WEBVTT 00:00:01.760 --> 00:00:04.559 Welcome to this week's message from the Church at Chelsea Westover. 00:00:04.879 --> 00:00:10.800 Our core values are vibrant worship, intimate fellowship, fulfilling service, and clear biblical truth. 00:00:10.960 --> 00:00:13.279 We pray that this message changes your life. 00:00:13.519 --> 00:00:17.519 Let's tune in to today's message and see what God has in store for you. 00:00:18.480 --> 00:00:21.920 Ecclesiastes chapter 7. 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:25.920 Ecclesiastes chapter 7. 00:00:26.079 --> 00:00:27.199 What a book. 00:00:27.440 --> 00:00:41.359 How many of you have kind of enjoyed it in a way that, you know, you start going through the book of Ecclesiastes, you say, man, I don't know how many of you have already responded to me and said you'd never really thought about or heard the preaching of Ecclesiastes. 00:00:41.759 --> 00:00:45.840 I had never preached through the book of Ecclesiastes, and I kind of did that on purpose. 00:00:46.240 --> 00:00:48.640 Because every time I read through it, it was depressing. 00:00:49.759 --> 00:00:56.960 But then as God laid on my heart, and our whole theme is you see our billboard, finding the real thing. 00:00:57.280 --> 00:01:09.040 There's no doubt that Solomon, after all his years, the great author of the book of Proverbs in his mid-years, the great author of the Song of Solomon in his early years. 00:01:09.359 --> 00:01:13.680 Then the author of the book of Ecclesiastes in his later years. 00:01:13.920 --> 00:01:16.719 We call the Song of Solomon the Book of Romance. 00:01:16.959 --> 00:01:20.079 We call the Book of Proverbs the Book of Rules. 00:01:20.480 --> 00:01:25.920 And then we call the Book of Ecclesiastes the Book of Regrets. 00:01:26.400 --> 00:01:46.799 And reason during his, I meant prime, Satan through some, should I say, connections and affiliations with wrong cultures, wrong women, and wrong gods, actually turned Solomon's heart away for a while. 00:01:47.359 --> 00:01:49.599 And this lesson's going to see some of that. 00:01:49.760 --> 00:01:51.120 It's going to be powerful. 00:01:51.359 --> 00:01:53.680 And uh actually, I had never seen this. 00:01:53.760 --> 00:02:05.599 I'm so excited to show it to you today that Solomon, after having a thousand wives, seven hundred concubines, no, seven hundred wives, three hundred concubines. 00:02:05.760 --> 00:02:08.479 That's a thousand wives, a thousand relationships. 00:02:08.719 --> 00:02:12.240 I know what you're thinking, my soul, I can't handle one. 00:02:15.039 --> 00:02:17.120 He couldn't either suits his head. 00:02:20.479 --> 00:02:38.000 But at the end of that, in this chapter for the first time, Solomon makes the statement where he said, and you'll see this, that these women really, he didn't need a thousand women that really drew him away and their culture and their gods away from God. 00:02:38.319 --> 00:02:39.759 He only needed one. 00:02:40.159 --> 00:02:41.840 One wise woman. 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:42.960 Can I get an amen? 00:02:43.520 --> 00:02:51.599 One Proverbs 31 woman who was his mother who had set that example for him. 00:02:51.840 --> 00:02:53.439 So, with that said, let's begin. 00:02:53.520 --> 00:02:54.719 I want to give you a test. 00:02:55.039 --> 00:02:56.000 True false. 00:02:56.719 --> 00:03:00.159 I knew Greg needed help, so we're doing true false, Greg. 00:03:00.319 --> 00:03:01.599 You don't have to fill in the blanks. 00:03:01.759 --> 00:03:03.120 We're going to do a true false. 00:03:03.280 --> 00:03:07.120 What I want you to do is say true or false or write it down in your mind. 00:03:07.360 --> 00:03:10.000 Consider your answers to the following questions. 00:03:10.319 --> 00:03:14.719 I like laughter better than crying, true or false. 00:03:14.960 --> 00:03:18.800 I like laughter, don't say it out loud. 00:03:19.680 --> 00:03:21.199 People are you're cheating. 00:03:21.520 --> 00:03:22.639 Don't do that. 00:03:22.879 --> 00:03:27.840 I like laughter better than crying in your mind, or true or false. 00:03:28.400 --> 00:03:32.639 I like weddings better than funerals, true or false. 00:03:33.039 --> 00:03:37.840 I like to think of my birthday better than I like to think of my dying day. 00:03:38.159 --> 00:03:39.280 True or false. 