Understanding Our God-Given Purpose: A Study in Ecclesiastes with Brian Aiken

Join Brian Aiken as he leads an insightful sermon at Timberland Drive, diving deep into the themes of fulfillment and purpose in our lives from a biblical perspective. Reflecting on the words of Solomon in Ecclesiastes and drawing connections to the early chapters of Genesis, Brian discusses the enduring cycles of life, the nature of work and wealth, human corruption, and the pursuit of happiness. Discover practical applications of these ancient truths in our modern world and explore God's expectations for us. Whether you're a long-time member or a visitor, this study offers valuable wisdom and encouragement for your spiritual journey.

00:00 Welcome and Introduction
00:56 Historical Context: The Declaration of Independence
03:40 Exploring Ecclesiastes: Themes and Reflections
06:51 Genesis and Ecclesiastes: A Comparative Study
11:43 Solomon's Reflections on Life and Purpose
18:59 The Vanity of Earthly Pursuits
22:51 The Human Condition and Divine Expectations
36:47 Concluding Thoughts and Call to Action

Transcript

Well, good evening everyone. It's good to see you out tonight, and if you're visiting with us, we're also glad to have you invite you to take out your Bibles and follow along as we engage in the study of God's word. And as always, if you have any questions, feel free to stop me afterwards and, and let me know.

Be glad to look at those things with you. Before I, we get started on a personal note, I, I do want to thank the, the elders and, and also Preston for Reagan, excuse me, for. Reaching out to me and giving the opportunity to teach tonight something I enjoy doing and happy to be able to do it and appreciate you all being here to, to do the study with me.

But also we're coming up on just about a year. I believe that we've been members here at Timberland Drive and we've been very encouraged by the brethren here. We appreciate all the encouragement you've given me and Brittany and the boys. And hopefully we can be of some encouragement to you as well.

Nearly 250 years ago Thomas Jefferson pinned the Declaration of Independence, and there's a, a famous line in that declaration that we are all very familiar with, but I'll, I'll read it. You said, we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they're endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights.

That among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And you know, I think when we, we read this especially today to, in a, in a modern society some of these things would probably be hard pressed to be said by many in public today, especially on a, such an important document. But these, these men at that time at least recognize that our creator does in fact give us various rights.

And I, I believe that the things that. He penned at that time do come from the word, but as we think about the pursuit of happiness ask the question, well, what is that? What did Thomas Jefferson have in mind when he wrote this? And does the original intent differ from modern views of happiness today?

When you do a little bit of digging in history you would, you would find that less than a month before he wrote those words, a very similar statement was written. By a man named George Mason in the Virginia Declaration of Rights. And those, that was June 12th, 1776. And in that document he wrote The enjoyment of life and liberty with the means of acquiring and possessing property and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.

Very similar wording. That was kind of a surprise to me. I was a math and science teacher. I wasn't a history teacher, so that was a surprise to me to learn that. But Thomas Jefferson didn't originate those expressions. He really borrowed. You can see that he borrowed from a document that was written just a few weeks prior to the Declaration of Independence, and we see that he, he meant a little bit more than what we may think about happiness.

From comparing those two documents, it seems that the original intent has to do with a God-given right to self-determination to be able to set goals for oneself and family and have the ability to go and pursue those goals. And certainly that was what many of those forefathers wanted to accomplish in the new land.

But today, as we think about happiness, we think about fulfillment. Those, those words are, are loaded with a lot of modern baggage, isn't it? But I believe perspective provides clarity. This historic example really I think, sets the stage for the rest of our study because we're gonna touch on the themes of fulfillment and purpose in our life as God would have it.

But also it also illustrates that sometimes writers. Speak or write, building on existing language and themes in order to communicate. And so the question I have for us tonight to consider is how do we, how do we answer what our God-given purpose is in our rights from a biblical perspective? And so to do so, we're gonna take a little bit of time and look in Ecclesiastes.

It's one of my most favorite books. We have. Just finished up a quarter of teaching looking at the wisdom literature as we refer to it. And this past month we spent a good amount of time looking at Ecclesiastes. So some of these things will probably be review for most of us here, if you've participated in those studies.

But also I want to look at how I believe Solomon, when he wrote, when he pinned Ecclesiastes, he had. Other biblical texts in mine specifically Genesis chapters one through nine. And there at the beginning of Ecclesiastes, you, you notice that when, when Solomon introduces himself in verse one, chapter one, verse one, he says, the words of the preacher, the son of David King in Jerusalem.

And throughout the rest of this letter he maintains his identity primarily as the preacher. To me that's could be a little bit surprising because after all, he was the king. And not, he wasn't just the king. He was a very mighty king. And yet he steps somewhat off center from that identity and, and really puts out himself as the preacher.

And I, I believe that's important. When you, you look at heathen kings like Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon, whatever he spoke, he said things like. I, Nebuchadnezzar was resting my house flourishing in my palace, and he goes on. That's not the approach that Solomon takes. And instead it seems that he has a message to convey to us as the intended reader, as the audience of the wisdom that he wants for us to glean from his life and experiences.

Whenever we looked at Ecclesiastes through our Bible classes, we, we noticed that there are several themes. Just some of the themes that you find throughout the book of Ecclesiastes is right off the bat is, is that everything is vain, all is vanity. In other words, all is grasping for the wind.

You know, you can try to hold onto it life, and yet it's fleeting. Solomon spends some time talking about the enduring cycles of life. He talks about the common end of all men, rich and poor, wise and foolish. He talks about the value of wisdom over foolishness. He talks about vanity of life's pursuits.

He talks about injustice and, and he also talks about fulfillment in life. We're gonna come back to Ecclesiastes here in a little bit and spend the rest of our time there. But before we do that again, I believe that Solomon, when he wrote these things, he was reflecting back on things that had previously been revealed in, in, again in Genesis chapter one through nine.

So I would invite you to get in your Bibles and turn back to Genesis one. We're gonna do a a brief summation of these nine chapters. Just to bring to remembrance how the story of our, our origins unfold in chapters one and two. God, we have recorded for us the historical events surrounding our origins.

God ordered the universe. He said everything in its place. Man was created and placed at the center of this creation as a benefactor of all things that God created. God blessed man with a place to call their own work to do and companionship. They lived in innocence, in the presence of God. They didn't lack anything.

We get to chapter three, however, and we see that the story continues to unfold. That paradise, so to speak, that God created for man quickly became defiled. Man, defiled God's plan forever altering the relationship with their maker. Their work and labor, everything changed and they subjected their creation to hardship, to disease, and to trouble.

In Genesis four, we see that things just further denigrate. We see sin in the family leading to homicide, further fragmentation of society. Man. However, man at the end of that chapter began to call on the name of the Lord. And so there was a difference between people that called on the name of the Lord and those who served the flesh.

In Genesis chapter five, there, it seems to be a kind of a break and, and maybe just you think, okay, well it's history. It's recording genealogy. What's the big, what's the point? What's the purpose? Well, if you notice for each one of those generations, each one of those people. You see that it ends with a phrase and he died and he died over and over again, one generation after another.

And so we see the cause and the effect of sin leading to decay and death on the earth. In Genesis, six things reached a tipping point. Sin had so permeated mankind that it could be said that every intent of the thoughts of his heart. Was only evil continually. God was sorry that he made man, and he said a day of judgment for the earth.

However, a man named Noah found favor with God and his family was spared from this judgment. And then in chapter seven and eight, we see that Noah's faith working together with his obedience delivered him and his family from the flood. As a result, Noah worshiped God and God reaffirmed his care for mankind.

Through the creation. And then finally, the last chapter under consideration chapter nine, God bless Noah as a result and reestablish his expectation for man to be fruitful, multiply, and feel the earth reminding us that man is made in the image of God. Man in a sense then will reign with God on earth.

By demonstrating dominance over the creation, God established an everlasting covenant through the symbol of the rainbow. Yet the chapter ends with a sad account of sin committed by Noah and his family. Further setting the stage for the rest of the Bible's story in the deed for redemption. There was some, some time ago someone pointed this out to me that the rest of the Bible really is framed.

Off of Genesis one through nine and and hopefully just kind of going through that summation, you can see that how that's true. We have the need established for the Christ and then the rest of the Bible bears that out looking toward and forward to the coming of the Savior fulfilled in Christ. And then the New Testament, looking back to the work that he did, and we look back today.

