Forever Moments
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8; Matthew 6:19-21; First Timothy 2:3-4
The title of my message this morning is “Forever Moments.” This message was inspired by a message that my brother delivered at his church on last Sunday.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 records the following: “(1) To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. (2) A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted. (3) A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up. (4) A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. (5) A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing. (6) A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away. (7) A time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak. (8) A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”
This morning I will be utilizing some props to help you visualize what the message is saying. Let me explain the props that you see on this table. First there are bookends. For today’s message, one bookend represents the day we were born and the second bookend represents the day we die. Solomon said “(1) To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. (2) A time to be born, and a time to die….” This is what the bookends represent. Now the space in between the bookends represents the life we lived between the time we are born and the time we die. Again, when you consider what Solomon said, there is a time for everything that we experience in this life. We experience seasons in life that are defined by certain experiences that we are having or that are similar to an experience we have had in the past. Solomon said that there is a purpose for our time – our time here on earth right now, not in the future, but right now – under the heaven. Finally the books you see will represent moments and experiences (the time) that we have while we are on earth. As I go through this message this morning you will see me move books between the bookends to represent certain moments and experiences typical of a life lived here on earth.
I want you to think about the title of this message – “Forever Moments.” This title, on the surface, does not make sense simply because of the definition of the two words. The word “forever” in the Encarta dictionary is defined as, “for all future time.” In other words, it will not stop or cease to be. The Encarta dictionary defines “moment” as, “a very short interval of time.” Now if one is defined as non-ending and the other is finite, meaning it has a beginning and an end, how can “forever moments” exist? “Forever Moments” are possible because the editors of the Encarta dictionary, and probably all of the other dictionaries, didn’t remember or know what Jesus said in Matthew 19:26 – “…with God all things are possible.” Let me show you why this is possible with God. Turn with me to Matthew 6:19-21. It reads, “(19) Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust does corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. (20) But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust does corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. (21) For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Jesus said that we are to lay up or put in store for ourselves treasures in heaven? The treasures we lay up or put in store on the earth will decay over time and are subject to being taken away from us by others. Also, when we die, all of the treasures we have stored here on earth remains behind. We cannot take it with us. We leave it here. First Timothy 6:7 says, “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” So everything that we treasure and store up on the earth remains behind for others to enjoy when we leave here. Jesus said that we should store up treasures in heaven where it does not decay and where others cannot steal from us. Now this is what I want you to consider. How do we store up treasures in heaven? Through the experiences we have here on earth. You see, some of our moments here on earth are forever moments while others are not.
How many of you have a bucket list? Do you know that most people have a bucket list going all the way to when they were a child and have had dreams about things they wanted to do when they grew up? A bucket list is simply a number of experiences or achievements that a person hopes to have or accomplish during their lifetime. What are some of the things people put on their bucket list? Well, some people want to travel to all seven continents on the earth. Some people want to achieve a certain level on their job. Others desire to achieve a certain amount in their bank accounts before they retire. Still others want to collect things that are important to them. Everything that I have just stated that people have on their bucket lists are representative of “moments”, but not “forever moments.” You see, whenever you talk to someone about their bucket list oftentimes there is nothing spiritual about or on it. Their list contains nothing that will last after they leave here. Their list contains nothing that will follow them to glory. Do you see where I am going? So let me ask you this question, how many of you have on your bucket list to save as much as you can so someone else can spend and enjoy it? Do you know that many people do just this because they cannot imagine letting go of their “treasure”? I am not saying that you should not have a bucket list as you go through life, but I am saying that your bucket list should contain “treasures” that you are laying up in heaven and not just the “treasure” you have here on earth.
So, do you have a bucket list? Would you be surprised if I told you that I believe that on the day you were conceived in your mother’s womb, God established His bucket list for you? I believe God has a bucket list for Rodney that is specific to me and one with your names on it that is specific to each one of you. And, as I shared with you last Sunday, the way we find out what is on that list is to come into agreement with Him (walk with Him) and spend quality time with Him. That being said, I want to share a few things that I believe is shared on everyone’s bucket list that God has established. I say this because First Timothy 2:3-4 says, “(3) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; (4) Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” When a person is born the first thing that I believe is on the top of everyone’s bucket list that God has established is that we accept His Son as Lord and Savior and be saved. Paul told Timothy that God wants all us to be saved. This was confirmed in the Old Testament when God told Ezekiel to write, “…..I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live…..” (Ezekiel 33:11) So the first thing listed on God’s bucket list for us is that we would be saved. Let’s look at what is recorded in Matthew 4:4.
