Mar, 22. 2020. Sermon Script.

Do beautiful things in God’s time

Ecclesiastes 3:1-4, 11-12

1. There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heaves:

2. a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3. a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,

4. a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

11. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet

no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

12. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live.

In 1975, Diane Ball went on a family vacation. She was the camp director of a

conference center in North California. But while she was traveling she planned to stop at a

certain village and to speak in Women’s luncheon meeting. She decided to leave at 10 am, but

due to her husband’s delay, she left late and was certain that she won’t make it on time.

She was frustrated. “Honey, I told you I have a luncheon meet at 12 pm! Now I won’t

make it one time for my speech!” As she sat on the passenger car in distress, she slowly realized

her wrongdoing and apologized to her husband and asked forgiveness and peace to God. Then

she was reminded of Ecclesiastes 3:11. “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” At that

moment, she was inspired to write a hymn which is the hymn 623. The verses one goes:

In His time, in His time

He makes all things beautiful

In His time

Lord please show me everyday

As You're teaching me your way

That You do just what You say

In Your time

In Your time, in Your time

You make all things beautiful

In Your time

Lord my life to You I bring

May each song I have to sing

Be to You a lovely thing

In Your time

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbFUPFl6qu4)

But miraculously, when she arrived there late, due to an unforeseen event the luncheon

was delayed. So she arrived with enough time to prepare and gave her speech. And on that day

she confessed “My time and my plan are always unstable. You never know what is going to

happen. However, God makes all things beautiful in His time.”

Because of Corona virus, we have to be cautious and stay indoors. Because of uncertainty

and disruption in our plans, it is natural that we feel heavy and sad at heart. I would like to share

that through today’s message that you may see God’s grace.

Today’s message of Ecclesiastes comes from Solomon, who now is old, reflecting back

in his past days. At the beginning of Ecclesiastes, king Solomon states that everything this

meaningless. Then, in order for us to live a meaningful life, let see what we need to do.

The first thing to remember is that everything is within God’s time. Therefore we need to

know that there is time for healing and laughter. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says that there is time for

everything and a season for every activity under the heavens. This means that everything

happens when God decides to happen. We often use the phrase “It is time” or “It is not the time”.

It is true that there is time for everything. And this time we are referring to is the “decisive

moment.”

The decisive moment is well known to farmers and housewives. The farmers know when

to plant and when to harvest. It is imperative to know the right time to plant and harvest in order

to maximize the result. And housewives know even making an instant ramen noodle requires

delicate timing to make their family satisfied.

In Ecclesiastes 3:2~8, the word “time” appears 28 times. Of 28, 14 are positive events

and 14 are negative events, indicating with opposing events. The first time indicates the time to

be born and a time to die. Which means that we are to live and die in God’s time and under His

will?

John 7:30 said “At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his

hour had not yet come.” The people of Jerusalem tried to stone Jesus many times but no one

succeeded because the time was not right. Until Jesus was crucified, no one was able to harm

Him. So everyone including the high priest’s servants was turned away due to His awe. Because

the bible says “His hour had not yet come.”

Ecclesiastes 3:3 states that there is time to kill and a time to heal. 1 Chronicles 21, there’s

time when God sends plague to judge Israel and when God saw David repenting, He stopped the

plague and healed Israel. He gives and takes away according to His time.

Ecclesiastes 3:3 continues with a time to tear down and a time to build. A time where

God strikes down and punishes people and when they repent, God shows mercy and rebuild what

was broken.

There’s also a time to weep and a time to laugh. Sometimes tear is necessary and when

the time passes, smile and laughter will return. James 5:13 states: Is anyone among you in

trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.

.

We cannot view our lives in pessimistic or optimistic matter. Because there always will

be a time for sadness and a time for happiness. A time for despair and a time for hope. A time of

trouble and a time of opportunity. A time for failure and a time for success.