God Doesn't Give Us Answers, He Is The Answer

Pastor welcomed us by noting that today was the first Sunday after Epiphany, which speaks of Jesus revealing Himself. Sunshine filled the sanctuary as Brad introduced his theme for today, sharing how during a crisis of faith when his father died the Book of Ecclesiastes brought light into the dark places in his heart. The author of Ecclesiastes does not give all the answers to life's troubling questions, but shows us who God is.

Opening announcements included the following:
~ Sunday school begins next week. 9:00 a.m.

~ Adventure Club, confirmation and youth group activities begin this Wednesday

~ Women's Bible study begins Friday, Jan. 23

~ Women's Circle will meet this Saturday at 10:00 a.m.

~ Building Committee will meet here at the church Thursday eve at 7:00

After Darlene's introit we were treated to some special music, bluegrass style, by de Elliot Brothers, which included percussion, washtub bass, wash board, harmonicas, slide guitar and some sweet harmonies. Despite the chill outside, hearts were warmed within.

Today's Scripture readings were from Genesis 1:1-5 and Acts 19:1-7... followed by a time of prayer, which included intercession for several people battling cancer or recovering from surgeries.

God Doesn't Give Us Answers, He Is The Answer

Brad opened by talking about his time of soul searching after the loss of his father. We question everything in times like that, including our faith in God's goodness. He said that it's something akin to living life on the back slope of a question mark.

The book's author is someone who refers to himself as The Preacher. The original Hebrew word is Qohelet, which has been translated "a man who addresses an assembly."

According to Brad, rabbis had difficulty with this book. They weren't sure of its aim. By the end of the book much of it appears to be a Naturalistic religion, not necessarily God-inspired. Yet the book is included in the canon of Scripture, and it is included for good reasons, as summarized in these verses from chapter 12:9-11

9 Not only was the Teacher wise, but also he imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. 10 The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.
11 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one Shepherd.

That is to say, the wisdom here is like tent pegs which give stability in a shaky world.

Good books begin with a prelude that tell us where they're going, and usually summarize the main points in a conclusion. The Book of Ecclesiastes is no different. At the outset, the writer states "Everything is meaningless." Or another way of putting it, "Vanity, vanity, all is vanity." Life is futile.

The conclusion, however, exhibits a less pessimistic sense.

13 Now all has been heard;

here is the conclusion of the matter:

Fear God and keep his commandments,

for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God will bring every deed into judgment,

including every hidden thing,

whether it is good or evil.

As Paul writes in II Corinthians 5, we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God. Hence, wisdom dictates that we "fear God and keep His commandments."

One of the recurring themes in the Book of Ecclesiastes is captured in verse 2:24... "A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God..." Verses 3:12, 3:22, 5:18, 8:15 and 9:7 all reiterate this theme which almost sounds Epicurean rather than Christian. "Eat drink and be merry."

Brad noted that there is a distinction between the statement, "Life is vain" and "Life is not worth living." The author of Ecclesiastes can only be understood in the of the admonition at the end to fear God and keep His commandments.

The point Pastor Brad sought to bring home today was this. There are many questions that life throws at you, especially during the hard times, and especially those challenging "Why?" questions. But there is no promise in Scripture that all these questions will get answered for us, either now or later. We all want to have pat answers, to see everything complete and have it all figured out. The truth is, you will never figure it out.

He compared it to trying to solve complicated crossword puzzles with a limited vocabulary.

Here are more verses that are challenging to wrestle with.

Eccles. 6:1-2

"I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on men: God gives a man wealth, possessions and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires, but God does not enable him to enjoy them, and a stranger enjoys them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil."

Also, vs. 9:11

"I have seen something else under the sun:

The race is not to the swift

or the battle to the strong,

nor does food come to the wise

or wealth to the brilliant

or favor to the learned;

but time and chance happen to them all."

Sometime life isn't fair. And, verses like Eccles. 2:14 make it almost seem that whether you are good or not hardly matters. "The wise man has eyes in his head, while the fool walks in the darkness; but I came to realize that the same fate overtakes them both." Isn't this how it feels sometimes, especially when struggling with death and loss? It's like children who build castles in the sand only to see all their creative fun washed away when the tide rolls in.

Why is this so? All our efforts seems so temporary and transitory. It all seems so empty.

In the realm of science we keep rediscovering that there is nothing new under the sun. And in the realm of history, Brad said, it is almost surprising how quickly the men of old are forgotten, and we ourselves will likewise one day be forgotten a few generations from now. This weighs heavily upon us when we begin to think deeply about these things. And as the Preacher, Qohelet, notes in chapter one verse 18, the more you know, the more you realize how much you don't know.

