Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Epistle Lesson just read, from 1 Cor. 7. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- One of the things that I’ve noticed and had to come to grips with here in the past few years is the whole matter of the “diminishing future.” This is not as mysterious as it might sound!
- You see, when I was a young man I didn’t have to think so much about my “personal future.” I could reasonably anticipate another 45 years or so of work. Likewise, when taking out a mortgage, or some other purchase that required some length of loan repayment, the length of time was not a determining criterion.
- However, when we get older our “future” reasonably seems “shorter,” and we have to take this into consideration when thinking about entering into agreements, contracts, or arrangements that involve a “length of time.” I have to consider: How many more years might I reasonably anticipate working, or being healthy, or even living?
- One of the benefits of getting older is “perspective.” When you have more “history” in the rear view mirror, you see things more clearly because you have a wider context. However, one doesn’t necessarily have to get older to gain perspective. We can learn much simply by instruction.
- In our text, the apostle is urging all of us to look at our lives as if we are very old, and as if we have only a “short” amount of time left here in this world. He was anticipating the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, which obviously can occur at any moment!
- His advice, however, applies generally – even though the day of Christ’s return is uncertain. And if we follow his advice, then our perspective, and our wisdom in dealing with the world, will be much enhanced! For as he assures us that:
I. The Present Form Of This World Is Passing Away
Text: “For the present form of this world is passing away.”
Statement: It is obvious that the pace at which “the form of this world is passing away” has been moderated. Nearly 2,000 years have passed since Paul wrote these words. Nonetheless, there is no reason why the pace couldn’t speed up. Nor is there any guarantee that this world could not pass away rapidly, virtually immediately. Even scientists realize that the earth could be destroyed very quickly through some catastrophic event. The point is simply this: we should not assume permanence for this world that we live in!
Application: Now, if we know something is going to come to an end, we don’t invest in it beyond what can be assumed to be its continuance. One doesn’t buy a gold mine – especially not at full market price – when it is known that the gold is almost gone. We do buy not things that are obsolete, or soon to be obsolete! This is Paul’s point – the things of this world will soon be obsolete, for all of us. So why invest ourselves, our lives, into these things as if they have some permanency for us?
Transition: This does not mean that we have NO future! But we are encouraged by Scripture to:
II. Seize The Future By Repentance And Faith In Christ
John 3:36 “He that believes the Son has everlasting life.”
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
A. If We Are Looking Forward To What Is Eternal, Then We Will Put Earthly Relationships Into Proper Perspective
Text: “From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none.”
B. If We Know The Eternal Blessings To Come, We Will Moderate Our Emotions Here And Now
Text: “Let those who mourn live as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing.”
C. If We Know The Riches That Are Coming To Us In Christ’s Eternal Kingdom, Then We Will Reject The Greed And Pride Of Earthly Wealth
Text: “Let those who buy live as though they had no goods.”
D. And We Will Make No Permanent Deals With The World
Text: “Let those who deal with the world live as though they had no dealing with it.”
Statement: The point is not that we can now get rid of our wives or husbands, nor that we are no longer allowed to have emotions, nor that we must refuse any and all ownership of property, nor that we no longer engage in business and commerce. No, all of these things continue – and they are part of the blessings and gifts that God has provided for us in this life, though creation! Rather, our perspective has changed, and our values, and our ambitions! Rather than having earthly ambitions and “storing up for ourselves treasures here on earth,” we are seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and “storing up for ourselves treasures in heaven.”
Application: This runs counter to most of our ambitions – which we have absorbed from the culture around us. For the unbelieving – or for the uninformed Christians – this life is the ultimate, the only thing we have. Therefore we need to step on it and “eat, drink, and make merry, for tomorrow we die.” Or, we think “we’ll find a way to live forever, so let us amass as much fortune as we can.” But all of this is foolishness, and a denial of the Words and promises of God! The fact is, “THE TIME IS SHORT.” “The present form of this world is passing away.”
Conclusion: This should become quite a bit easier for those of us who are getting along in years. Even earthly reason dictates that we take our mortality into consideration! But we can reject this heavenly reason even in our old age – and determine to devote ourselves more fully to the things of this world, rather than cutting our ties with the world.
And you younger folks – you do not have to wait until you get old and gray to know and understand that you have very little future here in this world. Even if you have another 40 or 50 years, that is really not much time! And your life will be richer and more poignant, if you live with the eternal things in mind, adopting eternal values, eternal goals, and eternal ambitions. And the treasures you store up in heaven are not subject to fluctuations in the stock market, to inflation or depression, to inheritance taxes, or to passing them along at all. You are the inheritor, an heir of God!
So let us thank God for the blessings we have here and now, but especially that “OUR TIME IS SHORT” in this fallen world of sin, and that we have eternal blessings to look forward to!
Let us take in this wisdom and integrate the apostle’s advice into our lives! It is God’s Word, His will for us, as He prepares to give us the greatest blessings! Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.