"Is That Your Final Answer?"
It’s amazing what catches on and what doesn’t in our culture, isn’t it? ABC’s game show "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" became a smash hit last year and a rating champions-so much so that they run the show several night a week. Regis Philbin has become a superstar. Phrases like "Is that your final answer" have become part of everday conversation. "Millionaire" has become an industry of its own-did board games, computer games-and did you know that there is a Millionaire online store where you can purchase clothing items. Regis even has his own line of shirts, did you know that?
Who Wants to be a Millionaire debuted last August for a two-week run on ABC. It was such a success, however, that it ran again in the fall for the November sweeps period and attracted 26 million viewers on its first night. "Is that your final answer" is a legal question Regis asks because the ABC lawyers don’t want to take any chances with lawsuits. Remember the controversy during the coin toss at an NFL game last year. A player called both "heads and tails" and the referee only heard one call. You can’t do that…you must have a definitive answer…. will it be heads…. will it be tails…what is your final answer?
This morning I want us to use that question, "Is That Your Final Answer" to help us all make sure we have the right final answer spiritually. The right "Final Answer" might win you a million dollars on the game show-but there is a much more important final answer that you need to be sure about.
There are some famous final answers given by people just like you and me in the Bible.
I. The Rich Young Ruler
A. A new contestant on "Who Wants To Go To Heaven"
1. One day a man we usually just call "the rich, young ruler" because he was rich…young…and he was a ruler, came to Jesus and wanted to be a contestant on "Who Wants To Go To Heaven".
2. The story is included in Mark’s gospel: &17Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" 18So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one
is good but One, that is, God. 19You know the commandments: ’Do not commit adultery,’ ’Do not murder,’ ’Do not steal,’ ’Do not bear false witness,’ ’Do not defraud,’ ’Honor your father and your mother.’ " 20And he answered and said to Him, "Teacher, all these
things I have kept from my youth." 21Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me." 22But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Mark 10:17-22
3. This guy had it all…he was rich, he was young, he was powerful -he was probably even handsome! But he was a truth seeker unhappy with his legalistic, performance oriented, graceless religion. He knew there is more to this life than here and now. He knew that eternity needed to be prepared for. He wants to go to heaven and have eternal life. So he comes to Jesus for an answer.
4. The rich young ruler addressed Jesus as "Good Teacher". Jesus in turns asks a question, "Why do you call Me good when only God is intrinsically good? Are you prepared to acknowledge that I am God?" So Jesus raises the question in the young man’s mind
about who He was.
5. Then I think Jesus plays a little game to expose the young man’s heart. Jesus starts with, "You know the commandments…" And the young man’s response that he had obeyed all the law of God since he was a child was superficial and untrue. I love what Mark says about Jesus here--Jesus, loved this hopelessly lost young man desperately even though he was either lying or in self denial (look at v. 21 &Then Jesus, looking at him, loved
him,) So Jesus goes for the spiritual jugular: "sell all you have and give it to the poor and then follow Me." Jesus was not making poverty or philanthropy a requirement of salvation, He was exposing the young man’s heart. He was not blameless.
6. It was like Jesus was asking, "So now that we’ve gotten done to brass tacks, what are you going to do?"
a. Put your fingers in your ears and pretend you didn’t hear?
b. Tell me I’m just another teacher and take a hike?
c. Walk away?
d. Repent of greed and give your life to Me
"What is your final answer?"
B. Final Answer: He walked away.
1. He was at a safe haven in his life. He was rich, he wa syoujg, he was a ruler. He had lots of stuff.
2. His final answer was really a choice about the things of this world or Christ He loved his stuff more than his neighbors and ultimately he loved his stuff more than his soul and more than Jesus.
3. We never read of the rich young ruler coming back for round 2 with Jesus. Walking away appears to be his final answer.
4. Some of you here this morning might be in the same shoes as the rich young ruler. You’ve got it made pretty much. You’re fairly comfortable. But there’s a lot of truth-seeker in you, and in your gut you know that there’s more to this life than here and now and stuff. You know that eternity needs to be prepared for and that you need to become a devoted follower of Jesus Christ. I hope that you will make a different decision than did the rich young ruler.
