,639 A father, a mother, a grandfather, 9 00:00:22,639 –> 00:00:24,959 a grandmother, a close friend has died, 10 00:00:24,959 –> 00:00:28,000 and when Christmas comes, we really miss them. 11 00:00:28,000 –> 00:00:30,139 We miss them every day, every week. 12 00:00:30,139 –> 00:00:34,840 But in this season it is especially poignant. 13 00:00:34,840 –> 00:00:39,099 Perhaps there was a chair where grandma always sat, 14 00:00:39,099 –> 00:00:41,720 and now it feels like there’s an empty chair 15 00:00:41,720 –> 00:00:43,619 and nobody else can quite fill it 16 00:00:43,619 –> 00:00:45,080 or something that was done 17 00:00:45,080 –> 00:00:48,400 or something that a family member always said 18 00:00:48,400 –> 00:00:50,080 and memories come back 19 00:00:50,080 –> 00:00:53,680 and we are reminded of how rich our lives have been 20 00:00:53,680 –> 00:00:57,240 because of those God has placed in them. 21 00:00:57,240 –> 00:00:59,560 The Bible really is a wonderful book. 22 00:00:59,560 –> 00:01:02,520 It speaks into the reality of our lives. 23 00:01:02,520 –> 00:01:04,419 And because it is the word of God, 24 00:01:04,419 –> 00:01:06,279 it always brings to a strength 25 00:01:06,279 –> 00:01:08,940 and hope for every circumstance. 26 00:01:08,940 –> 00:01:11,440 And I’ve been praying that that will be true 27 00:01:11,440 –> 00:01:15,500 in a special way for many of us today. 28 00:01:15,500 –> 00:01:18,320 We’ve been looking at Isaiah and chapter 40 29 00:01:18,320 –> 00:01:22,639 a remarkable chapter that begins with comfort 30 00:01:22,639 –> 00:01:25,519 and ends with renewing our strength. 31 00:01:25,519 –> 00:01:27,440 That itself ought to make this chapter 32 00:01:27,440 –> 00:01:29,500 a special focus of interest. 33 00:01:29,500 –> 00:01:31,919 And the reason that it begins with comfort 34 00:01:31,919 –> 00:01:34,540 and that it ends with the renewing of strength 35 00:01:34,540 –> 00:01:36,839 is that it is packed full 36 00:01:36,839 –> 00:01:41,519 of anticipations of Jesus Christ. 37 00:01:41,519 –> 00:01:43,900 And we saw last time that God is calling 38 00:01:43,900 –> 00:01:47,000 his people here to speak tenderly, 39 00:01:47,000 –> 00:01:51,040 verse two, into a broken world. 40 00:01:51,040 –> 00:01:55,379 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem. 41 00:01:56,019 –> 00:01:59,040 And that gives you the tone in which God 42 00:01:59,040 –> 00:02:01,360 is speaking throughout this chapter. 43 00:02:01,360 –> 00:02:02,720 And therefore, the tone in which 44 00:02:02,720 –> 00:02:05,099 I particularly want to speak today. 45 00:02:05,099 –> 00:02:10,100 We are to speak tenderly into a broken world. 46 00:02:12,699 –> 00:02:14,320 But then what are we to say? 47 00:02:14,320 –> 00:02:16,240 Well, that’s the question that’s answered 48 00:02:16,240 –> 00:02:18,720 in this chapter and we looked at the first part 49 00:02:18,720 –> 00:02:21,080 of the answer last week, 50 00:02:21,080 –> 00:02:23,860 we are to say this, that peace is established 51 00:02:23,979 –> 00:02:26,979 and pardon secured and the payment has been made 52 00:02:26,979 –> 00:02:30,139 through the person of Jesus Christ. 53 00:02:30,139 –> 00:02:33,059 We saw that marvelous summary of the gospel 54 00:02:33,059 –> 00:02:37,100 really in verse two, speak tenderly to Jerusalem 55 00:02:37,100 –> 00:02:38,740 and here’s what you’re to tell her, 56 00:02:38,740 –> 00:02:40,259 peace is established. 57 00:02:40,259 –> 00:02:44,339 Notice verse two, her warfare is ended, that’s peace. 58 00:02:44,339 –> 00:02:49,339 Pardon is secured, verse two, her iniquity is pardoned 59 00:02:49,740 –> 00:02:51,580 and a payment has been made. 60 00:02:51,580 –> 00:02:54,899 We saw that in the phrase that she has received the double, 61 00:02:54,899 –> 00:02:59,119 literally translated the duplicate from the Lord’s hand. 62 00:02:59,119 –> 00:03:03,059 All that is brought to account with regards to our sins 63 00:03:03,059 –> 00:03:06,020 is paid for, the payment has been made 64 00:03:06,020 –> 00:03:08,699 and how will all this happen? 65 00:03:08,699 –> 00:03:11,380 And the answer is a voice cries in the wilderness, 66 00:03:11,380 –> 00:03:13,059 prepare the way of the Lord. 67 00:03:13,059 –> 00:03:16,539 God himself is going to come to do these things, 68 00:03:16,539 –> 00:03:18,179 it will happen through a person 69 00:03:18,179 –> 00:03:21,139 and this is what Christmas is all about. 70 00:03:21,139 –> 00:03:23,940 God with us, God acting for us, 71 00:03:23,940 –> 00:03:26,860 God in Christ coming to pay the price 72 00:03:26,860 –> 00:03:31,080 and to secure the pardon and to establish the peace. 73 00:03:31,080 –> 00:03:35,059 Say this, speak it tenderly into a broken world, 74 00:03:35,059 –> 00:03:38,139 God says, to the prophet Isaiah. 75 00:03:39,539 –> 00:03:42,220 And God has done this. 76 00:03:42,220 –> 00:03:43,800 This is what has been accomplished 77 00:03:43,800 –> 00:03:45,979 in Jesus Christ to came into the world. 78 00:03:45,979 –> 00:03:49,619 These are the priceless gifts that he holds in his hand 79 00:03:49,619 –> 00:03:54,619 and that he offers to all who will come to him even today. 80 00:03:54,619 –> 00:03:58,559 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem. 81 00:03:58,559 –> 00:04:02,220 Speak into a broken world with great compassion 82 00:04:02,220 –> 00:04:04,800 about what God has done in Christ. 83 00:04:04,800 –> 00:04:07,679 This is the message of comfort 84 00:04:07,679 –> 00:04:11,240 that is trusted to the church. 85 00:04:11,240 –> 00:04:14,820 And our commission is to take it to the world 86 00:04:14,820 –> 00:04:16,260 and that begins with all those 87 00:04:16,320 –> 00:04:20,079 that God has placed around each and every one of us 88 00:04:20,079 –> 00:04:22,079 in our daily lives. 89 00:04:23,359 –> 00:04:24,839 Now that’s where we got last week 90 00:04:24,839 –> 00:04:26,920 and I want you to notice that the message 91 00:04:26,920 –> 00:04:28,880 that has been entrusted to the church 92 00:04:28,880 –> 00:04:30,720 does not end there. 93 00:04:30,720 –> 00:04:33,679 And so we take it up in verse six. 94 00:04:33,679 –> 00:04:36,880 A voice says, cry 95 00:04:38,160 –> 00:04:42,359 and I said what shall I cry? 96 00:04:42,359 –> 00:04:43,640 There, you get the sense of this 97 00:04:43,640 –> 00:04:44,959 after the first five verses 98 00:04:44,959 –> 00:04:46,500 that we’ve just reviewed there. 