Gambling has become accepted by many, and has become a widespread problem in our society. Sad to say, you can even find it among some churches.
Illus: Did you hear about the man that heard a knock at the door. Opening the door he noticed a boy from his church selling raffle tickets. The boy said “We’re selling raffle tickets for the widow down the street. Would you like to buy a ticket?”
The man looked the boy in the eyes and said “I’m afraid not. Even if I won, my wife wouldn’t let me keep her.”
They have discovered one thing about gambling. Those who gamble are not the smartest people on the earth.
Illus: This reminds me of the two friends, Smith and Jones, who went together to play the slot machines at the casino in Las Vegas. Each agreed that when his allotted money was gone, he would go to the front of the casino and sit on the bench to wait for the other. Jones quickly lost all of his money and went to sit on the bench. He waited and waited. After what seemed an eternity, he saw Smith coming toward him carrying with him a huge sack of quarters. "Hey, Jones," said Smith, "how'd you do?" "Well, Smith", said Jones, "You see me here on this bench empty handed - what do you think? It looks like you hit it big, though." "Oh yeah," said Smith, "did I find a good machine! It's way in the back. I'll show it to you - you can't lose! EVERY TIME YOU PUT IN A DOLLAR FOUR QUARTERS COME OUT!!!"
Again, I remind you, those who gamble are not the smartest among us intellectually. Have you noticed for example, they have the “Educational lottery” in South Carolina? In about every convenience store in the state, they sell lottery tickets. WHY DO THEY SELL THEM THERE? Because they know this is where a lot of the uneducated people do their daily shopping.
Smart people are not going to gamble their hard earned money when they only have one chance out of a million or more to get anything back.
However, there are some people who will say, “I do not gamble!” But yet they are the biggest gamblers of them all.”
WHO ARE THEY? They are lost people who are gambling with their souls. The lost person is THE BIGGEST GAMBLER OF THEM ALL!
HOW DO THEY GAMBLE WITH THEIR SOULS?
I. THEY ARE GAMBLING WITH THEIR TIME
They have convinced themselves that they are not going to die any time soon, and they have plenty of time to give their hearts to the Lord later.
HOW DO THEY KNOW THAT? They do not know that! In fact, they do not know if they will be living the next minute. This is why the Bible says that when we make plans, we should say, “The Lord, willing.”
I can tell someone that I will meet them somewhere next week, but the fact is, by that time next week I might be dead and buried.
We should always state our intentions as, “The Lord willing!”
Illus: Did you hear about the old farmer who was walking down the road with his cow? His neighbor said, “Where are you going with your cow?” He said, “I am going into town to sell my cow.” The man said, “You mean, if the Lord is willing!” He said, “No, I do not know if the Lord is willing or not, but I am going into town to sell my cow!” About an hour later he came back down the road and he was bleeding profusely! The same man said, “What happened to you?” He said, “I was going to town to sell my cow and some fellows jumped out and beat me up and took my cow!” The man said, “Where are you going now!” He said, “Lord willing, I am going home!”
Listen, the lost man is the biggest gambler of them all, he is gambling that he has plenty of time to give his heart to the Lord. BUT HE DOES NOT KNOW THAT!!! But what he does not seem to recognize is this, only a few win but most lose!
Hell is full of people because they kept gambling that they had plenty of time, and they did not.
• Some of them went to sleep and woke up in hell
• Some of them went into surgery, went into a coma, and woke up in hell
• Some of them were driving down the road and crashed their car and died, and they landed in hell
They gambled with their life and they lost BIG TIME! The lost man does not have the slightest idea of the odds that are against him.
Illus: Did you hear about the man that was very sick, but would not go to the doctor because he did not have a lot of confidence in their abilities? But as time progressed he felt even worse, and his wife finally talked him into going to see a doctor. He only lived about fifteen minutes from the doctor’s office. When he returned home again, his wife said, “What happened, you did not have time to see the doctor?” He said, “I did not see the doctor.” She said, “Why?” He said, “I did not go inside to see him because of what was written on his door!” She said, “What was written on his door?” He said, “He had on his door, “Dr. Brown” and underneath was 9 to 5, and if he can not give me better odds than that, I am not going to see him!”
Illus: The biggest gambler of them all is the lost man. Listen, would you be dumb enough to play Russian Roulette? That is, would you take a 38 caliber pistol, put one bullet in the chamber, spin it around, aim it at your head and pull the trigger? I doubt that you would, because you know that there is one chance in 6 that the gun may fire and blow your brains out of your head.
