TITLE: DON’T WAIT TOO LATE
SCRIPTURE: REVELATION 14:13 / REVELATION 20:12-13
I will miss Brother Stephon as well as many of us that spend time caring for this Church. Brother Stephon grew on us, and we became comfortable seeing him around the Church working and doing anything we called upon him to help. He was always willing and oftentimes he would just stop by to see if we needed him to do anything, either here or next door at the First Touch Learning Center. I oftentimes pondered that kind of spirit. Although I could never get him to come to any of the many Church services and programs here at ‘First Church’ he was yet always available if we needed anything done, especially as it pertains to yard work. He was more willing than the average member who attends this church. We never stopped talking and inviting him. I recognize he gave his life to Christ at an early age, and we should take comfort in knowing that.
There is not a single thing we can say or do here today that would have any effect upon the destiny of this brother, neighbor, friend who has transitioned from Time to Eternity. We simply leave all such matters in the hand of a God who knoweth and doeth all things well. We find in the book of Acts, after Deacon Stephen had been put to death for the cause of our Lord, the brethren lamented his death.
• Sorrow is not wrong
• But we must not sorrow like those who have no hope
• REVELATION 14:13 calls to our attention - Our deeds will follow us, even in death
I want to talk with you for just a few minutes this morning from the subject – Don’t Wait Too Late. Sometimes I think people do not truly understand or accept the idea that “tomorrow is not promised.” For many people there is no ticking clock on time and life as we know it. I believe this happens because we live in a world of routines and become so used to the clockwork of things.
• The sun rises over the horizon in the East and it sets over the horizon in the West – it’s clockwork
• We have four seasons that come and go - like clockwork
• We go through our everyday routines so often that we begin to feel like we are machines
The very idea there is a clock ticking away on life can become alien to some. Any talk of something that could be considered “out of the ordinary” also comes off as something foolish. talk of the Lord’s return - the apocalypse - the great white throne - or a clock ticking down on life as we know it all fits up under the bubble of “foolish talk.” There is this general idea that because it has not happened yet, there is nothing that we should worry about. So, some become comfortable with the idea that there’s no deadline to meet when it comes to making a decision on their faith in the Lord or become more committed to serving the lord in spirit and in truth.
• We only act with urgency when there is a deadline for us to meet
• We did this in school when it came to assignments and reports – we waited for the last minute
• We do it now when it comes to clocking in on the job – we wait for the last minute
• I do this when it comes to filing my taxes – wait until final day to file or oftentimes seeking an extension
I come with a simple message – Don’t Wait Too Late. The text here in the book of Revelation tells us ‘OUR WORKS DO FOLLOW US.’ I can say this about Brother Stephon – ‘He did not mind working around the Church.’ Perhaps his family here was not aware how Brother Monroe was always found around this Church and our Learning Center next door, desiring to help and do the necessary work. My question this morning is – ‘What kind of work are you following today?’
• Are you seeking to do work that will “follow you?”
• Work that will outlive you and will outlive even your memory?
• Work that will follow you all the way to the Lambs Book of Life
This kind of investment into eternity does not happen all at once. A life well-invested is one that is invested little by little every day. Just as a farmer must be faithful each day if he wants to reap the harvest he dreams of, so we must faithfully follow the work that we want to follow us someday. Just like a Pastor’s faithful work - often unnoticed by many in the community, it is noticed by God.
• And someday, his works will follow him
• “AND LET US NOT BE WEARY IN WELL DOING: FOR IN DUE SEASON WE SHALL REAP, IF WE FAINT NOT”
Day after day, passing into eternity, bears its burden of records for the books of Heaven.
• Words once spoken
• Deeds once done
• Reaching out to others
• Places we have gone
• Even things we have neglected
• All records recorded in Heaven
Although we become forgetful, we don’t remember every conversation we have had in this life. We can’t remember every kind or unkind word we have spoken in this life. Some of us can’t even remember what the Preacher preached about yesterday!
• We can’t remember every time we have shared the Gospel or shared the Gossip
• But my brothers and sisters, be sure, Angels of God have registered both the good and the evil
The Bible informs us that all our words and all our actions are known by at least one person -- God himself. Nothing escapes His attention, and every thought, every word and every action of ours is fully and intimately exposed to an all-knowing God. One day we will give an account of our words and actions.
• There is a divine video recorder taping our every action
• A divine audio microphone recording our every word
• A divine receptacle holding our every thought
One day we will all stand before God and give an account of all this.