00:03:39.520 --> 00:03:42.479 I like compliments better than criticisms. 00:03:42.800 --> 00:03:44.000 True or false. 00:03:44.240 --> 00:03:47.520 I like the shortcut better than the long way. 00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:49.599 True or false. 00:03:49.840 --> 00:03:54.479 I like the good old days better than the new things today. 00:03:54.960 --> 00:03:56.479 True or false. 00:03:56.719 --> 00:04:00.240 Now, most of us would agree with the declarative statements. 00:04:00.639 --> 00:04:05.199 But if you have mostly true or all true, you flunk the test. 00:04:06.719 --> 00:04:13.840 According to song, I mean according to Solomon in chapter 7 in the first ten verses. 00:04:14.240 --> 00:04:15.759 You flunk the test. 00:04:15.919 --> 00:04:17.120 And here's why. 00:04:17.439 --> 00:04:22.000 The key, the key to what Solomon is teaching here is the word better. 00:04:22.240 --> 00:04:22.800 Better. 00:04:22.959 --> 00:04:26.720 And it's found 11 times in these 10 verses. 00:04:26.879 --> 00:04:31.839 It's found 11 times in Ecclesiastes chapter 7, verses 1 through 10. 00:04:32.000 --> 00:04:38.000 Now, he's not teaching here about things that are right or wrong. 00:04:38.240 --> 00:04:39.519 That's not what he's doing. 00:04:39.680 --> 00:04:49.439 He is not teaching about things that are right and wrong in life as much as he's teaching about things that are better than what? 00:04:49.839 --> 00:04:52.000 The other option in life. 00:04:52.240 --> 00:04:56.480 And so with that said, you got to understand, he's not saying this is right and that's wrong. 00:04:56.560 --> 00:05:09.360 But what he's saying, there's some things in life that we think are good that really maybe there's other things that we don't like that are better for us than the things we do like. 00:05:09.519 --> 00:05:11.040 That's the best way to explain it. 00:05:11.199 --> 00:05:17.120 He's saying what you think's good sometimes is not the best thing for you. 00:05:17.600 --> 00:05:21.600 In other words, we would all say, we don't want any criticism. 00:05:22.560 --> 00:05:25.920 I don't like people criticizing me, Melvin. 00:05:28.160 --> 00:05:29.839 I don't like criticism. 00:05:30.079 --> 00:05:30.720 Amen. 00:05:31.040 --> 00:05:33.519 This is, I'm sure you're happy you just jump out. 00:05:33.600 --> 00:05:35.600 Oh, I just like people to criticize me. 00:05:35.759 --> 00:05:38.399 Just, Todd, would you just criticize me? 00:05:39.680 --> 00:05:42.560 Do you like your husband to criticize you? 00:05:42.720 --> 00:05:45.839 My wife can't stand for me to say anything negative. 00:05:46.160 --> 00:05:49.920 So I just go around and when it's time for something I don't like, I go. 00:05:51.920 --> 00:05:52.959 No, I don't. 00:05:53.199 --> 00:05:53.759 I don't. 00:05:55.839 --> 00:05:59.759 But none of us, all of us be mmm. 00:06:01.439 --> 00:06:03.839 But none of us like criticism, do we? 00:06:04.079 --> 00:06:04.399 No. 00:06:04.800 --> 00:06:11.279 But listen, if we do not take corrective criticism, we will not be better. 00:06:11.519 --> 00:06:11.920 Amen. 00:06:12.959 --> 00:06:13.279 Okay? 00:06:13.839 --> 00:06:16.000 So this is what he's talking about. 00:06:16.240 --> 00:06:21.759 He's saying, and really it is, better means more depth of wisdom. 00:06:21.920 --> 00:06:23.519 And that's where I got my title from. 00:06:23.680 --> 00:06:32.480 In other words, when you understand that what's difficult, what is sorrowful sometimes, what is hard sometimes, is for our betterment. 00:06:32.639 --> 00:06:37.199 Now you're beginning to learn to walk in God's wisdom. 00:06:37.519 --> 00:06:38.160 Amen? 00:06:38.639 --> 00:06:43.199 And that wisdom, God's wisdom is better. 00:06:43.360 --> 00:06:51.439 And this is what Solomon is teaching us and talking about here in chapter 7, which is powerful. 00:06:51.600 --> 00:06:52.560 It really is. 00:06:52.879 --> 00:06:58.160 In fact, in Ecclesiastes 7 and 8, he discusses the importance of the wisdom of life. 00:06:58.319 --> 00:07:01.920 Now, word wisdom here in this chapter is found 14 times. 00:07:02.160 --> 00:07:03.279 Reference to it. 00:07:03.519 --> 00:07:05.040 And he answers the question. 