Living With Eternity in Sight
By: Pastors Rodney & Adonica Howard-BrownePublish date: 06/23/2018
Foundation Scriptures:
Remember [earnestly] also your creator [that you are not your own, but His property now] in the days of your youth, before the evil days come or the years draw near when you will say [of physical pleasures], I have no enjoyment in them — 2 Before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened [sight is impaired], and the clouds [of depression] return after the rain [of tears]; 3 In the day when the keepers of the house [the hands and the arms] tremble, and the strong men [the feet and the knees] bow themselves, and the grinders [the molar teeth] cease because they are few, and those who look out of the windows [the eyes] are darkened; 4 When the doors [the lips] are shut in the streets and the sound of the grinding [of the teeth] is low, and one rises up at the voice of a bird and the crowing of a cock, and all the daughters of music [the voice and the ear] are brought low; 5 Also when [the old] are afraid of danger from that which is high, and fears are in the way, and the almond tree [their white hair] blooms, and the grasshopper [a little thing] is a burden, and desire and appetite fail, because man goes to his everlasting home and the mourners go about the streets or marketplaces. 6 [Remember your Creator earnestly now] before the silver cord [of life] is snapped apart, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern [and the whole circulatory system of the blood ceases to function]; 7 Then shall the dust [out of which God made man’s body] return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return to God Who gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 AMPC
The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. Job 33:4 KJV
1. Remember Your Creator in the Days of Your Youth.
a. You are not your own; you belong to Him.
b. You must remember this before it’s too late.
c. Once it’s too late, you cannot go back and relive, redo, or make up for what was done or left undone.
2. Do It While You Still Can.
a. We have to do this while we still have all our senses, and faculties about us.
b. Sight.
c. Hands.
d. Arms.
e. Feet.
f. Knees.
g. Lips.
h. Teeth.
i. Voice.
j. Ears.
k. Hair.
l. Appetite.
3. The Days of Your Youth.
a. Make everything about eternity.
b. Romans 14:12 KJV – “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”
c. We will give an account of our:
d. Time.
e. Ephesians 5:16 AMPC – “Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil.”
f. Treasure.
g. Matthew 18:23 KJV – “Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.”
h. Talents.
i. Tongue.
j. Matthew 12:36 AMPC – “But I tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every idle (inoperative, nonworking) word they speak.”
k. Matthew 16:27 AMPC – “For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory (majesty, splendor) of His Father with His angels, and then He will render account and reward every man in accordance with what he has done.”
4. Many Live Their Lives Without Acknowledging God.
a. They spend their days with no thought of eternity.
b. As your pastor/shepherd, it is imperative that I tell you these things.
c. When we started The River Church, the Lord instructed me to have a place where we could “prepare My people for eternity.”
d. I would fail, as your pastor, if I did not preach this.
e. Hebrews 13:17 KJV – “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”
5. Take Stock of Your Lives This Week.
a. It is time to realign with God’s eternal purposes.
b. Hebrews 12:1-2 AMPC – “Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us, 2 Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
c. Lay aside every unnecessary weight and the sin that tries to cling to you and trip you up.
d. Run the race, with patience.
e. Put, and keep, your eyes on Jesus.
f. Help one another; your race is not alone.
g. Each one reach one.
h. Win souls.
i. Make disciples.
j. Walk in love.