The church where your pastor
is preaching this morning is a Fairmont Baptist Church in
Sylacauga, Alabama. I was born and raised just 35
or 40 miles from Sylacauga. Doris was born and raised almost
in Sylacauga, Talladega, Alabama, where she was born. spent the
first years of her life. And that congregation there,
I've been preaching to them almost every year for 50 years, 1957. I believe I went there the first
time. Brother Henry Breedlove was pastor.
And they're some of the dearest folks in all this world. I've been very close to them. In fact, When I first went there
in 1957, the children are now grandparents. Some of them are
great-grandparents, that's a fact. And they are so precious, precious,
precious to me and to Doris. And I know Brother Don is enjoying
himself down there today because they're delightful people. I
want you to open your Bibles with me to the book of Psalms,
chapter 39. Now here's my title, Reflections
of 80 Years. Reflections of 80 Years. Start
with verse 4, Psalm 39, verse 4. Lord, make me to know mine
end. and the measure of my days, what
it is, that I may know how frail I am." And in your marginal reference,
it says, what time I have here, that I may know what time I have
here. Behold, thou hast made my days
as an hand breath and mine age is as nothing before thee. Verily,
every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Surely every man walketh in a
vain show. Surely they're disquieted in
vain. He heapeth up riches. and knoweth
not who shall gather them. And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in thee. An old friend
of mine said this one day, and you've heard it all your life.
A man is always as young as he feels. And he added, but never
as important. as he feels. That's what David
says here. Every man at his best state is
altogether vanity. But it's always profitable, and
that's the reason I'm doing it today. It's always profitable
in these, our last days on earth, to reflect on the passing years. and try to determine if we've
learned anything as we grow older. Have we learned something? Let me say four things in regard
to these passing years, 57 of them I've spent as a preacher
of the gospel. But I'll tell you this about
these passing years, I'm thankful, I'm very thankful that I'm 81
years old, I'm very thankful because I'm a lot nearer home
than I've ever been before. And I really mean that. For me
to live, for me to live is Christ and to die is gain. And I'm in
a straight betwixt the two, honestly, honestly before you. I'm in a
straight betwixt the two, having a desire right now to depart
and be with Christ, which is far better. Second thing in regard
to these years, it's necessary for us to grow older in order
that we might grow in grace, in order that we might acquire
patience. understanding and learn to be
a little more charitable with everybody else. Takes a long
time. And I can say right now, I see
no fault in other people that I do not see in myself. I see no fault in other people
that I do not see in myself and feel and experience in myself. John Newton and William Jay were
very close friends. William Cooper lived right across
the street from John Newton. Doris and I visited his home
where he did live and William Cooper and also William Jay.
But one day, William Jay came walking into John Newton's study
and said to him, Brother Newton, I have good news. Brother Smith,
John Smith, has seen the Lord. The Lord has
revealed Christ to John Smith, and I am so thankful. And John
Newton said, I am too. He said, I'll tell you this,
Brother Newton, when the Lord say that man, I'll never despair
of anybody else. And Newton said, Brother Jay,
since the Lord saved me, I've never despaired of anybody else. Isn't that right? It's necessary
to grow older in order that we might obtain some wisdom. There are no shortcuts. There are no shortcuts. It's
still, according to John's gospel, it's still babes, young men,
and elders. You can't shorten that route. The longer you live here, study
the word of God, and receive some understanding
of his word, you grow in grace and the knowledge of God. There
are no 90-day wonders. When I was in the Navy, they had an officer's candidate
school. I didn't go there, but I knew
some fellas that did. Ninety days, three months, they
put these fellas in an officer's training school, and they came
out ensigns. And we called them 90-day wonders. Well, I'll tell you this, in
the kingdom of God, There are no nanny day wonders. It takes
time. It takes struggling, trials,
temptations, after you've suffered a while. This is what Peter said.
He said this, after you have suffered a while, our Lord only
had one son without sin, Christ. He hasn't any sons without suffering. So Peter said, after you have
suffered a while, the Lord make you mature. It takes all of these
experiences and all of this time to grain some maturity, some
wisdom. The Lord make you mature, establish
you, strengthen you, and settle you down. Did you ever say to
one of your children, Now, young man, just settle down. Well,
that's what God does for us, just settles us down. Settles
us down. All right, let me pass on to
you this morning several things that I believe God has been pleased
to reveal to me. from his word and from life's
experiences. The first one is this, and you
hear old people say this all the time, boy, time sure passes
by fast. Well, life is a vapor. Turn with me to James, James
chapter 4. Life is a vapor, that's what
the word of God tells us. Chapter 4, verse 13 and 14. Listen to this, James 4, 13. Go to now, come now, you that
say today or tomorrow we'll go into such a city and we'll continue
there a year and buy and sell and get gain, whereas you know
not what shall be on the morrow. What is your life? It's a vapor. It's a vapor that appears a little
while and then vanishes away. You know what Job said? Job said,
my days are few and full of trouble and sorrow. Those two things
go together. Our days, trouble and sorrow. And then Job said this. Life
is like a flower. How is life like a flower? Well,
we come from the earth just like a flower. We come from another
flower, the seed of another flower. And then we bloom. And then we
appear beautiful for a while. And then we wither. And then
we die. Go back to the ground. Life is
like a flower. And Job said this, life is like
a shadow. That's what it is. It's like
a shadow. What is a shadow? Well, a shadow is an empty thing.