00:07:05.199 --> 00:07:15.519 If you remember the question in Ecclesiastes 6, 12, if you got your Bibles, just uh turn back and look at Ecclesiastes chapter 6, verse 12. 00:07:15.680 --> 00:07:17.120 And remember the question? 00:07:17.439 --> 00:07:20.240 For who knows what is good for man in life? 00:07:20.399 --> 00:07:25.040 All the days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow. 00:07:25.279 --> 00:07:32.240 In other words, who knows what's best for man's life when he's only here for a very short period of time? 00:07:32.480 --> 00:07:33.519 He's only here. 00:07:33.680 --> 00:07:34.720 Life is brief. 00:07:35.040 --> 00:07:38.000 James 4.14, whereas you know not what shall be on tomorrow. 00:07:38.240 --> 00:07:39.040 What is your life? 00:07:39.199 --> 00:07:40.240 It's even a vapor. 00:07:40.319 --> 00:07:44.240 Now watch, that appears for a little time, then what does it do? 00:07:44.480 --> 00:07:45.759 It vanishes away. 00:07:45.920 --> 00:07:47.680 We're only here for a little time. 00:07:47.839 --> 00:07:49.439 So what is our purpose? 00:07:49.680 --> 00:07:52.720 What is the meaning for our life while we are here? 00:07:52.879 --> 00:07:53.920 Who knows that? 00:07:54.160 --> 00:07:55.600 Well, we know the answer. 00:07:55.839 --> 00:07:58.959 There's only one person that really knows that, and that's God. 00:07:59.199 --> 00:08:11.040 So if we apply God's wisdoms to our life, then we will find out God's purpose and God's meaning for our life and how important that is. 00:08:11.360 --> 00:08:14.480 For who knoweth what is good for man in this life? 00:08:14.720 --> 00:08:29.120 Well, we see that right here, there's three positive contributions that Solomon gives us in this long chapter of 29 verses, three things about God's wisdom and how it applies to our life. 00:08:29.279 --> 00:08:34.399 Number one, here's what he says Wisdom can make life better. 00:08:34.559 --> 00:08:36.320 Verses 1 through 10. 00:08:36.799 --> 00:08:40.960 Wisdom, God's wisdom, makes life better. 00:08:41.279 --> 00:08:46.399 And again, better things that come to the life of a person who follows God's wisdom. 00:08:46.559 --> 00:08:47.519 And here's what he said. 00:08:47.679 --> 00:08:51.600 Now, these are the things that when we took the test, we said, how can that be? 00:08:51.759 --> 00:08:57.039 And can you imagine when people start reading this as I did, how they say, wait a minute, that doesn't make sense. 00:08:57.200 --> 00:08:58.799 Let me say something right up front. 00:08:58.960 --> 00:09:00.000 Don't miss this. 00:09:00.240 --> 00:09:04.480 Sometimes God's ways don't make sense. 00:09:05.360 --> 00:09:06.799 Humanly speaking. 00:09:08.080 --> 00:09:08.720 Amen. 00:09:09.360 --> 00:09:10.240 Come on now. 00:09:11.679 --> 00:09:16.240 But that's the difference in faith and hey, flesh. 00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:18.559 We walk by faith, not by flesh. 00:09:18.720 --> 00:09:19.759 Can I get an amen? 00:09:20.399 --> 00:09:21.840 2 Corinthians 5, 7. 00:09:21.919 --> 00:09:24.000 We walk by faith, not by sight. 00:09:24.320 --> 00:09:27.039 So by sight, it doesn't make sense. 00:09:27.200 --> 00:09:29.919 We can't figure it out and we don't like it. 00:09:30.080 --> 00:09:32.320 But yet it's better for us. 00:09:32.639 --> 00:09:34.639 For example, notice what he says. 00:09:34.960 --> 00:09:40.000 Sorrow in verse 1 through 4, look at the first part. 00:09:40.240 --> 00:09:43.600 Sorrow is better than laughter. 00:09:44.080 --> 00:09:44.559 Wow. 00:09:44.879 --> 00:09:47.440 Sorrow is better than laughter. 00:09:47.600 --> 00:09:48.720 Notice what he says there. 00:09:48.799 --> 00:09:49.759 Is that not powerful? 00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:55.840 He says, a good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of the death than the day of one's birth. 00:09:56.000 --> 00:10:02.000 Better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for that is the end of all men. 00:10:02.159 --> 00:10:04.559 And the living will take it to heart. 00:10:04.879 --> 00:10:08.960 Sorrow is better than laughter. 00:10:09.200 --> 00:10:12.639 For by a sad countenance the heart is made better. 00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:19.759 And the heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirrors. 