Gtcotr/ss080308
I heard a story once about a man and his friend who were walking along the seashore the morning after a storm. They saw thousands of starfish washed upon the beach left there by the receding tide. Soon the sun would rise and scorch the starfish, dry them out and left there they would all die. It seems terrible, but it’s life.
As they walked along one of the men stooped and picked up a starfish and threw it into the sea. Then he continued starfish after starfish, picking them up and throwing them back out into the water. Soon he seemed almost obsessed with the activity. His friend watched for a while before becoming annoyed and finally he commented.
“There are too many starfish here … you’re not going make a difference.”
The friend replied as he picked up another and threw one more starfish out into the sea to safety, “Tell that to this one.”
You see:
A single raindrop raises the sea.
You may not notice it but God does and so do those who have been waiting for it, those who would die without it!
Today we are going to talk about three great truths of life. Before we get to the first great truth we are going to read from the last page of the bible, Revelation 22.
Revelation 22 NKJV
13 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last."
14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.
Now for the three great truths of life …
1. The Circle of Life
* Things begin and things end
* God casts Himself as beginning and end – both are God!
* Life is a series of beginnings and endings
* It seems when we finally arrive at one destination it is
but the departure point for our next adventure
>Birth, Puberty; Marriage; Career; Child Raising; Retirement Death … life is a series of beginnings, endings and then new beg
> This is God’s design.
> We can begin a new chapter in life at any point.
* Things begin and things end and we are designed to take advantage of both, to make the most out of every opportunity.
2. The Cycle of Life
* Between each beginning and ending there will be ups and downs, mountains and valleys, successes and failures.
Remember Point #441 - Failure is not defeat!
And Point #248 - The enemies of life cannot defeat you by conquest but only by consent. (Just never give them your consent!)
2 Corinthians 4 NKJV
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
* There will be:
> Good times and bad times
> Glad times and sad times
> Times of increase and times of decrease
> Temptations to be impressed & depressed
John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
Psalms 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.
3. The Secret of Life
* The secret of life is giving
* God so loved the world that He gave … (John 3:16)
* Giving of:
> Yourself to God
> Yourself to others
> Your stuff for others
* What you do with what you have makes a difference.
Just like one drop of water raises the sea and each life saved means everything to the one who is saved, whatever you do, small or great, makes a difference in the life of that one you touch.
There are only two great commandments upon which the whole Word of God stands. Jesus said that if we will live these two commandments the whole will and plan of God will be fulfilled. (Matthew 22:37-40)
* The First Commandment:
Love God more than we do ourselves.
* The Second Commandment:
Love others as much as we do ourselves.
John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
As we build and live our lives we must prepare ourselves and others to embrace the circle of life, to endure the cycles of life and to enjoy the secret of life. So, make a living, make a life, and make a difference … one step, one act, one day at a time.
