Recently I have developed a new urgency about something that I had in the back of my mind. It involves a question that we all have but cannot answer. How much time do I have left? The average lifespan of people throughout the earth today is between 70-75 years. That is not a morbid thought or something that is a negative but it is a fact that bible says Hebrews 9:27 And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this cometh judgment; Each and every one of us will die some day and face the judgment seat of God. It depends entirely on the condition of your heart and your faith that is going to determine where you spend eternity.
As most of you know recently I lost a very dear friend that has gone on to be with the Lord. Sometimes God puts us in positions or allows situations that will shake us to the very foundation of what we believe, think, and our faith. Very recently I had a man tell me, “I’m scared to death of dying because I know that I am headed straight to hell.” My answer to him was, “So fix it. You don’t have to go there if you don’t want to. It’s your choice.” He then stated that I was going to, “talk about that God and Jesus stuff that I do not understand or I’m not sure about”.
My purpose today starting in John chapter 14 verse 1 is to help you understand that you can be sure of where you are going when your time on earth is done and why it is so sure. If I accomplish nothing else today I want you to understand, know, and believe that regardless of when you leave this earth, you don’t need to be afraid of the question “How much time do you have left?”
Prayer
John 14:1-6 "Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 "In My Father’s house are many dwelling places (mansions); if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. 4 "And you know the way where I am going." 5 Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?" 6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
I. Do not let your heart be troubled…
A. The Greek translation for this passage is tarasso -- pronounced: tar-as’-so
1. The original Greek would be translated to be continually troubled or distressed by something; of uncertain affinity
2. We seem to doubt because of our flesh nature of the unseen
B. Jesus has never left any doubt about the direction we should travel
1. Jesus showed that the way to eternal life although unseen is very secure
2. The security is in Him and Him alone
3. He has already prepared the way
4. Jesus defeated hell, death, and the grave for us
5. He has already prepared the way to eternal life for us
a. The only issue that remains is our trust and faith in Him
b. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen. (F. A. I. T. H.)
Forsaking All I Trust Him
C. It is our belief and faith in Him; He is our only hope
1. A person can live for a few weeks without food, 3-4 days without water
2. But you cannot live 1 second without hope
a. What if we had no hope for our eternity?
b. What if we had no hope in salvation?
c. When you have lost all hope, you are dead
3. Paul writes about hope and assurance for our eternal life
a. 2 Corinthians 1:10 who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us,
4. These are few verses that describe eternal life but are rich in promises
a. Although we may not have a good description we know it will be awesome. Jesus made some powerful statements:
b. “I go to prepare a place for you”
c. “I will come again”
d. “You may be there also”
e. Remember the song I can Only Imagine (Some verses)
f. Midnight Cry “When Jesus steps out”… “Son go get my children”…
g. Matthew 24:36 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.
h. 1 Thessalonians 5:2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.
5. Jesus is the door but it’s the other side of the door that we question
a. A man came to a store that belonged to his friend. After he was done shopping they stood around and talked about several things just like friends do. All during the conversation the visitor kept hearing the sound if what sounded like a small dog in the next room. He was not totally sure what was going on or why the dog was so noisy and scratching and trying to get through the door. There was the occasional whine and whimper. He just was not sure why the dog was carrying on like he was. He finally asked his friend what the problem was with the little dog. His friend said the puppy knew who he always provided for everything he needed and loved him so much. The visitor asked how the dog knew who was in this room. The host said, “That is easy. He recognizes the sound of his master’s voice.” Once the owner opened the door the little dog ran over to him and jumped into his arms of safety and love. This is the same way that we will be. If we just listen closely we can hear the sound of our master’s voice on the other side of the door to eternity. I know my Master is on the other side of that door leading to eternity because I recognize His voice.
6. Jesus is the only door we need to enter the kingdom of Heaven.
a. John 10:9 I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out, and shall find pasture.
b. He is the entrance to what God has for us in eternal heaven
c. Right now I know Jesus has hammer in hand building my Mansion
i. I can just see Him putting it up
ii. The foundation was laid when He saved my soul
iii. A solid rock foundation built on Him
iv. Jesus is the rock of my salvation
v. I can hear the hammer pounding away today
vi. If He died for me on a cross He would think nothing of building me a mansion
vii. Each an every day another part of it is completed
viii. “I go to prepare a place for you”…….
ix. To provide, to make ready.