00:10:19.919 --> 00:10:24.559 That means banquets, the house of banquets, the house of pleasures. 00:10:24.720 --> 00:10:27.279 That's what that means, that word, mirth there. 00:10:27.519 --> 00:10:29.440 So notice what he says. 00:10:29.759 --> 00:10:32.799 If given the choice, most people would rather have a what? 00:10:32.960 --> 00:10:36.240 A birthday party than to go to a funeral. 00:10:36.799 --> 00:10:37.279 Amen? 00:10:37.600 --> 00:10:38.639 Is that not true? 00:10:38.960 --> 00:10:40.159 Absolutely. 00:10:40.399 --> 00:10:44.399 But notice, because sorrow can do more good for the heart than laughter. 00:10:44.559 --> 00:10:45.120 What does he mean? 00:10:45.200 --> 00:10:47.120 The word heart there, it's a powerful word. 00:10:47.200 --> 00:10:47.919 It's lathe. 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:49.840 It's the Hebrew word lathe, L-A-V-E. 00:10:50.080 --> 00:10:50.320 Lave. 00:10:50.639 --> 00:10:54.399 And it means the soul, the inner person, the emotions, the passions. 00:10:54.720 --> 00:10:57.919 Solomon was certainly not a morbid person. 00:10:58.159 --> 00:11:16.720 I mean, he's not saying that laughter is not good, but what he is saying right here, that the heart, that inner, inner soul, sometimes has to go through the hard times of life, the sorrowful times of life, so that God can use that to make us what we need to be for him. 00:11:17.120 --> 00:11:22.320 Remember what Paul said that I might know him and the power of his resurrection? 00:11:22.559 --> 00:11:23.679 We love that part. 00:11:23.919 --> 00:11:25.200 Oh, we love that part. 00:11:25.279 --> 00:11:27.120 I mean, we like the power of God. 00:11:27.279 --> 00:11:28.720 We love the relationship with God. 00:11:28.799 --> 00:11:34.240 That I might know him and the power of his revel and the power of his thank you. 00:11:34.480 --> 00:11:36.080 The power of his resurrection. 00:11:38.639 --> 00:11:39.759 Did you hear that? 00:11:40.080 --> 00:11:42.639 The fellowship of his suffering. 00:11:42.799 --> 00:11:43.759 How about that, preacher? 00:11:43.919 --> 00:11:46.159 I got some preachers in here, baby. 00:11:46.480 --> 00:11:50.399 The power, hey, of the resurrection and the fellowship of what? 00:11:51.519 --> 00:11:52.559 His suffering. 00:11:52.879 --> 00:11:57.600 So sorrow is better sometimes in our life than laughter. 00:11:57.759 --> 00:12:02.559 Now, don't forget what the great preacher said, Proverbs 15, 13. 00:12:02.799 --> 00:12:06.480 Laughter can be like medicine that heals the broken heart. 00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:07.679 We know that. 00:12:09.360 --> 00:12:12.720 I need y'all guys back there to Proverbs 15, 13. 00:12:12.960 --> 00:12:13.759 Work with me. 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:20.320 Proverbs 15, 13 says that laughter is a good medicine. 00:12:20.720 --> 00:12:23.120 It brings joy to the heart. 00:12:23.279 --> 00:12:27.519 And then look at what he says in the other verse, verse 15. 00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:37.039 He says, A merry heart makes a cheerful counsel, and then all the days of the afflicted are evil, but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast. 00:12:37.519 --> 00:12:38.159 Amen. 00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:41.120 So he's not saying that laughter is not good. 00:12:41.200 --> 00:12:46.720 In fact, the word laughter, there's the Greek word, the Hebrew word for laughter in this passage here means two things. 00:12:46.879 --> 00:13:00.080 It means medicine laughter, but it also means frivolous laughter that we see with the fools and trying to avoid the subject and making fun of stuff. 00:13:00.320 --> 00:13:01.919 So we see this is very important. 00:13:02.080 --> 00:13:11.679 Laughter can be like medicine that heals the brokenhearted, but it can, hey, but sorrow can be like nourishing food that strengthens the inner person. 00:13:11.919 --> 00:13:13.200 Man, that's good. 00:13:13.440 --> 00:13:14.399 That is good. 00:13:14.960 --> 00:13:16.080 Remember this. 00:13:16.559 --> 00:13:23.759 God didn't use Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in a greater way until they went through the fiery furnace. 00:13:25.519 --> 00:13:26.000 Hello. 