Explores navigating life's complexities through perseverance, finding hope in mundanity, and recognizing our heavenly longings as pointers towards God.
Good morning, beloved. I am glad to see each and every one of you here today, gathered in the presence of the Lord. Today, we are going to spend some time in the book of Ecclesiastes, specifically chapter 3, verses 1 through 22. This passage of scripture is a beautiful tapestry of wisdom and truth that speaks directly to the human condition. It's a passage that invites us to grapple with life's complexities and uncertainties, and yet, it also gently leads us towards the abiding hope and peace that can only be found in God.
The esteemed preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, "By perseverance, the snail reached the ark." This quote may seem simple, but it holds a profound truth - that no matter how difficult or despairing our circumstances may seem, we can find solace and strength in the steadfast love of God. Just like the snail, we are called to persevere, to keep moving forward, knowing that our ultimate destination is in God.
Life can be hard. We all know that. We've all experienced moments of despair, moments when it feels like the world is against us. We've all witnessed injustice, whether on a personal level or on a grander, societal scale. These experiences can leave us feeling lost, confused, and questioning the goodness of God. But the scripture passage we're looking at today offers us some guidance on how to navigate these difficult times.
Despair and injustice are part of the human experience: The writer of Ecclesiastes makes it clear that there is a time for everything under the sun - a time to weep, a time to mourn, a time to love, a time to hate. This means that there will be times in our lives when we will face despair and injustice. It's not a question of if, but when.
We’re not alone: Just because these experiences are inevitable, it doesn't mean that we are left to navigate them alone. God is with us in every season of life, even the difficult ones. He is our comforter in times of sorrow, our strength in times of weakness, our hope in times of despair. When we feel like the world is against us, we can turn to God and find a refuge in Him.
What about injustice?: How are we supposed to respond when we see wrongs being committed, when we see the innocent suffering and the guilty going unpunished? The writer of Ecclesiastes addresses this issue as well. He acknowledges that there is a time to hate, a time for war. This doesn't mean that we are called to hate people or to incite violence. Rather, it means that there are times when we are called to stand up against injustice, to fight for what is right. But again, we are not left to do this on our own. God is our guide in these situations. He gives us wisdom to know when to speak up and when to remain silent, when to act and when to wait. He equips us with the courage to stand up for what is right, even when it's not popular or easy. And He promises to be with us every step of the way, providing us with the strength and resilience we need to persevere.
How do we handle despair and injustice?: We acknowledge their presence in our lives. We turn to God for comfort and guidance. We stand up against injustice, guided by God's wisdom and equipped with His strength. And we remember that no matter what we're going through, God is with us, and there is a time and a season for everything under the sun.
There is also a time for hope and justice: The writer of Ecclesiastes reminds us that there is a time to laugh, a time to dance, a time to love, a time for peace. These are the moments that make the difficult times bearable. These are the moments that remind us of God's goodness and love, even in the midst of hardship.
In the midst of the mundane, the ordinary, the everyday, we find a unique kind of hope ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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