II. If it were not so I would have told you…
A. God’s word is true; God cannot lie
1. If it wasn’t the truth Jesus would not have told us
2. Jesus would never mislead us or tell us a lie
3. John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. (John 10:9 above)
B. How do we know the way?
1. Like Thomas many people still don’t understand
2. If lost in the dark how do you find your way? Follow the light.
a. John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
b. Jesus is our light
c. If we will but only follow His light we will never be lost
d. We will never walk in the darkness
e. In the book of Revelation John describes heaven this way
i. Revelation 21:23 And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb.
ii. The Bible talks more about hell than heaven
iii. It is by design because it is a warning
3. We can and will know the way
a. God has given us His instructions for life B. I. B. L. E. (Basic Instructioins Before Leaving Earth)
III. Verse six some people might say that is very narrow minded and egocentric
A. How can Jesus claim to be the only way?
1. I look at it in the respect thank you God for giving me a sure way
2. Some say this is too narrow
a. Matthew 7:14 "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
b. It does not say it can’t be found, only a few will bother to find it
3. It is wide enough for everyone
a. Some people ask why a loving God sends people to hell?
b. God has never sent a single person to hell (listen closely)
i. Matthew 18:14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish
c. It is there choice and theirs only; if you go that is your choice
4. Instead of worrying about how narrow “Thank you God for providing a SURE way of being with You.”
B. Jesus said, “I am the way the truth and the life
1. As the way He is the light of our path
2. As the truth He is the reality of the promises of God
3. As the life, He joins His divine life with ours
4. We are in Christ now and forever
5. We are all unified by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within us
Many times God will allow things to happen that teaches us a lesson, or maybe get our attention. We certainly do not see it at the time. There are situations that may hurt us very deeply, or we may see others being hurt very badly by whatever happens in their lives. My sister called me the other day and she continues to struggle with injuries, recovery from surgery, and just a lot of things in her life she just does not understand. I tried to comfort her but I do not have answers for her either. She cried to me on the phone the other day, “Pray with all your heart that Satan will get off my back.” Like in the book of Job she just doesn’t see the end of the story.
The passing of my friend last week has helped me to understand a couple of very important things. First of all I have any fear of what awaits me when my time is up here on earth. (Like the story we shared of the dog on the other side of the door.) I know my Master is waiting for me on the other side. I can already hear my master’s voice on the other side of the door. The ultimate healing will take place. I am more convinced than ever that when I close my eyes for the last time in this world, Jesus will be standing there with His hand out saying, “Let’s go home son.” I also know there is something so much better waiting for me there. One last illustration about fork
In closing I have found most important of all I have a new fire, desire, and dedication to taking everybody I can with me. People will tell you that when you die you can’t take anything with you. Oh yes I can. I plan on taking everybody I can. I heard Ken Kelly say the other day, “The only thing we know for sure that is in heaven is Jesus and other people.” Who these people are I have no idea. But I can do everything I can do to direct, lead, and guide everybody I can to the light from the darkness of evil to the path way that has been prepared for all us.
I also realize that I don’t have much time left. The average person in this world as we said earlier lives to the age of 70-75. That means on the average I only have about 15-20 years left. I used to say that I was going to live forever just to spite the people that don’t like me. Now I want to live forever so I can try to take everybody people as I can with me to heaven because of my love for them. As followers of Jesus we need to have a new sense of urgency to win the lost. When people ask me how many people I have saved, I have to be honest and tell them none. It is not me that saves anybody. I cannot even save myself. There is nothing we can do to earn salvation for ourselves or anybody else. Ephesians 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. It is a free gift through the work of Jesus on the cross at Calvary. It is by their decision and theirs alone they can be saved. I could not forgive myself if I did not spend the rest of my life trying to lead as many people as I can to the Lord. I will never again hesitate to ask some one the most important question they will ever be asked in their life, “If you were to die right now where would you go, to heaven or to hell?” How much time do you have left? Let’s all stand in closing with a prayer.
