IF YOU WANT TO CLIMB MOUNTAINS, WHY ARE YOU GOING DOWNHILL?

Song: Each Step I Take.

Lesson Texts:Ecc.1:3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?
Ecc.2:11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
Ecc.12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Introduction: Many things trigger the thought process which leads to sermons,
It may be a statement overheard, which illustrates the attitude of most of the world. It could be an observation of acts, facts or conditions.
This message stems from all of these.

1. Concerning young people being allured by the world.
2.A 'flower child' of the 60's stating she had been driven by facts and logic to accept the long-rejected moral standards of her mother.
3.The fact that many of God's professed people are searching, some quite aimlessly, with no concept of the object of their search.
4. The ACTIONS of many Christians which state , loudly and clearly, that their Christian experience is ineffective in giving purpose and direction and in changing their lives.
5. The condition of aimless, joyless, powerless 'spectator Christians'. These simply look on and perhaps 'wish I could do that', but never seem to get the ambition to begin! [Sometimes they even approach the task with the same determination many dieters seem to have. 'Someday I'll lose weight.', 'I'll break it just this once' etc
I. The Analogy of the Christian journey [Pilgrims Progress.]
Between the cross and the judgment seat of Christ, there are snares, blessings, traps, side roads, dead ends, trials and opportunities..
A. Without a clear view that the ultimate goal is the 'well done' of our Master, the journey itself becomes pointless. We might as well be saved and go home!

B. To become obsessed with self-accomplishments makes the evasion of pitfalls, the gaining of blessings, etc. the ultimate goal and we lose sight of Christ.
The Pilgrim's purpose was NOT to simply evade 'Vanity Fair'. He steered clear of the place because he had a clear view of the heavenly city!

II. Our Goal as stated in the Scripture. [Until you set your sights on this, all intermediate activity is an exercise in futility, however hard you may labor at it.]
["I've tried so hard, but they----"]
A. Have you done this?
He.12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

B. Or this?
Phil 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark [scopos- an object or a goal set up in the distance, toward which a person races.] for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15.Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

First proposition; Will you make THIS your goal in life? The Bible makes no room for any other.

III, The Journey toward that goal.
However bright and clear the goal it cannot be reached except by following the course laid out. We MUST have a determination to press toward the mark.
A. Avoid the pitfalls.
1.Escaping from the lion.
I Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
In whatever endeavor you find yourself, you must ask, 'Is this God's will for me?" If it isn't, Satan will use it to destroy you!

B. The snare of making GAIN your goal.
I Tim.6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
C. The trap of youthful lusts. [These can trap you even in your old age!]
II Tim 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
D. The briar patch entanglement of foolish questions. Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. [How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?]
E.The short-sightedness of making intermediate blessings the final goal.
Phil.3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Israel didn't want to leave the wells of Elim. Two and one half tribes chose to remain on the wrong side of Jordan, but had to fight the battles anyway! Application? You WILL have tribulation. Whether because of Christ or BY Christ, it's up to you!
Propositions:
Adults - Young people aren't getting proper guidance if you are drifting.
All - Will you commit yourself to faithfully following the path of Christ to the proper goal? Steer clear of snares. Escape them when caught. Not long for past blessings but reach out for new ones.
Lost; Will you place yourself at the starting point of the journey? The Cross.