Living in Light of Eternity: Trusting God's Timing
Summary
### Summary
Welcome, everyone. Today, we continue our series called "The Search," focusing on Ecclesiastes chapter 3. This book is challenging to understand, so I ask for your grace as we delve into it. Last week, we discussed the theme "Beautiful in Its Time," but we didn't get to cover everything. Today, we will explore this further.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 is a pivotal verse that states, "He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart." This verse is profound because it tells us that God has written eternity on every human heart. This means that deep within us, we know that this world is not all there is. We long for something more, something eternal. This innate sense of eternity is a universal experience, as Romans 1:19-20 also affirms. God's invisible qualities and divine nature are evident in creation, leaving people without excuse.
When we stand at the edge of the Grand Canyon or witness a beautiful sunset, we are not thinking about how great we are but about how amazing the Creator is. This sense of awe points us to God. However, despite this, many people do not glorify God or give thanks to Him. Their thinking becomes futile, and their hearts are darkened. This was true thousands of years ago and remains true today.
Living in light of eternity means that our actions and decisions have eternal consequences. When we serve in ministries or support missionaries, we are impacting eternity. The author of Ecclesiastes also observes that in places where there should be justice and righteousness, there is often wickedness. This world is broken, and we all have an innate sense of what is fair and just. This sense of justice is part of the eternity written on our hearts.
The author then compares humans to animals, stating that both return to dust. However, he also emphasizes that it is okay to enjoy the good things God has given us. This is part of God's general grace, which is available to everyone, whether they know Jesus or not. But there is also specific grace for those who follow Jesus, which brings us into a deeper relationship with God.
We all have a limited time on this earth, and we should live in light of eternity. This means sharing the hope we have in Jesus with others. There will come a day when we will have a one-on-one appointment with Jesus, known as the judgment seat of Christ. This is not something to fear but an opportunity to account for how we used the gifts, time, and resources God gave us.
There is also the great white throne judgment, where those who have placed their faith in Jesus will be separated from those who haven't. This should motivate us to share our faith with others. Our church exists to bring the hope of Jesus to our community, and we have a limited window of time to do this.
Returning to Ecclesiastes 3:11, it is crucial to understand that God makes everything beautiful in His time, not ours. If things are not beautiful in your life, it is not yet time. We must trust God's timing and depend on Him. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13 that what we see dimly now will one day be made clear.
Living in light of eternity also means recognizing that some things we do now will not exist in heaven, such as missions and personal evangelism. These are temporary tasks meant to bring people to Jesus. In heaven, there will be no more need for these because we will be in the presence of God.
We all walk with brokenness and scars from this world, but we long for a better future. Catherine Wolfe's story in "Hope Heals" illustrates this well. Despite her extreme challenges, she trusts in Jesus and looks forward to a future where everything will be made right.
In conclusion, let us live in light of eternity, using our time, gifts, and resources to impact others for Jesus. We have a limited time to share the hope we have, so let's make the most of it.
### Key Takeaways
1. Eternity Written on Our Hearts: Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us that God has put eternity into every human heart. This means that deep within us, we know that this world is not all there is. We long for something more, something eternal. This innate sense of eternity is a universal experience, as Romans 1:19-20 also affirms. God's invisible qualities and divine nature are evident in creation, leaving people without excuse. [04:22]
2. Living in Light of Eternity: Our actions and decisions have eternal consequences. When we serve in ministries or support missionaries, we are impacting eternity. The author of Ecclesiastes observes that in places where there should be justice and righteousness, there is often wickedness. This world is broken, and we all have an innate sense of what is fair and just. This sense of justice is part of the eternity written on our hearts. [16:41]
3. God's Timing is Perfect: Ecclesiastes 3:11 emphasizes that God makes everything beautiful in His time, not ours. If things are not beautiful in your life, it is not yet time. We must trust God's timing and depend on Him. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13 that what we see dimly now will one day be made clear. Trusting in God's timing helps us to depend on Him more fully. [24:14]
4. The Judgment Seat of Christ: There will come a day when we will have a one-on-one appointment with Jesus, known as the judgment seat of Christ. This is not something to fear but an opportunity to account for how we used the gifts, time, and resources God gave us. This should motivate us to live in a way that honors God and impacts others for eternity. [21:05]
5. Hope in Brokenness: We all walk with brokenness and scars from this world, but we long for a better future. Catherine Wolfe's story in "Hope Heals" illustrates this well. Despite her extreme challenges, she trusts in Jesus and looks forward to a future where everything will be made right. This hope sustains us and reminds us that the best is yet to come. [29:16]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[00:37] - Introduction to Ecclesiastes
[01:22] - Beautiful in Its Time
[02:11] - The Significance of Ecclesiastes 3:11
[03:41] - Eternity in Our Hearts
[04:22] - Romans 1 and Creation
[05:05] - The Grand Canyon Analogy
[05:45] - Creation Points to the Creator
[06:21] - Foolishness and Wisdom
[06:50] - The Universal Longing for More
[07:21] - Don Richardson and Redemptive Analogies
[08:02] - The Best is Yet to Come
[09:36] - Living in Light of Eternity
[11:15] - The Rope Illustration
[12:18] - Practical Truths for Today
[13:06] - Worship and Missions
[14:12] - The Temporary Nature of Local Churches
[15:04] - Tears and Joy in Heaven
[16:05] - Eternal Impact of Our Actions
[16:41] - Justice and Wickedness
[17:05] - The Brokenness of the World
[17:38] - Comparing Humans to Animals
[18:14] - Enjoying God's General Grace
[19:28] - Specific Grace for Followers of Jesus
[21:05] - The Judgment Seat of Christ
[22:58] - The Great White Throne Judgment
[24:14] - Trusting God's Timing
[25:53] - Galatians 4 and the Perfect Time
[27:45] - Learning in Heaven
[29:16] - Catherine Wolfe's Story
[30:35] - Living with Brokenness
[32:15] - Life's Healing Choices
[33:51] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Ecclesiastes 3:9-14: "What gain has the worker from his toil? I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man. I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him."
