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Unfinished Life Building

“We are all Builders”

   We may not build any houses, or even Temples on a City street for human eyes to see, but everyone of us builds a fabric which God and His Angels see … Life is building … it rises slowly, day by day, down through the years. Every new life lesson is another brick, laid down with all the others. Every experience, every touch of another’s life on our, every influence that impresses us, every book we read, it’s every conversation we have, it’s every act of commonest days, adds something to the ‘invisible’ building. Not forgetting that sorrow too, has it’s place in preparing the stones to put life wall on, when in fact ‘ALL’ life furnishes the material for our builds.

#Our Today’s and yesterdays, are the blocks with which we build#

   There are many noble fabrics of Character reared in this World. But there are also many who would only low mean huts, void of beauty, which will be swept away in the testing fires of Judgment .. Malachi 3:2 “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire ” … there are many for whose life’s-work presents the spectacle of an unfinished building. These might have been a beautiful plans begin with, and work was promising for a time, but sadly work after a while was abandoned and just left standing with walls half built, a useless fragment of what it should have been, open and exposed to the elements, just an inglorious ruin telling no story. A moment of folly & failure, God sees them how we don’t. The highest tower may be more unfinished than the lowest to Him.

   We must try and forget that last sentence. There are lives which to our eyes only seem to have began, onlt to be abandoned, which to God’s eyes are still rising into more and more graceful beauty. Here is one who began His life’s work with all the ardour of youth and all the enthusiasm of a consecrated spirit. For a time his habd never tired, his energy never slackened , so much so friends expected great things from him …

# Then tragedy struck, his health gave way #

… the diligent hand lay folded now on his breast. His once enthusiasm no longer drives him, his work now lays unfinished, truly what a shame.

    But wait, he has not left an unfinished life’s-work as God sees it, he is resting in submission at the Masters feet, and is growing mean while as a Christian. The spiritual in his soul is rising slowly in the silence. Everyday is adding something to the beauty of his Character as he learns the lessons of patience, confidence; Joy; Love. His building at last will be more beautiful than if he had been permitted to toil on through many busy years, carrying out his plans. Instead he is fulfilling out God’s plans for his life.

NB: We must not measure Spiritual building by Earthly standards.

   There are too many life-buildings whose story tells only of shame and failure. Many people begin to follow Christ, and after a while turn away from their profession, thus leave only a pretentious ruin, to be laughed at by the World, and dishonour the Masters name.
Romans 1:24 “Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonour their bodies among themselves, “
   A large percentage of time that leads to many that just give up, this is down to ‘discouragement’. In one of Wordsworth poems, it tells of a pathetic story a struggling heap of unhewn stones ..
* Meaning of ‘unhewn’ .. not given a finished form .. or ..
.. Rough or unpolished
… the beginning of a sheepfold which was unfinished, with his wife and son (Michael), a highland shepherd dwelt for many years in peace. But trouble came which made it necessary that the Son should go away to do for himself for a while. After a period of time good reports came for him, but by and by (a while later) however sad news reached him, in the great dissolute city that he had given himself to evil courses. Such shame fell upon him that he was driven to seek a hiding place beyond the sea. The sad news broke his old fathers heart. He went (at least he tried) about as before, simply caring for his sheep ...

Tis believed by all.

That many and many a day he thither went,

and never lifted up a stone.

There by the sheep fold, sometime he was seen,

sitting alone, with his faithful dog,

then old, beside him lying at his feet,

the length of seven full years from time,

to him, he at the building of his

sheep fold wrought, and left the work

unfinished when he died.

… years after the sheep fold was gone, the the remains of the unfinished fold were still there, a sad memorial of one began to build but did not finish. As deep sorrow broke his heart, and hence his hand slackened.

   All too often noble ‘Life-buildings’ are abandoned in time of sorrow, the hands that were once quick and skilful, are now over come with grief, now hang down low. Instead however, if teaching us to give up our work, and falter in our diligence, it should inspire us to yet greater earnestness in all duty fidelity in all life.

   Want of faith is another cause which lead many to abandon their ‘Life-Temples’ unfinished. Throngs followed Christ in the earlier days of His ministry when all seemed bright. Who when they saw the shadow of the cross, who then turned their backs and walked no more with Him, as they felt they had lost their faith, in Him. It is startling to read how near the ‘Apostles’ came to leaving their ‘Life-Buildings’ in Him unfinished. Had not their Faith come again after Christ arose, (as He had said many times), they would have left in this World only sad memorials of failure, instead of glorious finished temples. In these days there are too many abandoning of their work on the wall of the temple of Christian discipleships, which they had begun to build. Who does not know, of someone, who were once earnest & enthusiastic in Christian life there was but little opposition, but who fainted & failed when it became a little hard to confess Christ and walk with Him?

