Summer, Here I Come! - pt. 1 - Time
With the conlusion of our exposition in the first chapter of the Gospel according to John, I thought it would be a nice breather to address some topical issues, especially as summer is just around the corner. We will spend two sermons to help us prepare for the summer, this week looking at the value of time and next week the beauty of modesty.
Now I must say that the topic of "summer time" is very personal for me, for I have wasted a great amount of my summers. Last week, I told you about how I wasted it watching anime with my brother and sister (almost 20 hours a week). This week, I want to tell you about my summer between freshmen and sophomore year. I had a good friend named Daniel (and we're still good friends by the way), and that year we had an awesome idea. At the time, Pokemon was ridiculously popular and Pokemon cards had taken the children of America by storm. I remember one card with the Pokemon Charizard would sell for well over 50 dollars at the time. With the economy of the Silicaon Valley doing real well, rich little kids were spending their parents' money like wildfire. So guess what great idea my friend Daniel and I came up with? That summer, we gave ourselves to the business of selling and trading Pokemon cards. Daniel actually got a Sega Dreamcast out of it, but I just lost a lot of money. Looking back on it now, I don't feel any better; it was a great summer gone to waste.
When I was reading through Piper's Don't Waste Your Life, I came across a similar but more dramatic story. An old man, well into his 80's came to Christ through the ministry of Piper's father. Though it was reason for great rejoicing for the man as well as the congregation, Piper tells us how the old man wept and shouted, "I've wasted it, I've wasted it!"
Summer is a great time, it is a gift from the Lord. For most of us, it is paradise after traveling through the desert of school. We feel so good about it because it is finally time where we can set our own schedule, do whatever we want, and have a lot of fun doing it. Well, that's how I viewed it. But I pray that as we look at the importance of time, and as you consider your faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, that you will not waste your summer. I pray you won't end up like me wasting my summer with Pokemon cards and anime. I pray you won't end up like that old man who could only say, "I've wasted it, I've wasted it!"
Now, how are we to approach this? Well, I could tell you what to do and what not to do, but that will just make me a legalist. What I really want to do today is to teach you about time, so that what you know about time and eternity will drive the decisions that you make. And then I want to appeal to you by showing the great benefits of "wasting your life for Christ" with your time. We'll close with some exhortations and practical considerations.
Biblical view of time and life - It is imperative that we understand some very key truths concerning time if we are not to waste it. Let me explain four truths concerning time that I pray will be helpful to stir you up to love and good deeds.
With the conlusion of our exposition in the first chapter of the Gospel according to John, I thought it would be a nice breather to address some topical issues, especially as summer is just around the corner. We will spend two sermons to help us prepare for the summer, this week looking at the value of time and next week the beauty of modesty.
Now I must say that the topic of "summer time" is very personal for me, for I have wasted a great amount of my summers. Last week, I told you about how I wasted it watching anime with my brother and sister (almost 20 hours a week). This week, I want to tell you about my summer between freshmen and sophomore year. I had a good friend named Daniel (and we're still good friends by the way), and that year we had an awesome idea. At the time, Pokemon was ridiculously popular and Pokemon cards had taken the children of America by storm. I remember one card with the Pokemon Charizard would sell for well over 50 dollars at the time. With the economy of the Silicaon Valley doing real well, rich little kids were spending their parents' money like wildfire. So guess what great idea my friend Daniel and I came up with? That summer, we gave ourselves to the business of selling and trading Pokemon cards. Daniel actually got a Sega Dreamcast out of it, but I just lost a lot of money. Looking back on it now, I don't feel any better; it was a great summer gone to waste.
When I was reading through Piper's Don't Waste Your Life, I came across a similar but more dramatic story. An old man, well into his 80's came to Christ through the ministry of Piper's father. Though it was reason for great rejoicing for the man as well as the congregation, Piper tells us how the old man wept and shouted, "I've wasted it, I've wasted it!"
