'HOW TO FACE LIFE'S UNCERTAINTIES'



"HOW TO FACE LIFE'S UNCERTAINTIES"

PROVERBS 27:1

INTRO: When the Estonia ferry sank in the Baltic Sea during 1994, it brought a chilling reminder of a man's uncertain tenure on earth. The more than 900 people who lost their lives were caught by complete surprise when death came knocking. It is reminiscent of another boat that surprisingly sank in frigid waters. The Titanic sank in April of 1912. Countless stories abound from that maritime tragedy. When Robert Ballard discovered her wreckage in 1985, intrigue with the Titanic rekindled. As to the point of uncertainty with life, Captain Edward J. Smith is a chilling example. He was honored with the distinct privilege of guiding the Titanic on her maiden voyage. It was scheduled to be his final act of duty before retiring after 43 years at sea. No doubt many plans for retirement had already been made, but the uncertainty of life permanently altered his future. Even though the Titanic was deemed "unsinkable" and Captain Smith's retirement was "certain," uncertainty of life prevailed. Life is both temporary and fleeting. Consequently, adequate preparation for one's eternal destiny should be of greatest concern (Raymond McHenry. The Best of In Other Words. pp. 264-265). James 4:13-15 tells us, "Go to now (Our modern expression would be “Come on now,"), ye that say, To day or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. for what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the LORD will, we shall live, and do this, or that."

Uncertainty is as much a part of life as life itself! The hymn-writer said it well many years ago when he wrote, "I don't about tomorrow, but I know who holds my hand." The dictionary describes uncertainty as "a feeling of doubt or uneasiness about the future.” We, with our limited understanding, can't see what lies ahead. The Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13:12, "for now we see through a glass darkly..." Even as Christians we cannot fully know or understand what lies ahead for us. But one day we will, Paul continues, “...but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as I am known." Facing uncertainty can be a scary prospect. Not knowing what lies ahead can lead to fears within and to doubts without. But thank God the Christian doesn't have to face his uncertainties alone! Jesus has promised in Hebrews 13:5-6, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, the LORD is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." With all the doubts and uncertainties of this life we need to know where to turn when we find ourselves facing uncertainty. There are FOUR ways we can face our uncertainties:

TO FACE LIFE'S UNCERTAINTIES:

(1) WE MUST NOT TAKE FORE GRANTED THAT TOMORROW IS OURS

PROVERBS 27:1a—“Boast not thyself of tomorrow...”

A. THE ASSESSMENT OF LIFE. The greatest way we can prepare to face

life's uncertainties is to realize that we may not have tomorrow.

Tomorrow may never come! Solomon says, "Boast not…". The word

"boast" used here in the Hebrew means "to speak emphatically, to talk

big, to make oneself shine.” It implies presumption on one’s part. It is

to presume that tomorrow will be one's to do with as he pleases. God

never commands us in His Word to not plan for the future, but that we

live life from day to day, grateful for the life which we have from God!

Friend, how do you see life? Do you see it a yours to do with as you

please or Do you see it a gift from God to cherish and make the most

of?

B. THE ATTITUDE OF LIFE. We must live life with the realization that

God is the giver of life and He is also the taker of life! When God says a

man’s life is over it is over and not until God says SO! Job 14:5 says,

"Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with

thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass." Many of the

lost in Hell took fore granted that they would have tomorrow. They

said, "Tomorrow I will make things right between me and God.

Tomorrow I will receive Him as the Savior.” But tomorrow never came!

ILLUS: Say not, "I will do it tomorrow! Some other time!" Tomorrow

may not be yours. Tomorrow is a delusive phantom, ever

beckoning the traveler toward the brink of destruction.

Tomorrow is a courteous traitor, a smiling assassin, "Satan’s

chief recruiting-sergeant, paving with good intentions the road

to hell!" (Elon Foster. 6000 Classic Sermon Illustrations. p.

735).

The BIBLE throughout its pages warns man there is a Hell to shun and

a Heaven to gain! But it also tells us that this life, the moment in

which we are now living, is the time to make things right with God!

(Amos 4:12; 2 Corinthians 6:2).

Not only does the Word of God warn the lost to repent and turn to God,

but it also tells believers that how we live this life determines our

reward in heaven. 2 Peter 3:11 tells us, "seeing then that all these

things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all

holy conversation and godliness."

1 Corinthians 3:11-15

Because of the uncertainty of life, because we know not if we will have

tomorrow, we must live as godly and as close to God as possible in this

present world!