The light shines on me here, and there's a shadow there. I
see it. I see it. I know it's there.
But if they shan't touch it, there's nothing there. The shadow's
an empty thing. And a shadow doesn't last very
long. The sun cuts higher and the shadow's
gone. And you see it no more. And you
know something? It leaves no mark where it was. Oh, that's something to think
about, isn't it? We think man at his best state is altogether
vanity, and when he dies, he leaves no mark. where He was. So these things need to be born
in mind. When I say life is a vapor, well,
it is. And these things being so, I
need to remember Thy Creator in the days of Thy youth. And
then, listen to this, seek ye the Lord while He may be found. Seek the Lord while He may be
found. Call on Him while He's near. You know something? The Bible does not tell us man
cannot seek God. It says he will not. He will
not seek God. He should. But the Bible tells
us, seek ye the Lord while he may be found. Call on him while
he's near. And you'll seek me and find me
when you search for me with all your heart. So I have this word
to say. Are you thirsty? Are you thirsty
for the water of life? He said, oh, everyone that thirsts,
come to the water. Are you weary, laboring, heavy
laden? He said, come to me. Oh, the
laboring, heavy laden, I'll give you rest. Are you hungry and
thirst for righteousness? Blessed are they that hunger
and thirst for righteousness, they shall be filled. That's
what the Lord said. And you that, will you seek the
Lord? Will you call upon him? He said,
whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. I believe. I believe. All right. Life is a vapor. Life is a vapor. Secondly, salvation. I've learned
this. Salvation is of the Lord. I want
you to turn to Ephesians chapter 1. Ephesians chapter 1. And here is the Apostle Paul's
great, great confession of faith. Ephesians chapter 1. Now, I was
in religion for a long time. until I was 25 years old. I went
to preacher school, Chattanooga, Tennessee. I was ordained to
the ministry, and I pastored a church and did not know the
gospel. And in 1950, when I was 25 years
old, I learned the gospel. I met the master. I saw the majesty
of God, really, for the first time. the majesty of God, the
Lordship of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is Lord. I saw the fall and
ruin of man. I saw that. I believed it. I learned with Paul this great
confession right here. Look at Ephesians chapter one
at verse three, Ephesians one verse three. Blessed be the God
and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us. God
has blessed us with all spiritual blessing in heaven and places
in Christ. Verse four, according as he chose
us, God blessed us. God chose us. Chose us in here
in Christ before the foundation of the world that we should be
holy and without blame before him in love, having predestinated
us. God blessed us. God chose us. God predestinated us under the
adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself according to
the good pleasure of His will. Listen to this nectar, to the
praise of the glory of His grace whereby He made us accepted. God blessed me. God chose me. God predestinated me to be like
Christ and He accepted And look at verse 7, in whom we have redemption,
through his blood the forgiveness of sin. My friend, I learned
that great confession and I've preached it since that time.
And I learned how God can be just and justify the ungodly. I learned that. And I learned
that eternal life is not just a doctrine. Eternal life is not
just a profession. Eternal life is not just a reformation. It's a new birth. It's Christ in you, the hope
of glory. Salvation is not an offer. It's
a gift. He's given unto us eternal life,
and this life's in His Son. Salvation is not by chance. It's by choice. By His choice. And salvation is not, I will
if you will. Salvation is by the will of God. Third thing I learned. That Jesus
Christ is sufficient. And we're complete in Him. I didn't come to a doctor, I
came to a person. I didn't just learn a system
of theology, I came to Christ. Of God are you in Christ Jesus,
who of God is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification,
and redemption, that as it is written, he that gloryeth, let
him glory in the Lord. Let not the wise man glory in
his wisdom. Let not the mighty man glory
in his strength. Let not the rich man glory in
his riches, let him glory in this that he knows me. I met him just like Abraham of
old, Abraham 75 years old, when God called him to himself. And
Abraham didn't just believe there's a God, he believed God. Abraham did not just believe.
In God, he believed God, and he went out. He believed God,
and he departed. He went, not knowing where he
was going. God promised him a son. He didn't
know how in the world he was going to have one of his age.
