Don't Wait Too Late

TITLE: DON’T WAIT TOO LATE

SCRIPTURE: REVELATION 14:13 / REVELATION 20:12-13

I will miss Brother Stephon as well as many of us that spend time caring for this Church. Brother Stephon grew on us, and we became comfortable seeing him around the Church working and doing anything we called upon him to help. He was always willing and oftentimes he would just stop by to see if we needed him to do anything, either here or next door at the First Touch Learning Center. I oftentimes pondered that kind of spirit. Although I could never get him to come to any of the many Church services and programs here at ‘First Church’ he was yet always available if we needed anything done, especially as it pertains to yard work. He was more willing than the average member who attends this church. We never stopped talking and inviting him. I recognize he gave his life to Christ at an early age, and we should take comfort in knowing that.

There is not a single thing we can say or do here today that would have any effect upon the destiny of this brother, neighbor, friend who has transitioned from Time to Eternity. We simply leave all such matters in the hand of a God who knoweth and doeth all things well. We find in the book of Acts, after Deacon Stephen had been put to death for the cause of our Lord, the brethren lamented his death.

• Sorrow is not wrong

• But we must not sorrow like those who have no hope

• REVELATION 14:13 calls to our attention - Our deeds will follow us, even in death

I want to talk with you for just a few minutes this morning from the subject – Don’t Wait Too Late. Sometimes I think people do not truly understand or accept the idea that “tomorrow is not promised.” For many people there is no ticking clock on time and life as we know it. I believe this happens because we live in a world of routines and become so used to the clockwork of things.

• The sun rises over the horizon in the East and it sets over the horizon in the West – it’s clockwork

• We have four seasons that come and go - like clockwork

• We go through our everyday routines so often that we begin to feel like we are machines

The very idea there is a clock ticking away on life can become alien to some. Any talk of something that could be considered “out of the ordinary” also comes off as something foolish. talk of the Lord’s return - the apocalypse - the great white throne - or a clock ticking down on life as we know it all fits up under the bubble of “foolish talk.” There is this general idea that because it has not happened yet, there is nothing that we should worry about. So, some become comfortable with the idea that there’s no deadline to meet when it comes to making a decision on their faith in the Lord or become more committed to serving the lord in spirit and in truth.

• We only act with urgency when there is a deadline for us to meet

• We did this in school when it came to assignments and reports – we waited for the last minute

• We do it now when it comes to clocking in on the job – we wait for the last minute

• I do this when it comes to filing my taxes – wait until final day to file or oftentimes seeking an extension

I come with a simple message – Don’t Wait Too Late. The text here in the book of Revelation tells us ‘OUR WORKS DO FOLLOW US.’ I can say this about Brother Stephon – ‘He did not mind working around the Church.’ Perhaps his family here was not aware how Brother Monroe was always found around this Church and our Learning Center next door, desiring to help and do the necessary work. My question this morning is – ‘What kind of work are you following today?’

• Are you seeking to do work that will “follow you?”

• Work that will outlive you and will outlive even your memory?

• Work that will follow you all the way to the Lambs Book of Life

This kind of investment into eternity does not happen all at once. A life well-invested is one that is invested little by little every day. Just as a farmer must be faithful each day if he wants to reap the harvest he dreams of, so we must faithfully follow the work that we want to follow us someday. Just like a Pastor’s faithful work - often unnoticed by many in the community, it is noticed by God.