2. Romans 1:19-20: "For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse."
3. 1 Corinthians 13:12: "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known."
### Observation Questions
1. What does Ecclesiastes 3:11 say about God's timing and the human heart? How does this verse relate to our understanding of eternity? ([02:11])
2. According to Romans 1:19-20, how has God revealed Himself to humanity? What are the implications of this revelation? ([04:22])
3. In 1 Corinthians 13:12, what does Paul mean by seeing "in a mirror dimly"? How does this relate to our current understanding of God's plans? ([25:53])
4. What examples from nature or life experiences were given in the sermon to illustrate the concept of eternity written on our hearts? ([05:05])
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of "eternity in our hearts" influence our daily decisions and actions? ([04:22])
2. What does it mean to live in light of eternity, and how can this perspective change the way we view our current struggles and challenges? ([09:36])
3. How can trusting in God's perfect timing help us navigate periods of waiting or uncertainty in our lives? ([24:14])
4. What is the significance of the judgment seat of Christ, and how should this future event impact the way we use our gifts, time, and resources now? ([21:05])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt a deep longing for something more than this world offers. How did this experience point you towards God? ([04:22])
2. In what ways can you live more intentionally in light of eternity this week? Consider specific actions you can take in your family, work, or community. ([09:36])
3. Are there areas in your life where you are struggling to trust God's timing? How can you surrender these areas to Him and find peace in His perfect plan? ([24:14])
4. Think about the gifts, time, and resources God has given you. How can you use them to make an eternal impact in the lives of others? ([21:05])
5. How can you share the hope of Jesus with someone in your life who does not yet know Him? Identify one person and plan a specific way to engage them in a spiritual conversation this week. ([10:18])
6. Reflect on Catherine Wolfe's story from "Hope Heals." How does her trust in Jesus despite extreme challenges inspire you to find hope in your own brokenness? ([29:16])
7. What practical steps can you take to ensure that you are living with an eternal perspective, especially in moments of frustration or difficulty? ([11:47])
Devotional
Day 1: Eternity Written on Our Hearts
Description: Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us that God has put eternity into every human heart. This means that deep within us, we know that this world is not all there is. We long for something more, something eternal. This innate sense of eternity is a universal experience, as Romans 1:19-20 also affirms. God's invisible qualities and divine nature are evident in creation, leaving people without excuse. When we stand at the edge of the Grand Canyon or witness a beautiful sunset, we are not thinking about how great we are but about how amazing the Creator is. This sense of awe points us to God. However, despite this, many people do not glorify God or give thanks to Him. Their thinking becomes futile, and their hearts are darkened. This was true thousands of years ago and remains true today. [04:22]
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (ESV): "He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end."
Reflection: Think about a moment when you felt a deep sense of awe in nature. How did that experience point you to the Creator? How can you cultivate more moments of awe in your daily life to remind you of God's eternal nature?
Day 2: Living in Light of Eternity
Description: Our actions and decisions have eternal consequences. When we serve in ministries or support missionaries, we are impacting eternity. The author of Ecclesiastes observes that in places where there should be justice and righteousness, there is often wickedness. This world is broken, and we all have an innate sense of what is fair and just. This sense of justice is part of the eternity written on our hearts. Living in light of eternity means that our actions and decisions have eternal consequences. When we serve in ministries or support missionaries, we are impacting eternity. [16:41]
Romans 2:6-8 (ESV): "He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury."
Reflection: Reflect on your daily actions and decisions. Are they aligned with the eternal perspective that God has placed in your heart? What is one specific way you can serve others this week to make an eternal impact?
