Where Are You?
Introduction
A. Genesis 3:1-9 -READ
B. This morning, God asks that same question, “Where are you?”
C. It’s quite obvious that God already knows where we are!
D. The challenge is for us to discover where we are today.
1. II Corinthians 13:5 - “Examine yourselves to see if you are in the faith..”
E. Let me be up front with you. This lesson is designed to stir within each of us a desire to respond to Jesus.
F. We often think that we can put off responding to Jesus. “Some day. Some time. I’m just not ready yet.”
G. Point: Each of us will respond to this lesson. One way or the other we will make a response. The choice is ours.
H. Question - What is the most important thing we need to do with our lives?
1. It’s not financial security, it’s not getting an education, it’s not a job!
2. The most important thing we need to do is to decide where we want to spend eternity!
I. Probably the most difficult thing for most of us to do is to repent.
1. Example - Too often our attitude is like the story I heard about two shipwrecked sailors. These two shipwrecked sailors had been adrift on a raft for several days. They were desperate! One of them got down on his knees and began to pray. He prayed, “Oh Lord, I know I haven’t lived a good life. I’ve drunk too much booze. I’ve lied and I’ve cheated. I’ve done so many things that I’m ashamed of, but Lord, if you’ll just save me I promise...” “Hold it,” interrupted his shipmate, “don’t say another word! I think I just spotted land!”
J. Too many of us are just like that sailor. “Wait! Hold it! I’m not ready to repent just yet!”
K. I want to challenge you this morning with the four chairs that have been set on the stage.
L. I believe that these chairs will give all of us a good indication of where we are.
M. If I ask you to come up here and sit in one of these chairs—please come and sit in the appropriate chair.
N. When the time comes and I ask you to come and sit in one of these four chairs then please come up and take a seat in the appropriate chair.
O. Where are you? Let’s find out!
Body
I. First Chair - The “SAFE” chair. (Turn the sign over to show the word - “Safe.”)
A. Let me explain what this chair means.
B. If we could bring a baby from the nursery or bring one of the kids from “Children’s Bible Hour,” we could put them in this chair because they are safe!
C. Or if we found someone who is not mentally capable to understand the teachings of the Bible (to understand what baptism is) they could come and sit in this chair. (Mentally retarded or Down’s Syndrome)
D. Babies, children, and those who are mentally disabled are safe in the sight of God!
1. If one of these individuals was to die tragically, they would be assured of a home in heaven with Jesus!
E. “Hold it, preacher. I thought that everyone was born a sinner. That’s what the Bible teaches, doesn’t it?”
1. Point: Babies are born into a sinful world, but babies are not sinners!
F. What does the Bible say about this?
1. I John 3:4 - “Sin is a transgression of the law.” How could an infant transgress the law?
2. Matthew 18:3 - Jesus said, “Unless you are converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Why become as little children if children are born sinners?
3. Luke 18:16 - “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”
G. “Wait! Don’t we inherit the sin of our fathers? Isn’t it passed down from generation to generation?”
1. Think about the implications. If we inherit our sins, then we’ve got a big problem. If sin is passed down from generation to generation, then it had to start somewhere.
2. If it started with Adam, if he inherited his sin, then that would make God sinful.
3. But the Bible tells us that God is holy and without sin!
4. Ezekiel 18:20 - “The soul who sins is the one who will die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son...”
H. If I was baptized as an infant, it served no purpose. I had no sin when I was a baby.
I. The Bible tells us that baptism is for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).
J. For one to be baptized, he or she would need to believe in Jesus. Infants are not capable of believing in Jesus.
K. Jesus also said that we must repent. Infants can’t repent. They have no sin!
L. If you fall into this category, then you are safe! When the time comes, you can take a seat in this chair because you are safe!
II. Second Chair - The “SAVED” Chair.
A. If you have rendered obedience to the gospel of Christ and are a Christian, then you can come and sit in this chair.
B. What does the Bible say about obedience to the will of God? How do we know if we are a Christian.
C. Let me share with you the simple passages that you need to obey in order to become a child of God.
1. John 3:16 - Quote
a. Some will say that this verse contains everything that one must do in order to become a Christian.
b. Does John 3:16 contain the whole plan of salvation? If yes, then what about repentance? It’s not mentioned. If no, then how do you exclude baptism?
c. Faith is the beginning point. Hebrews 11:6 - Quote
2. Luke 13:3 - Quote
a. Remember, repentance is more than just saying I’m sorry. It’s a change of mind that results in a change of action. We need to understand that! Or else.
b. Example - There was a certain man who loved to go to revivals and gospel meetings. He would respond to the invitation every single time and would admit his past sinful life. He had done it all—lied, cheated, stolen, pushed drugs, spent time in jail, broke all Ten Commandments and then some! It was his custom at the end of his long recital of wrongdoing to smile and say, “I thank God that through all those wicked years, I never lost my religion!”
3. Repentance will lead us to a confession of Jesus. (Acts 8:37)
4. Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Galatians 3:26,27; I Peter 3:21; Matthew 28:19.
