Thursday, 26 February 2009

• Our Life is but a vapor!

  
  There is a time to be born and a time to die a time to plant and a time to uproot. “For what is your Life?  It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes anyway.  Instead, you ought to say, If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that” James 4:14-15.

   Some of us remember the famous song, “Turn, Turn, Turn (to everything there is a season) by the Byrds…”

  To everything - turn, turn, turn
  There is a season - turn, turn, turn
  And a time for every purpose under heaven
  A time to be born, a time to die
  A time to plant, a time to reap
  A time to kill, a time to heal
  A time to laugh, a time to weep
  To everything - turn, turn, turn
  There is a season - turn, turn, turn
  And a time for every purpose under heaven
  A time to build up, a time to break down
  A time to dance, a time to mourn
  A time to cast away stones
  A time to gather stones together
  To everything - turn, turn, turn
  There is a season - turn, turn, turn
  And a time for every purpose under heaven
  A time of war, a time of peace
  A time of love, a time of hate
  A time you may embrace
  A time to refrain from embracing
  To everything - turn, turn, turn
  There is a season - turn, turn, turn
  And a time for every purpose under heaven
  A time to gain, a time to lose
  A time to rend, a time to sew
  A time to love, a time to hate
  A time of peace, I swear it's not too late!

   “For what is your Life?  It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes anyway.  Instead, you ought to say, If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that” James 4:14-15.

   Sin of presumption – There never was a saint yet that grew proud of his fine feathers, but what the Lord plucked them out by and by; there never yet was an angel that had pride in his heart, but he lost his wings, and fell into Gehenna, as Satan and those fallen angels did; and there. shall never be a saint who indulges self-conceit and pride and self-confidence, but the Lord will spoil his glories, and trample his honors in the mire, and make him cry out yet again, "Lord, have mercy upon me," less than the least of all saints, and the" very chief-of-sinners."

   The story is told of a family that moved into a new community. Two elders and the pastor of a nearby church who cordially invited them to attend the services on the Lord’s Day promptly visited them. The man assured them that he would come just as soon as he was straightened out. Several months passed, and he still had not put in an appearance, so the minister called again and repeated his invitation. However, he received the same reply. The fellow had not yet gotten everything straightened out, but he'd be there just as soon as he did. A few weeks later he died, and his widow asked to have the funeral services in the church. The preacher graciously agreed. It was indeed a sad affair. Later when a member of the congregation asked the pastor if the man was a Christian, he answered, "He never attended services here, and no one can recall ever hearing him give a testimony of his faith in Christ, so I can't say. I only know he was a man of his word. He promised to come to church just as soon as he got straightened out -- and he did!"

   How to Be Perfectly Miserable. In addition, it goes on to list a few things you can do that will not only make you perfectly miserable but also keep you that way.  Think about yourself.  Talk about yourself. Use the personal pronoun "I" as often as possible in your conversation. Mirror yourself continually in the opinion of others. Listen greedily to what people say about you. Insist on consideration and respect.  Demand agreement with your own views on everything. Sulk if people are not grateful to you for favors shown them.  Never forget a service you may have rendered.  Expect to be appreciated.  Be suspicious. Be sensitive to slights.  Be jealous and envious.  Never forget a criticism. Trust nobody but yourself.

   Let us remember the ten Lepers in Luke 17 who were healed by the Lord but only one went back and thanked the Lord.   It thrust proud Nebuchadnezzar out of men's society, proud Saul out of his kingdom, proud Adam out of paradise, proud Haman out of court, proud Lucifer out of heaven.

   He brushed his teeth TWICE a day -- with nationally advertised toothpaste. The doctors examined him twice a year.  He slept with the windows open.  He stuck to a diet with plenty of fresh vegetables.   He relinquished his tonsils and traded in several worn-out glands. He golfed -- but never more than 18 holes at a time.   He got at least eight hours' sleep every night.   He never smoked, drank or lost his temper.  He did his "daily dozen" daily.  He was all set to live to be a hundred.    The funeral will be held Wednesday.  Eight specialists, three health institutions, two gymnasiums and numerous manufacturers of health foods and antiseptics survive him.  He forgot God.

