Good morning and welcome in everyone. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.
During this time of year, I tend to get woken up by something that sounds like a canon from an old sailing ship. It’s deer season, and many people climb up into their hunting stands before the crack of dawn, waiting to get their venison for the winter. Just as fishing for bass, or shooting a pheasant, there is a certain season in which you can hunt deer, and then all the hunters will go back home. All of the four-wheelers will be packed up, the rifles will be cleaned, oiled, and put away till next season, and before you know it, it’s all over.
This reminds me of the Christian life
The beloved Apostle James teaches that our life is like a vapor, like a hunter who sees his breath on a cold morning, but then it’s gone. There is a certain amount of time, a season if you will, that God has granted unto each of us. You have a season to decide what you are going to do with your life. You have to decide If you’re gonna chase after the things of this world, or the things of God. It all comes down to what is in your iron sights.
Hebrews 11:24-26 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
Some people in this world only desire to possess an expensive home, a brand-new truck, or an expensive recreational vehicle, some of which could feed a poor family for a few years. Others desire to be wealthy, so that they can spend their money on the pleasures of this world. Think about all of the money and the possessions that Moses would have had, but he turned away them all. He understood that our lives are but a season, and we must choose to serve God or the pleasures of sin. With the wisdom God gave unto Him, he chose wisely.
Each of us are here upon the Earth for a certain period of time, but then it will be all over. It all depends on what you are going to use your time for. Moses chose to take the season of life that God had given unto him, and build his relationship with his creator. Deer season is only for a certain amount of time. Our lives are only for a certain season too. Instead of choosing to live his life for himself, he took the time that he had been given, to seek after God.
Matthew 19:16-30 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
Those who seek after earthly riches and possessions, are blinded by covetness and greed. In that state, their hearts are not focused on God, it’s focused on obtaining the things of this world, which causes unfruitfulness.
Matthew 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
Some people actually believe that the more possessions that you have, the more godly you are. These are people that you need to steer clear from, because they don’t worship God, they worship money.
1 Timothy 6:5-10 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Judas betrayed Jesus because of money. Sometimes a wife will divorce a husband for the same reason.
Luke 12:13-31 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Many people in this world are seeking after all types of different things, but in the end, the only thing that is going to matter is a saving relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. What are you searching after? What are you pursuing? What is the main target that you are aiming towards? Think about that, the next time that you line up…….
…….The Iron Sights
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.
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