Job 14 v 1 - 15 14 If a man die, shall he live again?
I. THE PASSING OF LIFE
Job 14:1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. Life Is :-
A. Like a Flower of the grass 2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down:
B. Like the Fragrance of the air 2 he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.
C. Like the Flame of a candle Prov 24:20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
Life speeds by.
1. Cute Childhood 2. Tormented Teens 3. Thrilled Twenties 4. Thrifty Thirties
5. Fat Forties 6. Failing Fifties 7. Silver Sixties 8. Sick Seventies 9. Ailing Eighties
10. Numb Nineties
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.
II. THE PROBLEMS OF LIFE
Job 14:1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
A. Man has Supply problems - making a living Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
B. Man has Sickness problems - 2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down:
C. Man has Social problems - getting along with others
1. Relationships 2. Companionship 3. Marriage 4. Wars
But primarily,
D. Man has a SIN problem ... Genesis 18:20 And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;
Isa 30:1 Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:
James 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
III. THE POLLUTION OF LIFE
Job 14:4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.
A. Man has a polluted Heritage - Rom. 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
B. Man has a polluted Heart - Jer. 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
C. Man has polluted Habits - Isaiah 1:6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. (Judah)
IV. THE PUZZLE OF LIFE
14:10 But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? 14:14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.
A. What is the Purpose Of Life? Why am I here?
Eccl. 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. The Westminster Shorter Catechism
Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.
Q. 2. What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him?
A. The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.
Q. 3. What do the Scriptures principally teach?
A. The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.
B. What is the Prospect For Life? Where am I going? 14:10 But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?
Passing onward, quickly passing, But I ask thee, "Whither bound?
Is it to the many mansions, Where eternal rest is found?
Passing onward, passing onward, Tell me, sinner, whither bound?"
Passing onward, quickly passing; Naught the wheels of time can stay;
Sweet the tho't that some are going, To the realms of perfect day,
Passing onward, passing onward, Christ their leader, Christ their way.
Passing onward, quickly passing, Many on the downward road;
Careless of their souls immortal, Heeding not the call of God,
Passing onward, passing onward, Trample on the Saviour's blood.
C. What is the Path In Life? How do I get to where I want to go?
... hope, ... heaven, ... happiness
John 14:5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
V. THE PROMISE OF LIFE
14 all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.
John 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
Jesus provides Life:
A. As a Possession in the soul - John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
B. As a Pleasure beyond earthly pleasure - "more abundantly" - John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
C. As a Perfected body in the resurrection - 1 Jn. 3:2 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Job 19:25-26 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