00:13:26.799 --> 00:13:27.759 You with me? 00:13:28.240 --> 00:13:33.679 God didn't deliver them from the furnace, He delivered them in the furnace. 00:13:34.559 --> 00:13:35.039 Why? 00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:43.440 They had to learn what it meant through, hey, to have a suffering, unbelievable, refining experience. 00:13:44.799 --> 00:13:45.919 And let me tell you something. 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:48.000 Have you ever thought about that passage of scripture? 00:13:48.159 --> 00:13:52.240 There was only one thing that was burned off of Shedra, Meshe, and Abednego. 00:13:53.279 --> 00:13:55.519 In the firefurn, the ropes. 00:13:55.759 --> 00:13:56.639 You know why? 00:13:56.879 --> 00:13:59.440 That was the only thing the world put on them. 00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:09.279 So a lot of times we go into the fire so that we can have, are you ready for this? 00:14:09.519 --> 00:14:11.600 The worldliness burned off. 00:14:12.080 --> 00:14:14.240 Somebody say that's good, preacher. 00:14:14.559 --> 00:14:15.519 That is good. 00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:17.919 So, with that said, we see that. 00:14:18.159 --> 00:14:21.200 But now let's look at Solomon's bizarre statement. 00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:22.240 Oh, this is good. 00:14:22.399 --> 00:14:25.120 Now this, you fixing this, oh, oh, oh, oh. 00:14:25.279 --> 00:14:26.000 Just watch. 00:14:26.159 --> 00:14:26.639 Watch. 00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:28.159 Solomon's verse one. 00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:29.279 Look at what he says. 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:32.639 One death is better than one's birth. 00:14:32.960 --> 00:14:33.600 What? 00:14:34.159 --> 00:14:36.799 Well, first of all, you can't die until you're born. 00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:38.960 That makes sense, doesn't it? 00:14:39.440 --> 00:14:42.159 But why did he make such a statement? 00:14:42.399 --> 00:14:44.000 Here's what he's saying. 00:14:44.240 --> 00:14:47.200 He's saying, a good, and then I love this. 00:14:47.519 --> 00:14:55.279 He says, a good reputation, that's what a good name means, is like a fragrant perfume. 00:14:56.159 --> 00:14:59.600 In fact, he uses the word there, two Hebrew words. 00:15:00.159 --> 00:15:02.960 The name is what we call shame. 00:15:03.120 --> 00:15:04.320 That's the Hebrew word. 00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:06.000 It means reputation. 00:15:06.159 --> 00:15:11.440 And then he uses the ointment, Hebrew word is, is, and boy, what a word. 00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:12.879 It's shemen. 00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:24.879 And it literally means when you look at what Solomon wrote, and he uses the same words in Ecclesiastes 10:1 and the Song of Solomon in chapter 1, verse 3, here's what he says. 00:15:25.120 --> 00:15:30.320 One was a bad fragrance, and one was a beautiful, sweet-smelling fragrance. 00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:32.879 So in reality, here's what he's saying. 00:15:33.200 --> 00:15:34.799 Man, this is unbelievable. 00:15:35.039 --> 00:15:52.000 Your life will be a, hey, the life that you live from the moment that you're born till you die will either be a sweet smelling fragrance to God and to people, or it will be a foul stench. 00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:53.759 Whoa. 00:15:55.440 --> 00:15:56.080 Wow. 00:15:57.360 --> 00:16:01.519 So my question to you is, how are you smelling? 00:16:05.039 --> 00:16:06.799 Preacher, how you smelling? 00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:08.000 Good. 00:16:09.440 --> 00:16:15.120 Because that's what the application of that verse really is. 00:16:15.519 --> 00:16:18.559 Solomon was not contrasting birth and death. 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:31.120 In fact, basically, he said, a life lived between those two events will determine whether the name you live by leave behind is a lovely fragrance or a foul stench. 00:16:31.360 --> 00:16:31.840 Mm-mm. 00:16:32.799 --> 00:16:36.080 If a person dies with a good reputation. 00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:40.000 Now let me tell you why he said it's better for the death than the birth. 00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:40.960 Here's why. 00:16:41.200 --> 00:16:44.399 You and I get, we get born and we die. 00:16:44.559 --> 00:16:46.480 Your name appears twice. 00:16:46.639 --> 00:16:48.480 Your name is very important twice. 00:16:48.720 --> 00:16:53.840 When you're born in the little town I came from, Sylvester, Georgia, we had the Sylvester local. 00:16:53.919 --> 00:16:55.440 That was our little paper's name. 00:16:55.600 --> 00:17:01.600 So every time there was a baby born in our county, Worth County, the name went in the birth section. 00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:05.920 Every time someone died, your name went in the obituary section. 00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:12.319 So every most people grab the paper, turn to the back page because they have the births and the deaths. 00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:16.640 So your name is very important twice when you're born and when you die. 00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:30.160 So what Solomon says, from the moment you're born till you die, your life that you live will determine whether you're a sweet fragrance or a foul fragrance. 00:17:30.400 --> 00:17:52.480 And the reason that he says the death is better than the birth is because when you and I live our lives and we die, if we have lived a fantastic, godly life, hey, a life filled with God's wisdom, doing God's work, doing God's will for our lives, building that our labors do follow after us. 00:17:52.640 --> 00:17:54.400 Revelation 14, 13. 00:17:54.559 --> 00:17:56.319 We've lived a godly life. 00:17:56.480 --> 00:17:58.960 When we die, bam, it's settled. 00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:00.319 Your character's over. 00:18:00.480 --> 00:18:05.759 You don't have to worry about doing something dumb or stupid to mess up your testimony. 00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:07.039 Wow. 00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:09.519 Is that good or is that good? 00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:12.960 So that's what he meant when he said this is better. 00:18:13.119 --> 00:18:22.400 In other words, you've lived that godly life, you've lived that example, you've left a legacy of godliness behind you, and boom, Satan can't mess it up. 00:18:23.680 --> 00:18:24.720 It's over. 00:18:25.599 --> 00:18:26.240 Wow. 00:18:27.119 --> 00:18:34.000 But until then, you and I have to constantly fight Satan. 00:18:34.160 --> 00:18:38.480 Hey, do the battle and live by godly wisdom. 00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:41.680 Because Satan's trying to destroy our testimony. 00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:46.720 You're writing a gospel, a chapter each day, by the deeds that you do and the words that you say. 00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:49.519 Men read what you write, distorted or true. 00:18:49.599 --> 00:18:52.799 What is the gospel according to you? 00:18:53.599 --> 00:18:55.119 2 Corinthians 3, 2. 00:18:55.200 --> 00:18:58.160 You are a light written in our hearts, known and read by all men. 00:18:59.440 --> 00:19:01.920 So we see how important that is. 00:19:02.079 --> 00:19:11.839 The memory of the just, listen to what he by the way, hey, I I can't, I read so much the last I'm reading so much on all anything I can get my hands on about Ecclesiastes. 00:19:12.079 --> 00:19:16.000 But one great theologian said, You have three names. 00:19:17.200 --> 00:19:22.480 The name your father gives you, the name people give you. 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:28.720 My name when I was born was James Daniel Lovett Jr. 00:19:29.359 --> 00:19:32.000 That's what was on my birth certificate. 00:19:32.400 --> 00:19:35.839 James Daniel Love It Jr. 00:19:36.480 --> 00:19:39.119 But then there's the name that people give you. 00:19:40.640 --> 00:19:41.440 Hot dog. 00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:44.400 That was my athletic name, hot dog. 00:19:45.440 --> 00:19:47.599 I didn't want everybody to know that. 00:19:52.079 --> 00:19:55.839 But hey, I know. 00:19:57.519 --> 00:19:58.319 Hot dog. 00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:01.839 Go, hot dog! Yeah, all right. 00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:04.559 But then the name that people give you. 00:20:05.039 --> 00:20:07.279 My name that people gave me was Danny. 00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:11.279 Because my mother loved the song Danny Boy. 00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:13.119 The Piper Piping. 00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:15.359 So everybody called me Danny. 00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:16.480 Danny Boy. 00:20:16.640 --> 00:20:16.799 Dr. 00:20:16.880 --> 00:20:22.000 Falwell, my my mentor, and I love so much, and I miss him so much. 00:20:22.400 --> 00:20:24.240 He used to call me Danny Boy all the time. 00:20:24.480 --> 00:20:25.279 Danny Boy. 00:20:25.519 --> 00:20:28.720 And I knew that was such an endearing name for him for me. 00:20:29.119 --> 00:20:30.720 He'd call me Danny Boy. 00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:35.839 But then there's the name that you're gonna give yourself. 00:20:37.359 --> 00:20:46.240 And that is gonna be the determined, that will be determined by the life that you live from the moment you're born to the day you die. 00:20:46.640 --> 00:20:52.880 And it will either be a sweet smelling aroma to God or a foul state. 00:21:00.880 --> 00:21:06.400 Proverbs 10 7, the memory of the just is blessed, but the name of the wicked shall rot. 00:21:06.640 --> 00:21:07.839 Did you hear that? 00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:10.160 Hey, the Proverbs 10. 00:21:10.880 --> 00:21:14.000 The memory of the just is blessed. 00:21:14.640 --> 00:21:18.799 But uh the name of the wicked shall rot. 00:21:18.960 --> 00:21:21.759 Proverbs 22, one, a good name is better. 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:22.799 Listen to this. 00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:27.279 A good name is better than great riches. 00:21:27.839 --> 00:21:29.200 Wow, did you hear that? 00:21:29.440 --> 00:21:33.680 A good name is better than great riches. 00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:36.559 Man, that's a beautiful, beautiful sight. 00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:38.000 Two examples. 00:21:38.240 --> 00:21:39.519 Mary of Bethany. 00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:48.319 Remember Beth Mary of Bethany when she anointed Jesus with the uh beautiful fragrant oil, very costly. 00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:50.240 You know how much I I did my homework. 00:21:50.400 --> 00:21:57.200 You know how much that bottle, little bottle of perfume that she broke and poured over his head getting ready for the Passover, she knew. 00:21:57.359 --> 00:21:58.799 Hey, you know how much that costs? 00:21:58.960 --> 00:21:59.759 A year's wait. 00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:04.240 A year's wages. 00:22:05.519 --> 00:22:08.079 That's what Jesus meant to her. 00:22:08.240 --> 00:22:09.440 Everything she had. 00:22:09.519 --> 00:22:12.799 She had worked for a year for that bottle of perfume. 00:22:12.880 --> 00:22:17.119 And she broke it and poured it on his head because she loved him that much. 00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:25.359 And in Mark 14, verse 9, Jesus says, For what you have done today will be a memory for eternity. 00:22:27.119 --> 00:22:27.759 Wow. 00:22:28.960 --> 00:22:29.599 Wow. 00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:37.920 What you have done today will be a, hey, honorable for me and about me for an eternity. 00:22:39.359 --> 00:22:40.960 What you've done for me. 00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:45.359 Judas was upset, and he got the other disciples upset. 00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:48.720 Judas was upset because he says it's a years of wages. 00:22:48.880 --> 00:22:51.359 We could have spent that in a lot better ways. 00:22:51.599 --> 00:22:53.119 Oh, really, Judas? 