99 00:04:46,500 –> 00:04:49,179 If I have already spoken, Lord, 100 00:04:49,179 –> 00:04:52,200 about peace being established and pardon being secured 101 00:04:52,200 –> 00:04:53,440 and the price being paid 102 00:04:53,440 –> 00:04:55,540 through the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, 103 00:04:55,540 –> 00:04:58,320 if I’ve already said that what more is there to say? 104 00:04:58,320 –> 00:04:59,799 And then the voice of God is saying, 105 00:04:59,799 –> 00:05:01,279 no, there’s something else I want you to say. 106 00:05:01,279 –> 00:05:03,359 A voice says, cry, what shall I cry? 107 00:05:03,359 –> 00:05:05,160 What else can I say oh God? 108 00:05:06,619 –> 00:05:08,399 Clearly, there is more to say. 109 00:05:09,320 –> 00:05:12,959 And so today we come to the second answer. 110 00:05:12,959 –> 00:05:14,359 Just before we come to it, 111 00:05:14,559 –> 00:05:15,679 I want to just pause with this little note 112 00:05:15,679 –> 00:05:18,440 because I do think it’s significant. 113 00:05:18,440 –> 00:05:19,720 And I know that this is something 114 00:05:19,720 –> 00:05:21,540 that goes to the root of our church 115 00:05:21,540 –> 00:05:23,440 and that we value very, very greatly. 116 00:05:23,440 –> 00:05:25,980 It’s set the very foundation of my own life. 117 00:05:27,239 –> 00:05:29,399 A voice says, cry, 118 00:05:30,880 –> 00:05:35,399 and I said, what shall I cry? 119 00:05:36,959 –> 00:05:40,920 It is not for pastors and teachers 120 00:05:40,959 –> 00:05:44,600 to craft a message that they think 121 00:05:44,600 –> 00:05:46,279 the people will want to hear. 122 00:05:47,279 –> 00:05:51,839 The message is given and the message is given 123 00:05:51,839 –> 00:05:54,140 in the word of God. 124 00:05:55,019 –> 00:05:59,480 So faithful pastors and faithful teachers, 125 00:05:59,480 –> 00:06:02,059 Sunday School teachers, live group leaders, 126 00:06:02,059 –> 00:06:05,559 people who want to have influence in the life of others, 127 00:06:05,559 –> 00:06:10,559 faithful speakers are those who open the Bible 128 00:06:11,619 –> 00:06:14,279 and then come before God in prayer 129 00:06:14,279 –> 00:06:16,559 and with an open Bible, they say, 130 00:06:16,559 –> 00:06:19,279 “‘What shall I cry?’ 131 00:06:20,420 –> 00:06:22,600 And then with the help of the Holy Spirit of God 132 00:06:22,600 –> 00:06:24,079 they look at what is in front of them 133 00:06:24,079 –> 00:06:25,380 and that is what they say. 134 00:06:26,459 –> 00:06:29,839 That’s a whole philosophy of ministry right there. 135 00:06:29,839 –> 00:06:32,700 And it goes to the very root of what we most deeply believe 136 00:06:32,700 –> 00:06:35,739 about the centrality of the word of God 137 00:06:35,739 –> 00:06:37,260 in the life of the church. 138 00:06:38,260 –> 00:06:42,059 Now, what is it that God gives to his people 139 00:06:42,059 –> 00:06:46,019 to declare to the world here in the second strand 140 00:06:46,019 –> 00:06:48,380 of the answer that is being unfolded. 141 00:06:48,380 –> 00:06:50,519 We’re being given the ministry, 142 00:06:50,519 –> 00:06:52,420 the message that we are to bring to the world 143 00:06:52,420 –> 00:06:53,579 right here in this chapter 144 00:06:53,579 –> 00:06:55,500 that will bring renewal of strength 145 00:06:55,500 –> 00:06:57,859 and is gonna be the very means of comfort. 146 00:06:57,859 –> 00:07:01,059 Notice what God says, and it’s really here in three parts. 147 00:07:01,059 –> 00:07:03,420 Here’s what you’re to say, God says, 148 00:07:03,420 –> 00:07:04,660 and I summarize it this way. 149 00:07:04,660 –> 00:07:08,320 Number one, you’re to tell people this. 150 00:07:08,320 –> 00:07:13,320 Your life is beautiful and it is fragile. 151 00:07:17,160 –> 00:07:18,899 Now, notice that in verse six. 152 00:07:20,000 –> 00:07:25,000 All flesh is grass, and all its beauty, 153 00:07:26,880 –> 00:07:31,880 notice that word, is like the flower of the field. 154 00:07:32,559 –> 00:07:35,459 So God says, you’re to speak about this. 155 00:07:35,459 –> 00:07:39,260 You’re to speak about the beauty of human life. 156 00:07:40,619 –> 00:07:44,619 This is part of the message that is trusted to the church. 157 00:07:44,619 –> 00:07:49,179 God is the creator, and he has made 158 00:07:49,179 –> 00:07:52,459 everything beautiful in its time. 159 00:07:52,459 –> 00:07:57,239 Human life is a miracle, it is a gift of God’s grace. 160 00:07:57,239 –> 00:08:01,519 Our second grand-daughter was born this year 161 00:08:01,540 –> 00:08:03,600 and throughout many, many families 162 00:08:03,600 –> 00:08:06,040 there’s been a birth this year. 163 00:08:06,040 –> 00:08:08,880 And we felt as many, again, have felt 164 00:08:08,880 –> 00:08:12,640 a sense of renewed awe and wonder 165 00:08:12,640 –> 00:08:17,260 at the sheer beauty of the gift of human life. 166 00:08:18,859 –> 00:08:21,500 And here is the amazing thing that we are told in Scripture 167 00:08:21,500 –> 00:08:25,380 that we are made in the image and the likeness of God. 168 00:08:26,640 –> 00:08:30,040 Psalm eight says about men, about women, 169 00:08:30,040 –> 00:08:32,820 that he has set humankind, 170 00:08:32,820 –> 00:08:36,179 God has set humankind over all creation, 171 00:08:36,179 –> 00:08:39,080 there is nothing else in the created order 172 00:08:39,080 –> 00:08:43,599 that comes close in its value to a human life. 173 00:08:45,520 –> 00:08:47,919 Only this life is made in the image 174 00:08:47,919 –> 00:08:49,479 and the likeness of God. 175 00:08:49,479 –> 00:08:52,479 And he has therefore crowned humankind 176 00:08:52,479 –> 00:08:54,320 with glory and with honor. 177 00:08:54,320 –> 00:08:55,780 And in Psalm eight God says, 178 00:08:55,780 –> 00:08:57,859 and put everything under his feet. 179 00:08:59,179 –> 00:09:00,020 Think of this. 180 00:09:00,359 –> 00:09:03,440 We were made in the image and likeness of God. 181 00:09:03,440 –> 00:09:05,919 Enough likeness 182 00:09:05,919 –> 00:09:08,400 that we could be tempted 183 00:09:08,400 –> 00:09:10,919 to think that we are God 184 00:09:10,919 –> 00:09:13,580 and to try and to take his place. 185 00:09:13,580 –> 00:09:16,280 Oh, Satan seized on the likeness 186 00:09:16,280 –> 00:09:18,940 and said, that’s just where I’ll tempt them. 187 00:09:21,179 –> 00:09:22,020 Think about this. 188 00:09:22,020 –> 00:09:24,200 What makes a human life valuable? 189 00:09:25,900 –> 00:09:27,460 Why do you matter? 190 00:09:28,299 –> 00:09:31,479 If you come into an opportunity 191 00:09:31,479 –> 00:09:34,299 to speak to someone who’s despairing of life, 192 00:09:34,299 –> 00:09:37,760 why will you tell them that they matter? 