ILLUS: The apostle John tell us in 1 John 2:18 & 28, "Little children,

it is the last time…and now, little children, abide in him; that

when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be

ashamed before him at his coming." A young boy was playing in

his grandmother's house near a large grandfather clock.

Noontime was approaching, and when both hands of the old

timepiece reached twelve, the chimes began to ring. As he

always liked to do, the boy counted each gong as it sounded.

this time, however, something went wrong with the clock's

inner mechanism. Instead of stopping at 12, it kept right on

chiming-13,14, 15, 16 times. The boy could not believe his

ears! He jumped to his feet and ran into the kitchen, shouting,

“Grandma! Grandma! It's later than it's ever been before!" It is

later than it's ever been before-in the history of the world, in

the days allotted to man, and on God's calendar of events.

James 5:8, with each passing hour, takes on new significance,

“The coming of the LORD is at hand."

The prospect should both comfort us and sober us! What a joy

to know He may return for us at any moment. But, at the

same time, what a sobering fact, "We must all appear before

the Judgment Seat of Christ!” Will His words to us be, "Well

done," or will we be ashamed before Him at His coming? It's

later than we think! (Richard W. DeHaan. Our Daily Bread.

Volume 41. Number 5. August 26, 1996).

We cannot take fore granted that we have tomorrow. But we can PREPARE for what lies ahead!

(2) WE MUST TRUST THE LORD IN ALL THINGS

Proverbs 27:lb—“…For thou knowest not what a day may bring forth"

A. OUR KNOWLEDGE IS LIMITED. When we face things in our lives in which we know nothing about then many times fear can beset us! Fear and doubt are the direct opposites of faith and trust. We, with limited understanding, fear all hope is gone. Solomon said, “For thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." We cannot say with certainty what will happen in the next five minutes so how can we know about tomorrow?

B. HIS KNOWLEDGE IS UNLIMITED. Many times with our limited understanding the situations we find ourselves in leave us hopeless, but the LORD, who knows and controls all things, sees endless Hope! He has the answer to all the uncertainties we will face! (Proverbs 3:5-6).

ILLUS: Job faced more uncertainty in his life than probably any man

that had ever lived. God allowed Satan to strip him of

everything he had. Everything that was dear to him. He did

not understand what God was doing. He did not know why all

his trials had befell Him. And he did not even know If God was

going to spare his life, but in spite of all of that Job

proclaimed, “Thou He slay me, yet will I trust Him…” (Job

13:15a).

If we are going to be able to stand up in uncertainty, we must have the

same kind of trust Job had! Job didn't know or understand his

circumstances, but He knew the God of his circumstances so he

trustingly placed himself in God's hands!

Do you know why we have so much fear and worry in our lives today?

Because we fail to take our trying and uncertain circumstances to God!

David said in Psalm 27:1-7—“ The LORD is my light and my salvation;

whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be

afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon

me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though a host should

encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise

against me, in this will I be confident. One thing have I desired of the

LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all

the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in

his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in

the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a

rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round

about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will

sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. Hear, O LORD, when I cry

with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.”

We will all face uncertainty in our lives, but when we do we can call out

to God and He will hear and help us! He has the answer to all we face!

The Lord promises in Jeremiah 33:3—“Call unto me, and I will answer

thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

Uncertainty does not have to cause us to fear. We must simply TRUST

GOD, Ask Him for the answer, and put ourselves in His loving hand!

(Matthew 7:7-8). As we face uncertainty we must as someone has

said, “Turn your doubts to questions, turn your questions to prayers;

turn your prayers to God." Mark R. Littleton (Albert M. Wells, Jr.

Inspiring Quotations-Contemporary & Classical. p. 60).

TO FACE LIFE’S UNCERTAINTIES, WE MUST NOT TAKE FORE GRANTED THAT TOMORROW IS OUR, WE MUST TRUST THE LORD IN ALL THINGS and…

(3) WE MUST ALLOCATE OUR TIME WISELY

Psalm 90:10,12—“The days of our years are threescore years

and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet

is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we

fly away. So then teach us to number our days, that we may

apply our hearts unto wisdom"

A. THE WANING NATURE OF LIFE. Listen what Psalm 90:10 says, “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” Someone has said there are two certainties in life: death and taxes. Well, that is half right. Hebrews 9:27 says, "and as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." So for all mankind death and the Judgment are certainties. The psalmist said about life, “…it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” Charles Spurgeon commenting on these words said, “The cable is broken and the vessel sails upon the sea of eternity; the chain is snapped and the eagle mounts to its native air above the clouds” (Charles H. Spurgeon. The Treasury of David. e-Sword. Version 7.5.2. Copyright 2000-2005. Rick Meyers. All Rights Reserved Worldwide). Our lives are short indeed compared with ETERNITY! That is why it is so important that we seek God while we can!