5. Once we have done those things, we are saved by the grace and mercy of God.
6. We should continue to be faithful until death (Rev. 2:10)
D. Most of us who are Christians should have a pretty good idea whether or not we are faithful to Jesus.
E. Those who are Christians realize that we aren’t perfect, just forgiven!
F. Because of my obedience to God’s will, I should be happy, joyful and productive in the sight of God.
G. I look forward to going to heaven! I look forward to going to a place where there is no more pain, no suffering, no heartache, etc.
H. If you are a Christian, then at the appropriate time, come sit in this chair.
III. Third Chair - The “LOST” Chair.
A. If you don’t find yourself in one of the first two chairs, you may find yourself in this one.
B. What exactly does it mean to be lost?
1. To be lost means to face God on the day of judgment without Jesus by your side.
2. To be lost means to be separated from God. II Thess. 1:7-9 - READ
3. To be lost means to be rejected by God at the judgment. Matt. 25:41-46 - READ
4. To be lost means to be with the devil for eternity.
C. Why are people lost?
1. It’s not because of inherited sin.
2. It’s not because God doesn’t love them.
a. II Peter 3:9 - Quote
b. God will not send anyone to hell. If I go to hell, it will be because I chose to go there myself! It won’t be God’s fault! It will be all my own!
c. Hell is for the devil and his angels.
D. According to the word of God, there are only two destinies for man.
E. Question - How many people think that 1,000 years is a short time? 500 years? How many think 100 years is a short time? How about one year?
F. Does anyone think that 30 seconds is a short amount of time?
1. Example - GET A VOLUNTEER FROM AUDIENCE
a. Have them put their hand over the flame for 30 seconds.
G. Think about your body being engulfed in flames!
1. Not just for 30 seconds or one year or 100 years or 1,000 years but for eternity!
H. Now, is 30 seconds a long time? Thirty seconds away from God in eternity is too long!
I. “Surely after one hundred or one million years God will change His mind!”
1. “You’ve had enough! Come and be with me in heaven!” NOPE!
J. Once your fate is sealed, there is no changing it! (Luke 16)
K. Contrary to what some might say, there are no second chances!
L. There is no way to “work” your way to heaven. You cannot “pay” for your sins and get another shot at heaven!
M. Our eternal destiny is sealed on this side of death.
N. Example - “Good night, goodbye”
1. Father had two sons. One had been a faithful Christian, the other had never become a Christian.
2. The father was dying and called his sons to his bedside.
3. To the faithful Christian son he said, “Take care of your mother. Be a good son. Good night, my son, good night.”
4. To the son who was not a Christian he said, “I love you. Help take care of your mother. Be a good son. Goodbye, my son, goodbye.”
5. Immediately, this son recognized the different words his father had said. “Why did you say, ‘Good night to him and goodbye to me?’”
6. The father said, “When the sun rises on that great resurrection morning, I know that he and I will be together in heaven. That’s why I said, ‘Good night.’
But you have not obeyed the Lord. When Jesus comes again, I’ll have to say Goodbye to you because I will never see you again.”
O. What will it be for you and me? What about our loved ones? When they take their final breath, will they say, “Good night” or “Goodbye?”
P. Do you belong in the “lost chair” today?
IV. The Fourth Chair - The “WAYWARD” Chair.
A. If I am not safe or saved or lost, then I am wayward.
B. How would we describe the one who is wayward?
1. The wayward individual is a Christian who has left the Lord. We often say, “They are delinquent” or “They are out of service with the Lord.”
C. You can put any kind of terminology you want on it but the fact is, it is someone who has turned away from God.
D. The Bible describes it in this way.
1. Hebrews 6:4-6 - “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put him to an open shame.”
2. II Peter 2:20-22 - “For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.”
E. Understand, that this is not something that happens overnight! It is a gradual process that takes place over time.
F. As a matter of fact, you can be here today, and still be a wayward Christian.
G. It is amazing how many Christians have forsaken or left their first love!
1. If we had every wayward member of the FWB congregation here today, this building would be full! There are so many who don’t come.
H. Point: There’s some good news. If I am a wayward Christian, I am still God’s child.
1. Even though the prodigal son had squandered his inheritance and even though he was elbow-deep in pig slop, he was still his father’s son!
2. He may have been a lost son, or a prodigal son, but whether in rebellion or repentance, he remained his father’s son!
3. The only thing that would have sealed his fate, would have been if he had died away from his father.
I. As long as I am alive, there is still hope for me! Am I a wayward Christian? If so, then come and sit in this chair.
Conclusion
A. As far as I have been able to discern, there are only four places you can find yourself today.
1. Safe, saved, lost, wayward.
B. BUT, there might be one more chair!
C. There’s also the lukewarm chair. It’s for those who are indifferent, apathetic and unconcerned about the Lord.
1. It’s a very comfortable chair! We might even call it a “Lazy Boy.”
D. Do you belong in this chair?
E. Well, the time has come for you to come and sit in your chair.
F. If I call your name, you just come up here and sit in the chair that best describes
your life and your situation.
G. Ready? “You’re not going to make us come up there and sit, are you preacher?”
H. No. I don’t have to. Because you are already sitting in one of these chairs!
I. Prayer