Summer is a great time, it is a gift from the Lord. For most of us, it is paradise after traveling through the desert of school. We feel so good about it because it is finally time where we can set our own schedule, do whatever we want, and have a lot of fun doing it. Well, that's how I viewed it. But I pray that as we look at the importance of time, and as you consider your faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, that you will not waste your summer. I pray you won't end up like me wasting my summer with Pokemon cards and anime. I pray you won't end up like that old man who could only say, "I've wasted it, I've wasted it!"
Now, how are we to approach this? Well, I could tell you what to do and what not to do, but that will just make me a legalist. What I really want to do today is to teach you about time, so that what you know about time and eternity will drive the decisions that you make. And then I want to appeal to you by showing the great benefits of "wasting your life for Christ" with your time. We'll close with some exhortations and practical considerations.
Biblical view of time and life - It is imperative that we understand some very key truths concerning time if we are not to waste it. Let me explain four truths concerning time that I pray will be helpful to stir you up to love and good deeds.
Time is limited - Everyone will one day die, that is a known fact. 10 out of 10 people die. yes it is true that some will not taste death, but that does not negate the fact that we have a narrow window in which we can live this side of eternity. We don't have all the time in the world. We need to live as if the hourglass of our lives were right before us. The psalmist, knowing this reality, prays to God, "So teach us to number our days,That we may present to You a heart of wisdom" (Psalm 90:12).
Time is not yours - Time is a gift from God. You were given life and time. The psalmist cries "in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me" (Psalm 139:16). You have been given life and time to accomplish the will of God has for you. Time was given so that God may be glorified through our good works. Paul tells us that "we were created in Christ Jesus for good works, which were prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10).
Time is war-time - I want you to know, that the life that we're living right now in a great spiritual battle and the costs are high, very high. Paul explains to the Ephesians that we're in a war and explains that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood" (Ephesians 6:12). Even Jesus said, "From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force" (Matthew 11:12). The reason why I say this is that war-time is drastically different from peace-time. The priorities are different, the attentiveness is different, the purpose is different. We need to live our lives as if we're in war.
You are accountable - To top it all off, everything we do here in this life with the time that we have, we'll have to give an account of it when we meet our Maker. Paul explains, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad" (2 Corinthians 5:10). As in the parable of the talents, where the stewards give an account of what they did with the talents while their master was away, we also will have to give an account. What will you see before the Lord and what will you receive? Will you only have Pokemon cards in your hand to show for what you have done this summer?
Benefits of wasting your life for Christ - So as you consider these truths, I pray you would "waste your life" on the altar of God's glory. I pray you would plan with a biblical perspective, putting your spiritual health and evangelism as the highest priorities. In the world's eyes, it will truly seem like a "wasted life." I am so glad that I can tell you today that it surely isn't. I am overjoyed that I can appeal to you, not only by telling you it's the right thing to do, but also by sharing with you the great benefits of spending time wisely.
Future Reward - As I have stated earlier, you will give an account, and for those of us who have "seized the day" for the glory of God, will have something to say and something to receive. This knowledge of future hope ought to excite us to fill our days with love and good deeds, being fruitful.
Immediate Reward - But there's also a present reward for using your time so radically for Jesus. People will actually think you're a Christian, and you will too. These two things are a very immediate reward in that you'll experience it on this side of eternity. Your non-Christian friends will start wondering why you're so different, and it will be an open door for you to share the Gospel. Your life and decision-making will so reflect that of Christ, your faith will be made sure. There is probably no greater reward that we can receive than these two in this present life.
Better ways to spend your time - So as you consider this summer, let me beg of you not to waste it for vanity, but waste it truly on the altar of His glory. Jim Elliot prayed, "Father, take my life, yea, my blood if Thou wilt, and consume it with Thine enveloping fire. I would not save it, for it is not mine to save. Have it Lord, have it all. Pour out my life as an oblation for the world. Blood is only of value as it flows before Thine altar."
Let me suggest to you some productive ways you can spend your summer. Make a diligent effort to make it to all church events and not forsake the assembly. Read the Bible and good Christian books, I have many that I'd highly recommend from our library. Listen to Sermons, there are a bunch of free ones at Desiring God that I would highly recommend. Plan some events for your church brothers and sisters, maybe a BBQ or a movie night or other fun things. Have a good conversation with one of your church members over lunch or dinner. Take opportunities to share the Gospel with a friend.
