Intro: the world news says, everything is out of control, the national news says, everything is out of control, even the local news has the same message that everything is out of control. As we face 2008, some may face it with fear, others may face it with doubts about the future, but in the midst of it all, the Word of God rings out with this message, I am Alpha, Omega, Beginning and End, First and Last, He which is, which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. In a world out of control, there is one voice that rings clear, I am in control. Today, we must listen to this message, so that we can believe for a great 2008 for our lives.
Yesterday, Today, Forever
God is in Control
Revelation 1:4-8
background: the amazing thing about these words of encouragement, they come from someone who has been banished to live on a island prison. John, wrote this Revelation when everything seemed to be going in the wrong direction for the church. But, in the midst of it all, this message rings out, God is in control.
I. God has taken care of our Yesterdays–our yesterdays have been taken care of with all our sins, faults and failures nailed to the cross. Before we were ever born, Jesus was provided as the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world. If Jesus has the capacity to take away the world’s sin, surely He can take care of yours. Your yesterdays are not only covered, but wiped clean. The Word of God tells us that He washes us white as snow. Our sins are remembered no more. My Gram use to say, He throws them into the sea of His forgetfulness. As we face a new year, the Good News is that God has your yesterdays under control. You don’t have to let an old sin plague your mind, there is now no condemnation in our lives because of Jesus Christ. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of all our unrighteousness. You can’t undo your yesterday, so don’t let your yesterday undo you. 2008 is a time for moving on, not getting stuck in some failure of your past. All things have become new. The devil will accuse you, someone else may bring up your past, but you are heading toward your Omega, your life is heading toward He which is to come. Abraham didn’t head toward the promise because He was perfect, He headed toward the promise because He was sure. We don’t face 2008 because we are confident in our flesh, we face 2008 because we have this treasure in earthen vessels. The last time I checked, the number of people ever to walk this life without sin, is still one. And because of that One, Jesus Christ, your yesterdays are covered.
II. God has taken care of our Tomorrow’s–the next reason we can face 2008 with expectations of great things is because God is already ahead of us. There may be some things that take us by surprise, but there is nothing that will take Him by surprise. Omega, the ending, which is to come, the Almighty. Ill) when I lived in Caribou Maine it snowed, blizzards were commonplace. But because of the giant snow plows, salt trucks, and snow blowers, the roads were clear.
God has a plan for our lives, He is clearing your path, if you will let His Word be a lamp unto your feet, and a light unto your path, you will come to a desired end. The thoughts God has for your life are good thoughts, His will is that you go over not under, that you will be blessed.
I love the five day forecast on the weather channel. Generally they get it right, but the other day, they missed it by a mile. They called for a rainy day, it was sunny. With God, He always gets it right, He’s never missed a forecast, and He doesn’t just give us a week advance notice, but tells us how it will go all the way to the end. He is Omega, the Last Verse, it says, He wins, We win.
He is in the middle of the middle east. He exalts, He brings low. In Him we live, and move, and have our being. In Him, by Him, through Him, do all things consist. Jesus said it this way, “ not even one sparrow falls the ground without His knowledge of it.” How much more valuable are you than many sparrows.
III. God will take care of your Today’s–this is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. Immanuel, God with us. Jesus, the same yesterday, today and forever. Today is a special day, because it is a day of opportunities. God has a plan for your life, and today is the first day of the rest of your life.
Make today count for God. Pray, Praise and Worship, Share Jesus with everyone you meet. Work while it is day, the night comes when no man can work.
You can’t do anything about your past, and you have to wait for your tomorrow’s to arrive, but you can do something with today.
Today, we can decide to surrender our lives fully to Jesus Christ. Today, we can step out in faith to accomplish great things for God. Don’t ever let your life get stuck in a regret over a yesterday, or a fear about tomorrow, live your life one day at a time, and give your best to God in every breath. I’m not worried about Pakistan, or Wall Street or who will be the next President, God has that all under control. My biggest concern should always be, to be the best I can be right here, right now. I have a tape on time management, and it gives a lot of good advice about organizing your life. One of the best tips is this: don’t let something slip into your tomorrow that you can take care of in your today. Today, do your best, Today get going, Today, let your light shine before men, so they can see your good works and glorify God.
Close: yesterday, He has it covered, Tomorrow, He is clearing the path. Today, do your best for God.
Jesus said, in this world you will have tribulation, be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. It gives us peace to know, that our yesterdays are covered, our tomorrow’s are cleared, and our today’s we have His presence to guide our lives. May God bless you in 2008 with His best for your life and your family.
