Bob Lloyd - Class 4: Life is a Temporary Assignment

Automatically transcribed. Accuracy is good but not perfect, and words are sometimes wrong. Trust the audio over the text.

1. 0:00

   I think that weekend has been the way of life and this morning, as part of his exaltation, by the Bob will address this topic. Life is a temporary assignment.

2. 0:12

   My beloved Brothers and Sisters of the Lord Jesus Christ. We bring with us the loving greetings of our home. Ecclesia known as Verdugo Hills in the city of Los Angeles, in the state of California. We love coming here, we’ve been here before and it’s wonderful to see. So many of you again that we’ve come to know and love from previous trips. And then there’s the bonus of meeting new ones, which we have not met before.

3. 0:44

   And we’re so pleased that we can come together around this table to remember our Lord this morning. Now, our normal practice on Sunday mornings, if we’re exhorting, is to base our comments on the day. Readings and idat reading this morning was the last chapter of Acts and it’s filled with exhortation. So, we had a temptation of should we stray?

4. 1:08

   But then we were trying to do a study on the way of life. And so, it was decided that we would use one of those studies and adapt it to the exhortation. So, we hope you’ll forgive us for, for not commenting on the book of Acts, because it’s not because there’s not good, exhortation are It’s just that there’s not enough time to do that Justice and cover the subject, which is part of the way of life.

5. 1:36

   And that subject for this morning is life is a temporary assignment. In our last class yesterday, some of you were here but not all. We considered the way of life was a test. And the way of life is a trust. But now we want to concentrate on another aspect of our walk in the truth that our way of life is a temporary assignment. Now, the Bible is full of metaphors that teach us about how brief how temporary how transient in nature is our life. God in the Bible describes Life as a mist. As a fast runner as breath as a wisp of smoke. And as grass for as a man his days are like grass. He flourishes for like a flower of the field. Is David said in the Psalms Isaiah said, who are you that you fear mortal man.

6. 2:45

   The sons of men are just but grass. Again eyes. This is the voice that crying. He said, what shall I Cry? Yes, it wasn’t all flesh is grass and all the goodliness thereof is as a flower of the field. So grass is not permanent, we mow it and throw it away and our life is like grass, Psalms 78.

7. 3:11

   David says, for we remembered that they were but flesh a breath that passeth away and does not come just a breath and we’re gone. Man is like two vanities of Psalm 144 his days are like a shadow that passeth away. And in Ecclesiastes Solomon said, one generation passeth away and another generation cometh but the Earth abideth forever. Isaiah 29.

8. 3:38

   Moreover, the multitude of I strangers, shall be like the small dust and the multitude of the terrible ones shall be as chaff that passes the way who see us as therefore they shall be as the morning Cloud you know Cloud drifts across and it’s gone as the early do that passes away as chaff that is driven with the Whirlwind out of the floor and a smoke of a chimney.

9. 4:00

   None of these things have any. Permanence and so there’s two points, we want to stress as we. Come here to meet our Lord in the number one, is that compared to Eternity. Our life is very short. And number two, we won’t be here long as a mortal so don’t get too attached to it.

10. 4:23

    We need to ask God to help us see life as he sees it from God’s Viewpoint, try to put yourself in his shoes so to speak which would know it cannot do. But let’s try. Have you ever thought about Methuselah? Well of course, Methuselah’s famous. He lived longer than anybody who ever lived 969 years important Methuselah he never lived to see Monday morning. Let me explain that.

11. 4:52

    Peter tells us that a thousand years. It’s just like one day to God, a thousand years are like one day. Now Methuselah lived 969 years, he died before Monday morning. If he was born at 12:01 a.m. Sunday, Sunday morning, he didn’t live a whole day. We think that we’re have a long life, if we live 70 or 80, maybe 90 years, if you’re 15 years old, you haven’t even lived. 22 minutes.

12. 5:19

    If you’re 30, you’ve left less than 45 minutes and if you’re 62 years old you’ve only lived an hour and a half. Nobody in this room has lived to see 3 a.m. because 3 a.m. is 125. Years basing a day to represent a thousand years so that tells you how temporary we are all here. And so we need to pray the prayer. That David prayed, he said, show me O Lord. My life’s end and the number of my days let me know how fleeting Being is my life.

