1 00:00:02,730 --> 00:00:06,730 Speaker 1: Life Audio. For more resources to help you in your 2 00:00:06,790 --> 00:00:13,460 Speaker 1: walk with Christ, please visit us at BibleStudyHeadquarters.com. You're listening 3 00:00:13,500 --> 00:00:17,419 Speaker 1: to the chapter a day audio Bible. I'm John Stonge 4 00:00:18,020 --> 00:00:22,889 Speaker 1: and today we're in Ecclesiastes chapter 12 and we'll be 5 00:00:22,970 --> 00:00:29,690 Speaker 1: reading from the New English Translation. So remember your creator 6 00:00:29,910 --> 00:00:33,570 Speaker 1: in the days of your youth. before the difficult days come, 7 00:00:34,210 --> 00:00:37,100 Speaker 1: and the years draw near when you will say, I 8 00:00:37,140 --> 00:00:40,280 Speaker 1: have no pleasure in them, before the sun and the 9 00:00:40,340 --> 00:00:43,900 Speaker 1: light of the moon and the stars grow dark, and 10 00:00:43,940 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 1: the clouds disappear after the rain, when those who keep 11 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:51,800 Speaker 1: watch over the house begin to tremble, and the virile 12 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:56,060 Speaker 1: men begin to stoop over, and the grinders begin to 13 00:00:56,180 --> 00:00:59,970 Speaker 1: cease because they grow few, and those who look through 14 00:01:00,010 --> 00:01:04,180 Speaker 1: the windows grow dim, And the doors along the street 15 00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:08,180 Speaker 1: are shut when the sound of the grinding mill grows low. 16 00:01:09,140 --> 00:01:11,840 Speaker 1: And one is awakened by the sound of a bird, 17 00:01:12,660 --> 00:01:17,040 Speaker 1: and all their songs grow faint. And they are afraid 18 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:21,039 Speaker 1: of heights and the dangers in the street. The almond 19 00:01:21,060 --> 00:01:26,179 Speaker 1: blossoms grow white, and the grasshopper drags itself along, and 20 00:01:26,220 --> 00:01:31,120 Speaker 1: the caperberry shrivels up, because man goes to his eternal home. 21 00:01:31,940 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 1: And the mourners go about in the streets. Before the 22 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 1: silver cord is removed, or the golden bowl is broken, 23 00:01:41,459 --> 00:01:44,980 Speaker 1: or the pitcher is shattered at the well, or the 24 00:01:45,069 --> 00:01:49,310 Speaker 1: water wheel is broken at the cistern, and the dust 25 00:01:49,410 --> 00:01:53,270 Speaker 1: returns to the earth as it was, and the life's 26 00:01:53,370 --> 00:01:59,210 Speaker 1: breath returns to God who gave it. Absolutely futile, laments 27 00:01:59,290 --> 00:02:04,540 Speaker 1: the teacher. All of these things are futile. Not only 28 00:02:04,580 --> 00:02:07,720 Speaker 1: was the teacher wise, but he also taught knowledge to 29 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:13,210 Speaker 1: the people. He carefully evaluated and arranged many proverbs. The 30 00:02:13,250 --> 00:02:17,210 Speaker 1: teacher sought to find delightful words and to write accurately 31 00:02:17,330 --> 00:02:21,790 Speaker 1: truthful sayings. The words of the sages are like prods, 32 00:02:22,430 --> 00:02:26,420 Speaker 1: and the collected sayings are like firmly fixed nails. They 33 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:31,240 Speaker 1: are given by one shepherd. Be warned, my son, of 34 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:34,820 Speaker 1: anything in addition to them. There is no end to 35 00:02:34,860 --> 00:02:38,910 Speaker 1: the making of many books, and much study is exhausting 36 00:02:38,990 --> 00:02:43,910 Speaker 1: to the body. Having heard everything, I have reached this conclusion. 37 00:02:44,850 --> 00:02:48,989 Speaker 1: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the 38 00:02:49,070 --> 00:02:53,350 Speaker 1: whole duty of man. For God will evaluate every deed, 39 00:02:53,830 --> 00:03:04,209 Speaker 1: including every secret thing, whether good or evil. Let's pray. Lord, 40 00:03:04,250 --> 00:03:06,630 Speaker 1: we thank you for your word, and we thank you 41 00:03:06,669 --> 00:03:08,940 Speaker 1: for the privilege to be able to look at it together. 42 00:03:09,250 --> 00:03:10,980 Speaker 1: We thank you for the wisdom that you give to 43 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:15,179 Speaker 1: us through faith in your Son, Jesus Christ. And we're thankful, Lord, 44 00:03:15,220 --> 00:03:17,800 Speaker 1: for the encouragement that you give to us to be 45 00:03:17,860 --> 00:03:20,769 Speaker 1: people who revere you, to be people who have a 46 00:03:20,810 --> 00:03:23,389 Speaker 1: healthy respect of you and a healthy fear of you, 47 00:03:24,610 --> 00:03:27,880 Speaker 1: to be people who desire to glorify you in all 48 00:03:28,030 --> 00:03:30,869 Speaker 1: areas of our lives, recognizing that there's coming a day 49 00:03:31,270 --> 00:03:33,370 Speaker 1: when we will stand before your throne and you will 50 00:03:33,410 --> 00:03:37,150 Speaker 1: evaluate our lives. Lord, everything that we try to hide 51 00:03:37,230 --> 00:03:39,630 Speaker 1: is going to be laid bare. Everything that we try 52 00:03:39,690 --> 00:03:42,810 Speaker 1: and conceal is going to be brought into the open. 53 00:03:43,610 --> 00:03:46,030 Speaker 1: But Lord, we're grateful that through faith in your son, 54 00:03:46,110 --> 00:03:51,790 Speaker 1: Jesus Christ, we are not condemned. Our condemnation rests on Jesus. 55 00:03:51,850 --> 00:03:54,350 Speaker 1: He took it upon himself so that we can come 56 00:03:54,390 --> 00:03:57,030 Speaker 1: before your throne as men and women who have been 57 00:03:57,130 --> 00:04:02,050 Speaker 1: rescued and redeemed by Christ. We're grateful for this reality, 58 00:04:02,130 --> 00:04:05,280 Speaker 1: and we're grateful, Lord, to receive wisdom as we study 59 00:04:05,300 --> 00:04:08,380 Speaker 1: your word together and allow your Holy Spirit to work 60 00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:12,120 Speaker 1: within our hearts. Thank you, Lord, for transforming our minds. 61 00:04:12,220 --> 00:04:15,440 Speaker 1: Thank you for making us a new creation in Christ, 62 00:04:15,540 --> 00:04:17,390 Speaker 1: and we pray that you'd be honored in the way 63 00:04:17,450 --> 00:04:20,730 Speaker 1: that we spend this day and every day. We pray 64 00:04:20,790 --> 00:04:22,390 Speaker 1: this all in Jesus' name.