Sermon Central
-
The Fierce Urgency Of Now
Contributed by Rohan Diedrick on Nov 28, 2017 (message contributor)
Summary: This sermon was inspired by a speech made by Dr. Martin Luther King in 1967. It deals with the fact that humanity is indeed running out of time when it comes to his eternal security. There is an urgent call for us to awake from our slumber because as Dr
"But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof" (Romans 13:14).
"Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the souls" (1 Peter 2:11).
"That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God" (1 Peter 4:2).
When I look at all this, I must conclude that I have no more time to waste! Paul is saying do plan for tomorrow; it may never come! Now, today is the day of decision!
NOW is the time for honesty to ourselves. Our salvation is at stake.
We have gotten away with procrastinating and putting off the things of Christ up until now!
But NOW is here! NOW will be with us for the rest of our life! Tomorrow is not promised! But NOW has been given to us!
Many of us are hoping for a better tomorrow, but that’s not guaranteed!
Dr. King said, We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there is such a thing as being too late. Procrastination is still the thief of time. Over the bleached bones and jumbled residues of numerous civilizations are written the pathetic words, "Too late."
Friends, don’t let it be said that it’s too late! Many of us, we know what that is first hand! That prophesy has been fulfilled in our lives to often! The Lord has given us work to do! Many are waiting on God but God has been waiting on us! Many are waiting on their breakthrough! But few are working for it!
The word says,
Hebrews 4:1-3 (NKJV)
1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.
2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.
3 For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: "So I swore in My wrath, ’They shall not enter My rest,’ " although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
He goes on to say in verse 6
Hebrews 4:6-11 (NKJV)
6 Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience,
7 again He designates a certain day, saying in David, "Today," after such a long time, as it has been said: "Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts."
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day.
9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.
10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.
11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.
The word cannot be any clearer! Verse 11 says that we must be diligent to enter into the kingdom of heaven! But in our diligence, we must labor TODAY, NOW, not tomorrow, not next week but right now! And we must do so diligently! Diligence suggests, perseverance; giving careful attention to; even a fierce urgency of NOW!
