0324- A Time for Everything 凡事都有定期

The pandemic is a once in a lifetime experience that helps us rethink about life. Most of us would have had time to think about what really matters most in our lives and if we are chasing after the wind?Ecclesiastes 3:1-4, 11 (NKJV) To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. A time to be born, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to pluck what 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…. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

God used King Solomon to write the book of Ecclesiastes as a reflection in the later part of his life. Despite having riches, wisdom, many wives and concubines, King Solomon was questioning the true meaning of life. He was not in a good spiritual state then. However, he never disputed the existence of God. He had experienced a lot in life, had lots of earthly possessions and had done much reflection at the end of his life. We do not need to wait till we are in the last stretch of our lives to process some of these matters.

Indeed, there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven. As we live our lives purposefully, there is a season for courting, getting married, giving birth, being a parent and a grandparent. Moreover, there is a time to die. All of us will die one day regardless whether it is due to old age, an illness or even COVID-19.

One of the stark reminders of the entire pandemic experience in 2020 is the frailty of men. Absolutely no one is able to live physically forever even though some of the emperors in the past had searched for immortality. Unfortunately, most people do not realize the importance of living life to the fullest with their families and in a correct relationship with God until something major happens in our lives that we often term as a “wake up call”.

Hebrews 9:27 (NKJV) And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,

We only live once, we will only die once, and thereafter, we will face the judgment of God. We will either face the Lord at the great white throne or at the judgment seat of Christ. The great white throne is prepared for those whose names are not written in the Book of Life, whereas the judgment seat of Christ is meant for the believers of Jesus Christ.

All of us need to set our lives and our households in order so that we will be able to live intentionally for the Lord. By so doing, we will be receiving our heavenly rewards for the lives that we live for the Lord while we are on earth! May we be found before the judgment seat of Christ with rewards given by the Lord who loves us and gave Himself for us.

Sermon Series: Year End (2020)

凡事都有定期

此次疫情实在是一个一生难得的经历帮助我们重新思考人生. 我们中大多数人都会有时间去思考什么才是生命中最重要的? 我们是否在追逐那虚无不定的风?

传道书3:1-4,11 凡事都有定期,天下万务都有定时。2生有时,死有时;栽种有时,拔出所栽种的也有时;3杀戮有时,医治有时;拆毁有时,建造有时;4哭有时,笑有时;哀恸有时,跳舞有时… … 11神造万物,各按其时成为美好,又将永生安置在世人心里。然而 神从始至终的作为,人不能参透

神使用所罗门王撰写传道书来回顾他的后半生. 尽管拥有财富, 智慧, 众多妻妾,所罗门王却追问着生命的真谛。他当时的属灵光景乏善可陈。 然而, 他从未质疑过神的存在. 他一生有着丰富的经历, 富足的尘世财产, 在生命的最后阶段他做了很多反思. 对于我们来说, 我们不需要等到我们生命的最后阶段才来思考这些问题.

确实, 凡事都有定期,天下万务都有定时. 当我们朝着标杆跋涉人生之路时, 恋爱、结婚、生子、为人父母以及为人祖父母都各有定期. 此外, 死亡也有定时. 无论是由于年迈, 或疾病, 甚至是Covid-19,终有一天我们会死去,无人得免。

2020年的疫情给我们的一个残酷提醒是人类的脆弱. 尽管之前有皇帝们去找寻长生不老, 但事实是无人能够以物理形态永远存活. 不幸的是, 大部分人没有意识到与神建立正确关系以及与家人拥有丰盛生命的重要性. 直至有一天,生活中发生重大事件,我们通常称之为一记”警钟”.

希伯来书 9:27 按着定命,人人都有一死,死后且有审判

我们只活一次, 我们也只会死一次, 之后,我们将面对神的审判. 我们将面对主,要么在白色的大宝座要么在基督审判台前. 白色的大宝座是为那些名字不在生命册上的人准备的, 而基督的审判台则是为主耶稣基督的信徒准备的.

我们所需要做的是让自己的生活和家庭井然有序,这样, 我们就能更加主动地为主而活. 藉此,我们的生命将在天上获得属天的奖赏,因为我们在世的时候就已经为主而活!愿我们众人在基督台前显露出来,领受来自爱我们、为我们舍己的主的奖赏。

讲章系列:岁末(2020)