Past, Present and Future. Our God offers us priceless wisdom concerning time. To understand time is to understand life! (Ecc 8:5-6)To understand time.

Past, Present and FuturePast, Present and Future

Our God offers us priceless wisdom Our God offers us priceless wisdom concerning time.concerning time.

• To understand time is to understand life! To understand time is to understand life! (Ecc 8:5-6)(Ecc 8:5-6)


• Ecclesiastes 8:5-6Ecclesiastes 8:5-6 - He who keeps his - He who keeps his command will experience nothing harmful; command will experience nothing harmful; And And a wise man's heart discerns both time a wise man's heart discerns both time and judgmentand judgment, 6 Because for every matter , 6 Because for every matter there is a time and judgment, Though the there is a time and judgment, Though the misery of man increases greatly.misery of man increases greatly.


• Real wisdom comes when we clearly see Real wisdom comes when we clearly see that without God we cannot understand! that without God we cannot understand!

• What seems certain and reasonable to us What seems certain and reasonable to us concerning a future outcome often is concerning a future outcome often is wrong. wrong. (Ecc 9:11)(Ecc 9:11)


• Ecclesiastes 9:11Ecclesiastes 9:11 - I returned and saw - I returned and saw under the sun that -- The race under the sun that -- The race is is not to the not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them allBut time and chance happen to them all..


• How then can we have any assurance How then can we have any assurance about the next hour, day or year?about the next hour, day or year?

• We are greatly limited by our short life and We are greatly limited by our short life and experiences.experiences.

• Consider the differences between myself Consider the differences between myself (1954) and my father (1918).(1954) and my father (1918).


• ““U. S. statistics for 1904: The average life U. S. statistics for 1904: The average life expectancy in the US was 47. Only 14% of expectancy in the US was 47. Only 14% of the homes in the US had a bathtub. Only 8% the homes in the US had a bathtub. Only 8% of the homes had a telephone. There were of the homes had a telephone. There were only 8,000 cars in the US and only 144 miles only 8,000 cars in the US and only 144 miles of paved roads. The maximum speed limit in of paved roads. The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph. Alabama, most cities was 10 mph. Alabama, Mississippi, Iowa, and Tennessee were each Mississippi, Iowa, and Tennessee were each more heavily populated than California. more heavily populated than California.


• The average wage in the US was The average wage in the US was $0.22/hour. More than 95% of all births in $0.22/hour. More than 95% of all births in the US took place at home. 90% of all US the US took place at home. 90% of all US physicians had no college education. Most physicians had no college education. Most women only washed their hair once a women only washed their hair once a month and used borax or egg. There were month and used borax or egg. There were only about 230 reported murders in the only about 230 reported murders in the entire US.” entire US.”


• While we cannot know, God does! While we cannot know, God does! (Ps 37:18-20)(Ps 37:18-20)


• Psalm 37:18-20Psalm 37:18-20 - - The LORD knows the The LORD knows the days of the uprightdays of the upright, And their inheritance , And their inheritance shall be forever. 19 shall be forever. 19 They shall not be They shall not be ashamed in the evil timeashamed in the evil time, And in the days , And in the days of famine of famine they shall be satisfiedthey shall be satisfied. 20 But . 20 But the wicked shall perish; And the enemies the wicked shall perish; And the enemies of the LORD, Like the splendor of the of the LORD, Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away.shall vanish away.

How Should We View the Past?How Should We View the Past?

• If we know God we look at the past with If we know God we look at the past with great gratitude for God’s grace. great gratitude for God’s grace. (Eph 2:11-13)(Eph 2:11-13)


• Ephesians 2:11-13Ephesians 2:11-13 - - Therefore rememberTherefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh -- who that you, once Gentiles in the flesh -- who are called Uncircumcision by what is are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands -- 12 that at that time you were by hands -- 12 that at that time you were without Christwithout Christ, being aliens from the , being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and commonwealth of Israel and strangers strangers from the covenants of promisefrom the covenants of promise, , having no having no hope and without God in the worldhope and without God in the world. .


• 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have were far off have been brought near by the been brought near by the blood of Christblood of Christ..


• We, of all people, can see the We, of all people, can see the hopelessness of living without God.hopelessness of living without God.