To add to all the suggestions, let me beg of you, don't waste your life and your mind by watching too much television. It will kill your mind, it will kill your soul, slowly, but surely. With that said, I want to remind you of grace. With such exhortations, I must close with a reminder of the gospel. These aren't things that are done to attain salvation. These are ways in which we can live a better way and enjoy salvation. Salvation is by grace through faith alone. Let us remember that as we try with all our fervor to make our summer a pleasurable summer, one that is a delight to the Lord. Stay strong and God bless!
Time is not yours - Time is a gift from God. You were given life and time. The psalmist cries "in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me" (Psalm 139:16). You have been given life and time to accomplish the will of God has for you. Time was given so that God may be glorified through our good works. Paul tells us that "we were created in Christ Jesus for good works, which were prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10).
Time is war-time - I want you to know, that the life that we're living right now in a great spiritual battle and the costs are high, very high. Paul explains to the Ephesians that we're in a war and explains that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood" (Ephesians 6:12). Even Jesus said, "From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force" (Matthew 11:12). The reason why I say this is that war-time is drastically different from peace-time. The priorities are different, the attentiveness is different, the purpose is different. We need to live our lives as if we're in war.
You are accountable - To top it all off, everything we do here in this life with the time that we have, we'll have to give an account of it when we meet our Maker. Paul explains, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad" (2 Corinthians 5:10). As in the parable of the talents, where the stewards give an account of what they did with the talents while their master was away, we also will have to give an account. What will you see before the Lord and what will you receive? Will you only have Pokemon cards in your hand to show for what you have done this summer?
Benefits of wasting your life for Christ - So as you consider these truths, I pray you would "waste your life" on the altar of God's glory. I pray you would plan with a biblical perspective, putting your spiritual health and evangelism as the highest priorities. In the world's eyes, it will truly seem like a "wasted life." I am so glad that I can tell you today that it surely isn't. I am overjoyed that I can appeal to you, not only by telling you it's the right thing to do, but also by sharing with you the great benefits of spending time wisely.
Future Reward - As I have stated earlier, you will give an account, and for those of us who have "seized the day" for the glory of God, will have something to say and something to receive. This knowledge of future hope ought to excite us to fill our days with love and good deeds, being fruitful.
Immediate Reward - But there's also a present reward for using your time so radically for Jesus. People will actually think you're a Christian, and you will too. These two things are a very immediate reward in that you'll experience it on this side of eternity. Your non-Christian friends will start wondering why you're so different, and it will be an open door for you to share the Gospel. Your life and decision-making will so reflect that of Christ, your faith will be made sure. There is probably no greater reward that we can receive than these two in this present life.
Better ways to spend your time - So as you consider this summer, let me beg of you not to waste it for vanity, but waste it truly on the altar of His glory. Jim Elliot prayed, "Father, take my life, yea, my blood if Thou wilt, and consume it with Thine enveloping fire. I would not save it, for it is not mine to save. Have it Lord, have it all. Pour out my life as an oblation for the world. Blood is only of value as it flows before Thine altar."
Let me suggest to you some productive ways you can spend your summer. Make a diligent effort to make it to all church events and not forsake the assembly. Read the Bible and good Christian books, I have many that I'd highly recommend from our library. Listen to Sermons, there are a bunch of free ones at Desiring God that I would highly recommend. Plan some events for your church brothers and sisters, maybe a BBQ or a movie night or other fun things. Have a good conversation with one of your church members over lunch or dinner. Take opportunities to share the Gospel with a friend.
To add to all the suggestions, let me beg of you, don't waste your life and your mind by watching too much television. It will kill your mind, it will kill your soul, slowly, but surely. With that said, I want to remind you of grace. With such exhortations, I must close with a reminder of the gospel. These aren't things that are done to attain salvation. These are ways in which we can live a better way and enjoy salvation. Salvation is by grace through faith alone. Let us remember that as we try with all our fervor to make our summer a pleasurable summer, one that is a delight to the Lord. Stay strong and God bless!
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment