December 13, 2002
Introduction:
A. Tonight’s topic: Wish You Were Here
1) We are going to focus our study on perhaps the saddest passage in the whole Bible.
2) Matthew 7:21-23, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
3) Several elements that make this passage very sad:
a) Not everyone will be saved.
1. In spite of the many churches and cathedrals that Christianity had erected in the name of Christ, not all people will be saved.
2. In spite of the hundreds of Christian TV and radio channels that Christian churches have produced, not all people will be saved.
3. In spite of the missionaries that we send year after year to other countries, not all people will be saved.
4. In spite of the billions of money in the form of tithes and offering given for the spreading of the Gospel, not everyone will be saved.
5. In spite of the weekly church services and perhaps daily church services that are being conducted all throughout the world, not everyone will be saved.
b) Not everyone who expect to be saved will be saved
1. Many in the Pentecostal churches expect to be saved because they believe that their ability to speak in tongues is a proof that the Holy Spirit is in them. Not everyone will be saved.
2. Many among the Jehovah Witnesses expect to be saved because they are able to meet the prescribed hours that they have to devote on witnessing every week. Not everyone will be saved.
3. Many among the Catholic Churches expect to be saved because they give alms to the poor, they recite their rosary regularly, they participate in the Mass every Sunday, and they worship Mary the mother of Jesus. Not everyone will be saved.
4. Many within the Adventist churches expect to be saved because we keep the Sabbath holy, we abstain from eating unclean food, we faithfully give our tithes and offerings. Not everyone who expects to be saved will be saved.
c) Not everyone who calls Him Lord will be saved.
1. We call on the Lord when we are sick. But not everyone that calls Him Lord will be saved
2. We call Him Lord when we are troubled and desperate. Not all will be saved.
3. We call Him Lord when we are preaching. Not all will be saved.
4. We call Him Lord when we testify. Not all will be saved.
d) Not everyone who prophesy in the name of the Lord will be saved
1. We foretell future events in the name of the Lord. Not all will be saved.
2. Those who tell you your future in the name of the Lord; not all of them will be saved.
3. Those who can predict weather in the name of the Lord; not all will be saved.
e) Not everyone who cast out demons in the name of the Lord will be saved
1. Those who cast out demons and evil spirits in the name of the Lord; not all will be saved.
f) Not everyone who perform miracles will be saved
1. Those who performs faith healing; not everyone will be saved.
2. Those who claim to have the ability to speak to your dead relatives in the name of Jesus will not be saved.
B. Who then can be saved?
1) In Matthew 19:25, the disciples, after hearing the conversation between Christ and the rich young ruler, asked the same question: Who then can be saved?
2) The answer is found in our main passage: Only he who does the will of the Father.
3) William Barclay, in his commentary on Matthew wrote, “There are two great permanent truths within this passage. There is only one way in which a man’s sincerity can be proved, and that is by his practice. Fine words can never be a substitute for fine deeds. There is only one proof of love, and that proof is obedience. There is no point in saying that we love a person, and then doing things which break that person’s heart. When we were young maybe we used sometimes to say to our mothers, “Mother, I love you.” And maybe mother sometimes smiled a little wistfully and said, “I wish you would show it a little more in the way you behave.” So often we confess God with our lips and deny him with our lives. It is not difficult to recite a creed, but it is difficult to live the Christian life. Faith without practice is a contradiction in terms, and love without obedience is an impossibility.”
a) We can be a Christian in our confession, but unchristian in our conduct.
b) We can be a Christian in our beliefs, but unchristian in our behavior.
c) We can be a Christian in our lips, but unchristian in our lives.
d) We can be a Christian in our admonitions, but unchristian in our actions.
e) We can be a Christian in our prayers, but unchristian in our practice.
4) Gangster Mickey Cohen and Billy Graham
a) It was said that many years ago, a notorious gangster named Mickey Cohen attended a Christian meeting in Beverly Hills. The meeting was being led by a young evangelist named Billy Graham. Graham was just starting out in evangelism and no one had really heard of him. Everyone knew about Mickey Cohen. Mickey was attracted to what he heard at the meeting. Afterwards, Billy and some of the others talked to him about salvation, but he made no commitment at that time. A while later a Christian friend read Revelation 3:20 to him - "Behold, I stand at the door...." The friend then asked Mickey if he wanted this salvation. He said, "Yes, I do." The news of his conversion made quite a sensation, and the ministry of Billy Graham became known across the nation. There was only one small problem - nothing in Mickey Cohen’s life changed. When his friend confronted him about it, Mickey complained: "You didn’t tell me I would have to give up my work!" [Mafia] "You didn’t tell me I would have to give up my friends!" [gangsters] Mickey had heard that so-and-so was a Christian athlete, and so-and-so was a Christian actress, so he thought he could be a Christian gangster.
5) Goerge Knight, in the Abundant Life Bible Amplifier, wrote this comment on this passage: “Christ explicitly says that it is not what people believe but what they do that provides entrance to the kingdom. The righteousness that exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees consists not only in possessing the teachings of Jesus but in acting on them. Many will claim to have prophesied, to have had other charismatic gifts, and to have held to a belief in Jesus, but if they have not practiced the agape love that under girds the Sermon on the Mount, they will be rejected by King Jesus in the final judgment.”
a) Beliefs are important. But without proper behavior, our beliefs are in vain.
b) Confession is good. But if it is not followed by proper conduct, our confession is futile.
c) Admonition is important. But if it is not followed by proper action, our admonition is useless.
