Year End Close Out Special

Dec. 31, 2000       Year-End Close Out Special       Proverbs 4

By Ronald E. George Jr. at the Fayetteville Baptist Church

At the end of the year it is always a good time to evaluate (Where have we been?), estimate (Where are we now?), and approximate (Where do we go from here?).

            As you have heard me say in the services, the beauty of the church is in the people of that church. The people of the church are beautiful because they serve a beautiful God who is good in all His ways. You can be sure that the god of this world, who is the devil, has taken notice of all this activity, and he will be on the offensive. As we make plans for the future let’s continue to seek God and his direction in all our ways and He will direct our plans for the future.

Which way did you go? Which way am I going? Which way have I gone? Where in the world am I anyway? Which way do I want to go from here?   This is the year-end close out special. It is time to do some inventory of where we are in our lives, our homes, our church, and our community. Then after we have taken inventory of our lives we should consider where we want to go with the rest of our lives into the New Year. What is our destination?

Scripture Text: Prov 4:18 (KJS) But the path of the just [is] as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. 19 The way of the wicked [is] as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. 20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. 22 For they [are] life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. 23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it [are] the issues of life. 24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. 25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. 26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. 27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

Three points constitute a line that is going ahead into the future. This sermon is full of personal questions that should be answered by each of us as we consider what the goal is that lies before us. Before we can tell how we have done let’s consider what the Lord says is the best goal for our lives. There are many good ways for us to go, but what is the best. The best way is the Lord’s way for us.

1. What should be our goal for life? For most of life our goals are pretty clear cut, but the spiritual life is something that tends to be more gray that most other areas of our lives. Without a goal progress can’t be determined. But, we have a goal that has been given to us by the Lord who is our God. He says that our life should shine brighter and brighter until we reach the full light of day. What are our goals?

Key Verse: Prov 4:18 (KJS) But the path of the just [is] as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

a. To shine as bright as the full light of day in world full darkness. Have we made such a difference in our world that we look like a shining star in a black night? He contrasts the wicked who don’t even know what they stumble on. Have we become brighter and brighter through the past years in our spiritual lives?

Prov 4:18 (NIV) The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. 19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.

b. To listen closely to words of God and kept them in our heart? How has the Lord been leading you? What has he been leading you to become and do? Have you put those words into your heart? Have they become part of your life? Is this what you have become?

20 My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. 21 Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; 22 for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body.

c. To guard our hearts and try to keep all the dirt of the world out of our well? He mentions a couple of sources of dirt that we must be careful to prevent from falling into the well of our heart. These are our mouth and eyes. He says to be watch perverse talk and keep our eyes looking straight.

23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. 24 Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. 25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.

d. To think about where our feet have been taking us and go on the straight path? Have we gone straight on the paths of the Lord? Those who live in the world say that those who try to follow the ways of God are straight. Are you straight?

26 Make level {Or Consider the} paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. 27 Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

2. Where have we been? 26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. This is evaluation time. To be able to tell where we are we have to be able to look into the past to see where we have been. Then we can see the difference as we compare the past with the present. Have we been shining brighter and brighter?   Are we growing older gracefully? Have we made forward steps in our spiritual lives? Have we lived with the Lord throughout the past? Then we are just. Have we been justified? The just are those who walk by Faith. Have we been shining with Jesus? Have we made a difference in the spiritual sense? Have we kept God’s Word in our ears, in our eyes, and in our heart?

3. Where are we today? Estimation. Let’s estimate where we are.

1Cor 11:28 (KJS) But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of [that] bread, and drink of [that] cup.

4. Where are we going? Now will you determine where you will go into the new year? When you get there will you be happy? Approximation. Where do we want to go? Will you try to meet the Lord’s goals for your life this year? If we reach another new year will we be shining brighter than this year? Will you be shining brighter this coming year than the last? Will you plan for it and prepare for it? Let’s go together with the Lord?