193 00:09:37,760 –> 00:09:39,440 What kind of reason, purpose, 194 00:09:39,440 –> 00:09:40,840 will you give to a person 195 00:09:40,840 –> 00:09:42,659 who feels a sense of despair 196 00:09:42,659 –> 00:09:44,380 and feels that their life is worth nothing 197 00:09:44,380 –> 00:09:45,640 and it’s not significant? 198 00:09:45,640 –> 00:09:47,080 What answer will you give? 199 00:09:47,080 –> 00:09:49,539 Will you say that what gives life significance 200 00:09:49,539 –> 00:09:51,380 is that a person is loved? 201 00:09:53,059 –> 00:09:54,179 Well, then, what will you say 202 00:09:54,179 –> 00:09:56,179 to the person who nobody loves? 203 00:09:57,140 –> 00:09:58,539 The person who feels forgotten. 204 00:09:58,539 –> 00:10:00,260 The person who is being passed over. 205 00:10:00,260 –> 00:10:01,539 What will you say to them? 206 00:10:01,539 –> 00:10:04,260 I always remember a poignant conversation 207 00:10:04,260 –> 00:10:07,500 with a godly man whose wife had died 208 00:10:07,500 –> 00:10:08,859 in the course of the year 209 00:10:08,859 –> 00:10:10,260 and it was getting near Christmas, 210 00:10:10,260 –> 00:10:11,900 we were having breakfast together 211 00:10:11,900 –> 00:10:13,979 and just talking about his experience 212 00:10:13,979 –> 00:10:16,820 and he said, you know, people are so kind 213 00:10:16,820 –> 00:10:19,299 and I have all kinds of invitations 214 00:10:19,299 –> 00:10:20,700 and I have many wonderful friends 215 00:10:20,700 –> 00:10:21,979 and my family are marvelous. 216 00:10:21,979 –> 00:10:23,619 He said, but here’s the thing. 217 00:10:23,619 –> 00:10:28,000 I’m not first in anybody’s life anymore. 218 00:10:28,900 –> 00:10:29,979 You know, my son, my daughter, 219 00:10:29,979 –> 00:10:30,820 they have someone else 220 00:10:30,820 –> 00:10:31,700 who’s first in their life. 221 00:10:31,700 –> 00:10:34,460 They’re kind to me but I was first 222 00:10:34,460 –> 00:10:37,599 in my wife’s life and I’m not first 223 00:10:37,599 –> 00:10:40,020 in anybody’s life anymore. 224 00:10:40,020 –> 00:10:41,400 It was so real. 225 00:10:42,580 –> 00:10:43,840 What are you to say? 226 00:10:46,020 –> 00:10:47,200 Then, of course, there are some people 227 00:10:47,200 –> 00:10:49,239 who say, well you know, the contribution 228 00:10:49,239 –> 00:10:51,700 that a person makes, that’s the thing 229 00:10:51,700 –> 00:10:53,840 that gives life great, great significance, 230 00:10:53,840 –> 00:10:55,940 work, you know, being productive, 231 00:10:55,940 –> 00:10:57,919 contributing to the common good. 232 00:10:59,979 –> 00:11:01,219 But if you go down that line, 233 00:11:01,219 –> 00:11:02,659 what are you gonna say to the person 234 00:11:02,659 –> 00:11:03,979 who cannot find work? 235 00:11:03,979 –> 00:11:06,320 What are you going to say more poignantly 236 00:11:06,320 –> 00:11:10,940 to the person who is suffering a long-term illness 237 00:11:10,940 –> 00:11:12,820 and has come increasingly, 238 00:11:12,820 –> 00:11:14,760 as they languish there perhaps 239 00:11:14,760 –> 00:11:17,619 in some hospital or some center 240 00:11:18,460 –> 00:11:20,039 and they’re feeling increasingly, 241 00:11:20,039 –> 00:11:23,859 I am only a drain and a demand 242 00:11:23,859 –> 00:11:25,440 on the resources of others 243 00:11:25,440 –> 00:11:27,539 and everybody else’s life would be much easier 244 00:11:27,539 –> 00:11:28,859 if I wasn’t here. 245 00:11:30,020 –> 00:11:33,280 That question’s really coming to roost in our society. 246 00:11:34,820 –> 00:11:36,380 What’s the value of a life 247 00:11:36,380 –> 00:11:38,880 if a person’s no longer able to contribute? 248 00:11:40,659 –> 00:11:42,580 Work is what makes life worthwhile. 249 00:11:42,580 –> 00:11:44,260 What are you gonna say? 250 00:11:45,719 –> 00:11:47,419 So this is a huge question. 251 00:11:47,460 –> 00:11:48,820 What makes human life valuable? 252 00:11:48,820 –> 00:11:49,659 Why do you matter? 253 00:11:49,659 –> 00:11:50,940 Why are you significant? 254 00:11:50,940 –> 00:11:52,000 And here’s what you say. 255 00:11:52,000 –> 00:11:54,239 Here’s why you matter. 256 00:11:54,239 –> 00:11:57,960 Here’s what gives dignity and worth to your life 257 00:11:57,960 –> 00:12:01,500 in every season and in every circumstance. 258 00:12:01,500 –> 00:12:04,900 You were made in the image and the likeness 259 00:12:04,900 –> 00:12:06,619 of Almighty God, 260 00:12:06,619 –> 00:12:09,119 and the very fact that he is giving you breath now 261 00:12:09,119 –> 00:12:11,159 means that he wants you here. 262 00:12:12,599 –> 00:12:14,700 And in his great kindness, 263 00:12:14,700 –> 00:12:18,280 there is a purpose in everything that he does, 264 00:12:18,280 –> 00:12:21,700 and you can rest the significance of your place 265 00:12:21,700 –> 00:12:25,559 in this world on that marvelous, marvelous fact. 266 00:12:27,919 –> 00:12:29,260 All flesh is as grass, 267 00:12:29,260 –> 00:12:34,260 and its beauty is like the flowers of the field. 268 00:12:35,619 –> 00:12:40,619 Your life is a gift from Almighty God 269 00:12:41,599 –> 00:12:46,599 in whose image and likeness you have been made. 270 00:12:48,479 –> 00:12:49,840 Tell people this. 271 00:12:51,919 –> 00:12:55,140 But tell people something else about their own lives. 272 00:12:56,760 –> 00:13:00,440 Your life is not only beautiful, it is also fragile. 273 00:13:00,440 –> 00:13:02,119 These are the two things you need to know. 274 00:13:02,119 –> 00:13:04,239 The dignity and worth that you have 275 00:13:04,239 –> 00:13:06,239 of being made in the image of God, 276 00:13:06,260 –> 00:13:11,260 but also the fragility of your life as a created being. 277 00:13:11,659 –> 00:13:12,900 Do you see that here? 278 00:13:14,119 –> 00:13:17,460 Cry this, all flesh is grass and all beauty 279 00:13:17,460 –> 00:13:22,460 is like the flower of the field and the grass withers. 280 00:13:23,979 –> 00:13:26,500 And this beautiful flower, what happens? 281 00:13:27,559 –> 00:13:28,880 It fades. 282 00:13:29,880 –> 00:13:32,500 So speak, not only about the beauty, 283 00:13:32,679 –> 00:13:36,440 but also about the fragility of human life. 284 00:13:36,440 –> 00:13:38,979 In other words, to live well, 285 00:13:40,119 –> 00:13:43,239 we need to know both the beauty 286 00:13:43,239 –> 00:13:46,299 and the fragility of our own lives. 287 00:13:47,559 –> 00:13:49,080 Now the Bible of course speaks often 288 00:13:49,080 –> 00:13:51,559 about the fragility of our lives. 