Luke 24:6&7 “He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again”

   Sin in some form draws many a builder away from his work, to leave unfinished, see if you know someone who fit the description below …

• It might be the Worlds fascination that lures them from Christ’s side ..
• It might be the sinful human companionships that lure him away from loyal friendship to His Saviour ..
• It might be riches that enter his heart and blind his eyes to the attractions of Heaven ..
• It might be some secret lust that gains power over him, and paralyses his Spiritual life ..

… many of these are among the Worlds throng, who once sat at the Lords table, and were among God’s people. Unfinished ‘Life’s-buildings’, there are towers begun with great enthusiasm and then left to tell sad stories to all who pass by. They begun to build and were not able to finish.

2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”

   Life is not a sprint, it’s a marathon, a very long hard, arduous and dangerous. It’s dad to think how much of this unfinished work Gods Angels see when looking down upon Earth. Think of all the good beginnings which come to anything in the end. I wonder how many people of have started a course at some University, to either take a ‘gap-year’, or just suddenly change subjects, to the opposite to their original studies .. like Lawyer to Veterinarian? It really happens more than you would think. The ‘noble-life-plans’ entered upon by so many young people with ardent enthusiasm, but all too easily give up. Think of all the beautiful visions and fair hopes which might have been made splendid realities, but which just fade out, leaving no record of effort.

Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us“

   The business World is also littered with builds many had begun to build, as quickly they begun they were gone. These too might have set out with good intentions & much enthusiasm, but tired at length with the toil, or grew disheartened at the slow comings of success, and thus abandoned their ideal when it was ready to be realised. Many homes present the spectacle of thousands of abandoned dreams of love. If you scratch the surface you’ll see more than you can count. For a time the beautiful vision shone, and two hearts sought to make it come true, and then gave it all up in despair .

Ecclesiastes 9:11 “The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favour to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all”

   Life everywhere is full of beginnings never carried onto completion. But alas, the Visions, the Hope, the Purpose, the Resolves, never grew into more than just beginnings. Gods Angels would bend down upon the great wilderness of abandoned, unfinished fabrics, bright possibilities unfinished, noble-might-have-bins, abandoned, ghostly ruins now, just sad memorials of only failure.

   What is the lesson from all this, is may be, that we should allow nothing to draws us away from our duty, that we should never weary of following Christ, that we should hold fast to the beginning of our confidence, steadfast unto the end ...
Isaiah 5:27 “ No one will be weary or stumble among them, No one will slumber or sleep”
… we should not falter under any circumstance, not in the face of danger, before any demand of cost or sacrifice, there is .. NO Discontentment .. NO Sorrow .. NO Worldly attractions .. NO Hardships should weaken for one moment, or termination to be faithful unto death. NO one has begun to build for Christ should have an unfinished, abandoned ‘life’s-work’ to grieve the heart of the Lord, they were gone. The lesson we should take from this is that we need to finish our work, and never grow weary, that we should not let anything draw us away, from our duty.

   We should never grow weary at following Christ Jesus, that we should hold fast to the beginning of our confidence, being steadfast to the end. We should not falter any burdens, in the face of any dangers, before any sorrow, no Worldly attractions .. .No hardship should weaken for one moment our destination to be fulfilled unto death. No one who began to build for Christ, should leave an unfinished abandoned life’s-work to grieve the heart of the Master and to be sneered at as a reproach to the name He bears.

   Yet we must remember, or we are discouraged, or our work is marred and imperfect. For it is only in Christ, and so co-workers with Him, that anything we do can never be made perfect and beautiful. The weakest and humblest of who are simply faithful will stand at last complete in Him. Even merest fragment of life, as it appears in man’s eyes, if it is truly in Christ and filled with His love & spirit, will appear finished, when presented before Hid divine presence. To do God’s will, what ever that may be, to fill out His plan, is it to be complete in Christ, but the stay on Earth be but for a day, and though the work done fill no great Human plan and leave no brilliant record among men.

Romans 3:21 & 24 “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no Life is not a sprint difference; … 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus”


Prayer :- Lord Jesus thank you for your word, which is a lamp unto our feet. May you give us the strength to walk & work with you to build a legacy that reflects your hand and influence upon our lives. In Jesus Christ's name, Amen.

Whist I was waiting...3

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Whist I was waiting

Psalm 40 1~5

“. .I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps.  He has put a new song in my mouth— Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord. Blessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust, and does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works Which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us Cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered. .”

   Sadly, all to often we hear, ‘Your God must be very cruel, to this person suffer this way’. I would then say, may be it is because, our Lord almighty has a reason for keeping disabled/ill. It may not be the answer they are looking for, but the best I can say at that moment. There is no one answer, let alone God’s reasoning.

   This conversation far more than you would think/like. I actually have a confession, I do have to wonder myself from time to time, and more so when our Heavenly Almighty Father is not forth coming to help comfort with a reply.

