Focusing on What Matters

Introduction

Good morning. If you will open your Bibles with me to 1 Thessalonians chapter 5. First Thessalonians chapter 5 will be there for a few verses, and then we’ll be in Acts chapter 17. But first turn with me to 1 Thessalonians chapter 5. Beginning in verse 1, Paul writes, Now concerning the times and the season, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying there is peace and security, then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.

For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we might live with him. Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

You see that Paul’s focus is on the return of the Lord. In First Thessalonians chapter 4, beginning in verse 13 through the end of that chapter, the Thessalonian brothers and sisters are very concerned that those who had fallen asleep, those who had passed away already, that they were going to miss out on this great day, the coming of the Lord. They were looking forward to it with such vigor, with such hope, with such anticipation that they were sad for those who they thought might miss it. And Paul addresses that in chapter 4, and he makes mention that, oh no, the dead in Christ will rise. They will be with the Lord. The day of the Lord will be great for those who have passed, just as it will for those who are still living.

But make no mistake, the point in chapter 5 is clear. Jesus is coming again, and we need to be watching and be ready. Because he’s going to come like a thief. We are children of the day, not of the night. We need to be watching and waiting. And that’s a game changer. Because if we are living as if Jesus could come any day, that changes our life. That changes the way we think, what we spend our time on, who we spend our time with. And brothers and sisters, it’ll change our heart. Because if we know Jesus is coming again, we will be watching and waiting for Jesus to come. And if you think about that, it makes sense then that a lot of the issues of this life don’t really matter that much.

You know, I don’t like to be a stickler and to be no fun. But you know what? Ultimately, in view of Jesus coming again, our next president doesn’t matter. In view of Jesus coming again, TV shows that we watch getting canceled or put on Netflix? Doesn’t really matter. You know, we laugh at the TV show analogy, we laugh at the idea of spending too much time on sports or at the movies. But the reality is, do those matter any less than who our second president of the United States was? I mean, when we’re in heaven, are we going to sit back and at all spend one thought in heaven or on our deathbred preparing for the Lord to take us away and say, I wish I had watched one more show.

1. Paul Sticks With What Truly Matters

I wish I had voted Republican in one more election. You see, when we think about the coming of the Lord, our priorities are shifted right where they’re supposed to be, and that’s with God at the top, and our undying service and gratitude to please that king right underneath. When you think about that, what we start to focus on is what truly matters. I want to focus in Acts chapter 17, so if you have a marker, go ahead and leave it there. When you see Paul in Acts chapter 17 dealing with the Athenians, Paul is with the people who, of any kind, on the face of the earth at the time Paul lived, he could have spent millions of days with them, trying to reason with them, talk through things with them, and just be philosophical with these people.

We’re going to read a little bit about them. Look at Acts chapter 17, beginning in verse 16. Now, while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with them, him. And some said, What does this babbler wish to say? Others said he seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities, because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?

For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean. Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who live there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new. This isn’t quite the type of distraction that we face in America. We have a bit more comfort. We’re a bit more distracted and preoccupied with things of this life. But suffice to say, in verse 21, the people who spend their time in doing nothing except telling or hearing something new, in a city full of idols, would be a people that Paul could spend quite a deal of time reasoning with. Is it not? You think about Paul then? He’s going to deal with Athens. His spirit has already been provoked by seeing all the idolatry, and can’t you just feel Paul’s seething at what he’s seeing?

Their recognition that there is a God, but we don’t really know who it is, and we’re going to get to that in a moment. But you know Paul’s just itching to talk to this people, and he’s going to tell them how they’re wrong, and he’s going to show them what’s right, and he’s going to go line by line and dissemble every one of their false gods, and he’s going to prove God to be the true God, right? Let’s see what Paul does. I think what we see is that Paul sticks with what truly matters. In verse 22, read what as Paul deals with the Athenians, as these people who deal in nothing but hearing or telling something new, listen to Paul and lend him an ear.

In verse 22, so Paul standing in the midst of the Areopagus said, Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription to the unknown God. What therefore you worship is unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands as though he needed anything. Since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him.

Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for in him we live and move and have our being, as even some of your own poets have said, for we are indeed his offspring. Being then God’s offspring. We ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. Because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed. And of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead. Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, but others said, We will hear you again about this.

So Paul went out from their midst, but some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius, the Areopagite, and a woman named Demaris, and others with them. We think about Paul then, dealing with these people in Athens, dealing with these native Athenians, the foreigners who happened to find themselves in Athens on this day. And Paul goes through a line of argumentation with them. Did you see where he just took everything that they said, proved them wrong, and that meant that he was right? That’s what you see there, right? Oh, not exactly. What’s interesting about that, though, is that’s sometimes our approach, isn’t it? Oh, this person we know at work, or oh, this friend of mine, this neighbor of mine, they are so wrong on this Bible issue, I gotta tell them how they’re wrong.