B. THE WISDOM NEEDED IN LIFE. We all know that death for us is a reality. It is certain (Job 14:1-2). The part of death that makes us uneasy is that we cannot know the day of our death. It may be today, it may be tomorrow, it may be next week, or if the LORD tarries it may be ten years from now. We don't know when but we know it is coming! It is that uncertainty that causes us to fear! How can we face then that uncertainty? By using the time we do have to its greatest potential! Whether it be that we have one day left, or one week left or one year left or ten years left; we use what time we have to the glory of God! Psalm 90:12 says, “So then teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom". The Hebrew word in v12 for “number” means "to allot, appoint, to number or count out." These days given us by God are to be applied unto wisdom. What is wisdom? (Proverbs 9:10). That means every moment given to us of God is precious. So, by making the most of the time God has given us, when we face death we have nothing left to do but die. We have no unfinished tasks, no regrets, and no remorse! We have, by faith, tried to give God His rightful place in our life! "You cannot control the length of your life but you can control its width and depth." - D. S. Schuller - _Pulpit Helps_, November, 1991, p. 10.

TO FACE LIFE’S UNCERTAINTIES, WE MUST NOT TAKE FORE GRANTED THAT TOMORROW IS OURS, WE MUST TRUST THE LORD IN ALL THINGS, WE MUST ALLOCATE OUR TIME WISELY and finally…

(4) WE MUST TAKE HOLD OF THE PROMISES OF GOD

Hebrews 10:19-23—“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into

the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, that which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having a high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water, Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for faithful is he is promised;)"

A. HIS PROMISES GIVE US ACCESS. HEBREWS 10:19 encourages us, “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, that which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh.” The Holy of Holies in the Temple was sealed from view by a curtain (veil). Only the High Priest could enter this holy room, and he did so only once a year on the Day of Atonement when he atoned for the nation’s sins. But now, Jesus’ death has removed the curtain, and all believers may walk into God’s presence at any time (Living Letters From The Life Application Bible. p. 221). The blood of Jesus gives us access to the throne of God 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year (Hebrews 4:14-16).

B. HIS PROMISES GIVE US ASSURANCE. I am glad today that we serve a God who keeps His promises! In times of uncertainty, many times friends will forsake us, family will fail us, but thank God, HE NEVER! fails

ILLUS: Paul, alone and abandoned in a Roman prison, facing the

prospect of death for preaching the Gospel, was certainly facing

a trying and doubtful time in his life. Yet, in spite of it all, He

knew where to draw his strength! He says in 2 Timothy 4:16-

17, "At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men

forsook me: I pray God that it not be laid to their charge.

Notwithstanding the LORD stood with me, and strengthened

me; that the preaching might be fully known, and that all the

Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of

the lion."

What a man Paul was! Even though all men forsook him, yet

he prayed for them! He rested in the promise of God! “I will

never leave thee, nor forsake thee.." (Hebrews 13:5).

God has made us many precious promises in His word, but there are two we must rest in during trying and uncertain times:

← His Presence Will Be With Us (Isaiah 43:2).

← His Power Will Be There For Us (Isaiah 40:29-31).

CLOSING: How can we face the uncertainties in our life? By REALIZING: 1)

WE MUST NOT TAKE FORE GRANTED THAT TOMORROW IS

OUR—Preparation, 2) WE MUST TRUST THE LORD AT ALL TIMES-

Prayer, 3) WE MUST ALLOCATE OUR TIME WISELY-Priorities, and

4) WE MUST TAKE HOLD OF THE PROMISES OF GOD-Promises.

The world may throw all kinds of doubts in our path. Satan may

try to get us to believe there is no hope at all. But we can thank

God that through God's presence and power in our lives through

faith; we can face anything that might come our way!

There may be one here today that is facing the greatest uncertainty

of all. That is, an Eternity in the lake of fire. I can't personally tell

you what Hell will be like for the lost person. But I do know it will

be horrible because God won't be there! I don't know how hot the

flame will be nor do I know who all will be there, but I do know one

thing: No man has to go Hell! God has given each of us a way out

of Hell. That way is Jesus Christ! (John 3:16) Will you receive Him

today so you won't have to face an uncertain future?

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