Going Ahead

gOING AHEAD

This morning I want to share with you a concern that I have. We are faced with uncertain times. This life (as we know it) offers us no guarantees. Most of us have learned the hard way that we can only live one day at a time.

And if you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, than you know that there can be no denying what I am about to say. We are living in what the Bible has referred to as the “last days”.

Listen to these scriptures regarding the times we now live in.

Acts 2:17

And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

THOSE WITHOUT THE SAVIOR

2 Tim 3:1-2

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

Does this sound familiar to anyone?

2 Pet 3:3-4

…there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

And saying, Where is the promise of his coming?

Text: Luke 17:26 through 33

Prayer:

There has been a lot of attention given recently to the controversy (known to everyone) as Y2K.

More specifically the upcoming calendar change and how it may or may not affect the computer age we live in.

The big question facing our nation (and the world) is:

“Will our lives, and/or our well being, be threatened or at the very least inconvenienced with the changes taking place in computers when the clock strikes 12 midnight, on December 31, 1999?”

Perhaps you have heard this matter discussed and debated on television, the radio and the newspapers. Even Bill Gates the guru of computers doesn’t even know just what to expect. I am no Bill Gates, but this much I do know is that everyone seems to have a different opinion as to what will take place.

There are people this morning who are living in fear about all this excitement. They are sandbagging their basements that are stockpiled with rations and fresh water. Scared half out of their wits about all of this.

Whether you are a born again believer or not, this dilemma (to one degree, or another) seems to be having an impact on almost everyone.

Quite frankly my opinion about all of this excitement probably won’t mean much to you. So I will keep that to myself. I don’t have an opinion to give, but I do have a concern about how this is affecting people everywhere.

You see, while everyone is buzzing about Y2K they are forgetting what is really the issue today.

That is, we should be asking ourselves questions like:

1. What is the most important thing that people should be aware of this morning?

2. Who is the most important person that people should know this morning?

Answer – What = The soon return of our Lord Jesus Christ

Who = The Person of Jesus Christ

My point is Satan has done it again, while in these last days people should be getting right with God.

But instead, Satan has lured many people’s attention away from what is really about to happen.

Church, Jesus is coming again.

As we live out these final days we cannot allow ourselves

• to look for anything else to take place, but the coming of the Lord

• to be distracted with fears of a Y2K disaster, but excited about seeing the King of Kings and Lord of Lords

It is only natural for the church, that is the Bride of Jesus Christ to be looking forward to and excited about the fact that Jesus is coming soon.

GOD EXPECTS A PREPARATION

This morning I am compelled to tell you what God has told me. These are the last days. The Lord will soon be judging –

• Right from wrong

• Good from evil

• Holiness from mediocrity

• Sheep from the goats

• God’s righteousness from the devil’s sin and death

I must warn everyone here in such a way that will cause you to prepare yourself and your family for the days ahead.

Some of you may have come today burdened down with what happened to you yesterday, last week, of even years ago.

I beg of you to understand that what happened to you yesterday, last week, or last year will never be as important as what you will face in the very near future.

My friend, you have to be ready for anything.

It is what lies ahead that each of us needs to consider today.