In point of fact, mystery is intentional, Brad stated. God intends for there to be mystery. How we respond to this makes all the difference in the world. Do we live it up? Give up? No, we're to look up.

When we study Ecclesiastes we see that it affirms three things about God. First, God is sovereign. And as Paul writes in his letter to the Romans, God works all thing for good for those who love the Lord."

Second, God is good. And in His goodness, we find many blessings to help us through the difficulties of life. Don't let the questions in your heart so cloud your life that you fail to enjoy the good gifts He gives. Enjoy your food. Savor the coffee. Brad points out that it actually used to be considered a sin not to enjoy life.

Third, God is holy and just. He will bring our deeds to judgment, including not only what we do but what we didn't do, including the failure to enjoy the good things He has given.

God doesn't promise us answers, but He gives us Himself. He is God, and owes us no explanations. But He has also made other promises, including this one, "I will never leave you, I will never forsake you."

Today's sermon seemed especially heartfelt, and as "deep calls unto deep" this message spoke to many hearts today.

Decisions for the New Year

Eleven inches of snow had been predicted, so it was a relief to find less than a half dozen inches on this chilly Sunday morning in Northern Minnesota. Unploughed rural roads reduced our numbers a bit, but the service was still very special for those who were here, culminating in our celebration of the Lord's Table.

Pastor Brad Shannon welcomed us warmly. He then asked us two questions to take home with us into 2009. Are you willing to listen to God this year? And are you willing to put your trust in Him?

Several announcements followed.
1. Deacons will meet Wednesday evening on the 7th.
2. The Wednesday night youth group/Adventure Club will resume the following Wednesday on the 14th.
3. The first meeting of the Women's Bible Study will be January 23rd at 6:00 p.m. They will be reading together the book, An Ordinary Day With Jesus. Contact JoAnn Winship for details or if you would like a book.

After a time of worship and the offering was taken, Bev read the Scriptures, Jeremiah 31:7-14 and Ephesians 1:3-14.

During our prayer time we became aware of many needs in our midst. With so many hurting and going through trying times, let's continue to keep one another lifted up in prayer.

Decisions for the New Year
Pastor Brad began by noting that sometimes our familiarity with Scripture is a detriment. The result of being familiar with some of these passages hinders us from drawing new understandings. We've heard them so often, we stop really engaging the Word.

The psalmists knew that life was complicated and that the world was a dangerous place. They had experienced this, and for this reason their words are quite relevant to us today.

Today's sermon is based on Psalms 1 and 2.

1 Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
4 Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.

Read Psalm 2 here

There are two ways to walk, Brad said. It is our choice. We can choose one way or the other. Pastor Brad indicated that if we were to sum up the message of all 150 Psalms in one concise maxim, it would be "Friends, choose wisely."

A couple years ago the U.S. News & World Report offered up 50 ways to improve your life in the new year. The list included things like renovating your local part to unplugging your television set, or learning to print better photos. The number one way, they said, was to get happy.

While the suggestions may be interesting, they're not exactly inspiring. As an alternative, Pastor Brad suggested we improve our lives by asking two simple questions which are raised in Psalms 1 & 2.

The word "Blessed" is the very first word of Psalm 1. "Blessed is the man...." Interestingly Psalm 2 ends with a blessing. "Blessed are all who take refuge in Him."

Psalm 1 and much that follows is a study in contrasts between the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked. The righteous bear fruit. The righteous are rooted. The wicked are like chaff which the wind blows away. They have no roots. They are dispersed with the wind. There's not a whole lot too them.

The writer of Ecclesiastes made many references to the futility of chasing after wind. The wicked are caught up in the pursuit of vapor, a meaningless, empty existence.

The pattern that emerges, however, is that the wicked are the ones who choose to put themselves in their situation as outsiders looking in. Jesus, the source of life, invites all. But the choice is ours to draw near and put down roots, or remain aloof. We can choose to be receptive, or to withdraw and close ourselves off from God's free offer of blessing.

Will we be receptive to God's instruction? The blessed life comes from being willing to hear, and a willingness to be pliable.

Psalm 2 begins more globally in scope. "Why do the nations conspire and plot in vain?" But in the end it is personal as well.

The kingdom of God is unique, distinct from the kingdoms of this world. God does not find the actions of this world amusing. The question being asked here in this Psalm is, "Will we acknowledge God's rule and live in fundamental dependence on Him?"

In Psalm 1 we're reminded to live attentive to His Word. In Psalm 2 we're asked, will we acknowledge God's rule this new year and live in complete dependence on Him? Or will we choose self interest and live in fundamental dependence on ourselves?

Brad then asked rhetorically, "Who's in charge?"

Psalm 1 is clear: you must let God teach you. Psalm 2 is also clear: let God rule. As we enter the new year, let's hold fast to both of these commitments.

The service ended with the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.