Consider Your Future
by Ian Biss 3/17/01 2bn
Intro...
In the early part of the twelfth century, in the Dark Ages, a haggard old sorceress went to the papacy with six envelopes that she claimed had within them God’s revelation for the Roman Catholic Church. She appeared before the pope and said, "I will sell this revelation from God to the church for $5000,000." Well, they groaned, like you would, on the inside. And the prelates, along with the pope, decided no, they wouldn’t buy. And so in front of them she burnt the first envelope to ashes.
With a measure of excitement and anxiety the pope watched it burn up and began to rethink his answer as she said, "Now I have five envelopes. And I will sell you the five remaining envelopes which contain the future for the church off Rome for $5000,000, My price has not gone down." They murmured and talked among themselves and decided no. And so she burnt the second envelope, leaving four.
With an increased sense of anxiety there was a sort of low roar up among The clergy. And she said, "Now I have four envelopes left and for $500,000 I’ll sell ‘em to you." And again, the answer was no. In predictable fashion she burned up the third envelope, leaving three. And then she did the same with the fourth, leaving two.
And finally she said, "Now, for $500,000 I’ll let you see the last two envelopes which contain the revelation of God." Well by that time they couldn’t hold back. So they agreed.
And wouldn’t you know it. The contents of the envelopes were written in Latin, and I can’t read Latin. So I can’t tell you what it said, I’m still wondering myself!
Quoted from The Tale of the Tardy Oxcart, by Charles Swindoll.
Ah, the future, an intriguing subject, isn’t it? Probably the most talked about subject since God created man. Think about it, everyone here this morning has thoughts about the future each and every day. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if Mr. Miller is thinking about the future right now. "Lord, how long will Ian preach today?"
We all think about the future more than we realize. When the aroma of the kitchen reaches our senses we ponder our enjoyment of the delicious meal yet to be served.
When we plant the posies in the springtime, we picture in our minds the beautiful blossoms that will come from the work of our hands.
On our way to church we anticipate the pastor’s sermon, hoping upon hope, that we may be able to stay awake the whole way through it this week.
We consider the future more often than we realize. However, do you ever consider your future?
You have a future beyond the short time you will spend on this earth, and this short time you have on earth is the only time you will have to consider your future.
Read Text: 2 Kings 1:1- 6
Exegesis
King Ahaziah was the son of King Ahab and Jezebel, two of the most wicked people the bible mentions. They served false gods, and caused the prophets of God much hardship, and in many cases, death.
Ahaziah was cut from the same cloth as his parents, he like his father,"did evil in the sight of the Lord." He served the false gods, and caused much trouble for those he should have been helping. We know little of Ahaziah other than what we read in this chapter 2Kings.
In our text we learn that King Ahaziah has a fall, a fall that has led to some illness or injury that appears to be life threatening, and because of this fall he desires to know what the future holds for him.
I. Accidents will happen. (Vs1-2)
Exposition
Israel was at war with the Moabites, and during this war, at home of all places, Ahaziah fell. His fall did not come as a result of some special circumstances, he wasn’t wounded on the battlefield, he wasn’t attacked by an angry mob, he simply fell down, at home.
And now he is very ill, so ill that he has dispatched messengers to the god of Ekron to enquire of his fate.
Application
Illustration
As she awoke this day, thoughts of Sunday danced through her mind, Nancy was looking forward to Easter, the whole family would be coming over to visit this year because they were all close to home. Now that the grandchildren were getting older, the Easter egg hunts became more lively with all the children searching and rushing to be the one to find the most eggs.
She was also looking forward to the birth of another grandchild, in fact, just last night she had spoken on the phone to her daughter who was pregnant and was planning a shopping trip for baby clothes. It would be easier to shop for this grandchild, because the ultrasound revealed the baby is a girl.
She put the finishing touches on her makeup, kissed her man, and headed off to work, looking forward to the day set before her. Completely unaware that in just a few hours, the bulge on her aorta would rupture causing her life to drain away in minutes.
Nancy never saw it coming, but her memory lives in the minds of those who knew and loved her. And her name lives on in the life of that unborn granddaughter that she looked so forward to spoiling, you all know her as Nancy Jean Biss.