So it should come to as no surprise that even Solomon when he wrote would have these things in mind when he pinned Ecclesiastes in Romans eight 20. We even all the way in the New Testament, we see that Paul said that creation, the creation is subjected to futility and that it is under the bondage of corruption.

And Paul speaks of a time where that will be undone. That the curse will be over and that we can escape this curse. And so a question we might ask as we look at the state of, of our origins, where we came from, and our story we might ask is, is there a man that could ever overcome this curse? Is there a man that, so to speak, cracked the code on human suffering?

On determining what our purpose is and the pursuit of happiness. Many modern self-help books, they, they try to do just that thing. They try to help us maybe listen to a podcast or read a book. They're always trying to help us to turn up the dials on certain characteristics, certain behaviors with the intent that maybe we can also crack the code.

So what are these levers that these experts try to maximize? Usually it falls into categories such as health, wealth, fame, power, influence, prestige maybe love, knowledge, wisdom. Occasionally God's word puts forward a man that seems to have it all, but yet falls short in overcoming the fallen condition of creation.

And I would submit to you what better example of this than King Solomon. He was a, a man who had it all. If there's anything that could bring happiness and reward in life as man would look at it it would be Solomon, you know, he was born as royalty. So you think about privilege he was heir to the great King David.

He possessed manly qualities. He demonstrated wisdom at even a young age and was blessed with as a result, riches. Power and wisdom more than any who came before him. And yet we know that Solomon was not a perfect man. He made many, many mistakes. I don't know exactly when Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes.

It to me it seems like, someone who's lived life, someone who has experience. Sounds like a, a man who has made mistakes and is given the opportunity to go back and reflect on those things. So definitely an older Solomon was involved in, in writing this letter. And so the reason why it's one of my favorite books, it, it offers such a, a practical look to life in the problems that we face in life.

We do live in a, in a. Cursed creation cursed world. God made mention of that back in Genesis three, as a result of man sin. There are things that happen to all of us good and bad, and Solomon hits those things head on. We're we don't have time to go through everything, but there are, there are 10 concepts that I believe that Solomon points out here or provides information on Ecclesiastes that.

I believe has Genesis chapters one through my nine in mind when he pinned them. Some of these concepts I believe are direct connections. You can look at the language, you can, you can compare the language of the two texts and you say, okay, I can see that. Other things may be more subtle, more of a theme that was laid out in Genesis that Solomon taps into.

And so we're gonna, we're gonna maintain a high level view here of these 10, 10 things and, and and encourage you to go and study these, each of these in more detail in your own personal Bible study. But, we'll, we will begin in Ecclesiastes chapter one. And we're not gonna flip back and forth between Genesis and Ecclesiastes.

We're gonna stay here, but I, I will summarize. The connection in Genesis as it relates. So in Ecclesiastes chapter one at verse five the preacher Solomon, he notes that the sun rises and the sun goes down and it hasten to the place where it rose. The wind goes towards the south and turns around to the north.

The wind whirls about continually and comes again on its circuit. All rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full to the place from which the rivers come there. They return again. All things are full of labor. We might put that in modern language that, you know, there's a, a sun, moon and earth cycle.

There's the water cycle. We have Solomon looked and saw that there are wind currents, which we understand is a also a, a cycle around the earth. And when Solomon looked at those things, it it in his wisdom. It also vexed him. He saw that it's one day comes another day, goes only be replaced with another day.

It was a bit of a Groundhog Day event, if you will, with him. And that was vexing to him. He saw that that was vanity because life goes on, even though the affairs of man on earth tend to change. When I read that, I, I think back to Genesis one, whenever God made the creation made earth, he made the Sun moon stars specifically on day four.

He said that those, those lights and are for signs and for seasons God put in the order of the seasons, these earth cycles at, at the very beginning in chapter one. And those seasons and cycles continued all the way to Solomon's Day. And guess what? So many years later. They continue even today in Genesis chapter eight when Noah got off of the ark and it seems like what you can imagine, Noah perplexed wanting to know what the future holds.

God promised to him that seed time and harvest would continue as long as the earth remained seed time and harvest will continue. And of course we might be mindful of the scoffer of second Peter who looks at those things and says, you know, where's God in the promise of us coming? People will mistake that as God is not actively engaged in our affairs in life lives of men, but we know that he is, and it is something that we can expect yet there is a connection between Genesis and Exodus.