289 00:13:51,559 –> 00:13:53,719 Perhaps never more clearly and powerfully 290 00:13:53,719 –> 00:13:55,640 than in James in Chapter 4, 291 00:13:55,640 –> 00:13:58,500 a passage that many of you will know well. 292 00:13:58,500 –> 00:14:01,039 This is where James the Apostle speaks directly 293 00:14:01,059 –> 00:14:04,479 to the big time planners and strategists, 294 00:14:04,479 –> 00:14:06,179 and he says this, 295 00:14:06,179 –> 00:14:08,679 now come now you who say today or tomorrow 296 00:14:08,679 –> 00:14:11,919 we are going to go to such and such a town, 297 00:14:11,919 –> 00:14:14,640 and we’re gonna spend a year there, 298 00:14:14,640 –> 00:14:16,679 and we’re gonna trade, 299 00:14:16,679 –> 00:14:19,400 and we’re going to make a profit. 300 00:14:19,400 –> 00:14:21,419 So here is strategic planning, you say. 301 00:14:21,419 –> 00:14:23,599 It’s a good thing to do. 302 00:14:23,599 –> 00:14:24,960 And here are people who are saying 303 00:14:24,960 –> 00:14:28,080 we got this marketing strategy, 304 00:14:28,080 –> 00:14:30,580 and we’re gonna go to this town, 305 00:14:30,659 –> 00:14:32,380 and we’re going to have big impact. 306 00:14:32,380 –> 00:14:33,340 We’re gonna spend a year. 307 00:14:33,340 –> 00:14:35,059 We’re gonna focus, and we’re gonna do this. 308 00:14:35,059 –> 00:14:36,140 We’re gonna do that. 309 00:14:36,140 –> 00:14:37,179 And we’re gonna make a profit, 310 00:14:37,179 –> 00:14:38,700 and here’s what it’s gonna be. 311 00:14:38,700 –> 00:14:41,679 And all of us know what this world is like. 312 00:14:41,679 –> 00:14:43,340 He’s talking right into the world 313 00:14:43,340 –> 00:14:45,739 in which we are living through the week 314 00:14:45,739 –> 00:14:47,539 in the world of business, 315 00:14:47,539 –> 00:14:49,619 and then he says this. 316 00:14:49,619 –> 00:14:50,719 With all this planning, 317 00:14:50,719 –> 00:14:51,659 and all that you’re gonna do, 318 00:14:51,659 –> 00:14:52,940 and all that you are preparing for 319 00:14:52,940 –> 00:14:54,020 for 10 years down the line, 320 00:14:54,020 –> 00:14:54,979 and all the rest of it, 321 00:14:54,979 –> 00:14:57,539 you do not know what tomorrow will bring. 322 00:14:58,419 –> 00:15:00,479 And then James says, 323 00:15:00,479 –> 00:15:02,559 what is your life? 324 00:15:03,700 –> 00:15:08,700 You are a mist that appears for a little time 325 00:15:10,059 –> 00:15:11,859 and then vanishes. 326 00:15:13,380 –> 00:15:16,200 What a description of your whole life and mine. 327 00:15:18,000 –> 00:15:19,820 Colin you’re like a mist 328 00:15:20,780 –> 00:15:23,000 that appears for a little time 329 00:15:24,460 –> 00:15:26,500 and then you’re gone. 330 00:15:26,500 –> 00:15:30,099 Never forget that, never forget that. 331 00:15:31,440 –> 00:15:33,020 So here’s what you ought to be saying, 332 00:15:33,020 –> 00:15:33,859 you ought to be saying, 333 00:15:33,859 –> 00:15:35,380 if the Lord wills, we will live 334 00:15:35,380 –> 00:15:36,780 and we’ll do this or that. 335 00:15:36,780 –> 00:15:38,940 And as it is, here’s what you do. 336 00:15:38,940 –> 00:15:40,780 You boast about your arrogance 337 00:15:40,780 –> 00:15:43,400 and all such boasting is evil. 338 00:15:43,400 –> 00:15:45,140 Wow, that’s a powerful statement. 339 00:15:46,679 –> 00:15:47,859 Now you see what he’s saying. 340 00:15:47,859 –> 00:15:50,619 To live well, to live wisely. 341 00:15:50,619 –> 00:15:52,039 And this is what people need to hear, 342 00:15:52,039 –> 00:15:53,460 this is want you to cry. 343 00:15:54,299 –> 00:15:56,880 You need to know both the beauty 344 00:15:56,880 –> 00:16:00,159 and the fragility of your life. 345 00:16:02,219 –> 00:16:04,619 And that if we learn these things well, 346 00:16:04,619 –> 00:16:07,179 they will produce this twin response. 347 00:16:07,179 –> 00:16:09,039 I learn the beauty of the gift of life 348 00:16:09,039 –> 00:16:10,739 I made in the image of God, 349 00:16:10,739 –> 00:16:14,119 that’s going to make me grateful before God, 350 00:16:14,119 –> 00:16:17,760 thankful before God, joyful before God. 351 00:16:19,059 –> 00:16:21,039 And I learned the fragility of my own life. 352 00:16:21,059 –> 00:16:25,900 Well, it’s going to make me humble before God. 353 00:16:28,239 –> 00:16:29,400 So here’s what you’re to say, 354 00:16:29,400 –> 00:16:32,119 here’s what the world needs to hear 355 00:16:32,119 –> 00:16:33,479 and what we need to grasp. 356 00:16:33,479 –> 00:16:36,719 Number one, your life is beautiful and it is fragile. 357 00:16:37,599 –> 00:16:41,179 Number two, what am I to cry? 358 00:16:41,179 –> 00:16:44,080 Well say this and I summarize it again here 359 00:16:44,080 –> 00:16:49,080 that God is in control of your death as well as your life. 360 00:16:49,960 –> 00:16:51,440 This is something very important 361 00:16:51,440 –> 00:16:54,119 for the Church to say and to speak, 362 00:16:54,119 –> 00:16:56,880 that God is in control as much of your death 363 00:16:56,880 –> 00:16:58,520 as of your life. 364 00:16:58,520 –> 00:17:01,400 And notice how he says this in verse seven, 365 00:17:01,400 –> 00:17:06,400 the grass withers, the flower fades. 366 00:17:07,160 –> 00:17:08,680 Now, when does the flower fade? 367 00:17:08,680 –> 00:17:10,739 Notice the clear statement here, 368 00:17:10,739 –> 00:17:15,739 the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows. 369 00:17:19,140 –> 00:17:20,640 On it. 370 00:17:22,400 –> 00:17:24,000 So, why does the grass wither, 371 00:17:24,000 –> 00:17:25,680 why does the flower fade? 372 00:17:25,680 –> 00:17:27,660 Because, 373 00:17:27,660 –> 00:17:30,839 the breath of the Lord 374 00:17:30,839 –> 00:17:34,380 blows on it. 375 00:17:35,420 –> 00:17:38,300 Now this is very important to understand, 376 00:17:39,140 –> 00:17:42,400 to know ourselves and to understand our life. 377 00:17:42,400 –> 00:17:44,079 According to the Bible, 378 00:17:44,079 –> 00:17:47,800 human life both begins and continues 379 00:17:47,800 –> 00:17:52,060 and ends by the breath of God. 380 00:17:53,099 –> 00:17:54,920 You remember from the Book of Genesis, 381 00:17:54,920 –> 00:17:56,479 right back in the beginning, 382 00:17:56,479 –> 00:17:58,540 how Genesis two, seven tells us 383 00:17:58,540 –> 00:18:00,300 that the Lord God formed the man 384 00:18:00,300 –> 00:18:02,160 from the dust of the ground 385 00:18:02,160 –> 00:18:05,439 and then breathed into his nostrils 386 00:18:05,439 –> 00:18:07,359 the breath of life 387 00:18:07,359 –> 00:18:10,079 and the man became a living creature, 388 00:18:10,079 –> 00:18:13,160 Genesis chapter two and verse seven. 389 00:18:13,160 –> 00:18:15,880 So, God forms what must have been 390 00:18:15,880 –> 00:18:17,640 essentially a corpse, 391 00:18:17,640 –> 00:18:21,280 forms this body from the dust of the ground. 