Title: Lessons from Winter / Matthew 24:19-22
The first snow fell last Friday after the novel was over.
As I watched the snow pouring down from the sky while I was playing, I thought, "Oh, it's really mid-winter now."
Now, we have entered the real winter.
As the cold suddenly approaches, the hands of housewives making kimchi are busy, and each step is busy preparing for winter, which they have not yet prepared.
When winter comes, we think of things that we did not think about during spring, summer, and autumn.
That's the lesson of winter.
The cold wind blowing fiercely and the blizzard blowing are teaching us about winter.
Today, as winter begins in earnest, we will try to find a way to live the winter wisely while engraving the lessons of winter in our hearts.
As I reflect on the lessons of this winter today, I hope that all the saints will spend this winter wisely and welcome the season of dreams and hope.
1. The first lesson that winter gives is that there is no harm.
When winter comes, they seem to shrink a little, but still, many people are decorating their lives beautifully.
It is because there is wisdom to live the winter.
Coping with winter wisely is because many people know that there are four seasons in the year and winter is coming.
In other words, it is to know the teachings of Yubi Muhwan well.
That's right.
He who knows ahead of time and prepares will not face difficulties.
Even if you face difficulties, because you have prepared in advance, the difficulties are easier to bear than those who are not prepared, and you can deal with them without panic.
However, there are many people who face winter with difficulty without realizing this simple truth.
Ex) Hoengseong, the first town under the sky - Church preacher who has to get off the car and walk in for an hour - Boiler - No oil - Put a blanket on and endure the cold - It is bearable in January - I was out of place and asked for oil at the gas station .
I'm just glad I didn't freeze to death.
If you prepare in advance, you can spend a warm winter with infinitely cold temperatures.
Oh my, those who have heard this story are so absurd.
There are people who would say that I would not do that.
It's not like that.
In the spiritual life, we too are living our lives without preparing in advance without being wise.
Even though I knew it, my ears were sweetly listening, but I hoped.
Even if you don't pray today, you can do it tomorrow
Even if you don't keep Sunday today, there is next week.
You procrastinate even though you know that you have to give up your bad habits to live a godly life, and you live a life of swearing by saying something useless even though you know that the words will come back to you if you say them.
Just as there are winters in the four seasons, there are winters in life, and winters in the life of faith.
It's always spring, not always summer.
It's not always a bountiful autumn.
There are also winters when the wind blows.
That is why it is necessary to always have a ready mind.
Ecclesiastes 12:1 says, “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come, and before the year draws near when you will say that I have no pleasure in you.” You did.
“Be sober and watchful, your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour…” (1 Peter 5:8)
“Therefore, be ready, for the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect” (Luke 12:40).
Winter is to give you a warm and comfortable life as much as you prepare.
Ants prepared by sweating in summer get through the winter easily, but the guts who only sing in summer have no choice but to spend the cold winter begging for glass.
Winter teaches us to prepare for life.
Knowing that there is always winter in life and life, you should always be awake and live a life of preparation.
2. Second, winter teaches us that there is an end and judgment in life.
In winter, annual plants, insects, and animals all die.
Long-lived plants and animals do not die, but seeing their deaths, we come to realize the stark truth that we too cannot avoid death.
Even the longest-lived tortoise eventually dies.
Even a ferocious lion that no one can resist will die in due time.
Even a person who is the lord of all things will eventually die.
Winter is the sign of death, the end, and the judgment for all of us Christians.
Hebrews 9:27 says, "It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment..."
No matter how long our lives are, winter will come, and eventually we will face death and judgment.
Even if our saved members say they will not be judged for their sins, they will receive the judgment of public works, and there are times when they will be rewarded according to their lives.
Therefore, all of us Christians should remember this winter of judgment and death and live a life of no shame.
3. Thirdly, winter teaches the importance of hope (importance of Jesus Christ).
When we think of such hopeless death and judgment, we realize how important hope is.
there is tomorrow
Spring is coming, a warm and new life.
Such hope is the strength that allows us to endure and overcome the cold and difficult winter.
But without this hope, if spring never comes again and there is no tomorrow, how can we spend the winter?
That's right.
The fact that we have hope, that there is tomorrow, and that there is spring to come, is the driving force for us to live in winter.
It is because we have Jesus Christ that we can overcome this dark winter and the despair of life.
As you well know, He is the way for us to forgive our sins.
He is the solution to our problems.
He is the door through which we can enter the kingdom of God.
He has become the resurrection hope that we can live again.
If this Jesus Christ had not come to us, we would not have been able to live in this dark world, and we would never have the cold winter of this life.
It is this winter that teaches us the importance of hope, the importance of Jesus Christ.
I hope that all the saints will understand more deeply and give thanks to Jesus Christ, who has given us more hope and has become a light this winter.
4. Fourth, winter makes us feel the forgiveness of sins and the love of God deeply. (Samhansaon and Snow)
In winter, it snows.
Snow covers everything.
And change it to a single white color.
This makes us realize once again the love of God who washed away our foolish sins and transgressions with the blood of Jesus on the cross.
God's love covers all our faults.
And he washes you whiter than snow.
You can realize this kind of love by looking into your eyes.
Moreover, you can feel God's warm love in the warmth of the sunlight on a cold winter day.
5. Finally, winter teaches us the way to overcome trials.
Winter is a clear ordeal for us.
But winter doesn't mean that it's not very beneficial to us.
This is because through trials like this, you gain patience, and perseverance leads to refinement, and refinement makes hope come true.
“Patience produces character, and character produces hope” (Romans 5:4).
Winter also teaches us not to lean without hope.
They teach us that we cannot depend on wealth, fame, power, or the people of the world.
The winter months of life teach us that all these things are fleeting.
Therefore, winter is to overcome trials in our lives and teach us the true way of life.
It is Jesus Christ, who alone is the way.
Jesus is the way of life for all of us.
You are the one who becomes the way, the truth, and the life when you go down the toughest and most difficult path in your life.
It is only in this winter that we realize how grateful we are to become a man of God who believes and follows this Jesus Christ, and to become a child of God.
Now, on the threshold of this winter, I hope that you will once again engrave in your heart the lessons that winter gives you.
Winter comes to us.
Therefore, we must prepare for the winter of life.
We have to live today, remembering clearly that there is an end and judgment.
In addition, we must immediately realize the importance of the hope that spring is given in this winter (importance of Jesus Christ), deeply engrave the forgiveness of sins and the love of God in our hearts, and have faith to look at and give thanks to Jesus Christ, who is the way to overcome all trials. is.
In the name of the Lord, I pray in the name of the Lord that all the members of our Yeongwol Central Church who are having a wonderful winter with the lessons of this winter in their hearts.