Public Profession of Faith of new members
Scripture Readings
- 2 Timothy 3:10-17
- Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:8
Introduction
My dear young friends,
Today is one of the most important days in your life: Today, before God and his congregation, in the Name of Jesus Christ, you made profession of your faith in God. You did it publicly, so that all might know that you love the Lord Jesus Christ. This public profession of your faith will now be followed-up by repeatedly sitting at the table of the Lord where you will declare that you remember that He died for your sin, that He rose to give you new life, that He called you to serve Him with all your heart, mind and soul; you will also proclaim to the world that you are waiting for his return and that you long to be with Him into all eternity.
You would want to get some wise words today; some ideas that will keep you on track as a young Christian till the day of Christ’s return. We can go to some people of fame for advise. Like:
Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot. (Charlie Chaplin)
In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years. (Abraham Lincoln)
Only those are fit to live who are not afraid to die. (General McArthur)
Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood. (Helen Keller)
But we should go to the Bible. The verses I chose to preach from today is from Ecclesiastes.
It’s all in vain
It is generally accepted that king Solomon, or at least someone who were close to him, wrote the book of Ecclesiastes. It was maybe a collection of his thoughts when he became an old man – even after he strayed from God. Solomon, although an exceptionally wise man who got what he had as a gift from God, did not end up dying as a wise man. We read this about Solomon:
As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been. The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord’s command. (1 Kings 11:4, 9–10, NIV)
It seems then that Solomon entered the last stages of his life as a man who lost his vision of life and on God. The first verse of the book of Ecclesiastes begins like this:
“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” (Ecclesiastes 1:2, NIV)
To him wisdom became meaningless, pleasures became meaningless: he tried out wine and laughter – that was meaningless! He tried out great projects – houses, gardens, parks, silver and gold, women (ending up with 1,000 altogether!) – yes, he says, “I denied myself nothing” (Ecc 2:10), but even that seemed meaningless in the end. He found out that both human wisdom and folly, both hard work and laziness lead to nothing but meaninglessness.
He even got to the low point in his life to argue that there is not much difference between the righteous and the unrighteous: both comes under the judgement of the Lord (Ecc 3:18-19). His life spiralled down into what seems like a depression; it seems he became lonely with no one to cheer him up, so he writes about the value of having a friend:
If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. (Ecclesiastes 4:10, NIV)
Squandered opportunities
It was not that the king did not know better. No, he was privileged to have it all in his hand, but somehow he let go of it. Listen:
Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning. (Ecclesiastes 4:13, NIV)
There was a time that he stood in the presence of the Living God who chose him to be the king of Israel. He made certain promises to God, but now it seems that he had not been not sincere. Now he understands the value of being honest with God:
When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfil it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfil your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfil it. Therefore fear God. (Ecclesiastes 5:4-5,7 NIV)
After living in a period of extraordinary wealth in which he accumulated chariots and horses, and the king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills (1 Kings 10:26–27, NIV), he ended up saying:
Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb, and as everyone comes, so they depart. They take nothing from their toil that they can carry in their hands. (Ecclesiastes 5:15, NIV)
Someone said the shroud of death has no pockets. Solomon understood that very clearly.
He ended up saying that instead of searching of riches and pleasure, his time would have been better spent with those mourning the death of a loved one. He says, “Sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart.” (Ecclesiastes 7:3, NIV)
There is still meaning in life
In amongst all this pessimism and meaningless Solomon found something which is worthwhile and meaningful.
A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. (Ecclesiastes 2:24–26, NIV)
Then, apparently much later in life, he gives this testimony:
You who are young, be happy while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. (Ecclesiastes 11:9, NIV)
There is almost a sadness in this verse. This wise king who had everything going for him, wasted his opportunities, his gifts, his talents – he was just a bad steward of the things God apportioned to him. Now, at the end of his life, he looks back and instead of thanking God for all he had, he fears God’s judgment.
We have to understand that God did not put us on earth to never experience joy and happiness. It is also wrong to think that to follow one’s dreams is sinful. No, all of us received from God talents, skills, friends, family and opportunities to enjoy the time God appointed for us on earth. What is more unattractive that a lemon-faced Christian! As a matter of fact, the fruit of the Spirit are all things which make the children of God so much different that those who do not believe Him:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22–23, NIV)
We are not meant to be locked up in cloisters and monasteries where we have to renounce all pleasures and joys. Paul writes about people who just can’t help themselves but to add to the Gospel, making rules of “Do not handle!”, “Do not taste!” and “Do not touch!” What sort of life is that? The word “joy” is repeated over and over again in the Bible. The Christian, of all people, should be joyful and happy.
But for the Christian joy does not lie in getting drunk of be given to all sorts of worldly pleasures. The concept of joy in the bible is always connected to the child of God’s life in the presence of God. In his letter to Timothy Paul writes:
Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22, NIV)
Worldly pleasures, or sinful pleasures are a killer. This is what got Solomon where he found himself: his joy abandoned him, and his life was filled with regret and sadness. Ask about every adult here today about their regret about sin and the pain it brought in their hearts and their relationships with one another and above all, their relationship with God.
Remember your Creator
There is a remedy against spiritual nothingness and meaninglessness. It would be horrible to live a life, to have had all opportunities, skills and talents, and then, when one is old to then say, “I find no pleasure in life.”
The good advise of a man who seemingly threw it all away is this:
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”— (Ecclesiastes 12:1, NIV)
What does this “remember” mean? It surely means more than to remember someone’s birthday, or to remember when the exams start.
The Biblical “remember” has something of “constantly keeping in one’s mind”, so that one’s path is determined by what you are thinking about.
To remember our Creator is exactly that: to always understand the God created you. He created the world, time, talent and opportunities. To remember this is to then direct one’s way in obedience to the Creator to please Him in all one does. This is why the Bible teaches:
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. (Colossians 3:23, NIV)
So, when you now start your journey as communicant members of the church of Christ, you must remember your Creator.
But the “remember” of the Bible constantly takes the people of God back to the salvation of God; through Christ and his Spirit he re-created us. To remember God is to remember his acts of mercy. Our minds should be filled with thanksgiving for the fact that Jesus Christ took our punishment upon Him when He died on the cross. It also means that our minds must be filled with thankfulness that his resurrection means our new life.
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. (Colossians 3:1, NIV)
The days of trouble
Just briefly this warning: the opposite of remember is to forget, or at least to delay – tomorrow, or later.
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”— (Ecclesiastes 12:1, NIV)
There are millions of people who found the way to eternal hell just because they thought there would be another day. Besides, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
But the reality is also that constant delay may lead to a day that the delight of the Gospel will not be the pleasure of your soul. O, the number of old people I come across who repeat these words, “I find no pleasure in the Gospel!” The brain has become misty and foggy; the heart is hard and the mind stubborn. What tragedy then that they unwittingly repeat the words of Solomon, “It is all meaningless; all comes to nothing!”
Conclusion
You have made a good choice to make profession of your faith now while you are young. We praise and thank God for you. It is with excitement that I recommended you to the elders for membership. Your knowledge of the things of our Lord and the Scripture is exemplary. I look forward to work with you in the body of the Lord – for his glory. I plead with the congregation to stand by their commitment to set a godly example for you, to pray for you and to encourage you in your walk with the Lord.
But you will eventually move on, leave school, meet friends and chisel out you career, and get married. I plead with you in the Name of Jesus Christ, your Redeemer: “Remember your Creator!” Do this and life will never be meaningless.
AMEN
Sermon preached by Rev D. Rudi Schwartz on Sunday 24 August 2014
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