Where R U?
Genesis 3:9-3:9
God came to the garden to fellowship with Adam and Eve and did not see them so he called out. Where are you?”
It’s quite obvious that God already knows where we are!
This morning, God asks that same question, “Where are you?”
The challenge is for us to discover where we are today.
II Corinthians 13:5 - “Examine yourselves to see if you are in the faith..”
This lesson is designed to make that examination.
I want to challenge you this morning with the four chairs that have been set on the stage.
I believe that these chairs will give all of us a good indication of where we are.
I. First Chair - The “SAFE” chair. (Turn the sign over to show the word - “Safe.”)
Let me explain what this chair means.
If we could bring a baby from the nursery or bring one of the kids from “Children’s Bible Hour,” we could put them in this chair because they are safe!
Or if we found someone who is not mentally capable to understand the teachings of the Bible (to understand what baptism is) they could come and sit in this chair. (Mentally retarded or Down’s Syndrome)
Babies, children, and those who are mentally disabled are safe in the sight of God!
If one of these individuals was to die tragically, they would be assured of a home in heaven with Jesus!
I John 3:4 - “Sin is a transgression of the law.” How could an infant transgress the law?
Matthew 18:3 - Jesus said, “Unless you are converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Why become as little children if children are born sinners?
Luke 18:16 - “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”
“Wait! Don’t we inherit the sin of our fathers? Isn’t it passed down from generation to generation?”
Ezekiel 18:20 - “The soul who sins is the one who will die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son...”
If you fall into this category, then you are safe! When the time comes, you can take a seat in this chair because you are safe!
II. Second Chair - The “SAVED” Chair.
If you have rendered obedience to the gospel of Christ and are a Christian, then you can come and sit in this chair.
How do we know if we are a Christian.
Let me share with you the simple passages that you need to obey in order to become a child of God.
8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
11Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
13But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
III. Third Chair - The “LOST” Chair.
If you don’t find yourself in one of the first two chairs, you may find yourself in this one.
What exactly does it mean to be lost?
1. To be lost means to face God on the day of judgment without Jesus by your side.
2. To be lost means to be separated from God. II Thess. 1:7-9 - READ
3. To be lost means to be rejected by God at the judgment. Matt. 25:41-46 - READ
4. To be lost means to be with the devil for eternity.
Why are people lost?
1. It’s not because of inherited sin.
2. It’s not because God doesn’t love them.
Contrary to what some might say, there are no second chances!
There is no way to “work” your way to heaven. You cannot “pay” for your sins and get another shot at heaven!
Our eternal destiny is sealed on this side of death.
Do you belong in the “lost chair” today?
IV. The Fourth Chair - The “WAYWARD” Chair.
This chair caused me problems because I was not sure how to present it.
I could not make a fourth chair... the person in this chair is saved.
But it just seemed like something had to be said about the people in this chair.
I thought about letting someone sit in this chair... half in and half out.
But you can’t be half saved... it is all the way.
However, Jesus did tell us to “work out your salvation.”
That does not mean we gain our salvation by our effort.
But it does mean... every area of our life need to be “Saved”... brought under the Lordship... in submission to the Word of God.
That means we have to allow God to strip away the “Chaff” in our life... the old nature... the thoughts, words, actions that are not Christ-like.
We submit ourself to the sharp scalpel of the scripture...
Hebrews 4:12 12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
(((Show Video)))
Point: There’s some good news.
God says to the church at Ephesus, 'I have this against you, you have left your first love. Repent . . . or else I will remove your candlestick from out of its place' (Rev. 2:4¬5b).
Even though the prodigal son had squandered his inheritance and even though he was elbow-deep in pig slop, he was still his father’s son!
He may have been a lost son, or a prodigal son, but whether in rebellion or repentance, he remained his father’s son!
All he had to do was go home... confess your sin and
God will forgive and restore.
Well, the time has come for you to come and sit in your chair.
If I call your name, you just come up here and sit in the chair that best describes
your life and your situation.
Ready? “You’re not going to make us come up there and sit, are you preacher?”
No. I don’t have to. Because you are already sitting in one of these chairs!