• We should look on our past like Israel did We should look on our past like Israel did their slavery in Egypt.their slavery in Egypt.

• As the Israelites observed the Passover As the Israelites observed the Passover and remembered, so should we and remembered, so should we completely identify our past with the completely identify our past with the deliverance in the cross of Christ!deliverance in the cross of Christ!


• How we view the past will determine how How we view the past will determine how we view ourselves.we view ourselves.

• The power of conversion and forgiveness The power of conversion and forgiveness as a true foundation of our lives gives us a as a true foundation of our lives gives us a power and a confidence to live. power and a confidence to live. (1 Tim 1:12-15)(1 Tim 1:12-15)


• 1 Timothy 1:12-151 Timothy 1:12-15 - And I thank Christ - And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting because He counted me faithful, putting me me into the ministry, 13 although into the ministry, 13 although I wasI was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; an insolent man; but I obtained mercybut I obtained mercy because I did because I did it it ignorantly in unbelief. ignorantly in unbelief.


• 14 And 14 And the grace of our Lord was the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundantexceedingly abundant, with faith and love , with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 15 This which are in Christ Jesus. 15 This is is a a faithful saying and worthy of all faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, the world to save sinners, of whom I am of whom I am chiefchief..


• Here is where many struggle. Their Here is where many struggle. Their conversion does not release them from the conversion does not release them from the past. This is a battle we must win. past. This is a battle we must win.

• Consider the OT character Shimei, of the Consider the OT character Shimei, of the house of King Saul.house of King Saul.

• This man identified himself with his family This man identified himself with his family and all views they held.and all views they held.


• While David was a faithful servant of Saul, While David was a faithful servant of Saul, Saul slandered and attacked David and Saul slandered and attacked David and expected everyone to line up with the expected everyone to line up with the king’s “reality.” king’s “reality.” (1 Sam 22:8)(1 Sam 22:8)


• 1 Samuel 22:81 Samuel 22:8 - " - "All of you have All of you have conspired against meconspired against me, and , and there is there is no one no one who reveals to me that my son has made who reveals to me that my son has made a covenant with the son of Jesse; and a covenant with the son of Jesse; and there is there is not one of you who is sorry for me not one of you who is sorry for me or reveals to me that my son has stirred up or reveals to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as my servant against me, to lie in wait, as it it is is this day."this day."


• Saul’s son, Jonathan, trusted God and Saul’s son, Jonathan, trusted God and would not accept a false report. would not accept a false report. (Prov 18:17)(Prov 18:17)


• Proverbs 18:17Proverbs 18:17 - The first - The first one one to plead to plead his cause his cause seems seems right, right, Until his neighbor Until his neighbor comes and examines himcomes and examines him..


• 20 Years after Saul’s death, Shimei shows 20 Years after Saul’s death, Shimei shows his heart to everyone. How sad for a man his heart to everyone. How sad for a man to let his past mold him this way! to let his past mold him this way! (2 Sam 16:7-8, 13)(2 Sam 16:7-8, 13)


• 2 Samuel 16:7-82 Samuel 16:7-8 7 Also Shimei said thus 7 Also Shimei said thus when he cursed: "Come out! Come out! when he cursed: "Come out! Come out! You bloodthirsty man, you rogue! 8 "You bloodthirsty man, you rogue! 8 "The The LORD has brought upon you all the blood LORD has brought upon you all the blood of the house of Saulof the house of Saul, in whose place you , in whose place you have reigned; and the LORD has delivered have reigned; and the LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now son. So now you you are caught are caught in your own in your own evilevil, because you are a bloodthirsty man!", because you are a bloodthirsty man!"


• A bitter past brings a depressed and angry A bitter past brings a depressed and angry life.life.

How Should we View the Present?How Should we View the Present?

• Our present should be determined by Our present should be determined by God’s presence. God’s presence. (Heb 13:5-6)(Heb 13:5-6)


• Hebrews 13:5-6Hebrews 13:5-6 - - Let your Let your conduct conduct be be without covetousness; without covetousness; be be content with content with such things as you have. For such things as you have. For He HimselfHe Himself has said, "has said, "I will never leave you nor I will never leave you nor forsake youforsake you." 6 So we may boldly say: ." 6 So we may boldly say: ""The LORD The LORD is is my helper; I will not fearmy helper; I will not fear. . What can man do to me?"What can man do to me?"


