There are basic lessons of life that we need to be reminded of each day. n There are times like...

There are basic lessons of life that we need to be reminded of each day.

There are times like those we have experienced in the last week that remind us so well of the brevity of life. (Psa 90:12)


Psalms 90:12 “so teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.”


While the pain of these events is evident, it is far better to be reminded of this truth than to live life as if we will never die! (Ecc 7:1-2)


Ecclesiastes 7: 1-2 - A good name is better than precious ointment, And the day of death than the day of one’s birth; 2 Better to go to the house of mourning Than to go to the house of feasting, For that is the end of all men; And the living will take it to heart.


Ecclesiastes 7:4-6 - The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, But the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. 5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise Than for a man to hear the song of fools. 6 For like the crackling of thorns under a pot, So is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.


The truth is that most people in this world are running from facing the undeniable fact of their upcoming death!


The worst deception we can experience is self-deception. (Jas 4:13-17)


James 4:13-17 - Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”


16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.


How many of us are as this businessman, taking care of business and ignoring the Lord’s business?

The house of mourning teaches us about priorities.

The conversion process causes us to look to the final end of things and order our lives! (Rom 13:11-14)


Romans 13:11-14 - And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.


We make provisions for our faith and deny provisions for our flesh. Is that your priority?


We make provisions for our faith and deny provisions for our flesh. Is that your priority?

We are equipping our selves in God’s word. (2 Tim 2:15)


2 Timothy 2:15 - Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.


How have you viewed these assemblies? What will you take home?


How have you viewed these assemblies? What will you take home?

We will not walk in the commonly accepted practices of the world. (Rom 13:13)


Romans 13:13 - Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.


“not in revelry and drunkenness” - The modern social drink will be avoided.


“not in revelry and drunkenness” - The modern social drink will be avoided.

“not in lewdness and lust” – We will not look at the things the world does.


“not in strife and envy” – We will not put ourselves as the first priority, others come first.


The Lord becomes the center of our lives. (Rom 13:14; Col 3:1-4)


Romans 13:14 - But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.


Colossians 3:1-4 - If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.


When we see the end of all things we know what has real value and what does not. (2 Pt 3:10-11)


2 Peter 3:10-11 - But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,


What if we saw the physical things as God does? (1 Tim 4:8)


1 Timothy 4:8 - For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.


What does an over-emphasis on things do to our faith? (1 Tim 6:6-10)


1 Timothy 6:6-10 - Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.


10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.


The reason many churches have those who are carnal and complainers is that their hearts have been focus upon the temporary and not upon the Lord’s work.


An understanding of these things will let us take losses gracefully. (1 Cor 7:29-31)


1 Corinthians 7:29-31 - But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, 30 those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, 31and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away.


What are your priorities? Be honest!

The house of mourning can give us great comfort.

This comfort can only come to those who have hope in Christ. (Rom 8:18)


Romans 8:18 - For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.


Hope is a strong term. It expresses the confident expectation of God to fulfill what He has promised. (Tit 1:2)


Titus 1:2 - in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,


It is encouraging to know that the difficulties of this life will last for a short time. (Heb 10:36-38)


Hebrews 10:36-38 - For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: 37 “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”


“I never knew what joy was until I gave up pursuing happiness, or cared to live until I chose to die. For these two discoveries I am beholden to Jesus.”


It comforts us concerning the things that will really last. (Mt 6:19-21)


Matthew 6:19-21 - “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.


There is nothing of a material nature in this life that is sure. Some are in misery over the fear of losing that which one day they will inevitably lose.


There is nothing of a material nature in this life that is sure. Some are in misery over the fear of losing that which one day they will inevitably lose.

The losses that might destroy another can be overcome by the Christian. (Heb 10:32-34)


Hebrews 10:32-34 - But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: 33 partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated;


34 for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.


“He who does not fear death has no fear of threats.”


“He who does not fear death has no fear of threats.”

What in this life really upsets you? ..makes you happy?


It comforts me because I know that God is with me. (2 Tim 4:6-8, 16-17)


2 Timothy 4:6-8 - For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.


2 Timothy 4:16-17 - At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. 17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.


What makes our death bearable? We know that we will not be alone.


Consider the hymn “Be with Me Lord.”

The house of mourning makes me urgent.

I cannot look at life or people in the same way. (Acts 17:16-17)


Acts 17:16-17 - Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols. 17 Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there.


Many look at people as the world does. To these “Christians” the gospel gets in the way of their values.


Many look at people as the world does. To these “Christians” the gospel gets in the way of their values.

The first order of business is salvation and the work of the Lord. (2 Cor 6:1-2)


2 Corinthians 6:1-2 - We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.


“Death has an amazing power of altering what a man desires because death profoundly affects his outlook.”



I will be urgent in dealing with my sins.



I will be urgent in dealing with my sins. I will be urgent in becoming a Christian.

(Acts 2:37)


Acts 2:37 - Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”


I will be urgent in repenting as a Christian. (Acts 8:21-24)


Acts 8:21-24 - You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”


24 Then Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.”


“Every man must do two things alone; he must do his own believing and his own dying.”


“Every man must do two things alone; he must do his own believing and his own dying.”

What is one thinking about when he is not urgent?


I will be urgent in teaching others and in being taught. (Mt 9:35-37)


Matthew 9:35-37 - Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.


37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.


Too many look at growth in a world way by glorying in numbers.


Too many look at growth in a world way by glorying in numbers.

Others are not urgent in repentance and in fact despise rebuke. (1 Tim 4:1-2; 2 Tim 4:3-4)


1 Timothy 4:1-2 - Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,


2 Timothy 4:3-4 - For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.


“Death cancels everything but truth.”


“Death cancels everything but truth.” I will live and teach God’s way to my

family.


Are we being honest with ourselves?


Are we being honest with ourselves? Will we sleep with the world?

(1 Thess 5:1-6)


1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 - But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.


4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.


“I have talked to doctors and nurses who have held the hands of dying people, and they say that there is as much difference between the death of a Christian and a non-Christian as there is between heaven and hell.”


Will these events of this week wake us up to action or will we roll back over and go to sleep?

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