2016. 02. 22. Monday.
Ecclesiastes(Ecclesiastes 12:1~2)
Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them”-before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain.
Hymn for scheduled worship: Korean/English Hymnal #70 God is Our Refuge Strong(#79 in previous version)
A life of living within futility, following a futile path and employing futile methods, is a life of failure. No one wishes to live their lives this way. We have but one life to live. That is why we wish to live a life of value with the true things, following the true path and employing the true method. If that is the case, we must remain within only God’s Word. And we must live in accordance with God’s grace. Through Ecclesiastes, let us confirm what God’s Word deems as vain and true and examine how we must live our lives today.
1. What is vain
There is a word that frequently appears in Ecclesiastes. It is, “Vanity of vanities.” King Solomon who had worldly possessions and great wisdom made this confession at the close of his life. He said that success without God is vanity, a life apart from God is vanity, a life without knowing God is folly. This is the fleeting pleasure given to us by the world. At the same time, the spiritual problems that result from this deception are unavoidable.
2. What is true
All the things of our lives are within God’s absolute sovereignty. No one can escape death, and no one is free from God’s judgment. That is why God says, “Remember the Sovereign Creator God right now!” The only true thing is living our lives within God’s grace. Moreover, true life is a life that follows the eternal Gospel given to us by God.
3. Today
In order to live a true life, we must discard all the things of our lives that are in vain and hold on to the things that are true. We must conduct ourselves within the Gospel of God, and focus our time in the things that are pleasing to God. Then, we must challenge in faith every day towards the uniqueness God has given to us. God will absolutely reveal His glory through our lives as we hold on to the true things of God.
[Prayer of the Evangelist] God! May this be a day of grace for us to discard all vanity and instead, hold on to the true things, the eternal things of God. May Your glory be revealed through our lives.
Core Training Message / 2015. 11. 21.
[Bible Reading] Isaiah 57.