I Am Losing All My Friends – Why? Series

I AM LOSING ALL MY FRIENDS – WHY?

[1]. INTRODUCTION

In Book of Ecclesiastes we read this - {{Ecclesiastes 3:1-3 “There is an appointed time for everything, and there is a time for every event under heaven - A TIME TO GIVE BIRTH, AND A TIME TO DIE; a time to plant, and a time to uproot what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build up “ etc.}}

We know that everything is in God’s hands and for the Christian, there is nothing that can touch us without the operation of His permissive will. That includes our birth and our death (if the Rapture is delayed still). The preacher in Ecclesiastes knew that all these facts operated in God’s timeframe.

I want to take you to a most assuring passage in Revelation. {{Revelation 1:17-18 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as a dead man, and He laid His right hand upon me saying, “Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last, and the living One, and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I HAVE THE KEYS OF DEATH AND OF HADES.”}}. This is the picture of the old time doorkeeper to a castle or large house. He held all the keys on a large circle and if you wanted entry to a place he would open and shut the door for you.

The Lord Jesus is our Doorkeeper who holds all the keys in His hand. Your key is there as well as mine. He has our whole life in His hands. {{Psalm 31:14-15 but as for me, I trust in You, O LORD. I say, “You are my God.” MY TIMES ARE IN YOUR HAND. Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me.”}}. I just want to concentrate on the words I have put in capital letters. David knew this truth that his/our times are in the Lord’s hand. That is fixed and unbreakable, for in God’s timing, it is known from eternity.

Therefore the Doorkeeper has the keys, ALL OF THEM in His safe keeping, and not until He fits your key into the door of heaven, does He want you there. When He inserts the key, then His call has come to you for the promised joys of His direct presence – {{1 Corinthians 2:9-10 but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.” To us God revealed them through the Spirit, for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.}}

Be comforted because God lets nothing come to you He does not know about. Even when a Christian is outside the will of God because he is worldly or has fallen into sin, even then that one is not outside God’s control. He knows all about it. Of course the Holy Spirit works in you for repentance and restoration.

[2]. I AM LOSING ALL MY FRIENDS

I am 81 years old and have been very active all my life in sport – cricket, tennis, now lawn bowls. Until 80 I was fit but now the problem of age is catching up. I think some of the readers can identify with that. Friendships can go back a long way so any severing of them is very sad.

My friends are both Christians and unbelievers. When the unsaved die it is a very sad event. At the Bowls Club many are around my age, and they do NOT want to hear anything about this religious stuff. Some people like to tell you they are not religious. Unfortunately, the word “religious” indicates ritual and adherence, not a living faith. When those pass from this earth they are in a bad place. It is not pleasant to think about it.

In am losing my Christian friends. I have found that when you get older you become more isolated from people, even your close friends. Distance and being able to get around are problems as well as individuals having to be more concerned about their health and welfare and where they might have to live – all those things.

Last year I lost a wonderful friend who was 7 weeks older than me, and his wife has only a few months to go. They were firm Christians and I will not forget the fun we had in 2013 on a return cruise from Sydney to Hawaii. Earlier this year a dear, but private lady, died suddenly. She was one of about 8 in my bible study and I think it turned out she had cancer but told no one. Suddenly she was gone. We are a very close group doing more serious biblical exposition, and we are so sad at that. If anything causes sadness in older life, it is the passing of friends.