The other cycle that Solomon points out in verse four is that one generation passes away and another generation comes, but the earth remains forever. And, and that's the way it is. If you ever do genealogy I, I tried to go back and look at mine. I can, with some degree of confidence, can go back several generations.

But beyond that, it gets really obscure. Those, those names and memories are just lost to history and. Whenever you do something like that, you can't help but also be reminded of your own mortality. And, you know, one day there will be no more remembrance of us. And Solomon talks about that. Well, if you remember back to Genesis chapter five with those genealogies, one generation came and they died.

Another generation came and they died. And so that is the common fate of all men. They come and then their lives are no more. And Solomon looked at this, and, and this was distressing to him. Another concept that he points out is that work and wealth are vain is grasping for the wind in Eccles, Ecclesiastes chapter two in verse four he, he, he said he makes, he made for himself great works.

He planted houses or played houses. He, he built houses but he also planted vineyards. He planted gardens and orchards. And he even planted fruit trees. Well, that sounds kind of like Genesis one to two a little bit, doesn't it? As you can imagine, you know, Solomon's construction projects and his gardens were world renowned.

People came to to come and look at 'em and to learn from 'em. And yet he saw that all those things are fleeting. They're passing, they require constant upkeep and maintenance, and yet he knew when he died it would go to someone else and would they have the same care? For those things. He calls it, he calls it later on in this chapter, striving of Heart.

In Genesis chapter three whenever Adam and Eve had sin, God told Adam that the ground would be cursed because of their sin. And in toil he shall work it, work the ground, and in the sweat of his brow, he shall eat bread and all things are full of labor. He says. There's no end. Another concept that Solomon draws from Genesis is that it's vain.

There is vanity in serving the flesh. Solomon said in, in chapter two in verse 10, that whatever his eyes desire, whatever his heart desired, that's what he committed himself to in this great experiment in the pursuit of happiness and fulfillment. And yet in Ecclesiastes four and verse four, if y'all look at that one with me Ecclesiastes four and verse four.

He says, again, I, I saw that for all the toil and every skillful work, a man is envied by his neighbor. This is also vanity and grasping for the win. And so even we see people envying one another because of what they're able to accomplish and the great feats that they're able to, to do, and maybe they do not have the, the wealth or status to be able to do it themselves.

Chapter seven in verse 29. I, I think that this is a, an important verse for us to consider today, especially as we look at a broken society. Solomon said, truly this, only I've found that God made man up, right? But they have sought out many schemes. These are not good schemes. These are bad schemes.

The problem is not with the creator. He made all things. He said. It's good, very good. He made man, man was good. Even though we live in a broken world, we're not born into sin. That's by our own choosing when we choose to serve the flesh. Solomon saw that wickedness was rampant and personal desire was vanity and, and striving After the win.

This, when I read these things, I'm reminded of Genesis three when Cain was envious of his brother Abel, and even in that hatred that he had towards him led to murdering his own brother in Genesis six shortly before the flood. Part of the sad commentary for mankind was that they were not only violent towards each other, but they also were given a marriage to.

Beautiful women, but these women were wicked women. And wickedness just continued and increased to the point of judgment on man. And so Solomon recognized too that what has always been true is that serving the flesh leaves a person, emptying. It only leads to pain and suffering and, and emptiness. The third theme is that is of human corruption.

Chapter seven also. But now in verse 20, he says, for there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin. And that's true, and that's why I say sometimes the Bible puts forward a character a actual historical person who seems to have it all, and yet they fail because they're, they're just men.

Solomon would've known this well with his own father, David. A man who is called a man after God's own heart. And yet on the pages of God's word, we see his mistakes. Noah, we mentioned him earlier, God, a man that was righteous, that God spared from the flood, and yet he planted a vineyard. We got drunk and led to sin in his home.

And so even among the good there is sin. In Genesis chapter six and verse five, again, before, during the days before the flood, it says that every intent of man's heart was only evil continually. And so that's not true of every person that that was the state of, of man at that time. Certainly we see lots of evil today but I think it is an accurate statement to say that mankind is corrupted.

They, they need a savior. Another concept is that Paul, that Solomon points out is that the, the vanity of the man of dust. And this is where I think we can see a clear, a really clear connection just looking at the language between Ecclesiastes and Genesis in chapter three in verse 19. Ecclesiastes.

