AS NOW --- SO THEN!
TEXT:
Eccl.12:1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
THESIS: To set forth the principle that what we do now establishes our character & reputation for the future.
INTRO.:
A. You are establishing your future reputation now! The sins of your youth will characterize you for life, whether you continue to deserve it or not! What you do now may disqualify you for greatness later. Suppose Mary was not a virgin!? She could never have carried the Christ-child. Timothy says: “Flee YOUTHFUL lusts!” 2 Tim.4:12 (We sing: “Be careful LITTLE EARS what you hear...” NOT “Be careful HEARING AIDS what you hear!”)
ILLUS.:
😢Roy Reigle, a great football player, in one game ran almost the entire 100 yds. for a touchdown...but he ran the wrong way. He will always be known as “Wrong Way Reigle” no matter what...his reputation will follow him.
😢Ben Johnson was a Gold Medalist in the Olympics a few years ago, but it was discovered that he had used steroids. He had to surrender the gold medal & was disgraced.
😢A woman became Miss America, but it was discovered that in her youth she posed nude & her photos appeared in PLAYBOY magazine & she had to give up her crown & was disgraced.
B. Don’t do anything NOW that you will be ashamed of THEN! The title of this message is the principle we seek to communicate: “AS NOW --- SO THEN!”
I. THE SINS OF OUR YOUTH WILL HAUNT US FOR LIFE:
Ps.25:7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remem-
ber thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD.
ILLUS.: Let’s play a word-association game. Ex.: If I say “Pastor Fedena” the first word that will come to your mind is “handsome” (!!??) or “intelligent” (!!??) or “rich” (!!??) *Didn’t think so!
Let’s begin: Fill in the blanks:
Rahab the H___________.
Jacob the D______________.
John Mark the_Q________.
Bathsheba the A___________.
Thomas the D________.
Mary Magdalene the D__________POSSESSED.
(Most often the answers are: Harlot...Deceiver...Quitter...Adulteress...Doubter...Demon)
A. For Most of Her Life Rahab Was NOT a Harlot!
1. She is one of 4 women listed in Jesus’ genealogy.
2. She is listed in Heb. 11 Hall of Heroes of the faith.
3. She saved the spies & her family.
NOTE: But you said: “Rahab the Harlot! You dirty gossiper & rumor spreader. Why? Because you remember the sins of her youth. Even God calls her Rahab the Harlot!!!
B. For Most of His Life Jacob Was NOT a Deceiver!
1. He became the father of the 12 tribes of Israel.
2. He became a prince w/God.
3. He became a great patriarch.
ILLUS.: But the sins of his early years haunted him for life, PLUS.
C. For Most of His Life John Mark Was NOT a Quitter!
1. He wrote the Gospel of Mark.
2. He became a trusted friend of Paul in later years.
D. For Most of Her Life Bathsheba Was NOT an Adulteress!
1. She was a devoted and loyal mother.
2. She reared the mighty King Solomon.
3. She was probably the best wife David had.
E. For Most of His Life Thomas Was NOT a Doubter!
1. He became a great missionary to India.
2. He was martyred because of his stand for Christ.
F. For Most of Her Life Mary Magdalene Was NOT Demon-Possessed!
1. She became a loyal follower & disciple of Christ.
ILLUS.: But we all say Rahab the HARLOT; Jacob the DECEIVER, etc. Why? Because we all establish our character & reputation when we are young. The sins of our youth will forever haunt us. Every Christian saved later in life has “flashbacks” of their former life & carries scars of sin which hinder his testimony & service for Christ. Sure those sins are forgiven, but the scars remain for a lifetime.
II. THE SINS OF OUR YOUTH WILL ESTABLISH OUR REPUTATION FOR LIFE:
Job 20:11 His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust.
A. If You Are Lazy Now --- You Will Be Thought of As Lazy Then!
B. If You Are Late Now --- You Will Be Remembered as Always Late Then!
C. If You Are Foul Mouthed Now --- So Then!
D. If You Are Loose Now --- So Then!
ILLUS.: Don’t do something now which will establish the wrong reputation for life. We all remember girls in our school who were considered “easy” or “loose.” They may be fine mothers today, but in our memory they are promiscuous! You are laying a foundation NOW for a sinful lifestyle later!
1. You may change but your reputation is established.
2. You may repent but your reputation will follow you.
ILLUS.:
New Years Day 1954, Cotton Bowl, 75,504 spectators + millions watching on TV. Rice Inst. vs. U. of Alabama (Rice won 28-7). Dick Moegle gained 300 yds that day (better than NFL record). On one play he ran 85 yds. no-one near him. Suddenly he was tackled. As he ran by the U. of Ala. bench a young scrup named Tommy Lewis jumped from the bench & tackled Dick Moegle. No matter what Tommy Lewis did after that he will always be remembered for his stupidity.