Well, that may have its proper place in a proper time and in a proper manner. But know what Paul’s approach is to these people who have all kinds of spiritual problems, all kind of spiritual question marks. What does he focus with first? Well, he does point out what they’re doing in verse 23. He finds an altar to the unknown God. Rather than ridiculing and insulting them. What does he say at the end of verse 23? What therefore you worshiped as unknown, this I proclaim to you. On the basis of your altars that are there, on the basis of your understanding that there is some sort of God, or a multiplicity of gods, perhaps even, I’m going to tell you who the real God is. You are somewhat religious.

I’m going to tell you who to truly submit yourself to and serve. Who is that? Verse 24. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands as though he needed anything. Since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. What point does Paul make about God there? Well, first and foremost, that God, singular, is the creator of the heavens and the earth. God did everything. You look around, you see it, God made it. God spoke, and this world came into existence. We see in later verses, God set the extent of the boundaries of which man would live. From one man came everyone who is living, and that all goes back to whom?

The one true and living God. But furthermore, God is a God who doesn’t dwell in temples made by human hands. He’s not some sort of idol. And beyond just not being confined to a temple, what is said in the last of those verses? As though he needed anything. He doesn’t need to be served by us. God doesn’t need any type of animal sacrifice. He doesn’t need to be fed. He doesn’t need to be prayed to. We need to serve God. We need to pray to him. But God is the creator of the heavens and the earth. God doesn’t need man. Man needs God. And see, to the Athenians, that would be an odd concept, because what they would do would be offer sacrifices to their various idol gods.

They would pray to their various idol gods because there were several. There were many, in fact. And those gods collectively would take care of various aspects of their life. It’s hard to speak much more specifically than that, because the amount of gods that the Athenians could have and did worship is too plentiful for this type of time and focus. But see that Paul first focused on establishing who God is and the greatness of God. And then you see in verse 29, because of the fact that we are God’s offspring, you see that in verse 29, being then God’s offspring. We ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of men. God isn’t confined to the way we think, we see, or that we would construct.

God is and forever will be God. Now in verse 30, the times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands people everywhere to repent. Why would Paul focus to these people who have so many spiritual question marks after just talking to them about a God and that he is a singular God? He would go on to say that there’s a day that they need to repent? Well, why? Verse 31. Because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed. We know that to be Jesus the Christ. And of this he has given assurance to all by raising him, Jesus the Christ from the dead. Now think about what Paul just unloaded on these people.

Now, of all the ways that he could disagree with them, he could reason with them, he could fight with them. He establishes who God is. God is greater than man, God is singular. But then he says, God is going to call everyone to repent because he has fixed a day singular, in which everyone’s going to be judged by Jesus. How do we know that’s true, Paul? How does Paul give an assurance to these people who love telling and hearing something new that this is true, that this is going to happen? Well, he’s given assurance by raising the judge, Jesus, our Savior, from the dead. Now, of course, the predictable response is, as the next verses carry out, that some did mock, but some were willing to hear him further.

But I think what’s interesting about Paul’s line of argument is that he establishes who God is. He focuses on Jesus being resurrected from the dead, and he focuses on that day that is coming. As sure as there is a God, and as sure as that God raised Jesus from the dead, there is a day coming in which we will be judged. Now we know that day is the judgment day, but don’t we also know that as the day in which Jesus is coming again? As Christians, we need to be living for that day. But that’s what Paul found of most importance. That’s what the inspired writer here in the book of Acts by Luke decided to record for us. This is Paul’s focus. I want to come back to that thought in just a moment, but first I want to think about some distractions.

2. Not Distracted by Unnecessary Speculation

We recognize those elements of God, Jesus, and the coming judgment as the foundational bedrocks of being a Christian. You examine, you accept that God is the one true and living God, that you were going to follow Christ, hence the fancy name Christian. And then, of course, we are waiting for that day in which Jesus comes again. But Paul wasn’t distracted by things that distract me. He wasn’t distracted by unnecessary speculation. Look at 1 Timothy chapter 1. There’s a warning about this. In 1 Timothy chapter 1, Paul writes a warning, fittingly, Paul writes this warning to Timothy. In 1 Timothy chapter 1, beginning in verse 3. As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remained at Ephesus, so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine.

Well, we know that’s important, nor to devote themselves to myths, that’s important, and endless genealogies which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. Now that seems a bit over the top, right? Why do we need to stop that? What’s the big deal? What’s the problem, Paul? Verse 5 continuing. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions. What matters? Serving the God who is the creating God? What ultimately matters? What is our aim, verse 5?

Our charge is what? Do you see it there? Love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. I think what’s interesting about verse 4 saying, avoid these myths and endless genealogies which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. I think we kind of see an example of that sometimes in Genesis chapter 1. Do you see this? Look at this verse with me. I know the auditorium class is studying this. In Genesis chapter 1, beginning in verse 1, we see a verse that has been the basis for much argument, many debates, and a lot of speculation. In Genesis chapter 1 and verse 1, we’re going to see when the world was created. Look there with me.