13. 6:03

    You’re young, you’re full of life and you think you’re going to live forever or you’re old and you realize, you’re coming to the end of your days and all of us just like a puff of smoke of poof we’re here and we gone. And so the Bible is trying to teach us that we live here only temporarily and we live.

14. 6:22

    Here is this we were a stranger. We don’t really belong to well, I’m an Australian I was born and bred here in Australia goody for you. But this is not your country. You want to be in the kingdom of God, more than anything else in all the world. And so where you live, it’s just your temporary Abode while you’re waiting for Jesus to come. So, scripture defines our life as being an alien as being a pilgrim as being a foreigner as being a stranger, as being a visitor, as being a traveler David said in Psalm 119, I am a stranger on Earth.

15. 7:02

    Do not hide your Commandments from me. Peter says, since you call on a father who judges each man’s work. Impartially. Live your lives as strangers here in reverence Paul tells us that our citizenship is in heaven. I came here with a passport, you cannot travel Unita till you call straight without a pass. Not only that.

16. 7:26

    You have to get a Visa most countries, allow Americans to come without a Visa. But you don’t used to have to go down to the consulate to get it. But now, you do it, electronically, cost, $25. You can’t just come to Australia. Because I’m a visitor. I’m not allowed to work here. They won’t let you, you want to hire me. You can’t not that you wouldn’t want to anyway, but I am strictly a stranger and a foreigner here in Australia, in Australia.

17. 7:54

    But, you know, that’s not a sin, I’m thankful for that. And if you come to visit us in America, you will be a foreigner and you won’t be extending by doing that either, because all of us need to get this mentality. That we don’t really belong where we live, we live where we live, but we don’t belong, where we live, because our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a savior from there. The Lord Jesus Christ that we’ve come to remember with these emblems.

18. 8:26

    And so Paul tells us what we are while we’re waiting. This is what you are. We are ambassadors for Christ as though God did beseech you to us. We pray you in Christ’s stead be ye reconciled to God. So I’m looking at a crowd of ambassadors, for Christ. You’re not Australian, I’m not American.

19. 8:51

    We are ambassadors for Christ, Living in Australia, or living. In America, or living in Canada, or living in Atlanta, where every we might live, but we’re all here temporarily. Don’t get too comfortable with that you belong with you, where you’re living. Now, just pretend that George Bush. You never heard of me. He came from the same town in Texas that I used to live in.

20. 9:14

    But I moved before he was even born. If he were to call me up and said, Bob, we want to send you to Australia as the Ambassador for the United States. That’s a very high position that it’s an honor to be an ambassador in a another country representing your own. And so, every country you have ambassadors all over the world, our country has a bachelor’s all over the world, but when you go to, where you’re going to live, where do you live, you live in the country to where you are assigned as an ambassador.

21. 9:46

    But do you belong there? No. You’re there temporarily soon as we get a new president, you’ll be gone. They’ll get a new Ambassador. Now, when you get there, what do you do? Well, you drive on the left side of the road, if you’re in Australia, and if you became the ambassador of Australia, to United States, you would drive on the right side of the road.

22. 10:09

    And if you were the ambassador of the Australia to mosque to Russia, in living in Moscow, you would try to learn a few words of Russian and you would respect their position their laws. But you would not get involved in any of their politics. You don’t really belong there. You’re an ambassador from the country that sent you to the country, you’re living in and that’s our row right now. Brothers and sisters, as we wait for Christ, you don’t really belong here.

23. 10:39

    Like, where you live here? It’s a nice place to live but don’t feel too comfortable that what this is. My home, this is Mike my country, we have a song over my country. Tree. Peter says I beseech you. I’m pleading with you brother and sister get this point. This is so important I beseech you as aliens. So you’re an alien.

24. 11:00

    I’m a live in Australia. Born on certain, you’re an alien. And an exile. And you supposed to abstain from the passions of the flesh. That wage war against your soul. Now, while you’re living, here is an alien. How you’re going to behave? Well, maintained Good Conduct among the Gentile, you obey the laws in this country unless it was a law that was conflicting with the law of Christ. You you drive on their side of the road? You, you bathe are rules, you respectful of their government, but you don’t get involved in anything they’re doing. And that’s what we’re supposed to be doing now. Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every Human Institution. I’m just reading Peter for do you. These were words.

