LAST DAY ON EARTH
Text: Revelation 21:1-6
I remember the days of writing term papers in school on the type writer. Yes, you could cut and paste, but you had to literally cut and paste. You had to use white out. You had to learn to try to make as few mistakes as possible when your correction ribbon was running out. But, then one day I took a course in computer science and saw how much easier and better it was to write papers and go back and edit them when I got finished. What I learned about computers made the type writer obsolete.
Before we knew Jesus, our old way of life was like a typewriter---it was obsolete. It might have taken us a while, but eventually through God’s grace we learned that Jesus makes all things new. Once we made that discovery, we wanted that newness that only Jesus can give. We wanted that peace that only Jesus makes possible. When we accepted God’s gift of salvation, we received a makeover. As we continue to walk with God, in the journey of our sanctification, He continues to make us new. As we think about growing up into the likeness of Jesus as the journey we are all on, a question comes to mind. That question is “What if this was our last day on earth?” That is what the journey prepares us for isn’t it? The coming of another New Year reminds that with each passing day we are closer to our last day on earth.
NEW LIFE
Every single person who has received God’s gift of salvation is a new creation. If we are new creatures in Christ (Second Corinthians 5:17), then the old ways are things that we consider obsolete. Once we have become new creatures in Christ, our outlook in life changes. We see the that worldly standards do not mean much any more. If we are born again in God’s life giving Spirit (John 3:3-8), then we do not have to worry about our last day on earth as long as we walk with God.
Material things are nice, but they do not give us eternal life. Have you ever seen a hearse with a U-haul trailer hitched to it (Job 1:21)? The world teaches us that material things and success are the ways that people measure each other. The world teaches that “he who dies with the most toys, wins.” Jesus teaches us that “he who dies with the most toys, still dies” (Matthew 19:16-22). Jesus teaches us that a life that matters is not a life that has an abundance of things, but a life that has been receptive to God’s gracious gift which comes through Jesus.
A man can have the best material things and all the fame that the world has to offer and still be miserable. Why is that the case? Ted Turner is one of the world’s wealthiest men (consider Matthew 19:16-22). But, if he were to die today what would he do? If this were his last day on earth would he spend it in peace? Or, would he be so scared of death that he would be paralyzed with fear? Someone might ask why I am picking on Ted Turner. I remember years ago, I read an article about how Ted Turner, in his younger days, quit believing in God when God did not answer his prayers for the healing of his sibling (his brother or sister). Do those who do not have the gift of salvation that God offers have any hope beyond life as we know it?
NEW PEACE
There are many who hunger for the kind of peace that only Christ gives. There are many who try to make the very peace that they hunger for. Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899) once said, “A great many people are trying to make peace, but that has already been done. God has not left it for us to do: all we have to do is enter into it”. (Wayne A. Detzler. New Testament Words In Today’s Language. Wheaton : Victor Books, 1986, 303). The way that we enter into peace (John 14:27) is by having daily fellowship with the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). When we have this peace, do we have to worry about our last day on earth (Matthew 6:25-34)?
The kind of peace that Christ gives us can help us endure hardship and even tragedy. “H. G. Spafford was a businessman in Chicago. He was a dedicated Christian. [There were times in his life when the wisdom he followed was earthly, unspiritual, and subject to the enemy’s schemes]. He had some serious financial reversals, and during the time of readjustment, he lost his home.”
He realized his family needed to get away for a vacation. Spafford decided to take his entire family to England. He sent his wife and four daughters ahead . . . In midocean the French steamer carrying his loved ones collided with another and sank within twelve minutes; 230 people lost their lives. The four daughters were drowned, but Mrs. Spafford was rescued. She wired her husband, “Saved alone.”
“Mr. Spafford was [understandably] almost overcome with grief. He had lost his property, his four precious daughters were buried beneath the dark waves of the sea, and his wife was prostrate with grief on the other side of the world. [Spafford could have relied on earthly wisdom and turned his grief into bitterness. He could have tried to get his pound of flesh from the French steamer company by filing lawsuits. He could have justified in his own mind being angry with God and the world, and shaking his fist at the One who allowed his earthly life to seemingly be destroyed]. Instead, he put all his trust in God and wrote a song that has comforted thousands since that time”:
“When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea-billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
‘It is well, it is well with my soul’”
(Hughes, p. 304).
(As quoted by Tony Miani in his sermon Two Kinds of Wisdom (part 2)taken from Sernmoncentral.com).
Knowing what we know about tragedy and the tragedy that Horatio G. Spafford suffered, does he sound was a man who was worried about when his last day on earth would come? How could he compose the lines “It is well with my soul, if he did not have kind of peace that Christ gives us?
NEW PLACE
The new life and the new peace prepare us for the new place. The new place is the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:2). We live in a fallen world where buildings and towns are made by human hands. In heaven, the New Jerusalem is a place that is not made with human hands (Revelation21:2, Second Corinthinas 5:1). The New Jerusalem is made by God’s own hands in heaven.
In the New Jerusalem the sea does not exist (Revelation 21:1). The imagery of the sea not existing any more is a powerful image. Why is it such a powerful image? The sea was often thought of as a hostile force. The sea was also thought of a metaphor for suffering. Certainly, there have been times when our trials and troubles have made us sea sick from the storms that we have encountered in life. God is a God of victory who refuses to let the sea of trials and suffering have the last word. God’s victory is only possible when we choose to triumph through His all sufficient grace (Second Corinthians 12:9-10). In the New Jerusalem, the sea does not exist (Revelation 21:1).
The fellowship of God dwells with us. God tells us He dwells with us and that we will be His people (Revelation 21:3). God also promises that He will remove our sorrow and wipe away our tears (Revelation 21:4). God knows that we live in a fallen world. If God is for us then who can be against us (Romans 8:31)? Yes, we know that people will die one day. We know that we will all die one day. If today were our last day on earth, would we be ready? If we know Jesus as our Lord and Savior, then death can have no sting and the grave can have no victory (First Corinthians 15:55)! If we do not know Jesus when our last day comes, then we will truly grieve as one who has no hope (First Thessalonians 4:13), because of our lack faith in God. To be separated from God for eternity would truly be hopeless. Faith therefore keeps us from losing hope.
Yes, we have a new year. What will we do with that New Year? Will we make the best of all the opportunities that God gives to us? Will we embrace the fellowship of God that dwells with us? Each New Year, we have 365 opportunities to walk with God, in the light of His word, with the glory He sheds on our way. Will we trust and obey?
The anchor that keeps us on course is faith. Yes, we walk by faith and not by sight (Second Corinthians 5:7), for we know that faith is the evidence of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Just as we are saved by faith (Ephesians 2:8), we must also walk by faith (Second Corinthians 5:7). Through Jesus we have New Life and New Peace and we are on a journey to our New Place in heaven. If today were our last day on earth would we be ready? If Jesus is our Savior, then we have nothing to fear because He is the beginning and the end (the alpha and the omega, Revelation 21:6) of our salvation journey here on earth. Jesus goes to prepare a place for us (John 14:3) and He will not come for us until our work on earth is through. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (First Corinthians 15:58 NKJV). Jesus Christ is Lord of all! Amen.
