What Matters Most Sermon Vi: When Christ Shall Come Series

PROMISE FULFILLED: WHEN CHRIST SHALL COME . . . WHAT JOY SHALL FILL OUR HEARTS!

In The Chronicles of Narnia, a series of seven children’s books by British theologian C. S. Lewis, the hero is a Lion named King Aslan who represents Jesus Christ. Quite naturally, the children are drawn to the Lion but, at the same time, they’re afraid of him. After all, he is a lion . . . Early in the story, one of the children asks, “Is he safe?” and receives this reply: “Oh no, he’s not safe, but He’s good.”

In a sense, God is like a Lion - fearfully awesome, majestic, King of kings - but He is good! Declares Solomon, “Fear God (revere His majesty, respect His sovereignty) and keep His commands.” (E12:13) God is a good “Lion” - not seeking whom he may devour as does Satan, but - desiring the best life possible for His children.

“Uppermost in the Minds of Mature Children of God Is What Matters Most” – the thesis with which we began our study of the Book of Ecclesiastes; and now that we have wrestled with Solomon’s role as a “Devil’s Advocate”, after having suffered ups and downs in his life, trying to make sense of what life is all about, we come to his conclusion of the matter: God is awesome and to be feared, but God is awfully good to those who keep His commands!

To reverence and respect the Lord our God – who is above all, yet in “all that is good”, working for the good of all who trust Him - is to love Him and serve Him – inasmuch as we, like Solomon, have learned a lesson: Apart from God, we fall short of discovering life’s real meaning. For a season, yes, we may feel satisfied, but for eternity?

Not without a personal relationship with God’s victorious Lion of Judah Christ the Lord.

Thus, our search has brought us to the entrance into the fullness of that joy that has occupied our hearts since Jesus came into our hearts – “when Christ our Lord shall present us before our Father’s glorious visible presence with Great Joy”! (Jude 24)

In a world seemingly discontent with just about everything and everybody, true contentment is yours and mine because of our personal relationship with the Lion of Judah – the Messiah - God’s Son - our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Folks, in old age, contentment is a virtue for which to be truly thankful!

Most of us have been through a lot (“through many dangers, toils and snares we have already come”) but we have matured to the point at which we realize that God may not be through with us yet. On the other hand, we realize that our time may be imminent - but that too is in God’s hands.

In the meantime, my impression is that most of us have learned, as did Paul, in whatsoever state (condition, situation) we find ourselves, therein to be content.

Now, as we move toward full contentment when Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation, to take us Home, what Joy shall fill our hearts - let us rejoice in our longevity as did Solomon - Ecclesiastes 11:7-10 . . .

As a youngster, Solomon was taught God’s requirement of obedience, but he thought he knew better - so he tried any and everything “under the sun”.

However, soon and very soon he discovered that “the grass may indeed look greener on the other side of the fence”, but it is poisonous. Finally, it dawned on him that God put the fence there in order to protect His children!

His parents and his priests knew what they were talking about when they taught him that God’s way is the best way to find fulfillment.

By the time Solomon came to the “home stretch” of his journey, he realized life is fragile . . . does not last forever . . . can be broken at any moment.

So, as we continue through daily routines . . . participate as best we can . . . wake up mornings, pleased to see the sun and, on cloudy days, pleased that “back of the clouds the sun is always shining” – remember your Creator.

As he wrote, Solomon was well aware how the human body deteriorates as we get older . . . Yet, in and through it all, remember your Creator.

Wonderfully you were made and wonderfully you will be remade! When you get down on yourself . . . with all your aches and pains . . . you might want to look up and say to God: “I’m sorry, I forgot You made me.”

Folks: With God on your side, how can you lose? With God, there is no such thing as “unfinished business”. Jesus our Lord: “Behold, I make all things new!”