It says, for whatever happens to the sons of men, also happens to animals. One thing befalls them. As one dies so dies the other. Surely they all have one breath. And man has no advantage over the animals for all his vanity, all go to one place. All are from the dust and all return to dust. And that is that is a, a sad reality.

Is that. When we die, our bodies decomposed back to the ground in which we're taken. And we know that from Genesis chapter two in verse seven, when God made man, he formed him from the dust of the ground and he breathed life into him. But when man sinned, when Adam sinned in, in the next chapter, Genesis three 19, God told him For dust you are, and to dust, you shall return.

And so the man of dust, this fleshly tent. Is is all vanity. It's fleeting, it's grasping for the wind, but it's not all vanity. It's not all bad news. There are some good things too. And, and Solomon points this out and when he talks about the spirit there, back in, in that same text in Ecclesiastes three, but if we continue reading in verse 21, he says, who knows the spirit of the sons of men, which go upward in the spirit of the animal, which goes down to the earth.

Yeah. God gives the animating spirit to animals and also to men, but they don't go to the same place. Yes, their bodies decompose back to the ground just like animals, but the spirit, which God gives us returns to him. In Genesis chapter two and verse seven, when God took man and informed him of the ducks, he breathed his life into man, and that is a special thing that we have from God.

Another good thing, a blessing from God that he has given man is companionship. Solomon in, in Ecclesiastes four, nine says that two are better than one. Later on in the same book in, in chapter nine and verse nine, he encourages man to live joyfully with the wife in whom you love, recognizing that that is from God.

Well, doesn't that sound like Genesis also? In Genesis chapter two in verse 18, God saw man that he did not have a companion and that he was alone. And, and God said that it is not good that a man should be alone. And so he made a helper comparable to him, two or better than one. Another concept that we see in both books is the idea of rest, rest from our laborers in.

So, Solomon looks at this in, in chapter two in verse 23. He says, there's, there's no rest for the man who's constantly striving to earn, to gain, to build, to accumulate. There's no rest. Even in sleep. He can't even enjoy sleep because of the pursuit of material gain. And so we can take from that though, that what we ought to be able to have is what?

We, we should be able to sleep and take a break from our labors and then, and be able to enjoy that. He also mentions this in chapter six in verse five. There's an expectation that from our labor we we're, we're tired and we need rest. And rest is good. When I think about Genesis in chapter two, we see that God also rested from his labor.

Later on with Israel, he instituted the Sabbath day of rest. And then that has become a metaphor for the eternal rest that we look for in heaven after this world is destroyed. And so the idea of rest is in both, both locations, both texts, but there's also a couple of things that are associated with what I would refer to as exhortation in Ecclesiastes three, in verse 16.

Solomon noted. He said, moreover, I saw under the sun in the place of judgment, wickedness was there, and in the place of righteousness, iniquity was there. I said, in my heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked for there is a time for there is a time there for there is a time. Therefore every purpose and for every work, finally got that right.

So even though the courts men can be bribed, they can be bought off, they may use bias they may not execute justice as God had planned. And Solomon saw that certainly in his days. He recognizes that eternally there is a perfect judge and that God is the judge and he will judge all men the righteous and the wicked.

And that there is a time for it. There is a time when. Seed time and harvest continue. There is a time when all of these cycles around us continue and, and seemingly nothing will ever change. And yet it is God's long suffering and he has set a time for judgment as he did in Genesis Noah, a preacher of righteousness.

He built the arc as God instructed him for a hundred years. This activity went on and yet no one heated. The words of Noah. And yet only Noah and his family, eight souls were delivered from that judgment. And so the imp implement the application for us is that we would not be unwise as that generation was, but to see the warnings to heed the exhortation that God has given us.

And finally the last concept that I, I see, and there's probably more from these two texts, but one that really sticks out to me is God's expectation for man. Sometimes people say, well, you know, the law, that's God's rules and expectations for man, but we're not under law anymore. Well, that's, that's a whole nother study.

We're under the royal law. God has always had expectations for men, didn't he? In Ecclesiastes, chapter 12, this is my favorite part of, of the whole letter or book, and I'm sure for many of you it is as well. Ecclesiastes chapter 12 and verse 13, after this great experiment that Solomon embarked on he, he came down to this basic truth.