Matthew 4:4 says, “But he answered and said, ‘It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’” You recall the story of when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by Satan? Jesus had fasted forty days and forty nights and at the end of His fast Satan appeared. The first thing he tempted Jesus with was to prove that He was the Son of God by turning stones into bread. Jesus had nothing to prove to Satan so He told him that it was written that, “…..man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” I believe another item that God has on His bucket list for us is that we would choose to live on His word! That we would believe that His word would be as important and nutritious to us spiritually as natural food is for our mortal bodies. Have you ever thought about why the Children of Israel as a whole is not listed in Hebrews chapter eleven – the hall of faith? When God brought them out of Egypt, whenever they were hungry or thirsty they complained. It wasn’t enough that God was speaking to them through Moses and that He had delivered them. No when they were hungry or thirsty they complained and made threats constantly. Why? Because, during those moments, their desire for food was more important to them than a desire for the word of God. And that, my friends, is why Moses was not allowed to take them into the Promised Land. Their complaining made him disobey God. Let’s look at the next item that is on God’s bucket list for us. Turn to Ephesians 5:1-2.
Ephesians 5:1-2 says, “(1) Be you therefore followers of God, as dear children. (2) And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and has given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling fragrance.” The next thing on God’s bucket list for us is that we would follow in His footstep – we would be followers of Him as evident by how we walk in love. There are many parents who understand this statement. They are proud parents who might have a child that is following in their footsteps – whether it’s to attend a certain college or career choice. When a child does this, they are told that they are following in their parents’ footsteps. God wants us to follow Him. There are only two choices available as it relates to leaders and followers. God is the One and only that will lead to a life full of love and happiness when we leave this world. God wants us to be saved; live by His word; and follow Him. Look at Philippians 4:6.
Because we are saved, living by His word and following Him, the next things that God has on His bucket list for us is to “Be anxious for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” (Philippians 4:6) God does not want us to be anxious or worried about anything. He wants us to be totally dependent upon Him – this is how we live by His word and follow Him. Turn to First John 4:4. We discussed this two weeks ago in bible study.
First John 4:4 says, “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.” Another thing God has on His bucket list for us is that we would be overcomers. Why does God expect us to be overcomers? Because we are covered by the blood of Jesus and “….because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.” We have a Helper that is available to us to enable us to be overcomers! There is one last Scripture I want to call out demonstrating something that is on all of our bucket lists. It’s found in Romans 8:35-37. Before we turn there I want you to know that this specific Scripture helps us understand why some of our moments are forever moments.
Romans 8:35-37 says, “(35) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (36) As it is written, ‘For your sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. (37) Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Here it is again, the statement saying we are conquerors. Paul writes here that we are more than conquerors and that is saying something! But what I want to call out to you is what he said before that. He said that nothing, not even death (the sword), can separate us from the love of Christ.
I want you to take a look at these bookends and these books. Remember, the bookends represent our birth and death and the space between the bookends represents our time here on earth. The space between the bookends consists of moments of time – some moments are temporary and some moments are forever. When you think of your bucket list, you probably have a lot of temporary moments on it, but because you are here and you also have some forever moments from God’s bucket list for you represented in your life. Every passing of a minute can be a minute represented by a forever moment or a minute wasted with something unproductive. I want you to see this. Here are books representing moments of time in our lives. Maybe your bucket list included you traveling overseas and you completed it. I place your moment between the bookends of your life. Maybe your bucket list included you purchasing a new car that is somewhat expensive. I place your moment between the bookends of your life. Maybe your bucket list contained you getting married and having children and you accomplished that. I place your moment between the bookends of your life.
But you are also sitting here. You have accepted Christ as your personal Savior so I place this moment between the bookends of your life. Because you accepted Christ, you also witnessed to others who accepted Christ. I place those moments between the bookends of your life. You visited the hospital and prayed for the sick to be healed. I place those moments between the bookends of your life. You spent time teaching others about Christ. I place those moments between the bookends of your life. You led praise and worship so I place those moments between the bookends of your life. As you look at this row of moments between the bookends of life, you have moments that are temporary and you have moments that are forever. Now I want you to see what happens when we die and leave this world.
Jesus said, “(19) Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust does corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. (20) But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust does corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. (21) For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” The treasures that you laid up in heaven are taken from your moments between the bookends of your life. When you accepted Christ as your personal Savior it will follow you from your bookends of your life. When you witnessed to others who accepted Christ, it will follow you from your bookends of life. When you visited the hospital and prayed for the sick to be healed it will follow you from your bookends of life. When you spent time teaching others about Christ, it will follow you from your bookends of life. When you led praise and worship, those too will follow you from your bookends of life.
Now do you understand? Your forever moments, from you accepting Christ as Lord and Savior to everything you did for Christ once you were saved will follow you from your bookends of life. However, everything else that you might have treasured or accomplished on earth will remain behind. You cannot take any of those things with you and they will not matter in heaven. There is one additional point I want to make before I close. Remember all of your moments of sin? You know why those moments did not appear between the bookends of your life? It’s because when you accepted Christ your history was wiped clean. And every time you sinned and truly repented, it was cleansed again. Praise God!
What is on your bucket list? Does your list only include temporary moments or are you seeking our forever moments? Are you focusing on your bucket list only, or are you seeking out what God has on His list for you? When you get to heaven, what forever moments will greet you there?
Until next time, “The Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up His countenance on you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
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