392 00:18:21,280 –> 00:18:22,380 In other words, you could do 393 00:18:22,380 –> 00:18:25,359 a chemical analysis of the human body 394 00:18:25,359 –> 00:18:27,520 and you would find all these elements 395 00:18:27,520 –> 00:18:28,760 from the periodic table 396 00:18:28,760 –> 00:18:29,719 and it could be divided 397 00:18:29,719 –> 00:18:31,199 and even people have put a value 398 00:18:31,199 –> 00:18:32,959 on what are the various components 399 00:18:32,959 –> 00:18:34,160 of a human body, 400 00:18:34,160 –> 00:18:35,800 what are they worth? 401 00:18:35,800 –> 00:18:36,859 But this is just a corpse 402 00:18:36,859 –> 00:18:37,880 that’s lying on the ground 403 00:18:37,880 –> 00:18:40,219 and God’s made it from the dust, 404 00:18:40,219 –> 00:18:42,359 chemically analysable. 405 00:18:42,359 –> 00:18:44,040 That wasn’t a word. 406 00:18:44,040 –> 00:18:45,479 Anyway, there we go. 407 00:18:45,520 –> 00:18:46,719 But what does God do? 408 00:18:47,640 –> 00:18:50,800 He breathes the breath of life 409 00:18:50,800 –> 00:18:52,680 and suddenly, can you imagine this? 410 00:18:53,719 –> 00:18:56,119 Adam becomes conscious, 411 00:18:56,119 –> 00:18:57,219 aware of himself. 412 00:18:57,219 –> 00:18:58,060 He lives! 413 00:18:58,060 –> 00:18:58,880 He’s a living being. 414 00:18:58,880 –> 00:19:00,479 He gets up and his first view 415 00:19:00,479 –> 00:19:02,520 is the face of God, 416 00:19:02,520 –> 00:19:03,699 revealed to him. 417 00:19:05,280 –> 00:19:07,560 That’s how human life began. 418 00:19:07,560 –> 00:19:09,880 That is how your life began. 419 00:19:09,880 –> 00:19:12,000 God breathed life into you 420 00:19:12,000 –> 00:19:14,500 and your life today is sustained 421 00:19:14,540 –> 00:19:17,579 by the fact that he is breathing life into you. 422 00:19:17,579 –> 00:19:20,219 It is in him, the apostle says, 423 00:19:20,219 –> 00:19:23,859 that we live and move and have our being. 424 00:19:23,859 –> 00:19:26,020 So, life begins by the breath of God. 425 00:19:26,020 –> 00:19:26,939 That’s what it is. 426 00:19:26,939 –> 00:19:28,540 That’s why breath and life 427 00:19:28,540 –> 00:19:30,140 are interchangeable words 428 00:19:30,140 –> 00:19:32,760 in the way that they’re translated in the bible. 429 00:19:32,760 –> 00:19:36,260 And one day, God will breathe on you again 430 00:19:37,699 –> 00:19:40,420 and that will be the time 431 00:19:40,420 –> 00:19:42,520 when your life in this world will end. 432 00:19:42,739 –> 00:19:44,280 The grass withers, the flower fades. 433 00:19:44,280 –> 00:19:49,280 When the breath of the Lord blows on it. 434 00:19:51,760 –> 00:19:54,119 And this is stated in other places in the Bible. 435 00:19:54,119 –> 00:19:58,219 Psalm 104 and verse 29, David says, 436 00:19:58,219 –> 00:20:02,119 When you take their breath away, 437 00:20:02,119 –> 00:20:05,119 they die and return to the dust. 438 00:20:05,119 –> 00:20:07,599 So you notice the you. 439 00:20:07,599 –> 00:20:09,479 Life, the beginning of your life 440 00:20:09,479 –> 00:20:12,199 was not a matter of random chance. 441 00:20:12,280 –> 00:20:13,599 The fact that your you 442 00:20:13,599 –> 00:20:16,140 as opposed to millions of other people 443 00:20:16,140 –> 00:20:17,079 who may have come to be 444 00:20:17,079 –> 00:20:18,300 through your father and your mother. 445 00:20:18,300 –> 00:20:20,640 The fact that your you is because God created you. 446 00:20:20,640 –> 00:20:22,500 He breathed life into you. 447 00:20:22,500 –> 00:20:25,199 He was in control of the beginning of your life 448 00:20:25,199 –> 00:20:27,880 and the timing of the ending of your life 449 00:20:27,880 –> 00:20:30,000 is as much in his hands. 450 00:20:30,000 –> 00:20:32,060 When you take away their breath, they die, 451 00:20:32,060 –> 00:20:34,939 not before, not after, it’s in your hand, O God, 452 00:20:34,939 –> 00:20:36,760 that’s when they return to the dust. 453 00:20:36,760 –> 00:20:39,880 And of course, Job said the same thing, 454 00:20:39,880 –> 00:20:42,780 and you know this verse very very well. 455 00:20:42,780 –> 00:20:47,780 The Lord gives and the Lord has taken away. 456 00:20:49,280 –> 00:20:54,280 So blessed be the name of the Lord. 457 00:20:55,400 –> 00:20:57,280 I’m thinking about this glowing 458 00:20:57,280 –> 00:20:59,199 and particularly God-blowing. 459 00:21:00,339 –> 00:21:02,400 I’m thinking about this marvelous thing. 460 00:21:02,400 –> 00:21:04,520 When we celebrate birthdays, 461 00:21:05,359 –> 00:21:06,719 we have this great tradition 462 00:21:06,719 –> 00:21:08,939 that seems to go widely around the world 463 00:21:09,040 –> 00:21:10,619 and what a marvelous tradition it is, 464 00:21:10,619 –> 00:21:12,719 we have a birthday cake. 465 00:21:13,859 –> 00:21:15,380 And we bring in the birthday cake 466 00:21:15,380 –> 00:21:16,699 and on the top of the birthday cake, 467 00:21:16,699 –> 00:21:19,339 what do we have, we have candles. 468 00:21:19,339 –> 00:21:22,540 And we put one candle 469 00:21:22,540 –> 00:21:26,560 for every year that the person 470 00:21:26,560 –> 00:21:30,040 we are celebrating has lived. 471 00:21:30,040 –> 00:21:32,859 And we light the candles. 472 00:21:32,859 –> 00:21:36,880 Seven candles, ten candles, 21 candles. 473 00:21:37,680 –> 00:21:40,920 Then the cake gets brought in 474 00:21:40,920 –> 00:21:43,359 and everyone sings, happy birthday to you, 475 00:21:43,359 –> 00:21:46,699 happy birthday to you, and then what do we do? 476 00:21:46,699 –> 00:21:51,699 We say to the person whose life we’re celebrating, 477 00:21:52,300 –> 00:21:57,300 we now want you to blow all these candles out. 478 00:22:02,400 –> 00:22:04,680 I said, Dert calendar, why in the world do we do that? 479 00:22:04,680 –> 00:22:06,000 And she gave me the wisest answer, 480 00:22:06,000 –> 00:22:07,199 I couldn’t think why we did that, 481 00:22:07,199 –> 00:22:10,400 she said, it’s because these are the years that are done. 482 00:22:11,880 –> 00:22:12,800 Of course. 483 00:22:14,040 –> 00:22:15,859 So what we had this year, 484 00:22:15,859 –> 00:22:17,160 for our oldest granddaughter, 485 00:22:17,160 –> 00:22:18,540 that’s twice I’ve got that in, 486 00:22:18,540 –> 00:22:21,140 so that’s a little bit of an indulgence, 487 00:22:21,140 –> 00:22:24,119 her first birthday, 488 00:22:24,119 –> 00:22:27,439 we bring in this cake with one candle on it, 489 00:22:27,439 –> 00:22:28,880 we all sing, happy birthday. 