And God promised him that when he took that boy up on the mountain
and offered him as a sacrifice, he would raise him from the dead. That's the key. He believed God. And what did he do? He obeyed
God. And I'm saying this, what are the fruits of believing God?
What is the result of actually believing God? Well, I'll tell
you. Number one, it produces joy. Blessed is the man whom thou
choosest. and causeth to approach unto
thee, that he may dwell in thy courts, and be satisfied, and
be satisfied with the goodness of thy house." Not that I speak
in respect of want. I've learned in whatsoever state
I am therewith to be content. Content, committed, and confident. The joy of the Lord. Secondly,
faith in Christ glorifies God. As it is written, he that glory,
let him glory in the Lord. Faith in Christ produces humility. It does. Pride and humility don't
live in the same heart. Faith and pride do not exist
together. Love and hate do not exist together. What do you have that you did
not receive? If you received it, why do you
glow as if you didn't? Fourthly, faith in Christ gives
us comfort in our trials. James said, my brethren, Count
it all joy when you fall into different temptations, knowing
that the trying of your faith works patience. The trying of
your faith. This is what I'm talking about
a while ago. You learn patience. It takes time. It takes trials. It takes suffering. It takes
agony. It takes all these things to get. Brother A.D. Mews. I don't know if anybody here
is familiar. He died in 1964. I preached his funeral with Dr. Magruder up in Louisville where
he pastored. Dr. A.D. Muse died at 64 years
of age in 1954. That's what it was. But anyway, had a young preacher
friend that they were very close. Luther Martin was his name. Used
to pastor down here in Corbin, Kentucky. But Luther came to
visit Brother Mews. Brother Mews was up in years
like and Luther was a young preacher and Luther came to visit Brother
Mews. And he said, Brother Mews, he said, I wish you'd teach me
patience. Pray that the Lord would give
me patience. Would you do that, Brother Mews?
Would you pray that the Lord would give me patience? Brother
Mews said, let's pray. He bowed his head. He said, Lord,
Lord, I want you to give this young man a hard time. I want
you to give this man real trials and troubles and heartaches. And the young man, Luther said,
Brother Mews, wait a minute. I didn't ask you to ask the Lord
to give me trials and tribulation. I want patience. He said, son,
tribulation worketh patience. Can't have one without the other.
That's it. I said, oh, and the Lord gives
us comfort in these times of difficulty and tribulation. Work with patience and let patience
have its perfect work. Let patience finish its task. Sometimes we say, Lord, heal
me or take care of me. Just hang on a little while till
he finishes the task, finishes the work. Let patience have its perfect
work. Perfect work. Let it work out that you may
be mature. If you lack wisdom, God will
give it to you. Here is number five. Watch this.
Faith gives us blessed assurance. Assurance. That's right. Being
confident of this one thing, that he that hath begun a good
work in you, he'll complete it in the day of the Lord Jesus
Christ. And then he gives us comfort in death, and I'll get
to that in a few moments. But now here's number four. I've
learned God will provide. God will provide. God will provide. I came home from the Navy in
1946. Doris and I got married. I got a job at the steel mill
where my dad worked and where her dad worked. I was real religious. I was a member of the First Baptist
Church of Fairfield, Alabama. She was church secretary. I worked
in the steel mill where my dad worked, 21 years old. I worked for the young people
in the church. had a desire to preach, but I
did enjoy working with the young people. And so we've been married
about December, January, February, March, four months. And the sister
pastor of this church where I was a member lived across the street. And he came over to the house
one night. We lived with my parents. We
wanted to get married and we didn't have furniture or anything, we just
moved in with my parents. That's what parents are for,
move in. Anyway, he came over to the house. He said, Henry said, Brother
Don Wells, pastor in Ashland, Kentucky, has asked me to come
to Kentucky and be his youth director and song leader. But
he said, I'm not going. He said, you know Don Wells?
I said, well, Doris went to school with him. I didn't know him,
but Doris went to school with him at Bob Jones University.
But I do know him. He said, why don't you go be
his song leader and assistant pastor? I said, Vern, I said,
I've never led a song in my life. He said, I'll teach you. I'll
take a month or two and teach you. prayed about it and talked
about it. This was a large Southern Baptist
church in Ashland, Kentucky. And so Darce and I caught a train,
went to Ashland to talk to the pastor about me being his song
leader and youth director. And Darce was quite a singer. She's sung on the radio and so
he had her sing and had me lead the singing, and then he said, we'll invite you to come up here
and work with us. You know something? I quit my
job. She quit her job. We didn't have
a car. We got the train to Ashton, Kentucky,
and moved into a little upstairs apartment, two rooms and a bath. Didn't have a refrigerator. We
kept the milk on the windowsill and the butter and things like
it to keep it from melting, you know. And I got $40 a week and
Doris got $40. She got a job in the insurance
company. And you know the Lord provided for us. I stayed there
six months and they ordained me to preach. And so I knew I
needed to go to school. So she and I went to Chattanooga,
moved into a furnished house, and we lived
there while I went to school. And then I became pastor of a
church. And God has provided for us every step of the way,
every step of the way. He always has. He always will.