25. 11:45

    You already know what Peter is that I want to stir up your pure Minds by way of remembrance. So I didn’t come here to tell you something, you never heard before. We’ve come here to just remind you Of some of you already knew but we all need to be reminded of it in order to be more faithful in living it. Because our life in the truth is not something to talk about. It’s a way to live.

26. 12:16

    So, be subject for the Lord’s sake, to every Human Institution, whether it be to the emperor supreme, or to Governor’s is sent by him to punish those who do wrong. And to praise those who do right for it. Is God’s will. That by doing right, you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.

27. 12:36

    You are going to live such a squeaky-clean life in Australia that nobody can point. The Vincent. Oh boy, that’s he’s a troublemaker. She’s a problem. No, you behave yourself where you live, but not because you belong there because you’re representing Christ wherever it is. You’re living. And that gives a different light on our activities in life because our put to silence this foolishly these ignorance of foolish men.

28. 13:08

    Think about Daniel and me, Daniel was involved, helping the medes and the Persians. And he kept pure to the God and if he had some enemies and he said we got to get him. What do you know about? Can you dig up on Daniel?

29. 13:30

    Only thing they could think of, was that he prayed. I hope that your neighbors, the people that you work with. And for The people you go to school with your teachers, everybody that knows you cannot find anything bad about you except that you worship God. And so, you know, the end of the story ended up in the Lion’s Den because he stood up for what he believed was. Right now, I have to confess that if I’d been Daniel I might have said, you know, this is only 30 days God you this, it may just temporary decree just to get him 30 days. So for 30 days you know ones to approach anybody except the king well that made the king feel pretty important. You know what a stupid rule at was? I mean he bought this their line Hook Line & Sinker Love, Daniel. He was just duped by Daniel’s images to get him but if you’d been Daniel and you had my kind of mind, you say God, you understand, it’s only 30 days.

30. 14:36

    Now I normally get down on my knees and pray to you but your tea when I’ll do God, just just for 30 days. I’m going to just crawl in bed and I’m going to close my eyes and they’re going to look in and they’re going to look. They’ll think I’m asleep. But I’m awake.

31. 14:51

    I’m praying God, I’m just Not going to do it on my knees. Like I usually. Do you understand got this for 30 days? Okay.

32. 15:00

    Daniel didn’t do that, did he? He did what was right in spite of their rules and that’s what we have to do, but aren’t you thankful, you live in a country where you’re not forced to do things against what God has taught you. Perhaps only in this example of voting which I know you don’t do but which you’re commanded to do by this country and I country it’s not a law. I don’t vote that.

33. 15:25

    I don’t bring it along, not going, but if it was a law to vote. Aye. Can you break that long because we have to break the laws of conflict with the laws of God, but we live in countries, which allow us to worship God as we see fit. But God never said you could worship me as you see, fit, you have to worship Him in spirit and in truth, you’ve got to do what he said, no matter where you live because you are his Ambassador. Now, in our country, we have a paper. It’s revered by Americans called the Declaration of Independence. I don’t know if you ever heard of it or not, but it’s supposed to Grant all Americans.

34. 16:05

    The inalienable right to pursue, happiness. I mean that’s built into the Constitution. Sure you have the right to pursue happiness and Port. I do we do it over there. You can on the freeways and are pursuing in every direction. Whoo doesn’t say you have the right to happiness. It has, you have the right to chase it. Now, one wise man who was an American said, the pursuit of happiness is a ridiculous phrase. If you pursue happiness, you’ll never find it. But most people are not wise enough to realize how foolish that statement is.

35. 16:43

    And so, what are they doing? They’re out chasing it, they get up in the morning. We got 25 fat from happiness today and the harder, you chase it, that more elusive, It becomes you will never catch Happiness by pursuing it, a little story. It’s a silly story but it teaches a lesson Jesus used lots of stories to drive home lessons. This is a story which although you know it’s far-fetched, the lesson, it teaches you is worth remembering. And it has to do with two cats, there’s an alley behind this house, and there’s a old Tomcat, he’s sitting up on the fence, just sitting there, you know, purring away and down in the road below.