490 00:22:29,839 –> 00:22:31,339 And then we say to little Jamie, 491 00:22:31,339 –> 00:22:32,339 you’ve gotta blow this out, 492 00:22:32,339 –> 00:22:33,439 she needs a little bit of help 493 00:22:33,439 –> 00:22:35,160 and there’s this one candle and 494 00:22:36,819 –> 00:22:41,479 one year of her life is gone, 495 00:22:42,800 –> 00:22:44,699 her first year is done, 496 00:22:45,680 –> 00:22:47,199 it will never be lived again 497 00:22:48,560 –> 00:22:50,680 and next year she’ll blow out two, 498 00:22:51,819 –> 00:22:53,760 because two are done, 499 00:22:53,760 –> 00:22:55,699 she’ll be into her the third year 500 00:22:56,839 –> 00:23:00,459 and these two will never occur again. 501 00:23:02,239 –> 00:23:03,880 And then it’s 10 candles 502 00:23:04,719 –> 00:23:08,459 and then it’s 21 candles 503 00:23:09,739 –> 00:23:12,119 and then people stop putting the number of candles 504 00:23:12,119 –> 00:23:13,079 on your cake. 505 00:23:15,780 –> 00:23:18,420 And then you say a little further down the line, 506 00:23:18,420 –> 00:23:20,239 if you dare put that number of candles 507 00:23:20,239 –> 00:23:22,979 on my cake I’m gonna be very, very unhappy 508 00:23:22,979 –> 00:23:24,579 and I don’t have that amount of breath 509 00:23:24,579 –> 00:23:26,540 to blow out 60 candles. 510 00:23:29,579 –> 00:23:31,380 And I don’t know how many candles will be in my cake, 511 00:23:31,380 –> 00:23:33,540 you don’t know how many candles will be on your cake, 512 00:23:33,599 –> 00:23:36,140 but what we’re being told here to take up the picture 513 00:23:36,140 –> 00:23:40,380 is that one day, God will blow out the last candle. 514 00:23:41,640 –> 00:23:43,859 And I’ll tell you this, I’m so glad that it’s God 515 00:23:43,859 –> 00:23:47,420 who’s doing the blowing and that that timing is in His hand, 516 00:23:47,420 –> 00:23:49,900 that it’s not a matter of random chance, 517 00:23:49,900 –> 00:23:53,060 that as someone who belongs to my loving, heavenly Father 518 00:23:53,060 –> 00:23:54,000 who gives me life 519 00:23:54,000 –> 00:23:56,099 and is sustaining life for me right now, 520 00:23:56,099 –> 00:23:57,979 He’s the one who already knows the time 521 00:23:57,979 –> 00:24:01,060 when I say Colin, it’s time for you to come home. 522 00:24:01,060 –> 00:24:02,619 That’s marvelous. 523 00:24:03,619 –> 00:24:04,760 Come home. 524 00:24:06,579 –> 00:24:10,979 Your death is every bit as much in the control of God 525 00:24:10,979 –> 00:24:12,459 as your life is. 526 00:24:12,459 –> 00:24:14,140 Now, here’s what I want you to understand. 527 00:24:14,140 –> 00:24:17,180 This is true of every person, the good and the bad, 528 00:24:17,180 –> 00:24:20,020 the religious and the secular, the Christian, the Muslim, 529 00:24:20,020 –> 00:24:22,739 the old and the young, the rich and the poor. 530 00:24:22,739 –> 00:24:25,260 This is not something that’s just true of human believers. 531 00:24:25,260 –> 00:24:28,579 This is something that is true of human life. 532 00:24:28,579 –> 00:24:31,459 This is true as much as of God’s enemies 533 00:24:31,500 –> 00:24:33,859 as it is of His friends. 534 00:24:33,859 –> 00:24:37,380 The Bible speaks about anti-Christ, 535 00:24:37,380 –> 00:24:39,819 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, 536 00:24:39,819 –> 00:24:43,180 who in the last time will embody evil, 537 00:24:43,180 –> 00:24:48,180 hatred, and everything that is antithetical to Jesus Christ, 538 00:24:48,920 –> 00:24:51,099 and how will Christ destroy him. 539 00:24:51,099 –> 00:24:53,300 2 Thessalonians chapter 2.8 540 00:24:53,300 –> 00:24:56,260 Christ will destroy him, how? 541 00:24:56,260 –> 00:24:59,260 By the breath of His mouth. 542 00:24:59,439 –> 00:25:04,000 He is anti-Christ who establishes himself 543 00:25:04,000 –> 00:25:06,420 in the very throne of God. 544 00:25:06,420 –> 00:25:08,260 Seeking to take the place of God 545 00:25:08,260 –> 00:25:10,380 in the Temple of God, I should say. 546 00:25:12,260 –> 00:25:14,739 And when Christ decides that His time has come, 547 00:25:14,739 –> 00:25:18,160 here’s what Christ does in the glory of His return. 548 00:25:18,160 –> 00:25:19,739 You are gone. 549 00:25:19,739 –> 00:25:21,380 That’s it. 550 00:25:21,380 –> 00:25:23,020 That’s sovereign power. 551 00:25:23,020 –> 00:25:25,579 That’s the control of the moment of death 552 00:25:25,680 –> 00:25:29,140 of His most antithetical enemy 553 00:25:29,140 –> 00:25:34,140 as much as His closest and His dearest friend. 554 00:25:34,359 –> 00:25:35,800 Life and death, my friend, 555 00:25:35,800 –> 00:25:37,680 are never a matter of random chance. 556 00:25:37,680 –> 00:25:40,339 Whether you’re God’s enemy, whether you are God’s friend, 557 00:25:40,339 –> 00:25:41,660 God blows life into you. 558 00:25:41,660 –> 00:25:43,579 God will blow life out of you. 559 00:25:43,579 –> 00:25:46,420 Your life begins and ends with the breath of God. 560 00:25:46,420 –> 00:25:48,819 It continues right now by the breath of God 561 00:25:48,819 –> 00:25:53,140 and the timing of its ending is in His hand. 562 00:25:53,140 –> 00:25:55,619 And again, for the person who loves Christ. 563 00:25:55,619 –> 00:25:58,780 This is the most comforting, comfort my people. 564 00:25:58,780 –> 00:26:00,839 This is the most wonderful truth. 565 00:26:01,819 –> 00:26:03,859 The timing of my death is in the hand of God. 566 00:26:03,859 –> 00:26:06,180 That is why George Whitfield said, you know what, 567 00:26:06,180 –> 00:26:07,780 and he wen through many dangers, 568 00:26:07,780 –> 00:26:09,219 he said, here’s how I have peace. 569 00:26:09,219 –> 00:26:12,579 I am immortal until my life’s work is done. 570 00:26:12,579 –> 00:26:14,439 It was not a formula for stupidity, 571 00:26:14,439 –> 00:26:16,140 but what he said was this, 572 00:26:16,140 –> 00:26:19,400 I have great confidence that the timing of my departure 573 00:26:19,400 –> 00:26:22,140 will only be when God’s work for me is finished 574 00:26:22,180 –> 00:26:25,300 and until then there is work for me to do 575 00:26:25,300 –> 00:26:26,900 because I’m still here. 576 00:26:26,900 –> 00:26:29,339 All the days that were written for me 577 00:26:29,339 –> 00:26:32,579 were in God’s book before one of them came to be, 578 00:26:32,579 –> 00:26:36,339 that’s what David says in Psalm 139. 