Day 3: God's Timing is Perfect
Description: Ecclesiastes 3:11 emphasizes that God makes everything beautiful in His time, not ours. If things are not beautiful in your life, it is not yet time. We must trust God's timing and depend on Him. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13 that what we see dimly now will one day be made clear. Trusting in God's timing helps us to depend on Him more fully. It is crucial to understand that God makes everything beautiful in His time, not ours. If things are not beautiful in your life, it is not yet time. We must trust God's timing and depend on Him. [24:14]
Habakkuk 2:3 (ESV): "For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay."
Reflection: Think about a situation in your life where you are struggling to see God's timing. How can you practice patience and trust in God's perfect timing this week? What steps can you take to depend more fully on Him?
Day 4: The Judgment Seat of Christ
Description: There will come a day when we will have a one-on-one appointment with Jesus, known as the judgment seat of Christ. This is not something to fear but an opportunity to account for how we used the gifts, time, and resources God gave us. This should motivate us to live in a way that honors God and impacts others for eternity. We all have a limited time on this earth, and we should live in light of eternity. This means sharing the hope we have in Jesus with others. [21:05]
2 Corinthians 5:10 (ESV): "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."
Reflection: Consider how you are using the gifts, time, and resources God has given you. Are you living in a way that honors God and impacts others for eternity? What is one specific change you can make to better align your life with this eternal perspective?
Day 5: Hope in Brokenness
Description: We all walk with brokenness and scars from this world, but we long for a better future. Catherine Wolfe's story in "Hope Heals" illustrates this well. Despite her extreme challenges, she trusts in Jesus and looks forward to a future where everything will be made right. This hope sustains us and reminds us that the best is yet to come. Living in light of eternity also means recognizing that some things we do now will not exist in heaven, such as missions and personal evangelism. These are temporary tasks meant to bring people to Jesus. In heaven, there will be no more need for these because we will be in the presence of God. [29:16]
Revelation 21:4 (ESV): "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
Reflection: Reflect on the brokenness and scars you carry. How does the hope of a future where everything will be made right sustain you? What steps can you take to share this hope with others who are also walking through brokenness?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "For every follower of Jesus, the best is not here. The best is to come. It is beyond anything we could hope or imagine what God has for us in the future. And forgive us, God, when we think the best is in the past. If it's been good, it's only going to get better. If it's been tough, it's going to ease up. If it's been hard, it's going to get better." [08:38]
2. "For a follower of Jesus or for any person who has eternity written on their heart, it means that this world, for a follower of Jesus, this world is the worst it will ever get for your eternity. This broken world where there are natural disasters and there's natural disasters in my own life and there's hurt and there's pain and there's broken relationships. There's all these things happening. There's brokenness of this world. This is the worst you and I will ever experience for the rest of eternity is this world." [09:36]
3. "Eternity is not a reward. I remember growing up in church and eternal life, eternal life, eternal life was talked about a lot like it's a reward. No, eternal life is something every person experiences. Every person on the planet will live forever. We were not made just for this world. We're made for something more. Eternity is written on our hearts." [10:18]
4. "What would it look like as a follower of Jesus to live in light of eternity? At work, at home, in our neighborhood, in our local church, to live in light of eternity, to know that I might not see, what I'm doing is making a difference, but I'm going to trust God that one day he might reveal to me how I use my gifts, how I use my skills, how I use my finances, how I use my time. I'm going to trust him on that." [30:35]
### Quotes for Members
1. "He has made, who? God. God has made everything, everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceive that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live. Also, that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil. This is God's gift to man." [02:11]
2. "Because you served in the preschool and children's ministry, a child came to know Jesus. And now you get to be with them for eternity. The things and the decisions that we make, how we steward our gifts and skills and times impact eternity. And I believe we're going to have some of those reunions and some of those conversations." [16:41]
3. "There's also this idea that we all will give an account one day for the time and the gifts and the skills and the money that we were to steward here on earth. The New Testament talks about and actually gives it a name. It's called the judgment seat of Christ. You and I have a personal one-on-one appointment with Jesus one day. It is not something we should fear. We should look forward to that." [21:05]
4. "For God has made it, what? Everything beautiful in its time. What it doesn't say is in my time. What it doesn't say is in your time. And some of you have been waiting years for things to be beautiful in a certain area of your life. If God were to give everything to us, for us to fully understand completely, then we would have no need for God. But we live on this side, not understanding everything, so that I might depend on God even more." [24:14]
5. "Every one of us in this room, we walk with a limp. Every one of us in the room, we walk around with brokenness and scars from this world that don't make sense. And it's unfair. And it hurts. But we long for a better future. And we long for a better future. And we long for a better future. This is what she says about her life that she lives as a follower of Jesus. What has happened to me is extreme, Catherine writes. However, it is not that different than from what everyone else deals with." [29:16]
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