He says, let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God and keep his commandments for this is Man's All for God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil. And so that truth is an eternal truth. It is one that goes all the way back to our, our very beginnings.

Genesis chapter one, when God made man, he commanded them to be fruitful, to multiply, to fill the earth, to have dominion over the creation. He gave them dietary restrictions when they got to the garden got ordered them to tend and to keep the garden to work in labor in that garden. He commanded them not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil but he did allow them to eat of the other trees.

Then let's see, I believe six, six times in Genesis in the new King James, it says, commanded we see God commanded Noah to build the ark, and he was faithful in building it just as the Lord commanded. And so God has always had expectations. He's always given his creation, things to do, things not to do, and there's always been consequences, positive or negative, for doing or not doing those things.

The consequences for Adam and Eve was removal from the garden and a cursed land and cursed life, and yet all of these things, Solomon, so many years later says, our whole duty, our whole purpose is to fear God and keep his commandments, and that will be associated with judgment Whether we do those things or not.

So the preacher he used the phrase under the sun many times in this letter to describe the temporary things that men consume Their time with. His approach seemed to disparage the good that God provides to men. Yet he even twice stated that he hated his own life and his work. Yet despite all of these things and the depths of his despair, the preacher.

Merged with a renewed focus on what things are good in his life. A few of those things are to enjoy the fruits of our labor. And so yes, it is vanity, it is fleeting. All the things that we accumulate, all the things that we buy will or moth and rust will destroy. We'll leave it to someone else and who knows what they will do with it.

Yet he says it is from the hand of God to be able to enjoy those things. Last week, I, I, I planned on preaching on Ecclesiastes five 20 and then Reagan decided to do that, so he beat me to it. So I won't belabor that point too long, but I would encourage you to go back and, and look at his lesson.

But God has given us work to do. He expects us to be busy with the works of our hands, but also. Reagan made a really good point here, assigning the proper value to what we see as what brings us fulfillment, purpose, happiness. Solomon also said that it is that we should be joyful and to do good. He said that is a gift from God.

He also talks about the benefits of having enough just enough, and to live a quiet life. Chapter four and verse six. That same chapter in verses nine through 10. He talks about having a companion, but not just that, but a healthy companion to help me. One that is able to pick you up when you fall and keep you warm.

And most importantly there in chapter 12, verse 13 was reread to have a healthy, obedient relationship with our maker and creator. As Thomas Jefferson likely had the words and ideals of George Mason. George Mason, when he wrote The Declaration of Independence, Solomon likely had the words of Genesis in mind when writing Ecclesiastes.

As we as Camden read earlier in chapter 12 in verse 10, Solomon, towards the end of his letter he, he says, the preacher sought to find acceptable words, and what was written was upright words of truth. The words of the wise are like gods, and the words of scholars are like, well driven nails given by one shepherd.

That, that passage has always stood out to me. The one shepherd that as we understand it from a son of our, our scriptures is the Holy Spirit Solomon, being a, being a man guided by wisdom given from God and, and by the Holy Spirit, pin these words. Likewise Moses in writing Genesis. And so there's a common thread that goes throughout all of these texts and I appreciate Jesse and, and showing us you know, different places.

And you see the evidences of an Ephesus and you see Corinth and you see these buildings and different structures, and we can visualize the Bible story being played out in those locations even today. And that builds our faith. But another way we can build our faith is by. Seeing, seeing the common threads that go from beginning to end throughout our scriptures and that there is one shepherd that gives us these words.

To me, that is faith building and hopefully for you it is as well. So in conclusion, the preacher provided a much needed answer for how man should properly assign value to the good things God has man to do and enjoy in his life despite the reality of a fallen world. No man, despite their learning accumulation of wealth, prestige, honor, or anything else can evade the reality of death and the certainty of judgment.

Only God can we hope to catch a glimpse of the goodness of God in this life with the expectation of eternity in the next. And so if you are a Christian, but you have turned back to the world and, and you have not placed God as a priority in your life, in his will. We would encourage you to do that.

We we're happy to pray with you and study with you. If you are not a Christian then we also encourage you to, to give your life over to Christ tonight and have the hope of heaven. One day as we stand, as we see.