February 9, 2003
Morning Service
Text: Ecclesiastes 3:9-15
Subject: The Work of the Lord
Title: Photography 101: Where is Your Focus
I used to consider myself a camera buff. I have a Pentax P-3 camera body with a nice Tokina 28-70 lens. That means that you can take pictures at a wide angle or you can zoom in to get a close up of your subject. One thing about manual focus cameras that I really like is that you are not tied down to look at things from only one perspective. As I said, you can zoom in and take pictures of far away objects or you can get a wide - angle shot. You can also slow down the shutter speed so you can take pictures without a flash. It allows more light to come in so you do not have to use a flash. You also have the ability to focus on one particular object by setting your f-stop at a lower number, in the case of my camera you can set the f- stop on 22 and get a clear picture of every object in the picture, from the very closest object to the one farthest away. Quite unlike the human eye. Try it. Hold your hand up in front of your face and focus on it. Everything else beyond your hand looks fuzzy doesn’t it?
Often our vision of God’s reality is more like the human eye than a camera. We tend to be able to focus on only one thing at a time. God’s word repeatedly tells us that we are to look at the total picture in an effort to try to gain an understanding of what God is doing in our lives, in the church, and in the world from an eternal viewpoint.
When we go to the eye doctor we go through many tests, but the ultimate goal is to improve our vision. When the lens prescription is at its best we can read the bottom line on the card. God is calling us today to stop reading the easy line on the card and to begin moving our f-stop to a higher number. He wants His people to see clearly both what He is doing now, and the big picture as it relates to distant events.
Today we want to look at three areas of our spiritual focus.
One: We need to focus on the present.
Two: We must begin to see the big picture.
Three: We can set our sights on eternity.
Today let’s see if we can improve our spiritual eyesight and read the bottom line.
I. We must focus on the present. (Verses 9-11a)
What profit has a worker from that in which he labors?
There two kinds of workers. Those who work for God and those who work for the devil. That’s a fact of life.
We know we are called to work. In Genesis 3 labor becomes toil because of the fall of man. It is part of the curse. God created man to be stewards of the earth.
That would require work but it was not intended to be a burden. Since the seed of Adam inherits the curse of the fall mankind struggles in its work. Perhaps you have seen the bumper sticker that says, I owe, I owe, so off to work I go. For a vast portion of the workforce, that’s the best reason they can muster for going to the job each day. According to one poll, only 43 percent of American office workers are satisfied with their jobs. In Japan, the figure dips to 17 percent. In the first century, Christian slaves had even less reason to be enthusiastic about their work. But Paul gave them a way to grasp a glimpse of glory amid the grind. He wanted them to "adorn the doctrine of God," that is, to show the beauty of their faith in Christ by how they work (Ti. 2:10). A significant and often overlooked way that we serve God is in our everyday tasks. Martin Luther understood this when he wrote, "The maid who sweeps her kitchen is doing the will of God just as much as the monk who prays -- not because she may sing a Christian hymn as she sweeps but because God loves clean floors. The Christian shoemaker does his Christian duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes, but by making good shoes, because God is interested in good craftsmanship." (Our Daily Bread, Sept. 94) Those who work for God go through their lives without complaining. Paul wrote to the Philippian church, "Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world." (Philippians 2:14-15)
As we go through our everyday lives we must remember that as Christians, we are representatives of the kingdom. We RE - PRESENT Christ to people we are around. If they know you are a Christian they are watching. If they can’t tell you are a Christian by your actions then you need to stop and evaluate your life. I have worked with men who claimed to be Christians, but to look at the way they carry themselves, their habits, their language and general topic of conversation, you have to wonder. I’m not judging - simply making an observation. Verse 10 says these jobs we are in are GOD GIVEN TASKS!
1 Corinthians 10:31, "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
Colossians 3:17, "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." As we accept the work God has given us, we can look at them differently than the world does. To the world, everyday life may be drudgery. To the Christian it is an adventure. He has made everything beautiful in its time. If we can look at life in that perspective, from God’s viewpoint, we realize that in whatever situation we find ourselves, we can rest assured that God will use us there until He opens the door for us to be in another place. You have heard me say from this pulpit that we intend to retire here - we are here to stay. That is Pastor Mike speaking - that is my heart. But if God chooses to call us somewhere else five years from now, I will accept it and move on. I don’t see it happening, but if it does I will rejoice and consider it a beautiful thing, because God has ordained it. When you can get to the point where you understand why you are where you are then we can move on.