579 00:26:36,339 –> 00:26:37,160 But listen, 580 00:26:38,219 –> 00:26:41,040 for the person who is resisting God, 581 00:26:42,500 –> 00:26:44,099 for the person here this morning 582 00:26:44,099 –> 00:26:47,260 and you’re still holding out on his claim over your life, 583 00:26:47,260 –> 00:26:48,739 this is the most sobering truth 584 00:26:48,739 –> 00:26:50,420 and I am praying that today 585 00:26:50,420 –> 00:26:52,839 this will be the truth that wakens you up. 586 00:26:54,520 –> 00:26:56,959 God can blow on you at any time 587 00:26:58,579 –> 00:27:00,319 and when he does you’ll be gone 588 00:27:02,180 –> 00:27:06,420 and his spirit does not strive with a person forever. 589 00:27:07,500 –> 00:27:09,979 God is giving you life and breath even now 590 00:27:09,979 –> 00:27:11,819 while you’re holding him off, 591 00:27:11,819 –> 00:27:16,060 that’s grace that is extending more time to you right now 592 00:27:16,920 –> 00:27:20,739 and the question is how will you respond to that grace 593 00:27:20,739 –> 00:27:21,579 even 594 00:27:22,540 –> 00:27:23,500 today. 595 00:27:25,099 –> 00:27:26,900 So here’s how I’m to think of my life. 596 00:27:26,900 –> 00:27:29,599 Brother, sister, here’s how you’re to think of my life. 597 00:27:29,599 –> 00:27:31,380 I am like a candle. 598 00:27:32,319 –> 00:27:35,900 I am lit to burn for God’s glory for a short time 599 00:27:35,900 –> 00:27:40,900 until he blows on this candle and then the flame goes out 600 00:27:41,020 –> 00:27:44,300 and I will be in another and in a better world 601 00:27:44,339 –> 00:27:47,859 and what then is the best thing that this candle can do? 602 00:27:47,859 –> 00:27:50,739 What is the best thing that I can do with the short life 603 00:27:50,739 –> 00:27:52,199 that he is giving to me? 604 00:27:52,199 –> 00:27:55,819 It is surely to give myself wholly and without reserve 605 00:27:55,819 –> 00:27:59,099 to whatever God has for me to do in this life 606 00:27:59,099 –> 00:28:01,979 that he is giving to me, to offer this life back, 607 00:28:01,979 –> 00:28:04,680 to hand it into the hands 608 00:28:05,479 –> 00:28:09,680 of the one who is sustaining it in me even now as I speak. 609 00:28:10,660 –> 00:28:12,819 Oh, God, I’m yours. 610 00:28:12,819 –> 00:28:14,479 That’s what I want my life to be. 611 00:28:14,479 –> 00:28:16,760 Feel that as a Christian brother and sister 612 00:28:16,760 –> 00:28:19,900 as we come up to celebrate the birth of Christ. 613 00:28:21,040 –> 00:28:23,500 Your life is beautiful, and it is fragile. 614 00:28:24,800 –> 00:28:27,439 God is in control of your death. 615 00:28:27,439 –> 00:28:30,079 Thank God for this as much as your life. 616 00:28:30,079 –> 00:28:32,479 That’s one of the great answers to fear. 617 00:28:32,479 –> 00:28:33,939 Your life is in the hand of God. 618 00:28:33,939 –> 00:28:36,859 The moment of your calling home is in the hand of God. 619 00:28:37,819 –> 00:28:40,420 And here’s the third and the last thing. 620 00:28:40,420 –> 00:28:45,060 You can trust God’s word completely. 621 00:28:46,699 –> 00:28:51,699 Verse 8, the grass withers, and the flower fades. 622 00:28:52,760 –> 00:28:54,819 Notice that’s the second time he’s said that 623 00:28:54,819 –> 00:28:57,040 in two verses, double underlined. 624 00:28:57,979 –> 00:29:02,979 But, but, the word of our God will stand forever. 625 00:29:09,859 –> 00:29:11,819 Feel how solid that is. 626 00:29:13,380 –> 00:29:14,780 And you see the contrast. 627 00:29:14,780 –> 00:29:16,420 Human lives come and go. 628 00:29:16,420 –> 00:29:18,739 A little mist vanishing, a flower that fades. 629 00:29:18,739 –> 00:29:20,819 God just blows on it and it is gone. 630 00:29:20,819 –> 00:29:25,819 But God’s word, it stands forever. 631 00:29:28,000 –> 00:29:31,599 And as this whole chapter is anticipating Christ 632 00:29:31,599 –> 00:29:32,680 in multiple ways. 633 00:29:32,680 –> 00:29:35,260 We look at that God’s word stands forever, 634 00:29:35,260 –> 00:29:40,260 yes and this word that stands forever has become flesh. 635 00:29:42,520 –> 00:29:47,520 He dwelt among us and his name is Jesus Christ. 636 00:29:48,719 –> 00:29:51,060 Oh yes, children grow and people mature 637 00:29:51,060 –> 00:29:52,439 and we move through adult life 638 00:29:52,439 –> 00:29:54,300 and then we become aware of memory failing 639 00:29:54,300 –> 00:29:55,920 and all the rest of it, powers of the body 640 00:29:55,959 –> 00:29:58,119 and the mind begin to fade, eventually we die 641 00:29:58,119 –> 00:29:59,979 one generation, gives way to another 642 00:29:59,979 –> 00:30:02,380 and on, and on, and on, and on, and on it goes 643 00:30:02,380 –> 00:30:05,060 but now Jesus Christ comes into the world 644 00:30:05,060 –> 00:30:07,500 and this one human life is different 645 00:30:07,500 –> 00:30:09,640 from all others for this reason. 646 00:30:11,260 –> 00:30:13,619 John chapter five and verse 26, 647 00:30:14,939 –> 00:30:19,699 “‘As the father has life in himself, says Jesus, 648 00:30:20,180 –> 00:30:23,979 “‘So he has granted the Son 649 00:30:23,979 –> 00:30:28,699 “‘also to have life in himself.’” 650 00:30:30,400 –> 00:30:31,739 Friends, that’s the great difference 651 00:30:31,739 –> 00:30:35,839 between Jesus and us, life is given to us 652 00:30:35,839 –> 00:30:38,719 and life will be taken from us 653 00:30:38,719 –> 00:30:43,040 but Jesus has life in himself! 654 00:30:43,040 –> 00:30:44,640 He has it! 655 00:30:44,640 –> 00:30:46,400 And that’s why he’s able to give it, 656 00:30:46,400 –> 00:30:48,619 it’s in the Christmas reading in John one, 657 00:30:48,660 –> 00:30:53,540 in him was life, that’s different from you and me. 658 00:30:53,540 –> 00:30:56,699 And that life was the light of man, that light! 659 00:30:56,699 –> 00:30:59,180 That’s why Jesus alone in all of human history, 660 00:30:59,180 –> 00:31:00,579 no one else could ever have said this 661 00:31:00,579 –> 00:31:02,219 or anything like it, he says, 662 00:31:02,219 –> 00:31:05,260 “‘Nobody takes my life from me 663 00:31:05,260 –> 00:31:08,540 “‘because I have the power to lay it down 664 00:31:08,540 –> 00:31:13,540 “‘and I have the power to take it up again.’” 665 00:31:13,819 –> 00:31:15,640 Nobody else in all human history 666 00:31:15,640 –> 00:31:18,260 has ever been able to say that or to do it 667 00:31:18,260 –> 00:31:21,739 but Jesus said it and Jesus did it. 668 00:31:21,739 –> 00:31:24,400 He laid down his life when he died on the cross 669 00:31:24,400 –> 00:31:25,920 as the sacrifice for our sins 670 00:31:25,920 –> 00:31:27,819 and then he took it up again 671 00:31:27,819 –> 00:31:30,680 in his own marvelous resurrection 672 00:31:30,680 –> 00:31:33,719 and he is the son of God and he is the word of God 673 00:31:33,719 –> 00:31:38,719 and he stands forever, the word of God stands forever. 