III. THE SINS OF OUR YOUTH WILL SET PATTERNS FOR LIFE:
1 Tim.4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
A. Sin Is More Damaging in Youth Than in Later Years:
ILLUS.:
Let’s play word associations again:
💥Noah & THE ARK. Noah a PREACHER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
💥Abraham the FRIEND OF GOD.
💥The PATIENCE of Job.
💥The WISDOM of Solomon.
1. But Noah got drunk, naked & committed a sinful act w/his son Ham. Why not Noah the DRUNK? THE NAKED? THE HOMO?!
2. Abraham lied about his wife & committed adultery w/Hagar. He fathered a nation of rebels against Israel. Why not Abraham the LIAR? THE WHOREMONGER?
3. Solomon had 700 wives! (That ain’t wise!) Why not Solomon THE POLYGAMIST?! THE ADULTERER?!
ILLUS.: When I say Noah you think positive. When I say Ham you think negative. But it was Noah who got drunk, not Ham! It was Noah who was naked & Noah cooperated in a sinful act. Why? Because Noah had already built the ark & his reputation was established. Not that the sins of the aged are less but they are less damaging than when committed in youth.
Gen. 9:24 And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him.
B. Sin Is More Pattern-Setting in Youth Than In Later Years:
1. What you are & do now establishes lifetime trends.
2. What you are & do now is what others will judge you by then.
ILLUS.: You say “That isn’t fair.” But even God called Rahab a Harlot in Heb.11!! You will be called or thought of as: Charlotte the cheat, Elizabeth the Easy, Laura the Loose, Tom the Thief, Larry the Lazy, Dick the Dirty, Harry the Whoremonger or Alice the Adulterer. Why not Sam the Soul-Winner! George the Godly! Paul the Preacher! Robt. the Righteous! Paul the Pure! Clara the Clean! Steve the Spiritual! or Fred the Friend of God!
3. What you are now is what you will become then.
ILLUS.: The 👎preachers who start services late now are those who came to class late in school. 👎Those who do not study for sermons now are those who never studied in school. 👎Those who goof off now are those who goofed off then. 👎Those who change churches every 2 yrs. now are those who changed jobs frequently then. 👎Those who drop out of a ministry now are those who dropped out of school also. 👎Ordination won’t change your character. 👎Motherhood won’t make you industrious. 👎Marriage won’t make you ambitious.
Eccl.12:1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
THESIS: To set forth the principle that what we do now establishes our character & reputation for the future.
INTRO.:
A. You are establishing your future reputation now! The sins of your youth will characterize you for life, whether you continue to deserve it or not! What you do now may disqualify you for greatness later. Suppose Mary was not a virgin!? She could never have carried the Christ-child. Timothy says: “Flee YOUTHFUL lusts!” 2 Tim.4:12 (We sing: “Be careful LITTLE EARS what you hear...” NOT “Be careful HEARING AIDS what you hear!”)
ILLUS.:
😢Roy Reigle, a great football player, in one game ran almost the entire 100 yds. for a touchdown...but he ran the wrong way. He will always be known as “Wrong Way Reigle” no matter what...his reputation will follow him.
😢Ben Johnson was a Gold Medalist in the Olympics a few years ago, but it was discovered that he had used steroids. He had to surrender the gold medal & was disgraced.
😢A woman became Miss America, but it was discovered that in her youth she posed nude & her photos appeared in PLAYBOY magazine & she had to give up her crown & was disgraced.
B. Don’t do anything NOW that you will be ashamed of THEN! The title of this message is the principle we seek to communicate: “AS NOW --- SO THEN!”
I. THE SINS OF OUR YOUTH WILL HAUNT US FOR LIFE:
Ps.25:7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remem-
ber thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD.
ILLUS.: Let’s play a word-association game. Ex.: If I say “Pastor Fedena” the first word that will come to your mind is “handsome” (!!??) or “intelligent” (!!??) or “rich” (!!??) *Didn’t think so!
Let’s begin: Fill in the blanks:
Rahab the H___________.
Jacob the D______________.
John Mark the_Q________.
Bathsheba the A___________.
Thomas the D________.
Mary Magdalene the D__________POSSESSED.
(Most often the answers are: Harlot...Deceiver...Quitter...Adulteress...Doubter...Demon)
A. For Most of Her Life Rahab Was NOT a Harlot!
1. She is one of 4 women listed in Jesus’ genealogy.
2. She is listed in Heb. 11 Hall of Heroes of the faith.
3. She saved the spies & her family.
NOTE: But you said: “Rahab the Harlot! You dirty gossiper & rumor spreader. Why? Because you remember the sins of her youth. Even God calls her Rahab the Harlot!!!
B. For Most of His Life Jacob Was NOT a Deceiver!
1. He became the father of the 12 tribes of Israel.
2. He became a prince w/God.
3. He became a great patriarch.
ILLUS.: But the sins of his early years haunted him for life, PLUS.
