WE Almost Got Away With It
By Rev Stanley Baker
Matthew 19: 16-24
We Almost got away with it
Or should I say they almost got away with it
Almost... is a sad word in anybody’s dictionary.
It is right up there along with “if only” and (here in the South) “near ’bout.”
Almost is a word that tells of missed opportunities and the chance to be in Gods will.
It’s Like
Tim McKee who was edged out for first place in the Olympic 400-meter race by two-thousandths of a second.
He almost won a gold medal.
He almost got away with it
It sounds like
“He almost got it together.”
“He was almost able to work it out.”
“He almost made it to the big leagues.”
Almost doesn’t count except in horseshoes and hand grenades.
In Our text it tells us that he was a young man
He was a wealthy man, a young ruler.
His eyes were set on religious matters
on teachers,
on eternal life,
on good deeds.
Our text tell us that
He had the look of a seeker:
he seemed willing to listen and eager to learn.
He seemed a disciple-in-the-making.
There are thousands of people just like him today
Jesus said in verse 24
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
You may ask yourselves today ok so what.
So what
I did it my way
I did it the way I thought that God wanted me to do it.
Mat_7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
And you said
So what
We served God our way; we did all the things that God would have done.
Mat_26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation:
Mat_5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
So what you said
We brought thousands into Gods house our way
Mat_7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there at:
.
Mat_18:3 said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
And again you say
So what
We did such good deeds and helped so many people because you are good
Mat_19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God:
You might say so what
You might have did it your way
You might have filled the house
You might have did those good deeds
SO WHAT
2 Thessalonians 2:3
Let no man deceive you by any means:
for that day shall not come,
except there come a falling away first,
and that man of sin be revealed
You can’t do it your way
Being good will not get
Doing good will not get it either
Just bringing them in will not get it
Serving God your way is not the way
You cannot do it better than God
You are just playing God
Exo_20:3
Thou shalt have no other Gods before me.
Exo 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them:
Time has come for the world to wakeup and smell the roses
It’s Time Christians realize that anything we do in spite of God is wrong
It’s Time for the world as a whole to stop playing God and leave our children and our beliefs alone.
Luk_21:8
And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
Joh_16:25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.
We almost got away with it
We almost got it together.”
We was almost able to work it out.”
We almost made it to the big leagues.”
Luk 13:23
Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
Luk 13:24
Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
Luk 13:25
When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
It is not about you
It is not about money
It is not how good you feel
It’s about the blood
Heb_9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Rev_1:5 that he washed us from our sins in his own blood
Rev_19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
