The Occupation of Restoration (01.26.2025)

“I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied.
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.” ~ Ecclesiastes 3:10-11
2 Kings 20 tells the story of Hezekiah, a king whose life is slipping away. A word from the Lord “Get your house in order.” The king responds with humility, hope and promise through prayer. God responds with a 15 year extension, and a time of testing.
In the details of his story, as in the verses above, we see the struggle and the rewards of laboring for good things, with varying results. On one hand, hard labor with vanity, on the other labor with satisfaction. The difference may be a season that must be endured. The difference may also be whether or not we are laboring with the Lord or laboring without godly consideration.
In the terms Solomon uses “to be occupied” or “travail”, the heaviness of labor is implied, but its all “beautiful” in the hands of the Lord.
The keys to joy and satisfaction are patience, endurance, consistency and service. “Joy comes in the morning”.
As covenant believers, we find rest in intentionally infusing the nature of God into our lives and relationships. As kingdom believers, we find satisfaction and meaning as we proliferate the light of His nature into the world that extends around us. “… the aroma of life leading to life” (2 Corinthians 2:16)
“Unless the LORD builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;” ~Psalm 127:1
Sunday’s Message “The Occupation of Restoration”
The River Church -10AM