Time After Time

Time After Time

Ecclesiastes 3:1-15

Main Idea: We learn to enjoy the cycles of time and embrace the tension of time by turning to Jesus, the Lord of time, and receiving eternal life. 

I. The Seasons of Time (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

Relational Seasons 

  1. a time to be born, and a time to die; 
    “For man does not know his time.” (Ecclesiastes 9:12)

    Since his days are determined, and the number of his months is with you, and you have appointed his limits that he cannot pass. (Job 14:5)

  2. a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 

  3. a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 

To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is! (Proverbs 15:23)

Vocational Seasons

  1. a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 

  2. a time to break down, and a time to build up; 

  3. a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; 

  4. a time to tear, and a time to sew;

Provisional Seasons

  1. a time to seek, and a time to lose; 

  2. a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:11–13)

Generational Seasons

  1. a time to kill, and a time to heal; 

  2. a time to love, and a time to hate; 

  3. a time for war, and a time for peace. 

“I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.

"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” 

J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

Emotional Seasons

  1. a time to weep, and a time to laugh; 
    But the cheerful of heart has a continual feast. (Proverbs 15:15)

  2. a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 
    You have turned for me my mourning into dancing. (Psalm 30:11)

    Let them praise his name with dancing. (Psalm 149:3)

    “as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed;     as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. (2 Corinthians 6:9–10)

II. The Tension of Time (Ecclesiastes 3:9-13)

What gain has the worker from his toil? I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. (Ecclesiastes 3:9–10)

He has made everything beautiful in its time. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good. (Genesis 50:20)

Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man. (Ecclesiastes 3:12–13)

III. The Lord of Time (Ecclesiastes 3:14-15)

I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. That which is, already has been; that which is to be already has been, and God seeks what has been driven away. (Ecclesiastes 3:14–15)

33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! (Romans 11:33)

A time for Jesus to be born. (Galatians 4:4)

A Time for Jesus to heal the sick. (Matthew 12:15, 14:14, 14:36, 15:30, 21:14, Luke 4:40)

A time for Jesus to plant. (Matthew 15:13, Mark 11:12-14, 20-21)

A time for Jesus to build and tear down. (Matthew 21:12–17, Mark 11:15–19, Luke 19:45–48, John 2:13–16)

A Time for Jesus to feast. (Luke 19:1-10)

A time for Jesus to eat and drink. (Matthew 11:19, Luke 7:34-36)

A time for Jesus to weep. (John 11:1-44)

A time for Jesus to mourn. (Isaiah 53:3, Luke 19:41-44; cf. Matthew 9:36)

A time for Jesus to rejoice. (Luke 10:21)

A time for Jesus to remain silent. (1 Peter 2:23) 

A time for Jesus to speak. (Luke 4:17-21)

A time for Jesus to die. (John 7:30, Romans 5:6)

A time for Jesus to rise from the dead. (Hosea 6:2; cf. Luke 24:45-46; 1 Corinthians 15:4)

A time for Jesus to build, first with wood (Mark 6:3), then with words (Matthew 16:18), and now his church (Ephesians 2:19-22, 1 Corinthians 3:9-15).

A time for him to bring peace (John 14:27, Romans 5:1). 

A time for Jesus to come again and make all things new. (1 Thessalonians 5:23, Revelation 1:7)