II. Agrippa
A. A little background:
1. Paul is on his way to Rome where he will ultimately give his life for Christ. Along the way he appears before various movers and shakers including an interesting man named King Agrippa.
2. Actually he was King Herod Agrippa II. He was son of the Herod who killed James and threw Peter in jail. His great uncle was Herod Antipas of the gospels. And his great grandfather, Herod the Great, was the Herod we read about at the birth of Christ who was responsible for babies being killed. Nice family.
3. Agrippa continued doing the family proud. He was rumored to be involved in an scandalous incestuous relationship with his sister Bernice that was making headlines on the front page of the Roman Inquirer.
4. Actually Paul was appearing before another Roman official by the name of Festus. Festus asked the visiting Agrippa to help with Paul’s case since Agrippa was very familiar with Jewish law and Customs and he was not. Agrippa seemed fascinated by Paul.
B. Paul tells his story.
1. Festus and Agrippa and the others gathered there expect Paul to defend himself against the charges. But what they really here from Paul is his testimony-the story of how he became a Christian. Paul wanted to witness to them and tell them the Good News!
2. He tells of his strict Jewish religious upbringing as a Pharisee. He tells of how he met Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus in an incredible experience as he was heading to that city to actually persecute Christians. He became a believer and a messenger of
Christ. And now he was being put on trial because he actually believed his religion’s Scripture, (the OT) when it spoke of a Messiah and His resurrection from the dead.
3. Pick up the story in Acts 26:24 as festus has had enough: 24Suddenly, Festus shouted, "Paul, you are insane. Too much study has made you crazy!" 25But Paul replied, "I am not insane, Most Excellent Festus. I am speaking the sober truth. 26And King Agrippa knows about these things. I speak frankly, for I am sure these events are all familiar to him, for they were not done in a corner! 27King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do-" 28Agrippa interrupted him. "Do you think you can make me a Christian so quickly?" 29Paul replied, "Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that both you and everyone here in this audience might become the same as I am, except for these chains." Acts 26:24-29
4. Paul knew Festus wasn’t ready to make a decision for Christ, but Agrippa was a lot closer. And he puts him on the spot. "Agrippa, you know about all this stuff-it happened in your backyard. You know the Scriptures-I know you believe the prophets…what are you going to do?"
a. Tell Festus to send my case to Judge judy?
b. Agree with Festus that I’ve lost my mind and send me to the mental ward?
c. Agree with me. Repent of your ungodliness and trust Christ.
d. Wriggle off the hot seat by making a big joke about it and saving face in front of your friends?
"What’s your final answer?"
C. Final answer: Wriggle off the hot seat.
1. When Agrippa said, "Do you think you can make me a Christian so quickly" it was a sly politicians way to evade the point. It could literally read "A little more, and your arguments would make me a Christian." He kinda made a joke of it. His final
answer seems to be that he wasn’t going to deal with it.
2. Some of you have had a caring Christian friend put you on the hot seat lovingly inquiring about your soul and eternity and you’ve done the Agrippa thing. You’ve evaded the point, changed the subject time and again or made a joke out of it.
3. Friend, its time that you deal with the subject of your soul and your eternity. Too many people approach eternity like they do retirement planning, insurance and root canals-put it off as long as you can. They heard about Jesus Christ, a blood-stained cross, a sacrifice for our sin, a substitute to take God’s wrath in our place…the may have read a Bible…heard a clear message about salvation at a church…felt the conviction of the Holy Spirit…YET they decided they weren’t going to deal with spiritual issues. Some people wait until its too late-and spend eternity facing the wrath of God instead of spending an eternity in His love.
4. Don’t wait. Don’t put it off. Deal with it now. The Bible says, For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2 There is a time in God’s economy when He listens to sinners and responds to those who are repentant. That time is NOW. I hope that you will answer differently than Agrippa.
III. Thomas
A. One more quick contestant…
1. Jesus picked a man named Thomas to be one of His disciples. We don’t know as much about Thomas as we do Peter or John, but early on it seems Thomas does the disciple thing very well. He is supportive of Jesus and even courageous.