C. How do I know what is God’s will for me?
1) His will is expressed in His Ten Commandments
2) The Ten Commandments is an expression or transcript of His character.
a) As God is good, the Law is also good. Luke 18:19
b) As God is holy; the Law is also holy. Isaiah 5:16
c) As God is perfect, the Law is also perfect. Matthew 5:48
d) As God is pure, the Law is also pure. 1 John 3:2-3
e) As God is just, the Law is also just. Deuteronomy 32:4
f) As God is true, the Law is also true. John 3:33
g) As God is spiritual, the Law also is spiritual. 1 Corinthians 10:4
h) As God is righteous, the Law also is righteous. Jeremiah 23:6
i) As God is faithful, the Law also is faithful. 1 Corinthians 1:9
j) As God is love, the Law also is love. 1 John 4:8
k) As God is unchangeable, the Law also is unchangeable. James 1:17
l) As God is eternal, the Law also is eternal. Genesis 21:33
3) We will be judged according to the Law of God.
a) James 2:10-12, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.”
4) Not just five of the ten. Not just eight of the ten. Not just nine of the ten. But ten out of the ten.
a) We cannot follow one commandment and break the other.
b) In his book, Growing Deep in the Christian Life, p. 159-60. Charles Swindoll, writes, “Several years ago, in Long Beach, California, a fellow went into a fried chicken place and bought a couple of chicken dinners for himself and his date late one afternoon. The young woman at the counter inadvertently gave him the proceeds from the day-a whole bag of money (much of it cash) instead of fried chicken. After driving to their picnic site, the two of them sat down to open the meal and enjoy some chicken together. They discovered a whole lot more than chicken--over $800! But he was unusual. He quickly put the money back in the bag. They got back into the car and drove all the way back. Mr. Clean got out, walked in, and became an instant hero. By then the manager was frantic. The guy with the bag of money looked the manager in the eye and said, "I want you to know I came by to get a couple of chicken dinners and wound up with all this money. Here." Well, the manager was thrilled to death. He said, "Oh, great, let me call the newspaper. I’m gonna have your picture put in the local newspaper. You’re the most honest man I’ve heard of." To which the guy quickly responded, "Oh no, no, don’t do that!" Then he leaned closer and whispered, "You see, the woman I’m with is not my wife...she’s uh, somebody else’s wife."
D. What kind of obedience does God require me to do?
1) Mark 10:26-31, “And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, who then can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, but he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.”
2) This is the kind of obedience that God requires.
3) It is a TOTAL surrender of self and everything into His will.
4) Matthew 7:24-27, “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”
a) Not just any kind of obedience.
b) The kind of obedience founded on the Rock. This Rock is Jesus.
E. Last sad element of the main passage
1) This passage is a somber reality that friends, families, brothers and sisters will be separated when Jesus Christ comes the second time.
2) Some members within one family will be saved; others will not be saved.
3) Some members in a church will be saved; others will not be saved.
4) Why?
a) It is not because Jesus’ offer of salvation is not sufficient. His offer of salvation is sufficient everyone.
b) It is not because the Holy Spirit is not able to convict us of our sins.
c) It is not because God’s word has no power. His word is still powerful.
d) It is not because we have not heard the gospel.
e) It is not because God is not faithful to us. He is faithful.
f) It is not because God does not love us. He loves us with an everlasting love.
g) It is not because his hand is short to save us. He can save even to the outermost part of the universe.
5) It is simply because…
a) After we have heard the good news of His salvation;
b) After we have listened to sermons after sermons;
c) After we have struggled with the conviction of the Holy Spirit;
d) After we have seen the faithfulness of God in our lives;
e) After we have witnessed the power of His word in transforming the lives of people around us;
f) After we have seen miracles after miracles of His love;
g) After we have studied the Bible again and again;
h) WE SIMPLY REFUSED TO BE SAVED.
F. Wish You Are Here
1) Travel
a) Whenever we travel as a family, it is always part of our travel to visit beautiful parks and sceneries.
b) In the United States, we probably have visited at least 50 to 75 percent of all national parks.
c) Whenever we visit some of these beautiful parks, we cannot help but wish that all of our friends and loved ones can experience the same thing. Wish you are here.
2) Old Videos
a) Last night, my family and I spent until two o’clock in the morning looking at our old videos.
b) These are old videos of the children when they were very small.
c) Michelle was barely able to talk and express herself. Nevertheless, she kept on talking and talking.
d) Meljoy was very skinny then. She still is.
e) My wife and I were still very young.
f) But in those old videos, we have seen some friends who are no longer with us. Some of them have already died; others left the church.
g) We wish they are still here with us.
3) The time is coming when God will finally restore the beautiful Garden of Eden. In God’s mercy, it is our prayer that we will find ourselves in that garden.
4) The time is coming when God will allow us to see a videotape of ourselves together with our families. The unfortunate thing is some of them will not be there.
5) The only thing that we can do is breathe a breath of wishful thinking: WISH YOU ARE HERE.
6) The truth is: There is still time. God’s salvation is still open.
