OPENING ILLUSTRATION
Well, we've just passed New Year's... Anybody make any resolutions this year? How about any resolutions that you'd be willing to share with us?
How many of you made resolutions last year that you kept the entire year? Something about the new year makes all of us want to try and change some of those things about us that we don't really like... but we want to be in charge of what those changes are, don't we?! How many of you would like for me to decide what changes needed to take place in your life this year, and then force those on you???? Weight- study habits- the kind of people you date- the kind of clothes you wear? I don't think so! But I've got some news for you... YOU'VE ALL GOT A CHANGE COMING, WHETHER YOU KNOW IT OR WANT IT, IT'S COMING IF YOU'RE A CHRISTIAN!
I. You've Got To Change!
A. I love being the dad... especially of small children... their really not big enough to talk back too bad, and even if they do, they are still small enough for me to beat... But whenever we have a disagreement over what to do, or where or when to do something, it seems like more and more we come around to the issue of "WHY?" Now, you tell me, when you ask your Mom or Dad "WHY?" , what do you hear them say, after you wake up that is...? Usually one or the other of them will say, "Because I said so!" I know I've said that before, even though I swore that I never would...
But there are times when I know I'm right, and either...
a. they really don't deserve an explanation;
b. I don't know how to explain it in terms that they'll
understand;
And you see, that's the way it is with us... on that wild and awesome day when we hear that trumpet blow, whether you and I are standing in this room together, or we've both been dead for a hundred years, OUR BODY HAS GOT TO CHANGE! WHY? Because God said so!!! It says so right here in his Word!
And maybe you and I want to know, "Well what about people whose bodies got burned up, or killed in an explosion, or eaten by sharks... OK, so maybe it's just me who thinks about those things... but still I think all of us wonder about the whats, the hows, and the whens... and you know, God doesn't really owe you and me and explanation... but more than that, I'm not sure that even if in the simplest kind of "God explanation" that could be made, that we would understand... The Scriptures tell us that "My ways are not your ways, and my thoughts are not your thoughts; as high as the heavens are above the earth, are my ways above yours."
Does this click? Does it make sense? We've got to change just because He said so!
B. Not only that, but did you know that Jesus changed... READ Hebrews 2:14;
Jesus changed!!! His new body was recognizable, but it was different--- better--- it was incredible!
C. Maybe I should just say it like this... Square pegs don't go in round holes... READ I Corinthians 15:50... "Flesh & blood can't inherit the Kingdom of God; Perishable can't inherit Imperishable;" Square pegs don't go in round holes! It just won't work... & if you are a Christian, then you will inherit the Kingdom of God, and to inherit the Kingdom of God, that that will last forever, you must take on that that will last forever! YOU HAVE GOT TO CHANGE!
II. You're Gonna Change!
A. I know that you and I are going to change, because it's already been set...
Ronda & I have a locked firebox that we keep alot of our important papers in... and mixed in with the car titles, the birth certificates, and insurance policies, we have a couple of envelopes... each envelope contains a savings bond for Erin, and for Nathan... they were given as gifts by some of our senior adult ladies to the kids when they were born... now, savings bonds are purchased at a certain price, and then after a certain number of years, they can be redeemed for a greater value... we know that on a certain day, that Erin & Nathan will be able to redeem those savings bonds for cash... it's settled-- it's the deal that is agreed upon when the bond is purchased-- there is no question...
And the facts about you and I changing some day are just as real as, more real, than a savings bond... Jesus is the one who made the purchase for you, and He is the one who will redeem it on that day, and He is the one who will give you a new, a changed, an incredible, immortal, imperishable body!
B. Let me ask you all a quick question... How many of you enjoyed being lied to? I really don't--- I hate to be lied to... I guess if there's one trait in a person that means as much to me than anything, it's if they are honest! When someone says something to me, I want to know that I can depend on that to be true; and I want to be know as that kind of person too!
Another question... How many of you would say that God has an honesty problem? Anybody here ever had God lie to them, or heard about God lying to someone? I doubt it... If God said it, that pretty much settles it !
And He's promised you and me that we will be changed... Jesus said, "How many of you, if you ask your Father for a fish, will he give you a snake? Or if you ask for a loaf of bread, would he give you a stone? " He said, "No Way! So what makes you think your Heavenly Father would be any different?"(Page Cole Translation)... What God promises, he carries through on!
YOU AND I ARE GONNA BE CHANGED!
III. It's Gonna Be A Great Change!
A. READ I Corinthians 15:35-44...
The pain, the limited potential of this body, the weaknesses, & the limits to this realm of existence(the physical realm only) will all be gone!
a. We're not going to have to suffer with sickness or death any more...
(Zits & Unsightly nose hair!)-- (Jennifer Warner)-- (My Papa Lackey)--
b. When Adam sinned, we all fell... not only are we not able in our spirit
& mind, but in our physical as well, we're not able to honor, serve, and
please God as well as before the fall...
c. You and I now face dangers in our physical body of disease and
accidents... but with the changed body, we won't be weak any more, but
strong... we won't have to say any longer, "The spirit is willing, but the
flesh is weak"; whatever our spirit wills, our body will be able to do!
d. Finally, we live now in a strange mixture of spirit and flesh... but this
incredible change will match our spirit with a spiritual body...
You know, I've heard it said when I was in athletics; I've heard it
said when I worked in the jewelry business; I've heard it said when
I was out building fences; I know it's true with mechanics, with
carpenters, with doctors and with custodians....
THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD!
For you and I to live for eternity in heaven, and for it to be all that God
wants it to be, we need the right equipment... and He's promised to
provide us with the changed body we'll need!
B. It's gonna happen in a flash! READ I Corinthians 15:51-53... Isn't that cool? So whether you've already died, or you're standing in line at Taco Mayo waiting on your Spuds & Cheddar Burrito, you will be changed; faster than you can blink... the word for "moment" there comes from the same word that we get the word "Atom" from[atomos]-- it means that which can't be cut or divided- the smallest amount of time it could take is just how long it will take...
AND WE'LL BE CHANGED!
C. But you know what the best part about being changed is??? We're going to be like Jesus! We're going to be like Him! And death won't matter, and the grave won't be a thing to be afraid of... READ I Corinthians 15:54-57...
CHRISTIANS-- YOU'VE GOT TO CHANGE...
YOU'RE GONNA CHANGE...
IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT CHANGE!!!
I HOPE YOU'RE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT'S COMING... BUT HAVE YOU EVER SHARED THIS WITH ANYONE, AND INVITED THEM TO BE A PART OF WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN? I CHALLENGE YOU TO DO JUST THAT!
THE REST OF YOU-- MAYBE WHAT I'VE SAID SOUNDS PRETTY GOOD TO YOU, BUT YOU'VE NEVER REALLY HEARD IT EXPLAINED LIKE THIS... AND YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF THE BIG CHANGE... JUST ASK JESUS TO FORGIVE YOU WHERE YOU'VE DONE WRONG; AND THEN TO COME INTO YOUR LIFE, AND BE IN CHARGE OF YOUR LIFE FROM THIS MOMENT FORWARD...
