To every thing there is a season,
and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
In Ecclesiastes 3:2–8 , the word “time” appears 28 times.
It appears twice in each one of 14 contrasting pairs.
Fourteen pairs, twenty-eight references to time, all emphasizing that human life unfolds through different seasons and circumstances.
Look close at verse number 1...
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
Once again, listen closely… a time to every purpose…
You are right now at a time in your life that you will never experience again.
You will never again have an opportunity to revisit this time, this moment…
Right now!
Let’s take a few moments to ponder three times that every one of us will experience in this life. First,
1. There is a Time for Reflection on your Life
A Time for Reflection on your Life…
Reflection meaning simply to look back…to ponder times that are past.
We are not promised tomorrow…
James 4:14
whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
We have only a predetermined number of days on this earth. Check the ages of those in the cemetery. Every age from an infant to the ancient and everything in between!
Notice I said a predetermined number of days!
Job 14:1
Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
Job 14:5
Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;
Psalm 90:12
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
Are you on top of the world?...You’re days are numbered!
Are you at the lowest time of your life?...You’re days are numbered!
Are you on a path that has you considering eternity?...You’re days are numbered!
Are you taking time to reflect on your life?
A Time for Reflection on your Life…
2 Corinthians 4:17-18
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
While we reflect on our past we must remember that this time in eternity is only temporary!
A Time for Reflection on your Life is what Jeremiah meant in Lamentations 3:40…
Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord.
Not only is there a Time for Reflection on your Life…
2. There is a Time for a Realization of your Standing Before God
There is a Time for a Realization of your Standing Before God
Revelation 20:12
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
You will stand with God in this life by receiving his Son or you will stand before God at the Great White Throne Judgment! And…
The outcome of that judgment has already been decided...you will be cast into the lake of fire! Cast into the lake of fire if you reject God’s Son in this life!
A reality check if you will!!
Concerning the Realization of your Standing Before God
Joel Osteen will tell you that you are special. He will tell you that you are the head and not the tail. That you are destined for greatness. And on and on and on he will pet your conscience and pamper your flesh…pet your conscience and pamper your flesh…
But the prophet Isaiah will tell you the truth!
Isaiah 64:6
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Paul is not a Joel when he tells us in the book of Romans…
as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Jesus himself told the Pharisees in the Gospel of John chapter 8…
John 8:21
Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.
John 8:24
I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
Let’s suffice it to say that Jesus would probably not be invited to speak at Lakewood Church!
A Realization of your Standing Before God
Isaiah had a realization when he was in the presence of God and he saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up in Isaiah chapter 6.
Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.
But with all of the bad news there is some great news!
When we come to that realization of our standing before God it is not all bad news!
Isaiah 53:6
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Oh my friend it gets better! Although we have strayed we see a seeking Saviour! A Saviour that had all of our sin and iniquity laid on him.
Matthew 18:12-13
How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.
The great news is that even though you have gone astray the Good Shepherd is seeking to bring you into the fold today!
I can’t think of any greater news than that!
Not only is there a Time for Reflection on your Life. Not only is there a Time for a Realization of your Standing Before God…But
3. There is a Time for your Reaction to the True Gospel
There is a Time for your Reaction to the True Gospel
You might say, Bro. Dave, what do you mean by my reaction to the true Gospel.
There is no middle ground concerning salvation! There is no such thing as being on the fence concerning salvation.
Speaking to Nicodemus in John 3:3 we see this:
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Nicodemus had a reaction. He asked “how can these things be?”
Jesus was telling him that without the new birth there is no true salvation!
Nicodemus, religion is not going to do you any good without being born again!
Nicodemus, being a ruler of the Jews is not going to amount to a hill of beans if you are not born again!
You will upon hearing a clear presentation of the Gospel of Christ have a reaction.
There is a Time for Reflection on your Life
There is a Time for a Realization of your Standing Before God…and
There is a Time for your Reaction to the True Gospel
You will either choose to accept Christ or you will reject him. These are the only two reactions!
You may say not so! You might react by saying I am going to put it off until later.
My friend that is rejecting him at this time!
a Time for your Reaction to the True Gospel
And your reaction will seal your fate eternally. Whether in heaven with the redeemed or in the Lake of fire.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
If you are a habitual offender in any of these sins the Bible is extremely clear and without ambiguity you will not be in Heaven!
When you hear this verse in Hebrews 3:7-8
Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
What is your reaction?
When you hear this verse in Mark 16:16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
What is your reaction?
When you hear this passage in Luke 16...
And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; and in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
What is your reaction? What is your reaction?
My friend you have heard today that:
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase, “there is no time like the present”.
Every head bowed and no one looking around please.
If you remember that in the introduction I made this statement…
You will never again have an opportunity to revisit this time, this moment…Right now!
There is a Time for Reflection on your Life…Have you reflected?
There is a Time for a Realization of your Standing Before God…Do you have that realization today?
There is a Time for your Reaction to the True Gospel…What is your reaction today?
Remember there are only two reactions and the one that brings true salvation is the receiving of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, and his finished work at Calvary!
If you would say Bro. Dave, God has spoken to my heart and I am not saved but I’d like to be today just slip your hand up. Anyone like that?
I’ve reflected, I’ve realized that I’m not saved and my reaction is I want to act today before it is eternally too late. I don’t want to stand in the Great White Throne Judgment and be cast into the lake of fire.
I don’t want to cry from hell someday for a drop of water and realize that it will never happen! Anyone like that?
You may be saved but might say Bro. Dave, I’ve reflected and have come to the realization that I’m not living for him like I should, and my reaction is that I want the Lord to help me to love him and to serve him more. Would you slip your hand up and put it back down?
If you raised your hand to be saved, pray this prayer sincerely from your heart. It’s not the prayer but the Saviour that you are calling on that saves you!
Dear God I know I am a sinner and that your Son Jesus died on the cross for me. I believe he was buried and rose again the third day. As best as I know how, I now ask that you would forgive me of my sins and save me. Amen
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