Too Late!

Too Late

Chuck Sligh

August 18, 2013

(A PowerPoint presentation for this message is available by contacting me at chucksligh@hotmail.com).

TEXT: Proverbs 27:1 – “Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.”

INTRODUCTION

Illus. (FLESH THIS OUT) – The story was told of a dad and son who were estranged from one another.

Before they ever reconciled, the father died.

At the funeral, the grown son was heard crying, “It’s too late! It’s too late…”

Brethren, if we delay or procrastinate the important things in life, be assured that someday it will be too late to do them.

Let me share three important things you should not delay this morning:

I. FIRST, SOMEDAY IT WILL BE TOO LATE TO BE SAVED FROM YOUR SIN.

Illus. – The Bible teaches the truth of what is usually called the “Rapture.” Jesus said He would come as a thief in the night and that no one would know the day nor the hour. When the Lord comes again, all believers will be taken up to heaven to be with the Lord in the air.

For those who know they are saved, the teaching on the rapture is comforting, but for who do not have the assurance of their salvation, the rapture is often a terror.

And for good reason, because for those left behind, it will be too late, for 1 Thessalonians 2 seems to teach that all who had an opportunity to believe before the Rapture, but didn’t, will believe the lie of the Antichrist and accept the mark of the beast dooming you forever. I’m not dogmatic about this, but it’s possible that those who meant to believe in Christ, but did not, will find themselves doomed.

God has given us the opportunity to give our lives to Him in this era of human history, but if we neglect it, the Lord could come any day as a thief in the night, and it would be forever too late.

But I’ve got some good news for you––It’s NOT too late…not YET.

Illus. – Years ago, an earnest Christian doctor called to see an elderly man that he had frequently visited before. He had shared the Gospel with his patient many times, but each time his patient would reply, “Not now, Doc. Some other time.” This time the old fellow was suffering from a severe bronchial attack.

The doctor checked him over and after promising to get some medicine ready, he was about to say “Good-by” when the patient’s wife asked, “Doctor, when should John take the medicine?”

“Well, let’s see, you’re not very ill now. Suppose you begin a month from now.”

They looked at him in astonishment because this infection was quite serious. “A month from today? Surely you’re not serious!” said the man’s wife.

“Well, why not? Is that too soon?”

“Too soon! Why, I may be dead by then!” said the patient.

“Hmm…that’s true. But remember, you really aren’t very bad yet. Still, perhaps you had better begin to take it—say, in a week.”

“Doctor,” John said in great perplexity, “I don’t mean to question your advice, but I might not live even a week in the condition I’m in.”

“Well, that’s true, John, but very likely you will. And the medicine will be in the house. It’ll keep, and if you find yourself getting worse, you could take some then. If you feel worse tomorrow you might begin taking it then.”

Very seriously, John said, “Doc, this is the worst illness I’ve ever had. To be honest with you, if I don’t get some medicine soon, I may be dead tomorrow!”

“Well, when would you propose to begin, John?”

“Well, I thought you would tell me to begin today.”

“John, begin today by all means,” said the doctor. “I only wanted to show you how false your own reasoning is, when you put off taking the medicine which the Great Physician has provided for your sin-sick soul. Just think how long you’ve neglected the remedy He has provided. For years you have turned away from the Lord Jesus. You’ve said to yourself ‘next week,’ or ‘next year’ or ‘when I’m on my deathbed, I’ll seek the Lord’; any time rather than the present. And yet the present is the only time that you’re sure of.”

That day John stopped delaying and trusted in Christ as his Savior!

Oh, how wise that doctor was!

God’s offer is only guaranteed for today. 2 Corinthians 6:2 says, “Now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation.”

You may be dead tomorrow!

Oh, listen, someday it will be too late for you to be saved if you do not avail yourself of the opportunity to come to Christ NOW!

II. SECOND, SOME DAY IT WILL BE TOO LATE FOR SERVICE BY THE SAINTS