New Years Eve 2023

Jonah Albrecht

Ecclesiastes 12

The Time to Know Your Savior is Now

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, ⁷ and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. ¹³ The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. ¹⁴ For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.  

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

In the Name of Christ Who is our refuge each year ‘round, Dear fellow redeemed.

Today marks the completion of yet another year of our lives. The past year was filled with joy and excitement; death and sorrow; comfort and contentment; pain and worry. Mountains as high as we thought possible and valleys, we never thought we could come out of. This year had it all and none in short supply. It is on this day when we look back over the successes and mistakes, we made over the last 365 days and begin to plan out what we will do the same, and what we will do differently over the next.

I don’t know about you, but this last year absolutely flew by. It seems like just yesterday I was making the same walk across the campus of Immanuel that I had been making for the last 11 years. But now I am standing here talking to you. It is a reminder that life is short. Days are short. Of all the things we could control in the past year and the things we are able to control in the next, time is not one of them. It is impossible to control time or slow it down. That is the lesson Solomon is teaching in our text for this morning. Life is short. One moment you are in the golden beauty of youth, but the next it is only a matter of time before your soul returns to the Lord.

Solomon reminds us: The time to know your Savior is now. There is no “maybe tomorrow” when it comes to faith. No one knows when one’s soul will be required of them, when their time of grace will come to an end. Know your Savior while there still is time.

Today we are going to take a look at some of the famous people who passed away this year.

Herb Kohl passed away just a few days ago. He was of the Kohls retail store family and he was a long-time owner of the NBA team Milwaukee Bucks. Kohl was one of the richest families in Milwaukee, but all that wealth means nothing if you are not wealthy in something that lasts: Rich in faith in the Savior.

LeeAnn Redmond died earlier this month. She was most well-known for setting a world record for the longest fingernails on both hands. LeeAnn was raised in the Church of the Latter Day Saints. It is unclear whether she remained in the Mormon church, but we pray that she heard the Gospel and believed in Jesus as her Savior from sin.

Actor Mattew Perry passed away earlier this spring. He was most well-known for playing Chandler Bing in the hit tv show Friends. The circumstances surrounding Perry’s death are uncertain. He was only 54 years old. Perry confessed a belief and God and said he had a close relationship with Him. We pray that he also had a close relationship with his Savior and now enjoys the peace that faith in Jesus brings.

Bob Barker died.  He was practically synonymous with The Price is Right.  The show is based on a simple concept:  contestants must put a value on a product without going over its actual price. The one closest to that wins. Hopefully, Mr. Barker knew about the one thing that cannot be overstated or overvalued: the gift of salvation, that cost Jesus everything, but comes to us free of charge.

Robbie Knievel died this year. He was the son of the great Evel Knievel. He defied death with numerous stunts. But he could not cheat death. Death comes to all unless Christ returns first.

The list of memorable people who died in 2023 could go on and on. Every year there is a number of people who died unexpectedly. Never did they think they would get into a deadly crash. Never did they think they would overdose. Never did they think. . .death would come for them. But, the same way we cannot prevent time from passing by, neither can we prevent death from coming. That is the result of living in this sinful world. Paul writes, “Death spread to all men because all sinned.”

Solomon grants us a unique perspective in Ecclesiastes. He had everything you could ever ask for. He had wealth, wisdom, peace in the nation, fame that extended across the world. What was his conclusion to having all that? Vanity of vanities, all is vanity. It was worthless because Solomon knew all that earthly success would soon be broken. Death would come and he could not take his wealth with him. Rather, Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth. Solomon recognized the one thing that was important in this life, the one thing that was not vain: Faith in God who saved him from his sins. His urgent plea is to know God, know your Savior and serve Him while you yet have the opportunity. . .before it is too late.

before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, ⁷ and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

When you look on the few people, I mentioned who passed away this year, each of them found various levels of success, fame, and wealth in this life. Herb Kohl certainly found success. His net worth was upwards of 630 million dollars. What is that money worth to him now? Zilch. It remained here on earth to be distributed or fought over or taxed or whatever it might be. Herb Kohl has none of his wealth or fame with him now. Rather he has to stand before the throne of the Creator to face judgment. Hopefully, Herb Kohl stands dressed in the robes of his Savior’s blood and does not face condemnation.

If you were to enter into death tomorrow, how successful would your life be? Would you point someone to the small fortune you accumulated. The family and friends you left behind, or the impact you might have had on society?

No. The silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is broken. Everything we accumulate on this earth is going to fade away in the forgottenness of time. Our bodies will become the dust they were when God created man. If we could ask some of the celebrities who died this past year whether it was all worth it, I’m curious about the responses we would get. For those who had faith in their Savior, it certainly was worth it because they were able to see how God was with them and blessed them throughout their lives. But for those who died faithless, in the eyes of eternity, it is unlikely they will say the same.

¹³ The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. ¹⁴ For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. 

At the end, all that mattered to Solomon was to know his Savior; to fear God and service Him. He knew that when death finally came, God would judge him. Everything he ever did uncovered. Does that sound frightening? It certainly can be. Everyone who does not know that Jesus is their Savior from sin will greatly dread that day because their sins will be exposed. Their wickedness and rebellion against God will be exposed.

But for you; for you who knows their Savior. For you who has faith in the Lamb of God who takes away your sin by His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead; for you it is a different story. That final day of judgment is not terrifying, but a welcome sight. Because your sins are not going to be exposed; your inner thoughts and desires will not be brought to light. Why? Because you knew your Savior and your Savior knows you. You will stand before the throne of God, clothed in the righteousness that the blood of Jesus brings. Rather than enumerating all the times you sinned, God will use you and a testimony of one who has faith and accomplished many good things in their life through faith in Jesus.

At the end of every year it seems natural for people to reflect with fondness over past memories and begin planning for a New Year. What are you going to reminisce over? What are you going to plan for in 2024? Is it the things you accomplished, the friendships made, the success at work? Those are all fine things to look back on with fondness. But consider looking back on 2023 from the point of view of eternity: If you were one of the people listed who passed away this year: 2023 would have been a great success because you knew your Savior. You looked to Him for the forgiveness of your sins and you would stand with Him in eternity. Take that point of view as you go into 2024. You know your Savior. Whatever highs and lows come into your life, none of them compare to the comfort that Jesus brings with His forgiveness. Because of your Savior, 2024 is already a great success. Amen.