00:22:56.960 --> 00:23:01.599 Mary died with an honorable, sweet-smelling fragrance when Judas died. 00:23:01.680 --> 00:23:04.160 And by the way, I did a little research on Judas. 00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:07.440 We were, preacher and I were talking about this in David the other day. 00:23:07.599 --> 00:23:14.880 And the word Judas, by the way, his name that was given to him was Judah. 00:23:15.599 --> 00:23:16.400 Judah. 00:23:16.640 --> 00:23:18.160 And it means praise. 00:23:18.240 --> 00:23:23.119 And it belongs to the royal tribe in Israel of Judah, the tribe of Judah. 00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:29.920 But by the time Judas dies, he has turned his honorable name into something shameful. 00:23:30.079 --> 00:23:32.319 And you know what his name ended up being? 00:23:32.640 --> 00:23:34.720 The son of perdition. 00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:40.160 Jesus called him that in John 17, verse 12. 00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:47.119 He said, Everyone I have, you've given to me, Father's mine, except the son of perdition. 00:23:47.279 --> 00:23:49.599 Now let me tell you what the word perdition means. 00:23:49.839 --> 00:23:56.240 The word perdition is a word, and it literally means, are you ready? 00:23:57.039 --> 00:23:59.200 It means destruction. 00:23:59.359 --> 00:24:01.359 It means eternal separation. 00:24:01.599 --> 00:24:04.160 It means eternal misery. 00:24:06.319 --> 00:24:08.640 So we see the comparisons of the two. 00:24:08.960 --> 00:24:10.720 Judas was known for what? 00:24:10.960 --> 00:24:11.920 A traitor. 00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:18.000 And he went and hung himself. 00:24:18.319 --> 00:24:22.799 Mary was known for giving everything she had, this beautiful fragrance. 00:24:23.279 --> 00:24:26.160 And honor and love and care for the Lord. 00:24:26.880 --> 00:24:31.359 Beautiful, beautiful picture of what Solomon's talking about. 00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:37.920 One, when he died, she had an honorable name, lasting for an eternity. 00:24:38.160 --> 00:24:41.680 The other, you know what we mean by that. 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:45.279 So what a contrast that we see. 00:24:45.440 --> 00:24:46.720 And then verses two and four. 00:24:54.960 --> 00:24:56.960 He said, Death is coming. 00:24:58.240 --> 00:25:00.880 Don't take death in the wrong way. 00:25:01.119 --> 00:25:04.720 But also don't get preoccupied and caught up in it. 00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:06.559 That's all you think about. 00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:09.839 But he says, take it seriously too. 00:25:10.079 --> 00:25:12.000 Whereas you know not what shall be on tomorrow. 00:25:12.160 --> 00:25:13.680 What is your life, even a vapor? 00:25:13.920 --> 00:25:15.440 Period for a little time vanish away. 00:25:15.599 --> 00:25:16.240 But now watch this. 00:25:16.400 --> 00:25:20.000 Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. 00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:23.359 And as it is appointed that a man wants to die, and after this, what? 00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:24.400 The judgment. 00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:27.039 Proverbs 27, 1, Hebrews 9 27. 00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:32.079 He says, Remember that, that there's, hey, we're all going to die. 00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:33.680 But then notice the second thing. 00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:39.519 He says, not only is sorrow better than laughter, he says, rebuke is better than praise in verses 5 and 6. 00:25:39.759 --> 00:25:41.279 Look at what he says. 00:25:41.599 --> 00:25:46.240 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools. 00:25:47.200 --> 00:25:52.640 And then verse 6, for like the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. 00:25:52.799 --> 00:25:53.759 This also is vanity. 00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:56.319 I looked up that word crackling of thorns. 00:25:56.480 --> 00:25:58.720 It was a bush back in Jesus' day. 00:25:58.880 --> 00:26:01.359 It was a dried bush with thorns. 00:26:01.440 --> 00:26:05.279