2. We can speculate that, like the other disciples, Thomas hung his hat on the hopes that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, that Jesus was going to throw the Romans out of Israel forthwith, and That he was going to be in the inner-circle of power with all that
goes with it. Pretty bright future…
3. But then came the train wreck. Jesus starts talking about being executed at Passover. Then when they gather in the Upper Room to celebrate Passover, Jesus clearly tells them that He is indeed leaving. Jesus tells them that one of the 12 will be the one to
betray Him. Thomas add his voice incredulously to the others in asking, "Is it me?"
4. Then there’s the longest day of their lives. The Garden of Gethsemane, the betrayal by Judas, the arrest and all the events that culminated in the crucifixion of Jesus. Thomas was devastated. The wheels came off his world. He was so depressed that he skipped a Sunday evening gathering with the others. And despite the haunting words of Jesus about His resurrection, Thomas refused to believe it when the other disciples said that they saw Jesus alive that Sunday evening. "I won’t believe it" he said, "unless I can touch the nail prints and the hole in His side.
5. Next Sunday evening Thomas was in church. Jesus appeared in their midst again. 26And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!" 27Then He
said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing." 28And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" John 20:26-28
6. Thomas had to answer the ultimate question. Jesus in essence says
to Thomas, "Who am I Thomas?"
a. "Don’t know…ate too many mushrooms out in the wilderness."
b. "A figment of my imagination?"
c. "A great magician?"
d. "My Lord and my God!"
"Is that your final answer?" "Yes. Final answer." "Good answer Thomas."
B. Final Answer: My Lord and my God
1. I’m so glad that God is a God of grace…that even when it seem like we have given a "final answer" with our lives, He graciously offers us another chance, another opportunity.
2. BTW, those weren’t empty words from Thomas’ lips. History tells us that, he along with all the other disciples, except John, gave their lives to tell others the Good News about Jesus Christ. He is said to have traveled as far as India to share the Gospel.
Conclusion:
A great question for us to end on would be the one that God will ask each one of us someday: "What did you do with gift of my Son Jesus Christ?" Did you:
A. Ignore Him and His gift-too busy with everything else in life?
B. Put Him off-you don’t ever mean to reject Him outright, but you procrastinate in dealing with the issue of your soul and salvation.
C. Reject Him and the gift He offers-assess that the blood-stained-cross doesn’t really matter?
D. Accept Him-appropriate His gift of salvation and forgiveness to your life in a personal way, embrace Him as your Savior and Guide.
"What is your final answer?"
Some of you might honestly say, "I don’t have enough information to make a final answer. I have questions." Then make a decision that you are going to make your pursuit of spiritual truth a front burner issue in your life right now. Read some books, listen to some tapes, talk to a Christian you respect. The church is here to help you on your spiritual journey.
But many of you have enough information. You are quite convinced that you are a sinner in need of a Savior. You’ve felt God tugging at your heart all during the service. You are ready to bow your knee at the cross of Christ and give your life to Him, fully-informed about what that mean-not just a knee-jerk emotional decision-you are ready to give your final answer. Would you like to do that right now? If this is you, pray a prayer like this right now: "Jesus Christ, I know who I am-a lost sinner, incapable of saving myself. I know who You are-You’re God, You’re the Savior. Please forgive my sin as I turn from it. Come into my life and make me Yours. I trust You and You alone for forgiveness and salvation. That’s my final answer." If you prayed that prayer and meant it-everything in your life and eternity just changed. We’d like to help you in your new life. I would like to pray with you and give you a booklet to help you understand the magnitude of what just happened we’d like to give you. Would you come to the front when we sing the next song so that I can pray with you? Don’t be embarrassed or afraid, Jesus called all of His disciples publicly.
Some of you have already given your final answer about Christ-but be honest, you’re not living for Him. You’re not growing in the knowledge of His Word. You’re not faithful in worshiping with other believers. You’re not using your gifts and talents to serve Him. You’re not making a difference for His kingdom. God has convicted you of that this morning. Do something about it! Pray right now-ask the Lord’s forgiveness and make a decision and act on it. If you want someone to pray with you, please come as we sing.
Others of you who know Christ need to make other decisions this morning. Maybe to be baptized…maybe to join the church…maybe to get involved in ministry. Do business with God right now, don’t let the moment pass you by.
Invitation: Jesus Is The Answer/Just As I Am