• How do we begin each day? At any given How do we begin each day? At any given time how do we view reality?time how do we view reality?

• It is a great comfort to know of the “eyes of It is a great comfort to know of the “eyes of the Lord.” the Lord.” (1 Pt 3:12)(1 Pt 3:12)


• 1 Peter 3:121 Peter 3:12 - For - For the eyes of the LORD the eyes of the LORD are are on the righteouson the righteous, And His ears , And His ears are are open open to their prayers; But the face of the to their prayers; But the face of the LORD LORD is is against those who do evil."against those who do evil."


• Here is where great comfort and courage Here is where great comfort and courage is found. What if this thought frightens is found. What if this thought frightens you? you? (Prov 28:1)(Prov 28:1)


• Proverbs 28:1Proverbs 28:1 - - The wicked flee when no The wicked flee when no one pursuesone pursues, But the righteous are bold as , But the righteous are bold as a liona lion


• Consider how God’s presence influenced Consider how God’s presence influenced Joshua. Joshua. (Josh 1:5; 3:7)(Josh 1:5; 3:7)


• Joshua 1:5Joshua 1:5 - "No man shall - "No man shall be able to be able to stand before you all the days of your life; stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, as I was with Moses, so so I will be with youI will be with you. I . I will not leave you nor forsake you.will not leave you nor forsake you.


• Joshua 3:7Joshua 3:7 - And the LORD said to - And the LORD said to Joshua, "This day I will begin to exalt you Joshua, "This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, know that, as I was with Moses, so so I will I will be with yoube with you..


• The man of faith will walk a very different The man of faith will walk a very different path from the world.path from the world.

• We will have great battles just like Joshua. We will have great battles just like Joshua. We must know where we stand with God!We must know where we stand with God!

• The greatest moment of terror for Joshua The greatest moment of terror for Joshua came in the defeat at Ai. came in the defeat at Ai. (Joshua 7:6-8)(Joshua 7:6-8)


• Joshua 7:6-8Joshua 7:6-8 - Then Joshua tore his clothes, - Then Joshua tore his clothes, and and fell to the earth on his facefell to the earth on his face before the ark before the ark of the LORD until evening, he and the elders of the LORD until evening, he and the elders of Israel; and of Israel; and they put dust on their headsthey put dust on their heads. 7 . 7 And Joshua said, "Alas, Lord GOD, why have And Joshua said, "Alas, Lord GOD, why have You brought this people over the Jordan at all You brought this people over the Jordan at all -- to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, -- to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? Oh, that we had been content, to destroy us? Oh, that we had been content, and dwelt on the other side of the Jordan!and dwelt on the other side of the Jordan!


• 8 "O Lord, what shall I say when Israel 8 "O Lord, what shall I say when Israel turns its back before its enemies?turns its back before its enemies?


• We are an actual temple of God!We are an actual temple of God!

• How can the Holy Spirit dwell in us? Do How can the Holy Spirit dwell in us? Do you realize what that means? you realize what that means? (1 Cor 6:18-20)(1 Cor 6:18-20)


• 1 Corinthians 6:18-201 Corinthians 6:18-20 - Flee sexual - Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19 Or immorality sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that do you not know that your body is the temple your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit of the Holy Spirit who is who is in youin you, whom you , whom you have from God, and you are not your own? have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.which are God's.


• This truth helps me to know the protection This truth helps me to know the protection and care of God. and care of God. (1 Cor 10:13; Psa 121:4-8)(1 Cor 10:13; Psa 121:4-8)


• 1 Corinthians 10:131 Corinthians 10:13 - No temptation has - No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common overtaken you except such as is common to man; but to man; but God God is is faithfulfaithful, who , who will not will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you allow you to be tempted beyond what you are ableare able, but with the temptation will also , but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear able to bear it.it.


