CLUCKING OVER ROTTEN EGGS
Or; Wasting Time on a Lost Cause.
Or; Whipping a Dead Horse.
 

Text; Jer 17:11 As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.

Intro. Oh, the Profound, absurd , time wasting stupidity of a hen with the nesting instinct. She'll spend days trying to hatch glass eggs, doorknobs, or smooth round stones, as well as rotten eggs. She will defend any of these as stubbornly as if they were her own eggs.
Humans too, waste time just as diligently on things which are totally worthless.

Consider the nine Vanities of the book of Ecclesiastes.

I. Trying to hatch a child of God without the new birth is a rotten egg. it will never come to pass.

II. The evolutionist is still assiduously working to hatch his rocks and door knobs!

III. Closer to home.
1.The materialist laying up earthly treasures.
Every junkyard is filled with wonderful object lessons. Almost every object there was once a source of pride to someone.
Every home overgrown with weeds and brambles was once a treasured possession.

2.The pleasure seeker whose god is his belly.

3.The various heretics

4.The rotten egg of some human emotions.
a. A perceived hurt.
b. A hard knot of anger.
c. An 'innocent' sin.
d. A lukewarm spirit.

5.The social activist.

6.The cracked egg of cynicism

7. The infertile egg of dissimulation [hypocrisy]

8. The cow-bird egg [an egg laid by a bird which never builds its own nest] of doubt and fear.
IV. God will not always tarry with a lost cause.

Gen 6:3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
Luke 13:7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
Luke 13:8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
Luke 13:9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
 

RESTORE UNTO ME

When Christ became his saviour,
And joy filled up his heart,
He vowed, From service to my King,
I never shall depart.

I'll guard with jealous, fervent zeal,
The joy I know today;
I'll make sure I walk with Him
Each step along the way.

I'll not let Satan steal away
The peace that makes me sing.
He'll not rob me of my joy in Christ,
In one single, little thing!

This vow was great and he kept it 'till
One sad and dismal day,
His mind was filled with other things,
And he forgot to pray!

An unkind word, then, from a friend,
Made him speak in anger too,
Then he turned his back upon the Lord,
It seemed the thing to do!

Gone now, was his joy and peace;
Gone too, his songs of praise;
Misery filled his gloomy heart;
He walked through dismal haze.

Till at last, it seemed he heard a voice,
Say, " I'm still your friend,
I never will forsake you;
I'll be with you till the end.

I loved you when I died for you;
My child, I love you still."
Then he gave an anguished, burdened cry,
"Lord, fill me with thy will!.

Forgive me my trespasses,
Restore my joy and peace,
Give me back my zeal,
And a song that will not cease!

And help me, Lord, remember
As I walk with you each day,
How Satan never had a chance,
Till I forgot to pray!

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