God will provide. That's right. Turn to Psalm 37.
Listen to this. Psalm 37, verse 23 to 26. Listen to this. Psalm
37, here it is. Verse 23. The steps... of a good man, and that is a
God's man, a righteous man, a believer, are ordered by the Lord. And
he delighteth in his way, and though he fall, he'll not be
utterly cast down. The Lord upholdeth him with his
hand. I've been young, and now I'm
old, and I've never, I have not seen the righteous forsaken,
and I've never seen him begging for bread. You haven't either,
have you? No, you haven't either. This
hymn writer said this, listen, Though troubles assail and dangers
affright, Though friends should fail and foes unite, One thing
assures us, whatever be tide, His promise assures us the Lord
will provide. The birds without barns and storehouse
are fed. From them, let us learn to trust
God for our bread. His saints, what is fitting,
will never be denied. So long as it's written, the
Lord will provide. No strength of our own nor goodness
do we claim. Our trust is thrown on the Lord
Jesus, dear name, and in this strong tower for safety I hide. The Lord's my keeper and the
Lord will provide. When life sinks apace and death
is in view, the word, his word of comfort would take us straight
through, not fearing, not doubting. With Christ on our side, we hope
to die shouting, the Lord will provide. All right, I'm going
to quit. And this is something that I
wrote several years ago. And I want you to turn with me
to Job, Job chapter Job chapter 5. Job chapter 5. I've used this
at several memorial services for dear friends who've passed
away. And I'll be glad for them to
read it when God calls me away. The death of a believer. I want
you to look at this in Job chapter 5. Job chapter 5, verse 26. Thou shalt come to thy grave.
Now let me pause as I read this. Thou shalt come to thy grave.
The death of a believer is inevitable. It's inevitable. You'll come
to your grave. Because of sin, death passes
upon all of us. and we all must die and we all
must be buried, all believers and all unbelievers, you'll come
to your grave. Second, Job says here, verse
26, thou shalt come to thy grave. The death of a believer is inevitable
and it's acceptable. He said you'll come to your grave. You're going to come to the grave.
This reveals a willingness to die. It reveals a willingness to die.
We choose to die. We choose to be absent from the
bodies, to be present with the Lord. That's what Paul said.
To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.
Now, unbelievers, they don't come to their grave. What does
the Lord say to the unbeliever? This night your soul shall be
required of you. They fight it. They hate it. They're not forced. The believers
are not forced to die. They leave this earth and go
to be with Christ. And we go to be with Him just
like we came to Him in faith. They go to be with Him willingly
just like we came to faith willingly. Thou shalt come to thy grave
in a full age. Death is inevitable, it's acceptable,
and it's timely. It's timely. The death of a believer,
you'll come to your grave in a full age. What is a full age? In the fullness of God's time,
when He wills it. when he ordains it. Our bounds
are set. The number of our months are
with the Lord. No believer dies before God appoints
it or afterwards. He dies when God appoints it.
No believer dies before or beyond the Lord's appointed time, which
is regardless of how old or how young you are. My son, Robbie, died at 21. That's the years God gave him. He died at full age. My daughter,
Becky, died at 42, full age. The days God gave her. I'm 81,
maybe today, but this is it. That's right. We die at full
age. Now watch this. Fourthly, he
says here, you come to your grave in a full age like a shock of
corn comes in his season. The death of a believer is according
to God's purpose in the fullness of redemption, like a shock of
corn in his season. If corn is harvested before it's
ripe, it's no good. If you leave it in the field
too long, it's not fit for use. Our salvation is complete in
Christ and he has made us sufficient and ripe for glory when his time
comes. So when the Lord's purpose for
us on this earth and in his church is served, the believer is ripe
and ready to be plucked. Ready to be plucked from the
field. had taken to the marriage supper of the Lamb, the feast
on high. Ready to go. And the death of
a believer. Watch this now. Verse 26, I shall
come to thy grave in a full age, like a shock of corn comes in
his season, and lo, this we have searched it, so it is, hear it,
and know it's far your The death of a believer is for
our good. Old Elipha said, I have searched
this. I've studied it. And these things
are true. And I want you to hear it and
to know it. And when the Lord brings it to
pass, you say, good. Good. Good. All right, let's bow for
prayer.