The End of the Matter - a podcast by Lewis Marsh

Life Under the Sun

Part 12: The End of the Matter

By Louie Marsh, 11-13-2022

 

 

1) SERVE GOD  while you can.

 

“1Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”;” (Ecclesiastes 12:1, ESV)

 

George Gallup has pointed out that if you were born in 1900 you would barely outlive your midlife crises - the average lifespan then was 47 years old! The father born in 1940 found the odds against his making it to retirement as the average life span was 63 years of age. But if you were born in 1980 you can expect to live until you are 73 years of age

 

“35So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.” (John 12:35, ESV)

 

2) GET READY to deal with the challenges of aging.

 

“2before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, 3in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, 4and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low— 5they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets—” (Ecclesiastes 12:2–5, ESV)

 

It will be too late then to remember him, when the light of the sun and moon and stars is dim to your old eyes, and there is no silver lining left among the clouds. Your limbs will tremble with age, and your strong legs will grow weak. Your teeth will be too few to do their work, and you will be blind, too. And when your teeth are gone, keep your lips tightly closed when you eat! Even the chirping of birds will wake you up. But you yourself will be deaf and tuneless, with a quavering voice. You will be afraid of heights and of falling, white-haired and withered, dragging along without any sexual desire. You will be standing at death's door. And as you near your everlasting home, the mourners will walk along the streets. Eccl. 12:2-5 (NLT)

 

TRADITIONAL FEELINGS AMONG THE AGED:

• Uselessness
• Feelings of guilt and regret

 

Sometimes

By Thomas S. Jones Jr.

 

Across the fields of yesterday

He sometimes comes to me

The little lad just back from play

The boy I used to be.

 

He smiles at me so wistfully

When once he’s crept within

It is as though he had hoped to see

The man I might have been

 

• Bitterness and resentment
• Self-pity
• Fear

 

3) REJOICE that God is waiting for you.

 

“6before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, 7and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.” (Ecclesiastes 12:6–7, ESV)

 

How To Establish A Spiritual B.A.S.I.S. for Living

 

B = Believe Jesus died on the Cross for me and showed He was God by coming back to life again.

A = Accept Christ as Lord of My life and His free forgiveness of my sins.

S = Switch to God’s Plan for my life.

 

I = Inform others of your decision.

 

S = Submerge yourself in Christ.

 

4) CAREFULLY PREPARE to share what you’ve learned.

 

“9Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. 10The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth.” (Ecclesiastes 12:9–10, ESV)

 

5) Don’t ever quit LEARNING.

 

“11The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. 12My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.” (Ecclesiastes 12:11–12, ESV)

 

• Choose what you read & watch & hear

 

It’s okay to read some junk, just make sure that’s not all you read/see/take in

 

6) THE BOTTOM LINE:

 

“13The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13–14, ESV)

 

• Take God SERIOUSLY!
• OBEY Him!
• Remember you are ACCOUNTABLE to God.

 

 

 

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