36. 17:31

    Him is a young cat and this young cat is full of vim and vigor your war and this cat is chasing his tail. We’ll just walk around around going and they do cats is what are you doing down there? And the young cat being young, you know, young people know everything I just graduated from cat College. And I learned in cat college that happiness is found in the tail of the cat.

37. 18:01

    If I can just catch my tail, I’ll be happy. And the whole cats as well. I never got to go to college. I just grew up in the back alleys of Sydney. But I also know that happiness is found in the tail of the cat. But I have also learned that if I will just go straight forward and do what’s right? Happiness, will follow me all the days of my life. And so there’s an old cat that had more wisdom than the young cat who just graduated from cat College. And I hope that we learned the lesson that you don’t get Happiness by pursuing it, you get Happy by going forward doing what’s right and happiness?

38. 18:54

    Just comes as a by-product. The people who want to be happy and say, oh, I want to be happy or the most miserable people around and Solomon. Wise, King Solomon. He says, I decided to enjoy myself and find out what happiness in. I’m gonna he hadn’t heard the cat story. He’s I decided I found it outside to enjoy myself. To I found that whatever I did was useless. I got whatever I want and I did I did anything that made me happy.

39. 19:22

    He could, he was a king. But most of all, I enjoyed my work, then I thought about everything that I had done, including the hard work, was simply chasing the wind. Nothing on Earth is worth the trouble in of modern brands are, you know, on the King James is Vanity of vanities. All is Vanity. Someone found out that living a life of self and dud. Indulgence was empty and not satisfying that all he had tried it, it did not work, he could not get happy trying to be happy, he was under.

40. 19:59

    So what does it what do you do? What does it take for you to be happy? Well if we’re wise were ambassadors for Christ, we listen to the Bible, the Bible got to tell us the answer. Happy is the man who has the Lord for his God and Austin him happiness comes from finding wisdom, happiness comes from doing God’s, will happiness, comes from caring and helping others along the way.

41. 20:29

    Now people who are not Christian, delphine’s actually have discovered these same truths. William James said, if you want to make others happy, Practice compassion. If you want to be happy practice compassion. Mark Twain said, cheer yourself up by trying to cheer somebody else up. So the way to happiness is to put your life in God’s hands and realize as Mark Twain and William James said, think about others. And when you are trying to help somebody else and you’re doing for them, all of a sudden you find out, you’re happy, you forgotten about trying to be happy and the people said making I just want to be happy or miserable. It’s an interesting thing and the world has not learned it like the cat right out of college. She had not learned it, so our temporary assignment as we journey to the on the way to the kingdom, is to forget about yourselves.

42. 21:31

    Just forget yourself and learn to think of others. The more you think of others, the happy you will be the more you think of yourself the more miserable? You will be. They Jesus gives us the only picture we have of the Judgment. See again, you know this? Well, nothing new to you. It’s in Matthew chapter 25 and he He tells us how it will be at the Judgment.

43. 21:54

    See and he’s going to talk to you, you know, you’re going to be there. Oh, those are going to partake of these emblems. This morning, are going to be there. Whether you’re ready or not, you’re going to be there and the point is to get ready because it’s going to be too late to get ready when we get the call, the master is coming calls for you. So now is our time to be getting ready but what are you doing? While you’re getting ready?

44. 22:19

    Jesus is going to explain it to us. The king says come, you know, I was I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty. You gave me something to drink. I have to thank you all you Brothers. You’ve been so kind to me this week week and I mean, I people have been bringing me Waters.

45. 22:35

    Bringing me food. Yeah, being conscious of my needs. I’m an old man and I don’t get around like I used to but but you’re showing thoughtfulness. Well, when you’re doing that, you’re making yourself happy. But all that. Wasn’t what you’re trying to do, you’re trying to help me and it made me happy to see you.

