What A Place To Lose Out With God

"WHAT A PLACE TO LOSE OUT WITH GOD"

Mark McCool

TEXT: Luke 2:41-45

41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.

42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.

43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.

44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.

45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.

INTRODUCTION:

Mary & Joseph

The parents of Jesus lost him at church and they were not the first, or last ones to lose him there. (Vance Havner)

Jacob

Jacob too was unaware in the day of his visitation. When he lay his head upon the rock to sleep at Mt. Bethel, only a dream could permeate his scheming, contriving, and carnal mind. The angels ascended and descended the ladder from the very gate of heaven, yet Jacob slept on, only to realize after he awoke, the significance of the dream. It was the visitation of God but when it came, Jacob was asleep. “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I knew it not.”

The Pharisees

The Pharisees lost out with God in the very place they professed to have relationship with him... the synogogue.

Matt 15:8-14

8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

10 And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:

11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?

13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.

14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

Jesus upbraided the Jews for not being able to notice the day of their visitation.

The Preacher (Solomon) said, "And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this is also vanity." - Ecclesiastes 8:10 (KJV)

Parable of the Lost Coin – Lost in the house.

Heb 12:1-3

1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Eph 5:14-16

14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Mic 6:8

8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

The Rich Man In Hell

A man who knew much… almost too much, to lose out with God. He lost him in a place of blessing, and he lost him because of it. No mercy could compel him to feed his own brother who lanquished in the gate of his palatial estate.

Though it seemed such an awful gulf had been fixed between him and the bosom of Abraham. Still God’s presence filled the gap. David said, “… though I make my bed in hell, behold thou art there.” For what a man may feel of God’s presence in the power of the Holy Ghost, comes to us through God’s mercy. Our God who is a consuming fire, allows us to feel the warmth of his loving touch through His mercy.

But that same consuming fire is a burning, tormenting, reminding presence of God without mercy when in hell!

Many will go to hell calling Jesus Lord.

Many profess they know him but by their works they deny him.