II. Set the F-stop higher - ask what is next!
He has put eternity in our hearts. (Verse 11b) We have an inherent sense of eternity. I suppose that nearly every person ever born has asked the question, what is next? God has placed in our hearts the understanding that this is not all there is. Many people have come to the conclusion, through the hardening of their hearts, that when you are dead you are dead forever.
Is it any wonder why the world is turning to evil sources (drugs, alcohol, sex, power) looking for what Christians find in the gift of eternal life?
We cannot fully understand eternity because we are finite beings saved by an infinite God. Our understanding is limited at this present time. That will change. Paul wrote, "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then, face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I am also known." (1 Corinthians 13:12) For our eternal well being, doing good and rejoicing in it should be our priority.
If you know that you are in God’s will you can enjoy today as a preparatory step for the future. If you think life is good now just wait. "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us by His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God." We do not know all the details concerning eternal life, but we know everything we need to know. God has revealed them to us. Accept the gifts and enjoy. Enjoy the fruit of your labor. Let’s relate that to spiritual labor. Spiritual labor doesn’t bring eternal life - but it does bring eternal rewards. So the things we do today, we do them because we love the Lord and know that they play a part in eternity. Remember the classic Ray Boltz song, Thank You? The man went to heaven and saw the young man whom he led to Jesus in Sunday School. And the man who was saved through the efforts of a missionary because this man gave his money. And then the long lines of people who were somehow touched by his generosity.We can enjoy our earthly life - eating and drinking. It is just the tip of the iceberg of blessing that waits for us. Understand today’s events with tomorrow in focus.
Galatians 6:9, "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."
III. Focus on eternity.
On my camera lens there is a focus ring. You turn it to focus on things that are varied in their distance from you. With this particular lens you can focus clearly on things that are as close as nine inches away. Or you can begin to turn the ring and focus clearly on different distances - 3 feet, 4 feet, 6 feet, 10 feet, 20 feet - then after that there is a symbol that looks like the number 8 turned on its side. That is the infinity symbol. From that point on the focus is the same. Verse 14 says, "I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken from it." Every work you do in the power of the Spirit has eternal implications. See, if you are truly operating in the power of God’s Spirit, you can speak power into the lives of others. It is not your power, but it is your action. Paul wrote in Colossians 1:24, "I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church." The work done on the cross was complete in its eternal purpose, but is lacking because Jesus Christ was taken away. He has given us The Holy Spirit to fill up what is lacking. I believe that means that there is eternal work to be done today.
Sharing the gospel.
Building the church.
Watching God confirm His word with mighty signs and wonders.
Whatever God does is forever. His creation exists so man would seek Him. He sent His Son so man could know Him. He died on a cross so man could come to him.
He rose from the dead so man can live with Him.
That which is has already been. And what is to be has already been.
God has ordained the steps of the righteous (redeemed) man.
He has paved the way to have the future now - but not yet. We have eternity, but not all of it.
God requires an account of what is passed. Those who try to change - add to or take away from - what God has done will be called to account. The gospel message, with the focus on the present, future, and eternity is as unchanging as the God who gave His Son to redeem us.
Conclusion:
Architect Frank Lloyd Wright once told of an incident that may have seemed insignificant at the time, but had a profound influence on the rest of his life. The winter he was 9, he went walking across a snow-covered field with his reserved, no-nonsense uncle. As the two of them reached the far end of the field, his uncle stopped him. He pointed out his own tracks in the snow, straight and true as an arrow’s flight, and then young Frank’s tracks meandering all over the field.
"Notice how your tracks wander aimlessly from the fence to the cattle to the woods and back again," his uncle said. "And see how my tracks aim directly to my goal. There is an important lesson in that."
Years later the world-famous architect liked to tell how this experience had greatly contributed to his philosophy in life. "I determined right then," he’d say with a twinkle in his eye, "not to miss most things in life, as my uncle had." Focus on the Family letter, September 1992, Page 14.
As Christians are we to miss out on the good things of life? I answer an emphatic NO! We just redefine what those good things are. And we live in the good life with a focus on those we might touch in the process and with a focus on what lies in store for us.
Enjoy life and smile and say cheese. God is focusing on you right now.
