An New Focus Series

EASTER – A NEW FOCUS

When Cynthia Manley realized she had only twenty minutes left to live, she figured the best thing she could do with the time she had left was to send text messages to her two daughters. Her one daughter, Alanna, was a student at Seattle University. She texted, “Stay strong and no matter what happens take care of yourself and your sister. Find a way to get to California and be together soon and be a family. I love you so much.” To her other daughter, Alyssa, she wrote, “No matter what happens get your degree! Have a good life and be successful! And take care of your sister.”

What would you do if you had twenty minutes left to live? Who would you write and what would you say? It turned out that Cynthia Manley had much more than twenty minutes to live. In fact, she and most of the state of Hawaii are still alive today. Maybe you read how in January of 2018, a state worker chose the wrong menu item for the state missile alert system and sent an alert to the entire island that said, “Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill.” For about half an hour, many people in the state thought they were just about to die in a nuclear blast. Maybe you saw the photos of parents lowering their children down into manholes for shelter.

Fortunately, it was a happy ending for everyone. Well, maybe not so much for the guy who sent out the wrong message alert! I am sure he is enjoying his new job in Alaska. In fact, I would say that it could have been a gift to some people because it caused them to think about what really matters in life. What would you have done if you thought you only had 20 minutes to live? One thing is for sure, it would have been an indicator for what was really important in your life.

Today we are continuing in our series Easter Challenge. We have looked at the fact that, because of Easter, our Foundation and Fellowship is different. Today I want to talk about the fact that, because of Easter, our Focus is different.

2Co 5:11-15 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13 If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

What is the primary focus of your life? This passage of scripture reminds us of what it should be.

1. Our Worldview – we know the truth

It says in verse 11, “Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men.” Because of Easter we know the truth. I do not know if you have 20 minutes left to live or 20 years. What I do know is one day all of us are going to have to stand before God and give account for our lives. You may die this afternoon, or you may remain alive until Jesus returns. I believe that we are in the Last Days, but that could be a few weeks or a hundred years. One day we will have to give an account. Hopefully that conversation will be like what is recorded in Matt 25;

Mat 25:23 His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

It is only by faith in Jesus that we go to heaven. It is only by accepting His gift of salvation that we are saved. As it says in verse 11, “Since … we know what it is to fear the Lord.” That means that we know the truth and have received it into our lives. What is the truth?

A million years from now every person that has ever existed will still be alive. They will be living in one of two locations. They will either be in heaven with Jesus or they will be in hell, forever separated from his love and presence. This is what the bible says;