Left Behind

Today’s sermon is titled “Left Behind”. I am sure all of us have left things behind a time or two in our busy lives haven’t we? I think we can all relate to leaving the house and forgetting our wallet or leaving a restaurant and forgetting something on the table such as sun glasses or car keys.

In a world with much going one we often times leave things behind as we press forward with whatever it is we have on our agendas. I myself have left ton of little things behind here and there throughout my lifetime but has any of you ever left a kid behind?

Let me share a personal experience with you this morning.

This past fall was Stacy’s parents 40th wedding Anniversary. Stacy had left earlier than me and the kids for Belleville to help get things set up for the party. So we drove separately. The party was a great success and we had a wonderful turn out. Since we drove separately, I left the following day to come back to Leon and took Shelby and Austin with me and left Shayla and Kagen with Stacy. (Splitting up kids when driving is always a wise thing to do when traveling).

We got to Salina and I had to stop and use the restroom. Shelby was sleeping and I told Austin that I was going inside the gas station to use the restroom and I would be right back. I went in and did my business and came back out. I took off as I was getting on the Highway I turned around to make sure Austin had his seat belt on because He hates his seatbelt and has a habit of taking it off whenever we stop. As I turned around and asked, “Austin is your seat belt on?” I realized Austin was not in the car!! I woke Shelby up and she said she didn’t even realize we had stopped and she didn’t know Austin was gone either.

I was really freaking out!!!Austin had left the car when I was in the restroom and was walking around the gas station looking at candy and toys. When I left the restroom I assumed Austin was still in the car but this was not the case.

So, here I was, on the highway, with nowhere to turn around until a mile or two down the road. Gary, I have to tell you, I was speeding!! Horrible thoughts were racing through my mind and getting back to the gas station seemed like an eternity.

I finally got there and sure enough Austin was standing in the store looking at some sunglasses. I was relieved I had him but then my thoughts turned to what Stacy was gonna say about it when she found out I left our youngest son and a gas station in Salina Kansas.

Have you ever been left behind? I learned a very valuable lesson that day; make sure I have everyone before I take off!

This is exactly how we should view all of our loved ones, friends, neighbors and anyone who matters to us. Receiving Jesus is a personal experience but it shouldn’t stop there. We need to share it with others so that no one is left behind when Jesus calls us home. No one should ever be left behind.

I also believe that we too can get left behind at times in life. We can get left behind from receiving what God has planned for us, we miss out on His blessings because….

I. We’re Stubborn!

A. I think back to when I left Austin at that gas station in Salina and I can’t help but to think that he got out of the truck because he was stubborn.

1. He wanted to get out and see all the candy and toys. He wanted to do what he wanted to do. His focus was on Him.

Philippians 2:21 For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

2. God desires our focus to be on Him and on His will for our lives. Yes, He wants to give us all the sweets and fun things in life but He also wants us to wait on Him and allow all things to be according to His plans not ours.

3. Sometimes we feel as if we have been left behind don’t we? Sometimes we feel as if we have hit a dead end and can’t move forward in our Christian lives because we don’t feel God within our lives.

4. Maybe we have been waiting on God for a long time. We’ve been waiting on Him to give us guidance, We’ve been waiting on Him for a blessing, We’ve been waiting on Him to open a closed door in our lives, We’ve been waiting on Him to send us a spouse, a friend, a brother or sister that can give us comfort in a time of need but we are so tired of waiting on Him because we are growing weary and can’t go on.