   “For what is your Life, It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes anyway.  Instead, you ought to say, If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that” James 4:14-15

   “But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil.”  James 4:16

   Sin of boasting – There is told an imaginary story about a man who had just arrived in heaven. Attracted by a large crowd, he inquired what was going on, "Oh, it's 'show and tell' time," came the answer. He was asked if he had anything he'd like to share. "Why sure," the new arrival quickly responded, "I'll tell about the big flood we had back in 1889 when I was a boy in Pennsylvania." "That will be fine," he was told, "but remember, Noah will be in the audience." "If you're successful, don't crow. If you fail, don't croak."

   A Rabbi and a New England minister were getting to know one another. Proudly, the minister exclaimed, "One of my ancestors signed the Declaration of Independence." "I understand your pride," responded the rabbi. "One of my ancestors signed the Ten Commandments."

   “Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin.”  James 4:17

   Sin of omission – I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I ought to do. In addition, what I ought to do, By the grace of God I shall do!

   The Procrastinator's Poem: I've gone for a drink and sharpened my pencils, Searched through my desk for forgotten utensils. I reset my watch, I adjusted my chair, I've loosened my tie and straightened my hair. I filled my pen and tested the blotter, And gone for another drink of water, Adjusted the calendar, and I've raised the blind, And I've sorted erasers of all different kinds. Now down to work I can finally sit, Oops, too late, it's time to quit

   

  Be like Christ... Philippians 2:1-7  "If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion then make my joy like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interest but also to the interest of others.  Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant.”

   Serving the Lord is not a matter of doing what I can to work out a goal or purpose which I think the Lord wants but it doing what Colossians 3:17 says: "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to god the Father through him." Our standard is found in the word of God -- Matthew 25:31-46 (Hungry, Naked, Sick, Prison) what are we Sheep or Goats?  Is there a place of service in our world today?  You beat there is…

   Just look around, open your eyes and see as the Father sees, 460,000,000 people are permanently hungry, 1,000,000,000 suffer from malnourishment, 900,000,000 live on less then 200.00 dollars per year

  There is a fable, which tells of three apprentice devils that were coming to this earth to finish their apprenticeship. They were talking to Satan, the chief of the devils, about their plans to tempt and ruin men. The first said, "I will tell them there is no God." Satan said, "That will not delude many, for they know that there is a God." The second said, "I will tell men there is no hell." Satan answered, "You will deceive no one that way; men know even now that there is a hell for sin." The third said, "I will tell men there is no hurry." "Go," said Satan, "and you will ruin them by the thousand." The most dangerous of all delusions is that there is plenty of time. The most dangerous day in a man's life is when he learns that there is such a word as tomorrow. There are things, which must not be put off, for no man knows if for him tomorrow will ever come. 

   "Be sure, Herbert," said Mr. Wise to his son, "not to go beyond your depth in the river: the surface looks very fair and sparkling, but there is an ugly eddy beneath, that may prove to strong for you" "How do you know, father?" asked Herbert. "I have tried it," was the reply. "It nearly overcame me; but I could swim, and so got beyond it. Remember what I tell you: beware of the undertow. "Herbert went in to bathe, and was very careful to keep near the shore every time. "It cannot be very dangerous here," he thought, and uttered it aloud to his companion. "It is as smooth as glass; and I can easily return if it is rough beneath, for I can swim now." "You had better not go," urged his friend: "my father knows this river well, and he says the, undertow is very dangerous. "I will go in a little ways," replied Herbert, "and, if I find it dangerous, come back." And he started vigorously for the middle of the river His companion, watching him, saw him throw up his arms wildly, and heard his shout for help; but, when help reached him, it was too late. The undertow had got him. He was drowned in the treacherous river!

   “For what is your Life?  It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes anyway.  Instead, you ought to say, If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that” James 4:14-15

   Blessings and peace,

  • 11:14 AM
  • 36 Views
  • 6 eProps
  • 3 Comments