• Psalm 121:4-8Psalm 121:4-8 - Behold, He who keeps - Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleepneither slumber nor sleep. 5 . 5 The The LORD LORD is is your keeperyour keeper; The LORD ; The LORD is is your your shade shade at your right handat your right hand. 6 The sun shall not . 6 The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. 7 strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. 7 The LORD The LORD shall preserve you from all evilshall preserve you from all evil; ; He shall He shall preserve your soulpreserve your soul. 8 The LORD . 8 The LORD shall shall preserve your going out and your preserve your going out and your coming incoming in From From this time forth, and even this time forth, and even forevermoreforevermore..

How Should We View the Future?How Should We View the Future?

• Our future must be completely identified Our future must be completely identified with God’s kingdom. with God’s kingdom. (Phil 2:16-17)(Phil 2:16-17)


• Philippians 2:16-17Philippians 2:16-17 - holding fast the - holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. 17 Yes, and if labored in vain. 17 Yes, and if I am being I am being poured out poured out as a drink offeringas a drink offering on on the the sacrifice and service of your faithsacrifice and service of your faith, I am , I am glad and rejoice with you all.glad and rejoice with you all.


• It is a life of great fulfillment when we see It is a life of great fulfillment when we see our work impacting eternity.our work impacting eternity.

• Paul’s sacrifice for the Philippians had the Paul’s sacrifice for the Philippians had the entrance into heaven as the focus. entrance into heaven as the focus. (Phil 2:14-16)(Phil 2:14-16)


• Philippians 2:14-16Philippians 2:14-16 - - Do all things without Do all things without complaining and disputingcomplaining and disputing, 15 that you , 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christthat I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.have not run in vain or labored in vain.


• I want my loved ones crossing the finish I want my loved ones crossing the finish line of heaven!line of heaven!

• We should never find ourselves in the We should never find ourselves in the realm of the mummers. What are we realm of the mummers. What are we looking at that is making us miserable? looking at that is making us miserable? Politics? Other’s faults? Politics? Other’s faults?

• We should be the most optimistic and We should be the most optimistic and joyful people on earth. joyful people on earth. (Phil 4:4-7)(Phil 4:4-7)


• Philippians 4:4-7Philippians 4:4-7 - - Rejoice in the Lord Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoicealways. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your ! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, which surpasses all understanding, will guard will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesusyour hearts and minds through Christ Jesus..


• The battle is completely fought within our The battle is completely fought within our own minds. own minds.

• When we view everything in light of When we view everything in light of eternity then it changes the importance of eternity then it changes the importance of everything. everything. (Rom 8:18; 2 Cor 4:17-18)(Rom 8:18; 2 Cor 4:17-18)


• Romans 8:18Romans 8:18 - For I consider that the - For I consider that the sufferings of this present time sufferings of this present time are not are not worthy worthy to be comparedto be compared with the glory with the glory which shall be revealed in us.which shall be revealed in us.


• 2 Corinthians 4:17-182 Corinthians 4:17-18 - For our - For our light light afflictionaffliction, which , which is but for a momentis but for a moment, is , is working for us working for us a far more exceeding a far more exceeding and and eternal weight of gloryeternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not , 18 while we do not look at look at the things which are seenthe things which are seen, but at , but at the things which are not seenthe things which are not seen. For the . For the things which are seen things which are seen are are temporarytemporary, but , but the things which the things which are not seen are not seen are are eternaleternal..


• What will the next year bring? We do not What will the next year bring? We do not know except that we can be confident that know except that we can be confident that it will be for the glory of God!it will be for the glory of God!

• Do we have the faith to let God open Do we have the faith to let God open doors of opportunity for us?doors of opportunity for us?

• What would your loved ones say about the What would your loved ones say about the driving purpose of your life? driving purpose of your life? (Phil 3:13-14)(Phil 3:13-14)


• Philippians 3:13-14Philippians 3:13-14 - Brethren, I do not - Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but count myself to have apprehended; but one thing one thing I doI do, , forgetting those things forgetting those things which are behindwhich are behind and and reaching forward to reaching forward to those things which are aheadthose things which are ahead, 14 I press , 14 I press toward toward the goal for the prize of the upward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesuscall of God in Christ Jesus..

Past, Present and Future. Our God offers us priceless wisdom concerning time. To understand time is to understand life! (Ecc 8:5-6)To understand time.

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