   In life it seems that we are always waiting, waiting for that special person to come along, waiting for that perfect job to come along, or to tell you are hired.

      Why is it that we always to be waiting these days? Waiting for that special person to come along, waiting for the perfect job. When waiting always feel like an eternity, (as the saying goes ‘ a watched kettle never boils). Often whilst waiting that eternity feelings often lead to being impatient, and these feeling are left unchecked then they will lead to us being out of control with anger/frustration. Also if these feeling are unchecked then welcome to insomnia.

   We all are waiting for something, today what are you waiting for? Might it be. . .

o   Something exciting may be, like the birth of you baby

o   It could be those all important test results

   I know some of you don’t want to praise our Lord Jesus, as you can’t see what to be joyful about, and just don’t feel like being joyful, because you think you have nothing to be joyful about. OK then, let’s say anticipating that holiday you paid for since last year. Give praise for the job you have, as it has given you the means to pay for your holiday, as there are many people can’t afford to.

   There are many things to give praise for, green lights – that make your journey easy and swift: your partner give you a kiss and wishing you a good day, are you now thinking of other things to give thanks & praise for?

   On the other hand you could be waiting upon those exam results? May be it’s waiting for your partner to come along* for you to share your life with. Now is the time to praise the Lord.

 

(* For those of you that don’t know how I got to meet my wife, one day soon I will share my testimony with you)

Psalm 27 : 13 & 14  “. . I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord! .”

I heard a prayer recently that went something like this. .

It is hard to wait Lord, sometimes waiting  takes a big toll on me, and in the midst of waiting  and yearning, I forget to praise you, help me to remember you whether I’m waiting for something good or something potentially painful. Teach me patience and the gift of resting in your goodness; also help me fix my eyes always on you.

   I’m sure that discouragement does not discriminate, it does not matter which Country you come from, even though some seem to suffer more than other. For when evening falls across the land and a hush comes over the night. You’re getting ready for bed, we all have our rituals we go through each night, like wash your face & clean your teeth; letting the dog out; making sure all the doors and windows are locked (such is the world we live in); alarms are armed.

   Discouragement comes in many guises, it may be a family feud that been going on for years, or a physical ailment (of which I bear witness to some in my own family down the years), or maybe it can be a career path that has left you somewhat down and deflated. Maybe you discouragement comes from a recent that has also left you somewhat down and deflated.

   Oh dear, we have all felt discouragement at one time or another. The Question now is what are going to do with it? It’s all too easy to wallow in the discouragement and turn your face away from hope. That sort of apathy is not of the Lords thinking. However it plays/delivers you right into the devils hands, of which the devil is now laughing as now all your attention is on him, instead of on our Saviour. So instead of worrying on things we need not…..

Psalm 31 : 9/10  “. .Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in 

trouble; My eye wastes away with grief, Yes, my soul and 

my  body! For my life is spent with grief. .”

   I know many of have felt this way, with some of you going through these, even right now. If you are, before we go any further, stand up (no I mean it this will only work if you participate), now shake your arms, go on; now shake your legs; now give your body a good shake. OK, now sit down again and continue reading. Having shaken off that old feeling, now it’s time for a new attitude. I want you to now stand again (please bear with me), and read the following out loud….

Psalm 31; 14/17  “But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord;
I say, “You are my God.”  My times are in Your hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, And from those who persecute me. Make Your face shine upon your servant; Save me for Your mercies’ sake. Do not let me be ashamed, O Lord, for I have called

upon You;

   Our enemies want us to give up the good fight, and look down cast all our days to come. The devil is sleeked, and wants nothing more than for us trip up, and lying face down in the dirt. He will use every trick up his sleeve to keep us there. It’s time to put on those work boots on, because no matter how discouraged we may feel there is always hope for a better and brighter tomorrow.

   In Romans 5:5 …it clearly says that this hope does not disappoint us. God’s love has already been poured out into our hearts….    

   “. .Now hope does not disappoint, because the

Love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the

Holy Spirit who was given to us. .”

   You may not feel a lot of love right now. You not even see victory ahead of you, may not even be sure what you can do to change things, or may not even have things planned out either, yet. You may not know what can be done to change things around. The thing is YOU don’t need things all figured out yet. Just lean on the One who is the writer of your unique life’s story. Our Lord will use ‘all-this-disappointment’ you’re feeling, and turn it all around for the good. Always remember when you’re down, the good times are just around the corner.

   When hope is in your heart and the unfailing love of God on your side, you can overcome every obstacle in your path, as God is with you were ever you go.

   I read this next segment that brings this short sermon to a conclusion …..

“You may be feeling an over whelming sense 

of God’s hope permeating in your spirit 

tonight. As you approach  the Lords throne, 

you may See God for He is

 - King over your life – and worship Him in

 gladness for is doing good work in you”