DOES EVERY BOMB HAVE AN L.E.D. READOUT?
22 And convince some, who doubt; 23 save some, by snatching them out of the fire; on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Jude 1:22-23 (RSV)
In many movies, our hero is on a race against time. And at least in action movies, that race against time is exemplified by the timer on a bomb. Some mission must be completed before the timer reaches 0:00.
As we mentioned – this is a common theme in movies because we can relate… We are all in a race against time. The problem is – we don’t have a little LED timer to tell us when the bomb is going to go off!
Isn’t it funny, how the terrorists in movies always notify us of how much time we have left. They identify the bomb also – with a little light.
Of course – in real life this doesn’t happen, does it? Terrorists don’t always put lights on bombs. The enemy sneaks up on us.
I want to talk to you a little bit about time. Time can be an enemy, or it can be a friend, depending on our perspective. It always starts off as a friend, doesn’t it? But before it’s over – we often view it as an enemy. I want to help you today – to gain a balanced perspective of time.
First – it helps to understand the purpose of time. Lucifer lives in the glory of God, but chooses against him. Lucifer made a choice, but could not repent. So God cast him from His glory. Satan could no longer dwell in the eternal presence of God. Apparently God created a place that was shielded from His glory, and puts Lucifer there. It was the beginning of time and space.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep. Gen 1:1-2
Circle these words: void – darkness - deep. He created an environment that was shielded from his glory. But then God began to transform that place, by His Spirit and His Word.
And the Spirit of God moved up on the face of the waters. And God said… Gen 1:2-3
Notice the purpose of time… God began to reveal himself gradually – something that was only possible in the context of time. God spoke, the evening and the morning were the first day, God spoke again, second day, etc…
What was the purpose of creation? Redemption! God turned something bad into something good. You see, God said – I am going to call my children out of that dimension that I have created. I will reveal myself little by little to them, and allow them to choose me. And if they choose wrong – there is still a chance for them. Because they dwell in time and space, instead of eternity – they have an opportunity to choose again.
Let’s look at what happened… Remember the devil lives here, too. Something annoys him. Here is this man, and he has a relationship with God. That’s something the devil had at one time, but has no longer. And so he says, “I am going to see if I can get the man to make the same wrong choice that I made”.
Unfortunately, Adam made that wrong choice. And something happened… DEATH. Not just physical death – but the death that Lucifer experienced. Because Adam decided to be God, he could not stand in the presence of God.
But he did not die right away… Another day passed, and another day… And the Spirit of God moved on Adam. And God still spoke to Adam. There wasn’t just a seventh day. There was an eighth day – and a ninth day, and a tenth day. God continues to reveal himself to Adam, and to his children. His spirit continues to move. His Word continues to be heard. The days turn into years, and the years into centuries. For nearly 6000 years now, Adam and his children – unlike Lucifer – have the opportunity to choose again.
You know what makes time our friend? HOPE. But without hope, the passage of time becomes our enemy.
Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. Eph 2:12 (NIV)
The Bible is clear that Jesus Christ is our hope. Separated from Him, we are without God and without hope. And time is passing.
- 50.5 million people die every year
- 123,000 each day
- 5136 each hour
- 85 every minute
Just since I started preaching this message, nearly 1000 people have passed into eternity without Christ, and without hope. We can’t see the LED timer, but the clock is ticking down…
This is not a popular subject – but an eternity separated from God is described as a Lake of Fire. A place of weeping, a place of regret. A place of loneliness, devoid of relationship.
Fortunately – you don’t have to go there. While I can’t do anything about the 1000 that died without Christ in the past 15 minutes for billions more there is still hope. Because there is still time, and there is a Christ.
But the clock is ticking. We can’t see an LED readout displaying how much time is left, but the bomb IS going to go off… That’s why Jude says:
22 And convince some, who doubt; 23 save some, by snatching them out of the fire; on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Jude 1:22-23 (RSV)
The Bible does convey a sense of urgency… For billions, the clock is ticking Time is passing, and men are without hope.
REPENT WITH URGENCY
Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion. Heb 3:15 (NKJV)
First and foremost – if you are here today and have chosen to serve the wrong god… You should feel a sense of urgency for yourself.
But also we must repent daily
12 Beware, 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 "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, 15 while it is said: "Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion." Heb 3:12-15 (NKJV)
…I die daily. 1 Cor 15:31 (NKJV)
Once you have repented, and chosen again… There should still be an urgency in your life. There was a sense of urgency in Jesus’ life:
WORK WITH URGENCY
We must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day; night comes, when no one can work. John 9:4 (RSV)
Once you have repented, and chosen again… There should still be an urgency in your life. There was a
PRAY WITH URGENCY
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:16 (NKJV)
LIVE WITH URGENCY
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, Eph 5:15-18 (NKJV)
TEACH WITH URGENCY
Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. Jude 1:3 (NIV)
And yet – even while we are working urgently, the Bible also instructs us to be patient. This can happen because of the hope that we have. Patience is the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.
WHAT IS PATIENCE, anyway? Two key ingredients:
MERCY – on ourselves and others
- for ourselves
Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Lam 3:22-23 (NIV)
- for others
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:36 (NIV)
TRUST IN GOD – for ourselves and others
- for ourselves
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Eph 6:13 (NIV)
- for others
5 Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. 6 He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him. Psalms 126:5-6 (NIV)
Balance urgency with patience. Repent, work, live, pray, and teach passionately. Then give people time to grow, and God room to work.
