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Down Memory Lane 2023 : “Eternity in the Heart”

Text: Ecclesiastes 3
31 December 2023

INTRODUCTION

“To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven”   Ecclesiastes 3:1

1. Profound Observations

a) Season
b) Time
c) Purpose

2. Life

a) Problems
b) Perplexity
c) Place of God

A GOD-GIVEN TASK

9 What profit has the worker from that in which he labours?

10 I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied.

Ecclesiastes 3:9-10

1. Human Perspective of Life

a) Work
b) Profit

2. Divine Perspective of Life

a) A God-given task
b) To be meaningfully occupied

ETERNITY IN THE HEART

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

1. How God makes things

a) He makes everything beautiful
b) In its time

2. God’s Special work

a) He has put Eternity in the heart
b) Things need be understood from the Eternal Perspective of Life

3. Limitations

a) No one can find out God’s work fully
b) No one can see His work, from beginning to the end

A WISE RESPONSE TO THE GIFT OF GOD

12 I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives,

13 and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labour—it is the gift of God.

14 I know that whatever God does,
It shall be forever.
Nothing can be added to it,
And nothing taken from it.
God does it, that men should fear before Him.

15 That which is has already been,
And what is to be has already been;
And God requires an account of what is past.

Ecclesiastes 3:12-15

1. The Gift of God

a) Life in all its seasons
b) Time with all its profundity
c) All the works of God

2. Appropriate Response

a) To rejoice
b) To do good
c) To enjoy the good of one’s labour
d) To be accountable
e) To fear the LORD

CHALLENGES IN 2024

1. Complete in Him.  (Colossians 2:10)

a) A perfect plan
b) A profound plan

2. Christ in us, the hope of Glory.  (Colossians 1:27)

a) The Indwelling
b) The Inspiration

3. The Church in God’s Plan   (Colossians 1:24; Matthew 16:18)

a) The Lord’s Commitment
b) The Challenge to Comply

POEM

ETERNITY IN THE HEART

The Works of God are profound and deep;
Great wisdom is what we must ever seek!
He has put Eternity in the heart of Man;
Let us be challenged to understand His Plan.

He has given His blessings for Life on earth;
He fills the heart with great joy and mirth.
He makes all things beautiful, in its time;
It takes faith to comprehend things sublime.

There are many works that God has undertaken;
He lovingly watches over His people from Heaven.
He planned Salvation to be full and complete;
He has also blessed the Church with gifts replete.

Let us be challenged to comprehend His Grace;
May we be deeply moved to seek His Face!
God has placed Eternity profoundly in the heart;
From the Presence of God may we never depart!

Charles Tan
Inspiration: Ecclesiastes 3