• Everything once hidden will be revealed
• Everything we thought we got away with will be exposed
• Every dark secret will be fully brought into the open
The mightiest conqueror upon the earth cannot call back the record of even a single day. our acts, our words, even our most secret motives, all have their weight in deciding our destiny.
• Though they may be forgotten by us, they will bear their testimony to justify or condemn
• They go before us to the Judgment
Don’t get me wrong this morning, I am not trying to suggest to any of us that we can work our way into heaven. There is nothing you or I can do to earn Heaven because it is a free gift. One man put it this way --
• When we work a 40 hour week and receive fair pay for our time - that is a Wage
• When we compete in athletics and receive a trophy - that is a Prize
• When we receive recognition at work for long service or achievement - that’s an Award
• But, when we are incapable of earning a wage, and we can win no prize, and we deserve no award — and yet we receive a gift anyway — that’s Grace
• It’s a free gift!
God is very clear about this truth: you can never earn heaven. You will never deserve salvation. It’s a free gift. You can’t be good enough to be good enough to earn heaven. Now does that mean we can’t do anything at all to receive salvation? When a PHILIPPIAN JAILER ASKED PAUL AND BARNABAS: -- SIRS, WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?
• Paul wasn’t offended
• He didn’t rebuke the jailer
• It seems like a logical question
And we’re told that in response to that question they replied -- “BELIEVE IN THE LORD JESUS, AND YOU WILL BE SAVED, YOU AND YOUR HOUSEHOLD.” Then they went to the man’s house and taught him and his family what to believe and that same hour of the night (about midnight) the jailer and his family were baptized into Christ. That’s it - we must believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. That is simply saying that we believe Jesus is who the Bible says He was, and that we intend to follow Jesus - and no one else – for the rest of our lives. If you and I don’t believe in Jesus there’s nothing else you could possibly do to get into Heaven. You can’t work your way in, just believe and ‘Don’t Wait Too Late.’
Don’t get too caught up in working for the church that we forget to work for the Lord. Although good works will not get anyone any check marks, a Christian is to do good works.
• He is to do them, not to earn Heaven, but to be a good Christian example
• We should be a blessing to others because we love the Savior, and want to be obedient to His commandments
• When we shine our Christian “light” others may see God’s goodness and will also turn to Him
Therefore, it’s not so much of how we get to heaven but who gets us there. It is only Jesus Christ and His righteousness that must be imputed to us because remember, nothing imperfect can ever enter heaven so that leaves us with a huge problem because our sins have separated us from a holy God. Here’s how God solved this problem for us, and we read about the solution in II Corinthians 5:21 which says that it was “FOR OUR SAKE HE MADE HIM TO BE SIN WHO KNEW NO SIN, SO THAT IN HIM WE MIGHT BECOME THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.”
• It was not for our sake or our work’s sake but for Jesus’ sake alone
• God sees us as having Jesus’ righteousness and that’s what it takes
Can I tell you one more time – Don’t Wait Too Late. You can’t work your way into God’s Kingdom. People do all kinds of things hoping that they'll make it into heaven --
• Some of them try to live a good life
• Some of them worship and pray to Mary and saints
• Some of them go to the Kingdom Hall
• Some of them listen to Joseph Smith, some to Ellen White, some to Muhammad
• Some of them go to Tibet or to spirit guides to find the hidden wisdom
• Some of them go to Mecca to throw stones at the devil
• Some of them practice voodoo, santeria, and palo mayombe
• Some of them open up a prayer book for 5 minutes every week and read what's on the page
• Some of them go to an organizational meeting once a week thinking/hoping it commends them to God
• Some of them chant to scrolls
• Some of them give the Catholic religion all their material possessions and enter a convent or monastery to live the life of an ascetic
• Some of them try to help old ladies across the street every chance they get
• Some jump into witchcraft
• Some of them go along with whatever their parents' taught them
• Some of them go along with whatever the school system taught them -- like evolution
--All people that try to get into heaven outside of believing on the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ (and obeying his word) have something in common. They will ultimately miss heaven
--When we work for ourselves or for others, we have nothing beyond a paycheck and the material goods it can buy
--These cannot ultimately satisfy
--But for believers the thoughts of standing one day before Jesus and hearing him say, “HIS MASTER SAID TO HIM, 'WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SLAVE! YOU WERE FAITHFUL OVER A FEW THINGS; I WILL PUT YOU IN CHARGE OF MANY THINGS. SHARE YOUR MASTER'S JOY!'”
--That will be far greater than any Oscar – Pulitzer - Nobel - or Grammy prize that the world offers
--DON’T WAIT TOO LATE