Illus: Did you hear about the ambassador of a small African nation that visited Russia? For three days, the African ambassador was wined, dined, and generally treated to the best hospitality that Russia had to offer.
On the final day of his visit, the Russian ambassador said "As your stay is coming to an end, it is time for you to play our traditional game, Russian roulette. One of the six chambers of this gun is loaded - you spin the cylinder, point the gun at your head, and pull the trigger."
This worried the African slightly, but he was a proud man of a warrior people, and to show fear would be unthinkable. Both men took their guns, spun the cylinders, pointed them at their heads and pulled the triggers.
Both chambers were empty, and both ambassadors breathed a sigh of relief.
The African ambassador was much impressed with the courageous game, and thought hard about the subject before the Russian Ambassador was due to visit his country the next year.
When the visit came, the African ambassador treated the Russian with all hospitality, until the final day of his stay. Leading him to a private room in the palace, the African ambassador spoke “Now it is time for you to sample our game, African roulette.” So saying, he led the Russian into the room, the only occupants of which were six beautiful African women.
The African ambassador said “These women are the most beautiful members of our different tribes. You may walk up to any one of these women and kiss them. This is the African Roulette game. Take your pick!”
The Russian was perplexed because he couldn't see the risk. He said, “Where’s the danger?”
With a big grin on his face, the African ambassador answered: "One of them is a cannibal, and she has not eaten in several days. Now which one of these beautiful women do you want to kiss?"
The lost man lives each day thinking that he has plenty of time. But one day he will wake up to do the usual things, and he will discover that it is the last day he will live on this earth.
WHY DO MEN and WOMEN GAMBLE WITH THEIR SOULS?
• If they gambled all the time and lost, they most likely would not continue to gamble
• If they saw others gamble and lose all the time, most likely they would not gamble
But the Mafia that controls much of the gambling, knows that to get people to gamble they have to bait them! They will let them win something small so that later they can make them lose a lot!
Illus: Before many farmers will bring their hogs to the slaughter house, they put them in a cubicle in a building and they bring the food to them. They feed them often, and each time the hogs devour it. Now the hog thinks, “I have it made, my master loves me and brings my food, and all I have to do is eat and sleep.” But he does not know that at a set time, he will be transported to a slaughter house and he will be killed.
The Bible gives us an example of a certain rich man that gambled with his soul, but he lost big time.
Look at Luke 16:19-31, we read, “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”
The Bible says that the rich man, “fared sumptuously.”
• He wore the best
• He ate the best
• He had the best
He had time for everything but God, but now notice, he woke up one day, and the Bible says he is doing something in hell that he did not take time to do in this life, HE IS NOW CALLING UPON GOD!
You see, the Word of God teaches us that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord, BUT THEY WILL DO IT TOO LATE!
Job had it right, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, ….”
GOD TRIES TO WARN HIM THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE. How does He try to warn him? He uses our bodies to warn us that time is running out.
For example, God allows us to come into this world as a baby that is helpless. Have you ever wondered why God did not allow us to come into this life as an old person and leave as a baby?
It is because these bodies are constantly telling us something. WHAT IS THAT? God designed these bodies to remind us that time is running out.
• Every time we see a gray hair, it is a reminder that time is running out
• Every time we see a wrinkle on our face, it is a reminder that time is running out
• Every time we notice that our eyes are getting dim, it is a reminder that time is running out
• Every time we notice that our hearing is not what it used to be, it is a reminder that our time is running out
Illus: I read something the other day about the aging process. It went something like this:
“I have become a little older since I saw you last. A few changes have come into my life. Frankly, I have become a frivolous old girl and I am seeing several gentlemen every day.”
"As soon as I wake up, Mr. Will Power helps me out of bed.
Then comes someone I do not like - Arthur Ritis. He knows that he is not welcome but he insists, and what is worse, he stays for the rest of the day. He does not like to stay in one place at a time so he takes me from joint to joint.”
"Oh yes, I am also flirting with Al Zeimer. The preacher called the other day and said that, at my age, I should be thinking of the hereafter. I told him I do that all the time. No matter where I am, in the bedroom, kitchen, sitting room or even in the garden, I stop and ask myself ... now what am I here after?"
