{"id":2181,"date":"2019-07-28T15:30:39","date_gmt":"2019-07-28T15:30:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/allthecounselofgod.com\/?p=2181"},"modified":"2019-07-28T15:30:39","modified_gmt":"2019-07-28T15:30:39","slug":"what-is-your-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allthecounselofgod.com\/index.php\/2019\/07\/28\/what-is-your-life\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Your Life?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Text<\/strong>:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Job 9:25-26.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aim<\/strong>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to the wisdom of soul winning, to teaching others God\u2019s word, and living like Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introduction<\/strong>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bible compares our life to many things. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So that we may realize how short our life is, and how important it is for us to number our days (ie: to plan our life) so that we have the maximum impact on the world for Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In order to show us how short our life is, God compares our life to several things:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.\u00a0 A Vapour<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See James 4:14<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All our plans depend on our life continuing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what a frail and uncertain thing our life is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who can build any solid plans on the permanence of a vapour or a mist?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A vapour is a mist that is dissipated by the rising sun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cO remember that my life is wind\u2026.As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so is he that goeth down to the grave.\u201d Job 7:7,9<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor he remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.\u201dPs.78:39<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Notice that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1) A vapour or wind passes away quickly, so does the life of man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2) As we cannot stop a cloud or wind, so we cannot hinder the speedy motion of our days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3) As a cloud comes to its height and then vanishes, so does our life and our full strength.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.\u00a0 A Flower<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See Job 14:1-2<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

See 1 Peter 1:24-25<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Man\u2019s life is compared to a fading flower. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many things describe a flower such as having sweet smell, beauty, variety of colour, and softness to touch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Job discusses none of these, but only of its cutting down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note the following truths about it\u2019s cutting down:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

a)A flower is often cut down or cropped in it\u2019s budding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many people are cut off in the flower of life by i) Natural death by sickness, or ii) Accidental death by violence, murder, road accidents etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

b) A flower if not cut off, soon withers away and is gone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cQueen of the Night\u201d flower blooms in one night, gives a beautiful fragrance, and is dead and withered by morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

c) As the owner of flowers knows best when to crop then, so God knows the best time when to crop off or take away by death any of his choice flowers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3.\u00a0 A Swift Post<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See Job 9:25<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

a) As a postman rides swiftly, in a hurry, so man\u2019s life passes away swiftly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

b) A postman of years ago would<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 ride on the swiftest of horses,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 he would change horses at every stage to keep up the speed,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 he would take a morsel of food at each stop, then speed on,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 he would only go to bed at the end of his journey,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 all people would give way to the post rider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4.\u00a0 A Swift Ship<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey are passed away as the swift ships.\u201d Job 9:26<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watching a ship at sea, we notice how it passes very quickly, reminding us of our lives & opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5.\u00a0 An Eagle<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs the eagle that hasteth to the prey.\u201d Job 9:26<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An eagle is a very swiftly flying bird, but when it hastens to catch its prey, it makes the greatest speed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The life of man is compared to an eagle hurrying to catch her prey when hunger adds swiftness to her wings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So it is with swiftness that our days pass away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What have you done for Christ with your life?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6.\u00a0 A Weaver\u2019s Shuttle<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy days are swifter than a weaver\u2019s shuttle.\u201d Job 7:6<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

a) A weaver\u2019s shuttle is an instrument of very swift motion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

b) When the weaver has finished his web, he cuts off the thread.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So it is that when a man has run the length of his days appointed by God, his life is cut off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7.\u00a0 A Shadow<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.\u201d Job 14:2<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

David said: \u201cour days on the earth are as a shadow and there is none abiding.\u201d I Chronicles 29:15<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Man\u2019s life today is short compared to human lifespan before Noah\u2019s flood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Man\u2019s life is much shorter compared to God\u2019s eternity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a great motive for us to redeem our time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

a) Our days on earth are few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

b) Our days on earth are uncertain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

c) The shortness of our life shows the folly of living only for material things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As did the rich man in Luke 12:16-21 \u2013 Read.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The word of God tells us <\/strong>\u201cThe fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others. Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue forever\u2026This their way is their folly.\u201d Psalm 49:10,11,13.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

d) Our minds must be focused on eternity \u201cknowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and enduring substance.\u201d Hebrews 10:34<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

e) The shortness of life motivates us to use all our labours <\/p>\n\n\n\n

to get people to heaven, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

to teach the Bible, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

to plant churches, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

to train preachers, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

be at peace among ourselves, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

and live holy lives pleasing to God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let us be \u201credeeming the time, because the days are evil.\u201d Ephesians 5:16<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Redeem the time\u201d means \u201cto buy it up, rescue it from loss, improve every opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/body>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"