C. For Most of His Life John Mark Was NOT a Quitter!
1. He wrote the Gospel of Mark.
2. He became a trusted friend of Paul in later years.
D. For Most of Her Life Bathsheba Was NOT an Adulteress!
1. She was a devoted and loyal mother.
2. She reared the mighty King Solomon.
3. She was probably the best wife David had.
E. For Most of His Life Thomas Was NOT a Doubter!
1. He became a great missionary to India.
2. He was martyred because of his stand for Christ.
F. For Most of Her Life Mary Magdalene Was NOT Demon-Possessed!
1. She became a loyal follower & disciple of Christ.
ILLUS.: But we all say Rahab the HARLOT; Jacob the DECEIVER, etc. Why? Because we all establish our character & reputation when we are young. The sins of our youth will forever haunt us. Every Christian saved later in life has “flashbacks” of their former life & carries scars of sin which hinder his testimony & service for Christ. Sure those sins are forgiven, but the scars remain for a lifetime.
II. THE SINS OF OUR YOUTH WILL ESTABLISH OUR REPUTATION FOR LIFE:
Job 20:11 His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust.
A. If You Are Lazy Now --- You Will Be Thought of As Lazy Then!
B. If You Are Late Now --- You Will Be Remembered as Always Late Then!
C. If You Are Foul Mouthed Now --- So Then!
D. If You Are Loose Now --- So Then!
ILLUS.: Don’t do something now which will establish the wrong reputation for life. We all remember girls in our school who were considered “easy” or “loose.” They may be fine mothers today, but in our memory they are promiscuous! You are laying a foundation NOW for a sinful lifestyle later!
1. You may change but your reputation is established.
2. You may repent but your reputation will follow you.
ILLUS.:
New Years Day 1954, Cotton Bowl, 75,504 spectators + millions watching on TV. Rice Inst. vs. U. of Alabama (Rice won 28-7). Dick Moegle gained 300 yds that day (better than NFL record). On one play he ran 85 yds. no-one near him. Suddenly he was tackled. As he ran by the U. of Ala. bench a young scrup named Tommy Lewis jumped from the bench & tackled Dick Moegle. No matter what Tommy Lewis did after that he will always be remembered for his stupidity.
III. THE SINS OF OUR YOUTH WILL SET PATTERNS FOR LIFE:
1 Tim.4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
A. Sin Is More Damaging in Youth Than in Later Years:
ILLUS.:
Let’s play word associations again:
💥Noah & THE ARK. Noah a PREACHER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
💥Abraham the FRIEND OF GOD.
💥The PATIENCE of Job.
💥The WISDOM of Solomon.
1. But Noah got drunk, naked & committed a sinful act w/his son Ham. Why not Noah the DRUNK? THE NAKED? THE HOMO?!
2. Abraham lied about his wife & committed adultery w/Hagar. He fathered a nation of rebels against Israel. Why not Abraham the LIAR? THE WHOREMONGER?
3. Solomon had 700 wives! (That ain’t wise!) Why not Solomon THE POLYGAMIST?! THE ADULTERER?!
ILLUS.: When I say Noah you think positive. When I say Ham you think negative. But it was Noah who got drunk, not Ham! It was Noah who was naked & Noah cooperated in a sinful act. Why? Because Noah had already built the ark & his reputation was established. Not that the sins of the aged are less but they are less damaging than when committed in youth.
Gen. 9:24 And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him.
B. Sin Is More Pattern-Setting in Youth Than In Later Years:
1. What you are & do now establishes lifetime trends.
2. What you are & do now is what others will judge you by then.
ILLUS.: You say “That isn’t fair.” But even God called Rahab a Harlot in Heb.11!! You will be called or thought of as: Charlotte the cheat, Elizabeth the Easy, Laura the Loose, Tom the Thief, Larry the Lazy, Dick the Dirty, Harry the Whoremonger or Alice the Adulterer. Why not Sam the Soul-Winner! George the Godly! Paul the Preacher! Robt. the Righteous! Paul the Pure! Clara the Clean! Steve the Spiritual! or Fred the Friend of God!
3. What you are now is what you will become then.
ILLUS.: The 👎preachers who start services late now are those who came to class late in school. 👎Those who do not study for sermons now are those who never studied in school. 👎Those who goof off now are those who goofed off then. 👎Those who change churches every 2 yrs. now are those who changed jobs frequently then. 👎Those who drop out of a ministry now are those who dropped out of school also. 👎Ordination won’t change your character. 👎Motherhood won’t make you industrious. 👎Marriage won’t make you ambitious.
CONCL.:
The sins of youth haunt us for life.
The sins of youth establish our reputation for life.
The sins of youth set patterns for life.
AS NOW --- SO THEN!
Change now...so you will be different then!
Thank God He is willing to forgive & forget your past & wipe your
life clean of sin, if you come to Him. Do it NOW!
AS NOW --- SO THEN!
The sins of youth haunt us for life.
The sins of youth establish our reputation for life.
The sins of youth set patterns for life.
AS NOW --- SO THEN!
Change now...so you will be different then!
Thank God He is willing to forgive & forget your past & wipe your
life clean of sin, if you come to Him. Do it NOW!
AS NOW --- SO THEN!