TIME AND FRESH STARTS
-Introduction
-1 Cor 14:33
-immediate context: order & organization in the assembly - proper use of miraculous
gifts
-Yet, we can see a principle here that applies in a broad sense to all that God does.
-Laws of nature - example of gravity - provides order and organization
-consider this: What if gravity was inconsistent? What if it was like a light switch? -
sometimes on and sometimes off? Such would cause utter chaos.
-What if you were driving down the road when gravity switched off? Then, what
about when it switched back on?
-Genesis 1 - God’s creative activity - organized and orderly
-Striking contrast to the false teaching of evolution - long, random and chaotic
process of dead ends, wrong turns, mutations, etc.
-Yet, in Genesis 1, we find another source of order and organization - Gen 1:14 - time.
-Time - Order and Organization
-Can you imagine the world without the concept of time?
-The word “when” would be a irrelevant term. Can you imagine the English language
without the word “when?” It would be hard to accomplish just about anything.
-We base most of everything we do on time, do we not? (When do Bible classes begin?
How long do they last? What time does the worship service begin? What time do you
go to work? How many hours do you work?...etc...
-Without the concept of time, everything would be utterly & completely chaotic.
-Therefore, God - an eternal being - instituted time.
-He placed it within His creation.
-Now, He didn’t put a Timex on Adam’s wrist. But, the components for time were
within the creation.
-day - The amount of time it takes the Earth to complete a rotation on its axis.
-year - 365 ¼ days - The amount of time it takes the Earth to complete its orbit.
-week - 7 days - Why 7 days? - Ex 20:8-11
-These are universal standards that go all the way back to God’s creation in Gen 1.
-I would love to hear an evolutionist try to explain the origination of time standards.
-Time and New Beginnings
-The divisions of time serve a wonderful purpose of providing new beginnings.
-We might not necessarily like a really good day coming to an end. Yet, isn’t great
that bad days have an ending point?
-Each day provides an opportunity for a new beginning. Such could be applied to
weeks, months and years as well.
-This makes me think of the stock market. There are times when it is up and times when
it is down.
-Overall, with its ups and downs along the way, it progresses over time.
-In life, there are many ups and downs.
-Now, we usually don’t enjoy those downs, but they do make us stronger.
-Rom 5:3-4
-Yet, in those difficult times, we look forward to a new beginning, don’t we?
-Yet, when the stock market stays up for a prolonged time, it seems that people
become complacent, start taking things for granted and make some foolish decisions.
-If everything was always easy and pleasant, I’m afraid we would have a tendency
to do the same thing. So, in good times, we must still remember to properly
prepare for the future - spiritually.
-So, appreciate the good times. Don’t take things for granted. Be thankful and
continue to prepare appropriately.
-In difficult times, let’s do the best we can. Press forward and persevere. Look forward
to a new beginning when the opportunity rises.
-In our good times, remember those who are suffering through difficult times. Be there
for them. Support them and lend them a helping hand.
-The year 2007 is now at our doorstep. For some of you, you’ve probably enjoyed 2006
and hate to see it end. For others, 2006 has been a year of difficulty - whether health
struggles, tragedy &/or loss. For you, you’re probably looking forward to a new
beginning with 2007.
-God’s Offer of a New Beginning Spiritually
-There’s something very important to remember - God always offers a new beginning
spiritually.
-Such is available through Jesus: Col 3:5-10; Rom 12:1-2; Eph 4:22-24
-We can be given a fresh start - a new day spiritually - a new beginning.
-This initially comes through obedience to the Gospel:
-Believe (John 3:16, 8:24), Confess (Matt 10:32, Rom 10:9-10), Repent (Luke 13:3,5;
Acts 17:30), Be Baptized (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38).
-Yet, a new beginning remains available for God’s children. If we stray away, we can
return to God with a renewed focus and a new beginning through confessing our
shortcomings, repenting of them and praying for God’s forgiveness (1 John 1:7-9, Acts
8:22-24).
-What about you this morning? Are you in need of a new beginning, spiritually?
Date: Dec 31, 2006