One Day To Live
Luke 12:16-21
Introduction
The most effective preacher who ever lived was Jesus. He knew how to make his sermons interesting. He knew how to reach and capture the hearts and minds of men.
In this parable Jesus is speaking about those who thought more of the things of the world than the things of God. Millions of people today are giving all of their time and energy to worldly things and are forgetting God.
Mark 8:36 – “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
Well this rich man in Luke 12 had just one day to live. He spent those final few hours of his life grasping the things of the world and not looking up to God.
He thought of Gold - instead of God.
He thought of Pleasure - instead of People.
He thought of Ease - instead of Eternity.
Now, if you knew that you had only one day to live, what would you do? Let me tell you of several things that I believe you and I would want to do.
I. We Would Want To Be Sure Of Our Salvation. - Matt. 7:21-23
1. Are you sure of your salvation
John 5:24 - “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
2. The Bible declares three things about man:
a. Man is lost – He can’t find his way.
b. Man is blind – He can’t see the truth about God
c. Man is dead – He can’t feel or experience the life of God
John 14:6 - “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the
Father, but by me.”
a. Man is lost – Jesus is the way.
b. Man is blind – Jesus is the truth he needs to see.
c. Man is dead – Jesus is the life
If we only had one day to live:
II. We Would Want To Be Right With God
One day Jesus met a sinful man named Zaccheus. .
1. Zaccheus was lost morally – a sinner
2. Zaccheus was blind spiritually – he couldn’t see Jesus
3. But Jesus could see him and Zaccheus life was transformed. He went from a sinful, dishonest tax collector to a man willing to restore four fold the amount he had stolen through dishonesty
Zaccheus wanted to be right with God.
If we only had one day to live:
III. We Would Want To Witness To Someone About Jesus.
1. Can you think of someone right now who is not a Christian? What would you have to be afraid of in witnessing to them then?
2. Many People on their deathbed have pleaded with loved ones to be saved.
Conclusion
Let’s contrast the life of this Rich Man who lived his life for this world with the life of another man who lived his life for the life to come. – The Apostle Paul
1. Paul Was Sure Of His Salvation. –
II Tim. 1:12
“ For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”
2. Paul Was Right With God. -
II Tim. 2:3-4
“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. [4] No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”
II Tim. 2:19-20
“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. [20] But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.”
3. Paul Witnessed For Christ
II Tim. 4:1-7
“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; [2] Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. [3] For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; [4] And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. [5] But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. [6] For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. [7] I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:”
Recently over 240 people boarded a plane in Chicago, five minutes later, all 240 were in eternity.
You have a choice
a. You can live your life like this rich man or
You can live you life like Zaccheus
b. You can die like this rich man or
You can die like Paul did.
Christians – You also have a choice.
a. You can live for Christ or
b. You can enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.