The aging process of mankind is a message from God reminding you that it will not be long before you stand before God almighty!
Illus: Two elderly gentlemen from a retirement center were sitting on a bench under a tree. One turned to the other and says, "Sam, I'm 83 years old now and I'm just full of aches and pains. I know you're about my age. How do you feel?"
Sam says, "Well, I feel just like a new-born baby." "Really? Like a baby?" "Yep. No hair, no teeth, and I think I just wet myself.”
Those who are gambling with their TIME are getting closer and closer to this dreadful place called Hell, where they will spend eternity. The lost man is gambling with HIS TIME! He also is gambling with-
II. HIS OPPORTUNITIES
He not only lives each day thinking he has many MORE DAYS to accept the Lord as his Savior, he also lives each day thinking that he has many MORE OPPORTUNITIES to accept the Lord Jesus as his Savior.
The fact is, lost man, you may have a thousand chances to hear the gospel again, and have the opportunity to receive Christ as your Savior. Then again, today may be the last opportunity you have to accept the Lord Jesus as your Savior before you are cast into Hell for eternity.
Solomon was the wisest man of His day. In the Book of Ecclesiastes, he had some very wise things to say to us about throwing away our opportunities.
For example, in Ecclesiastes 12 he shows us a picture of a young man who is running out of opportunities.
Look at Eccl. 12:1, we read, “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;”
WHAT IS GOD SAYING IN THIS SCRIPTURE? God is saying, “Young person, do not get so caught up with life that you forget your Creator, because you will not always have the opportunities you now have in your youth.”
Illus: You can go to the local hospital today and find the sickest person in the hospital, and they are crying because the pain they are suffering is so great. But listen, they have not always been that way. If you could go back into their life, you would find times:
• When they did not have a pain in their body
• When they were full of joy
But now they have reached that place in life when the “Pleasures of life” have passed them by.
You may feel good today and full of life, but as time goes on, you will no longer enjoy life as you once did. Ecclesiastes 12:1 tells the young person, “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth.” Look how Solomon describes the aging process:
• Look at Eccl. 12:2, we read, “While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:”
The sun, the moon, and the stars represent our eyes. While we are young we might have 20/20 vision, but as times goes on, we all start struggling to see something as bright as the sun, moon, and the stars, even with glasses on.
What did he mean by, “Nor the clouds return after the rain.” This speaks of the time of youth. The time will come when there is no silver lining left among your clouds. That is, as we get older, our hair turns gray and eventually it turns loose.
• Look at verse 3. As he continues to talk about how a man will change with age, he says, “In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,”
Paul tells the young man to remember his Creator, because the time will come when his strong legs and arms will become so weak that they tremble and he will hit the floor. That is, you will stand up and you will fall down. All the opportunities of service have come and gone in their life.
And this is one I really like, notice, he says, “And the grinders cease because they are few.” As young people, you can have a mouth full of teeth today, but as time goes by you will find yourself with only a few teeth to grind your food.
He further describes the man whose opportunities are running out on him.
• Look at verse 4, we read, “And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low.”
Solomon is saying that not only does old age affect our eyes, our limbs, and our teeth, but it also affects our ears.
He says, “…And he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low.”
• He further describes the old person in verses 5-6, we read, “Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets. Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.”
That is, the elderly are afraid of high places, they are afraid of falling. He says all these things to remind us that the young person can serve the Lord, but the time will come when they can not.
Then he finally makes the point in verse 7, we read, “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.”
Conclusion:
The Word of God asks a very interesting question. Look at Mark 8:36, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” HELL IS SUCH A DREADFUL PLACE!
Illus: Suppose I had the ability to offer you everything this lost world has to offer. Suppose I had a blazing fire in the parking lot and it was ten feet tall, and I could say to you:
• I will give you all the homes in the world
• I will give you all the money in the world
• I will give you all the pleasures this world has to offer
• I will give you all the nice clothes this world produces
• I will give you all the nice cars that have ever been made
All you have to do is go out there and stand in that blazing fire and stand for one minute.
You would look at me and say, “You are crazy, I would not do that for ten times what you are offering!”
Yet we have those who are gambling with their soul for a lot less. The biggest gambler of all gamblers is the lost person who is gambling with his soul.
I. THEY GAMBLE WITH THEIR TIME
II. THEY GAMBLE WITH THEIR OPPORTUNITIES