674 00:31:38,839 –> 00:31:41,839 The grass withers, that’s us, the flower fades 675 00:31:41,839 –> 00:31:43,719 but the word of God stands forever. 676 00:31:43,719 –> 00:31:46,040 You can trust this Christ. 677 00:31:46,040 –> 00:31:48,079 You can trust this Savior. 678 00:31:48,140 –> 00:31:48,979 See what he’s saying? 679 00:31:48,979 –> 00:31:51,239 He’s laid out the gospel and now he’s saying 680 00:31:51,239 –> 00:31:54,280 and tell people this, you need it 681 00:31:54,280 –> 00:31:55,920 because of the very nature of your life. 682 00:31:55,920 –> 00:31:58,260 It’s beautiful, it’s valuable, but it’s fragile 683 00:31:58,260 –> 00:32:00,760 and one day it’s gonna end, the candle’s gonna blow out 684 00:32:00,760 –> 00:32:02,479 and you cannot trust yourself. 685 00:32:02,479 –> 00:32:04,119 You cannot live on yourself 686 00:32:04,119 –> 00:32:06,400 because you do not have life in yourself. 687 00:32:08,000 –> 00:32:09,599 But you can trust the word of God 688 00:32:09,599 –> 00:32:11,660 and this word of God has become flesh 689 00:32:11,660 –> 00:32:14,619 in Jesus Christ, you can put your trust in him. 690 00:32:15,500 –> 00:32:18,500 Many of you know the beautiful hymn, 691 00:32:18,500 –> 00:32:20,420 praise my soul the King of heaven, 692 00:32:20,420 –> 00:32:23,300 to his feet thy tribute bring. 693 00:32:23,300 –> 00:32:25,540 Ransomed healed, restored forgiven 694 00:32:25,540 –> 00:32:28,239 who like thee his praise should sing? 695 00:32:29,500 –> 00:32:31,119 There’s a beautiful verse in that hymn 696 00:32:31,119 –> 00:32:33,699 and it’s based on this passage of scripture 697 00:32:33,699 –> 00:32:37,199 and it goes like this, I wonder if you remember this one? 698 00:32:37,199 –> 00:32:41,719 Frail as summer flower we flourish, 699 00:32:42,520 –> 00:32:46,239 blows the wind and it is gone 700 00:32:47,160 –> 00:32:51,160 but while mortals rise and perish 701 00:32:51,160 –> 00:32:55,599 God endures, unchanging on. 702 00:32:57,099 –> 00:32:58,660 And you see the point here, 703 00:32:58,660 –> 00:33:00,119 trusting yourself therefore, 704 00:33:00,119 –> 00:33:01,719 you’re here today gone tomorrow. 705 00:33:01,719 –> 00:33:04,780 Trusting yourself is futile. 706 00:33:04,780 –> 00:33:06,520 Your life beautiful gift from God 707 00:33:06,520 –> 00:33:10,640 though it is very fragile, frail. 708 00:33:10,640 –> 00:33:12,280 Seizing the wheel therefore 709 00:33:12,280 –> 00:33:14,479 and trying to pilot your own life 710 00:33:14,479 –> 00:33:17,060 is the surest way to disaster. 711 00:33:18,280 –> 00:33:20,140 Looking at teachings and philosophies 712 00:33:20,140 –> 00:33:22,359 that are here today and gone tomorrow 713 00:33:22,359 –> 00:33:24,920 and people who themselves live and die 714 00:33:24,920 –> 00:33:26,079 and trying to build your life 715 00:33:26,079 –> 00:33:28,400 on foundation of something you get from them, 716 00:33:28,400 –> 00:33:29,880 that makes no sense. 717 00:33:29,880 –> 00:33:32,560 You know you have to find the unchanging sure foundation 718 00:33:32,560 –> 00:33:34,660 God endures, unchanging on. 719 00:33:34,660 –> 00:33:37,479 The word of the Lord stands forever 720 00:33:37,479 –> 00:33:39,719 and this word has become flesh 721 00:33:39,760 –> 00:33:42,359 and dwelt among us, here’s where you ground your life, 722 00:33:42,359 –> 00:33:45,439 in Jesus Christ, here’s where you find your life. 723 00:33:45,439 –> 00:33:46,680 Life is in him. 724 00:33:46,680 –> 00:33:48,479 He has life in himself 725 00:33:48,479 –> 00:33:50,479 and he is able to give that life to you. 726 00:33:51,939 –> 00:33:53,520 A voice says cry, what shall I cry? 727 00:33:53,520 –> 00:33:55,699 What’s the message then 728 00:33:55,699 –> 00:33:58,560 that the church is to bring into this broken world? 729 00:33:58,560 –> 00:34:01,060 What is the word of God that is coming to us, 730 00:34:01,060 –> 00:34:03,260 to you in particular today? 731 00:34:04,800 –> 00:34:07,619 Your life is beautiful but it is also fragile. 732 00:34:08,379 –> 00:34:11,860 God is in control of your life 733 00:34:11,860 –> 00:34:14,340 and also of your death, 734 00:34:14,340 –> 00:34:18,699 you can trust God’s word completely. 735 00:34:18,699 –> 00:34:20,899 And this word has become flesh, 736 00:34:20,899 –> 00:34:23,419 his name is Jesus that is a savior for you 737 00:34:23,419 –> 00:34:25,459 and this savior is God, 738 00:34:25,459 –> 00:34:27,739 this savior has life in himself 739 00:34:27,739 –> 00:34:30,520 and he’s able to blow new life into you. 740 00:34:31,439 –> 00:34:34,379 You remember how John puts it so beautifully? 741 00:34:34,379 –> 00:34:37,040 He says the wind blows, 742 00:34:37,100 –> 00:34:39,959 notice that word, where it wishes 743 00:34:39,959 –> 00:34:44,159 and so it is with everyone born of the Spirit, 744 00:34:45,239 –> 00:34:46,639 born of the Spirit. 745 00:34:47,719 –> 00:34:49,360 Here’s what he’s saying, 746 00:34:49,360 –> 00:34:52,760 that God is able to blow a new kind of life into you, 747 00:34:53,639 –> 00:34:56,399 he’s able to blow a new heart into you, 748 00:34:56,399 –> 00:34:58,439 he’s able to blow new energies into you, 749 00:34:58,439 –> 00:34:59,879 new affections into you, 750 00:34:59,879 –> 00:35:01,979 new desires into you, 751 00:35:01,979 –> 00:35:04,620 a new love for him into you, 752 00:35:04,620 –> 00:35:08,139 new capacity to be able to live for his glory into you. 753 00:35:08,139 –> 00:35:11,780 He’s being able to blow this new life into you 754 00:35:11,780 –> 00:35:14,739 and he speaks tenderly to you today. 755 00:35:14,739 –> 00:35:16,479 He reaches out to you today 756 00:35:16,479 –> 00:35:19,379 but he also speaks to you with urgency today. 757 00:35:19,379 –> 00:35:22,459 Remember your life is fragile as well as beautiful 758 00:35:23,659 –> 00:35:25,939 and so believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, 759 00:35:25,939 –> 00:35:28,939 trust in Him, submit to Him, trust Him, 760 00:35:28,939 –> 00:35:31,379 yield to Him, follow Him 761 00:35:31,399 –> 00:35:35,600 and you can rest secure on His promise 762 00:35:35,600 –> 00:35:38,540 that all that He’s accomplished 763 00:35:38,540 –> 00:35:43,179 and all that He now offers will truly be yours. 764 00:35:44,520 –> 00:35:49,520 Father, for this amazing, amazing word 765 00:35:51,580 –> 00:35:54,439 that points us right to Christ 766 00:35:56,060 –> 00:35:59,159 in whom is life itself, 767 00:36:00,159 –> 00:36:03,580 we give You our thanks and our praise today 768 00:36:03,580 –> 00:36:05,820 as we bow before Him. 769 00:36:05,820 –> 00:36:07,179 In Jesus’ name, Amen.