Title:
“Something Worth Dying For”
Introduction: I almost killed myself in 1978. I was putting together a hugh forty foot television tower that my father had given me. Instead of assembling it on the ground and raising it as one unit, in ignorance, I mounted it one piece at a time. When I had finally completed constructing the frame, the only thing left to do was to insert the antenna and pole into the hole at top of the tower. The webbing on the tower gets narrower and narrower as you climb to the top. It was scary business. The antenna was not "officially" anchored well. And as I reached upwards to insert the antenna pole into the small hole at the top, a gust of wind suddenly came up. I quickly reaffirmed my grip to the tower! That was a close one! I had almost lost it up there! And I said to myself, "You don’t even believe in television, what are you risking your life for!"
The title of today’s message is "Something Worth Dying For."
1. Abraham was willing to die for his "Slimeball Nephew."
In the text before you, we read about how that Abraham was willing to risk his life by rescuing his nephew, Lot, from the battle in the slimepits. When Soddom and Gormorrah fell into the hands of the enemy, Abraham took his 362 trained servants and came to Lot’s rescue. He was willing to give his life for his "slimeball nephew."
The reason why I call Lot a "slimeball" is because I don’t like what I read about him in the Bible. Just about everything a read about Lot, I disdain. When God told Abraham to leave Ur of the Chaldeans, God told him also to leave his kindred. That would include his nephew, Lot. But Lot tagged on along. When they came to the promised land, the herdsmen of Lot and the herdsmen of Abraham strove over the land. Abraham gave Lot first choice, "The land is before you. Where do you want to live?" You would think that Lot would have allowed Abraham to the first choice and the best, but he took it for himself. Then he pitches his tent towards the wicked city of Sodom and Gomorrah. In the text that we just read, he is living among the people there.
If word had come to me that my backslidden nephew had been captured in the battle of the slimepits, I think that I would have said, "Serves him right, the wages of sin is death. Good riddance!"
Instead, Abraham comes to his rescue.
Now let me to get to my first point. Before, I was saved, I too, was a slimeball, and so were you! Jesus died for the ungodly. Christ lifted me out of a horrible pit.
What is the great commission? Are we not to go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every "slimeball?"
Are you willing to lay down your life to reach the "slimeball" for Christ?
2. Abraham was not willing to give his life for his Wife, (The Bride of Christ)
What amazed me about the story of Abraham’s life, is just a few chapters after reading about Abraham’s courage to save his nephew, we read another story about him going to Egypt on a "vacation" with his beautiful wife, Sarah. He is afraid. He assumes that the King of Egypt will kill him in order to take his bride. He contrives a plan and tells Sarah to tell everyone that she is his "sister" and not his wife. A half truth.
Think of it, Abraham was willing to die for his slimeball nephew, but he was not willing to die for his beloved wife!
Two Applications:
True Christianity is what you are in the home! How do you treat your wife and your children? Why is it that in the world of the slimeballs you are such a "hero," and in the world of your home you are such a "jerk?"
The second application:
The Church is the Bride of Christ. I have met some people who would do anything to achieve success in this slimeball world. They give their lives for what seems so hopeless and worthless. I applaud them for their diligent effort...
But when it comes to saving the life of the Church. where is their effort now? The Church is the Bride of Christ.
Read this verse:
(Eph 5:25 KJV) Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Wow! What a convicting message!
If anything should ever happen to my earthly Father, and he could no longer provide or take care of his earthly bride, my Mother, I would take it upon myself to provide for her care. I am commanded in scripture to do this! I must honor my father and my mother!
The local Church is the Bride of Christ. Do you cherish her? Are you willing to die for her? How are you taking care of your "local Church?"
Will your pastor see you on Sunday, or will you be floundering somewhere in the slimepits?
