Download... February 5, 2012. Sunday Morning Service. Bro. Dave Goble.
Many are seeking after “something,” ..not really knowing what. Thank God we can know He, has the answers to all our needs! The vanities of this life, are only of empty substance. Ecclesiastes 1: 2 Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher, all is vanity. And this in its great depths, is a description of the world’s condition, that we live in today!
There is no “human” way to really understand and apprehend the meaning of life. There are so many perspectives of “what takes place” (in the substance of life) making life seemingly an absurdity. Making life essentially with no meaning, beyond what is visually here, a vanity of vanities. Bro Goble shared some of a conversation he had with a man, who considered trying to apprehend the meaning of life’s values. He did not know how to apprehend God, so life to him, was in essence an absurdity. He considered suicide, in light of his thoughts. So in this conversation with Bro Goble, he asked, “What is the solution?” The scriptures define the needed answer. Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. The man then asked, “How do I know that it is God, I should fear and not another?” Bro Goble shared that he understood his question, for he was once there himself. Then Bro Goble suggested he read through the 12 chapters of Ecclesiastes for a better understanding, or explanation of life’s true “lessons.” Life, ‘without God,’ is truly an absurdity! Yet, when you honor God, then life is truly meaningful! How can this happen? Stay on your knees before God, until you are given a personal revelation, and apprehend the dynamics of life’s meaning! When you have fulfilled this, you will have fully awakened spiritually, and be no longer in “life’s spiritual slumber.”
TEXT: ECCLESIASTES 12:13
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
AND
ACTS 17:16-23
16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.
17 Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.
18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
19 And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?
20 For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.
21 (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)
22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
This period of time spoken of in the above text, was approximately 50 or 51 A.D. (Christ crucifixion was approximately 30 A. D.) It sounds like Paul here had a personal revelation from God. Verse 21 of Acts 17. These people had too much time “on their hands” to consider “new” or vain ideas (and nothing else!)







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