46. 22:52

    Help me. So ever. It was a win-win situation and the person. Who cares only about themselves their miserable? Hey, have you walk out a door and you see the person right? He just slammed in your face, you know all the thing about. I wasn’t going out the door. You’re going to do it, you hold it open for somebody else. If it’s a door that’s going to close on you. So Jesus is saying this is what you did to me. He’s talking to you, it’s going to be you, you’re going to be there and he tells say this to you. I was hungry and you fed me.

47. 23:25

    I was thirsty. You gave me something. I was a stranger and you took me in. I was in prison. All have you ever visited a prison? They’re not a very pleasant place to go. Who would you visit a christadelphians? We have christadelphians in prison. Do you go see them? If there happens to them when they’re sick, do you go to the hospital? Do you go to the nursing homes?

48. 23:45

    You all these places are sometimes your smelly. I’ve had Christian say I don’t go to those places because they don’t smell good and then they turn out to be in one themselves. As a patient. Strange. How life comes that way? I you invited me to your home, we talked about that yesterday and you didn’t remember any of this.

49. 24:07

    They said, Lord. When we that we never went to prison to see you. We didn’t feed you. We didn’t give you anything to drink. Oh, but you did in as much as you did it. And one of the least of these, my brethren, you did it for me. And then he’s going to turn to those who didn’t do it, who were wrapped up in their own life. And I just want to make sure I’m comfortable. I’m well fed.

50. 24:29

    I’m, I have enough to drink. I’m well, clothes don’t talk about you too bad, he warmed and filled, just go take this area. So, James talks about that. Thinking of self and miserable thinking of others and happy. So so is this is a true win-win situation. If you learn to put yourself out for others now, you will be happy now.

51. 24:57

    And when Jesus comes, you’re going to be happier than you have ever been. When he says Come Ye blessed of my father inherit the Kingdom, prepared for you, from the foundation of the world and all the little things that you did that, you didn’t realize. We’re for Jesus, they were for him because you did it for others.

52. 25:21

    Are we doing this brothers and sisters? You only living here, temporarily don’t get too comfortable where you live, but just realize that while you are here as an ambassador, your job is to look after other people. Old people, young people people in between someone doesn’t have a car, give them a ride to meeting people who can’t go out to get groceries. We go buy groceries for them and just little things. Glass of water.

53. 25:53

    This is not a very big deal. Jesus is if you just give a glass of water in my name, I remember it. You will not lose your reward for that. No. But somebody, somebody was thoughtful enough to realize that the speaker might need a glass of water during the talk and so they put themselves out a little bit by saying and it’s even cold water so they have been careful about the little details because they care.

54. 26:26

    So I think that person whoever they were they didn’t do that to be thanked. But I do appreciate it. But the more important thing is though, it is the Lord. Now James is going to tell you about pure religion. Now, this is the definition of pure religion and is not the definition that christadelphians would normally.

55. 26:41

    Get if you didn’t know about this verse, this is certainly not what you would have said. I want you to tell me your Christian out here. Yes, I’m a Christian Delphia. Well, this Puro that’s pure religion. What is pure religion? Well, let me tell you about pure religion, we don’t get involved in the world.

56. 26:56

    Of course, we You come up, very up, the Birmingham in the statement of faith, we meet on the bridge, we’re trying to keep the doctors pure. We’re trying to keep hold High the standards of the truth. You know, that’s all correcting, right? It’s not what James said, it all. That’s not what he said.

57. 27:16

    Don’t want you to think that. I don’t think those things are important, because I know they’re important, but if you keep the standards of the truth, I and you keep yourself very pure. But you don’t do anything for anybody else. Your religion is vain. It’s worthless in spite of the fact that it’s pure if you don’t get busy doing for other people and caring for their insignificant little needs, Your religion is in vain.

58. 27:43

    I wouldn’t dare come all the way from California and say that to you. Except I’m only telling you what James said, and he was speaking about inspiration. So, he’s right. Even though I could easily be wrong. So, how are we doing? We’re going to partake of these emblems in a minute. They represent a body that was given for you.

59. 28:06

    He can’t do more than give your life. That’s the ultimate sacrifice. He laid down his life for you when you partake of the bread and the wine you are in symbol taking Jesus inside you, the Lord Jesus Christ is being consumed by you and what did he say? Follow me. And what did he do?

