Sermon Central
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Never Too Late
Contributed by Steaven Snow on Jan 27, 2005 (message contributor)
Summary: The urgency of decision making
Never Too Late
Text: Hebrews 3:12-19
19 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.
17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
{Relate the Background of the Spies and the Forty Years Wandering in the Wilderness}
I. Never Too Late to Accept God’s Righteousness
Example: the 100 year-old + man saved in a Methodist Church who heard Billy Sunday at 16
Example: Larry R., middle-age drunkard who sent his kids to church on a bus so he could drink, but was gloriously saved
Example: the middle-age lady, who was saved only weeks before her death—son’s (away in military) appreciation that someone cared for his mother
Drawback—it is possible to be dead before you die!
II. Never Too Late to Start Doing Right
Example: Ethiopian eunuch—immediately desired to be baptized
Example: Phillipian jailer—saved and immediately became a servant
Example: Andrew—upon finding Christ, immediately found his brother
Drawbacks—no drawbacks to instant obedience.
III. Never Too Late to Resume Doing Right
Example: Moses at 80 led the Israelites out of Egypt
Drawback—Moses still retained some of his past character flaws—his anger kept him out of the Promised Land.
Example: David, after his great sin, repented and gathered the temple supplies
Drawback—The sword did not depart out of David’s house--David could not build the Temple because of it.
Example: John Mark, after his turning back, became useful again
Drawback—Though young, he lost valuable time
Point: Today is the day—of salvation to the lost, of renewal to the saved!
