Missed Opportunities

MISSED OPPORTUNITIES

“If you had asked me a couple of weeks ago to define the word tsunami I would have probably given a humorous response, suggesting that it was an item on an Japanese menu or the name of a new Korean car. Today, however, there is nothing funny to be said that that awful word tsunami. This underwater earthquake that produced waves that swept across the Indian Ocean at 50 miles per hour and then slammed into the coastal areas with waves of water as tall as a 3-story building, washed away everything in its way for thousands of miles from India to Kenya and every island in between. The whole world stands in shock and sadness as we see over 150,000 people, a large percentage children, swept out to sea and then returned as bloated bodies. We have seen whole villages washed away and entire families killed as they sat together on a beach enjoying a vacation together. There is nothing funny about the word tsunami” (Marvin A. McMickle, from a sermon titled “A Few Words About Watching”).

The events of the past few weeks, the mudslides in California, the tsunami across the world, the deaths in Sanford last week, the accident on 46 in Geneva, all serve to remind us that life is fragile, time is limited, and tomorrow is not promised.

What makes the tsunami even more tragic, is that while the wave itself could not have been prevented, the death toll could have been significantly lowered if people on the shore had received even a few minutes of an early warning that might have allowed them to leave the beaches and move as far inland as possible. They were not warned.

Yesterday, I led a graveside service at Deltona Memorial Gardens. I happened to get there a little early, so I walked around the cemetery and looked at some of the headstones nearby. I was amazed at the number of young people I saw buried there. There were several teens there, and some people in there 20’s. I saw many places where children were buried. As I walked and looked I wondered, were they ever warned? Did anyone take the time to tell them to get ready?

Please open your Bibles and turn with me this morning to the book of 1 Samuel. 1 Samuel chapter 10 and verse 1.

If you had been or have been to prayer meeting on a Wednesday night recently, you would know from preceding chapters that the Israelites decided they wanted to have a king to rule over them, so God said He would give them a king.

Saul and his servant went looking for some lost donkeys one day and since they couldn’t find them, they decided to go see the prophet Samuel to see if he could tell them where the donkeys were. Before they got there, God told Samuel that Saul was coming and told him what to do. That’s where we take up this account.

- Read 1 Samuel 10:1-10, 17-24

There are several items about this encounter I would like you to notice, several similarities in this passage I see between Saul and us.

1. Chosen by God – First notice that Saul was chosen by God.

- Read 1 Samuel 9:16-17

It was not by chance that Saul happened to go to town that day. It was not an accident that caused him to arrive when Samuel was in town. God arranged it because Saul was chosen by God.

My friend, I want you to know that it was not by accident that you had the opportunity to hear the Gospel. It was not an accident nor luck of the draw that caused a person to first share the good news with you. God arranged it.

- Read Ephesians 1:3-6

Let me tell you my friend, God chose to allow you the opportunity to be saved. You were chosen by God.

Notice if you will, the 2nd similarity we share with Saul.

2. Anointed by God –

- 1 Samuel 10:1 Samuel poured oil over Saul’s head. He anointed him king. My friend, if you have invited the Lord Jesus into your heart, I want you to know that you have been anointed, you have been set apart as well.

> Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

My friend, Jesus said in Revelation 3:20 Behold I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice and open the door I will come into him. The moment you invite Jesus to come into your heart, the minute you ask Him to be your Lord, He, through the Holy Spirit, comes to dwell in you. You are anointed. This past summer Gladys & I had the opportunity to attend our niece’s wedding. One thing that stands out from the ceremony is the closing. You know where the couple walk down the isle as they’re leaving and they play some kind of wedding march? Well, as they were leaving they played the song “Here I am baby. Signed, sealed, delivered, I’m your’s.” My friends, you too have been anointed. You too are signed, sealed, and waiting to be delivered. Another similarity I see between us and Saul is that we have been changed by God.