60. 28:34

    He had compassion on the multitude, even some of the people that killed him, he was kind to them now. If you are pretty young girl and I came up to you and tell you, I’m going to give you a kiss and you don’t want one. You can make it very difficult for me, you know, I’m going to give you all know you’re not in here.

61. 29:01

    You’re talking. I thought I might overpower you, if I was Stronger than you. But you would be giving it reluctantly because you don’t want to kiss from an old man like me. But Jesus knew that Judas was going to kissing. And he knew that that would be the sign he was being betrayed. It was a death kiss.

62. 29:27

    And Jesus called him friend, wherefore art thou, come and he allowed Judas to kiss him, do it, meant his arrest. You see Stephen looked after himself he just forgot himself at helped others and that’s the Lord that we’re coming. Now to remember the one who gave his life for you. Are you going to do that for him?

63. 29:57

    Are you too wrapped up in this life? Are you too busy with the things of this life? You have no time to help your brothers and sisters. Poor Paul. Paul was in prison, we just read about him in prison in Rome in today’s readings and he writes a letter to the Philippians. He says I’d like to send somebody to you but you know of all the brothers and sisters, I know they’re all wrapped up in their own affairs.

64. 30:27

    Except Timothy. One exception. He cares about you, he’s willing to come and visit you, because I can’t. I’m in jail. You go visit somebody, you jump in your car and you drive on paved roads. You pull up it to their house and no great effort. Timothy had to walk in to take a boat driven by the wind. It took not days, it took weeks maybe even months for them to get around.

65. 31:03

    Would you get in a Sailing Boat and sail across the Pacific to my house to see me? Because he heard I was sick. Why don’t have time? I’ve got a job to do. That would be true. I know. Most drop bosses. Want Levi, give you that much time off. But you see how involved are you in this world that you don’t have time to do these things for the Lord. Well, I have a job.

66. 31:26

    Do I have homework to do? I can’t, I can’t go visit that sister. I have a test tomorrow. Well, that’s probably right and you have to prioritize your time and there is a time and place for all things and you can’t always do what you want to do when you want to do it.

67. 31:39

    But the question is, are you thinking about trying to help others? And are you making ways to help others? Or are you just filling yourself with your own life and your own activities? I don’t have time to go to the Bible class. I know it’s a nice thing to see. She’s going on, I’m busy.

68. 31:58

    How many of you are Timothy’s? Yes, I would like to say is All of You Are. Paul couldn’t say that. And I can’t because I don’t know you that, well, all I’m saying, is this exhortation is about becoming a Timothy? It’s about forgetting yourself. It’s about devoting your life. To Jesus. So in as much as you do these things to other Christian Alfie ins you do them for him and in as much as you don’t do it, you don’t do it to him.

69. 32:41

    And so your religion needs to be pure and you have to keep yourself unspotted from the world. But you do that by getting involved in your closure. You get involved in and today it’s so much easier. All you young people have email and you text messages all over the place. Sometimes send that one to an old guy. You know, young people sometimes think, oh, people are invisible. They can walk right by you.

70. 33:12

    They don’t even speak to you because they are your old, you know, and some old people don’t notice this sweet young people. And so we care about each other, the young carers about the old, the old cares about the yuck, we all love each other and we’re trying to help each other get into the kingdom.

71. 33:34

    So you do that by extending your hand to others and helping them along the way. Just remember, you’re only here for as a puff of smoke. You’re not here too long. Get involved in your cliche, things, find out who’s sick, find out, who needs to be visited? Find out what you can do. You got a brother that hurt himself and he can’t move his Lon go over and mow his lawn for him mundane things that you can do for they’re people that shows that you love God, because you’re trying to help them Because everything you’re saying is being and doing is being recorded in heaven and all the things you’re not saying and doing, you know, their sins of omission and their sins of commission. You can say what I’d ever do anything bad to anybody. I just never did anything.

72. 34:27

    And that can’t be right. So, our message, as we come to these emblems is Lord. You died for me. I’m pretty sure how much I love you. By the way, I treat my brothers and sisters. I’m pretty sure how much I love you. By the way, I treat my brothers and sisters.