We don’t realize how fragile our lives are until it is too late. It’s not like anyone wakes up in the morning expecting to take their last breath, yet that is exactly what happens to people each and every day. People have tragic things happen to them every day. People who have no reason to expect it, die every day.
Everyday circumstances brought down Ahaziah, the same sort of tragedy could befall anyone here this morning.
A car accident going home this morning. An aortic aneurism while reclining in your favorite chair. Food poisoning, the flu, or even a bug bite. Anything can happen.
Consider your future this morning while you are still able. You never know when this life ends and the next begins.
II. Where can you find hope for the future? (Vs 2)
Exposition
Ahaziah chose to seek his future where there really is no future to be found. He chose to seek his future with the witches and fortune tellers who surrounded these false gods,
Do you know what baal-zebub translates to in English? Lord of the flies. He was putting his future in the hands of bugs God created rid the earth of dead and rotting things.
Application
Whose hands hold your future? The horoscope page, the psychic hotline, chance? If you are looking to these things even if it is "just out of curiosity", then you are not looking in the right place, and sadly you are wasting your time.
The only place to find a future is at the cross.
If you are looking to these things, you are not looking to Jesus, and if you are not looking to Jesus then your future is in doubt–it is only through the cross of Christ that you may find and be assured that you have a future.
Illustration
Wayne Gretzky is arguably the greatest professional hockey player that ever played the game. He was recognized by his number 99, blazoned upon his half tucked in jersey. His entire career he wore his jersey that way because he, like so many other sports players was terribly superstitious. They feel that if they make certain "adjustments" their play will be better or their senses sharper.
Did it help his game? No, but you may have trouble convincing him of that.
No amount of superstition, horoscope watching, or psychic connections can assure you of your future, only Jesus can give you blessed assurance.
Consider your future, find your future in Christ.
III. God is extending his hand of mercy. (Vs 3-4)
Exposition
Elijah was God’s prophet, in the time before Jesus, God spoke to us through men chosen by God, and Elijah was one of these men.
God gives Elijah a message for Ahaziah. He is instructed to stop the messengers of the king before they get to Ekron, turn around and take the one true God’s message back to the king.
God turns them back because God wants to forgive the king, he wants to give the king another chance. He wants to extend his hand of mercy to Ahaziah.
Sadly, God knows Ahaziah will not accept the grace of God, so he instructs Elijah to share the tragic news of the king’s future with the king’s messengers.
The king will die because there is no god in Israel.
Application
Quote John 3:16, 1John 4:10
Is God in you? Does Jesus Christ, God’s one and only son reside in your heart this morning?
It is because of the mercy hand of God that Ahaziah was given another opportunity to be saved, it is because of God’s great mercy and grace that you have been given an opportunity to be saved.
God wanted to be in Israel, God wants to be in you. Take him into your life now, this very minute, before it is too late.
He sent His son to bring you to him, and if you never take Jesus into your life, then your fate will be the same as Ahaziah’s. Ahaziah now burns in the fires of hell, and will for eternity. God did not want that for him, nor does he want that for you.
Consider your future, God has, and he wants your future to be in Christ.
Conclusion
Steve McQueen was a top-billing actor who led a life as tough as the ones he portrayed on the screen. Success filled his life until alcohol and a failed marriage left him empty. In his despair he attended a crusade led by one of Billy Graham’s associates. McQueen made a profession of faith and requested an opportunity to speak with Billy Graham. A connecting flight in Los Angeles allowed Dr. Graham to spend a couple of hours with Mr. McQueen in the actor’s limousine. The great evangelist shared numerous scriptures in his quest to give spiritual hope and confidence. Steve McQueen struggled with the thought of God giving eternal life to a man who had such a checkered past. In Titus 1:2, Steve McQueen found his hope: "the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago." He requested something to write down the verse, but Billy Graham gave McQueen his Bible instead. Later, Steve McQueen died in Mexico while seeking experimental treatment for his terminal cancer. He passed into eternal life with his Bible opened to Titus 1 and his finger resting on verse 2. Regardless of our past, we have the hope of God’s eternal promise.
* Ike Reighard, 1993 SBC Pastor’s Conference
God’s mercy has been extended to all men by the shedding of Christ’s blood on the cross. The future for us all is found in that event of the past. Consider your future, and do not let your past keep you from the promise Jesus has made to you.