Genesis chapter 1 and verse 1, once and for all, the Bible will be clear. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. So there it speaks. Now, what’s interesting about a lesson like focusing on what matters is I think what we need to be more focused on rather than being right or proving a worldview to be correct, is to focus on what the Bible has said. Can we acknowledge and accept that what matters is what has been revealed to us? If God has told it to us, then we need to have that information and fight for truth. If not, let’s be careful about venturing too far. Can I give you an example from Genesis chapter 1 and verse 1? Look in your Bibles with me.

Look at verse 1 again and tell me what year the world was created. I see, we don’t really know that. But you know, if you watch a lot of Christian debates, if you watch an atheist or an agnostic discuss something with any type of theology of Judeo Christian belief system, many of the Christians, many of the Jews would fight for a young earth. You might have heard the world is 6,000 years old. Now, certainly that stands in stark contrast to many evolutionists who believe the world is billions of billions of years old. But do we know that that’s the truth? Consider Genesis chapter 1 and verse 26 and 27. When God makes man in his image, after the likeness of his image, what is he given dominion over?

Well, the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, and over the livestock, and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. Then you see in Genesis chapter 2 that Adam was put down into a deep sleep in verse 21, and the rib was taken from his flesh in verse 22, and the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man, he made into a woman and brought her to the man. And now Eve was formed. And my question is, how old was Adam when God made him? How old was Eve when God created her? It seems to reason that Eve was probably a woman or at least of some age, but my question is do you think when Adam and Eve were made, that they were one second old, the first second that God spoke and made them into existence?

Possibly. Who would we be to come down hard on that? I think the Bible gives us some context that at least Eve was of some age. Adam likely was of some age to have diminion over the creation. But again, that’s speculation. Right? The fact of the matter is God is powerful enough to have made Adam and created Eve at any age that he so desired, and yet they would have only been on the planet in existence for the amount of time that dates back to when God put them into existence. You see, Adam may have been made a 16-year-old man, an 18-year-old body, a 24-year-old body, a 30-year-old body, and yet he would have been on the earth for one day at the completion of the one day that God created him.

See, the point of that is there’s enough to say, even within the Bible record of Genesis chapter 1, when it comes to the creation of the earth, the trees in it, the soil, the ground, if we were to test it, could the earth not be millions of years old if God created it that way, and yet have existed for only the time that the Bible allows for.

3. Getting Caught Up in Difficult Scripture

We would do well to not waste time or argue things that we can’t be sure of. Let’s focus on what the Bible does say rather than what it does not. Secondly, we see a good way to be distracted quickly is to get caught up in trying to understand even difficult scripture. Again, this is not to say, don’t talk about anything that we don’t have a hundred percent answer for, but don’t let it affect your faith or the faith of others. Don’t be distracted from what truly matters. You look at 2 Peter chapter 3, there’s a strong warning given. And of course, I think we can see the outfit of this, the circumstances that come about, of the consequences of poor teaching. But in 2 Peter chapter 3 and verse 14 through 18, we see a clear example of what God warns against in verse 14 beginning.

Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace, and count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction as they do the other scriptures. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability, but grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. There is a warning against teachers to twist scriptures that are difficult.

How do we combat that, though, as Christians? We have to know what really matters. If we’re going to know if a teacher is twisting the scriptures to their own destruction, if we’re going to know that the teacher is showing ignorance or lack of stability in their understanding, then verse 17 gives us the answer of how to be prepared. Do you see that? Take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have to be on the lookout for those perversions, and to be able to recognize them, we have to know what truth is. We have to know what matters. What has God revealed? That’s got to be on my heart.

4. Not Distracted by Affairs of This World

What has God done for man that has to be on my heart? What has Jesus done? He has sacrificed, paid the price for my life, and because I am bought with a price, I will change, I will be devoted only to his will, and I will not allow myself to be carried away by some man’s ignorant and unstable and false doctrine. We need to be careful that we are not those teachers, and we need to be careful that we aren’t carried away by them. Thirdly, we need to not be distracted by affairs of this world. We see John chapter 18. In John chapter 18, when Jesus is before Pilate, I invite you to turn there with me. In John chapter 18. Jesus gives a powerful claim, and one that I think as Christians we need to take to heart.

In John chapter 18, as he’s being questioned by Pilate, Pilate asked him a simple question. Are you the king of the Jews? Jesus answered, Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me? Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? You, your own nation, the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done? Know what Jesus’ answer is in verse 36. My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from this world. Brothers and sisters, if our king is not from this world, our citizenship is not here either, and our focus can’t be.

What is Jesus warn about? Where is our treasure? Treasure is where our heart is. Is our heart with the Lord? Is our heart in heaven? Are we anxiously awaiting the coming Savior that Paul spoke to the Thessalonians of in chapter 5? Are we waiting for that glorious day of the Lord? Are we distracted by things of this life? Are we distracted by how wonderful this is, how wonderful people are? Where is our heart? Where is our attention? Where is my service? If I am focused on what truly matters, yes, I know God exists. I certainly exalt Jesus to be the Christ, and I know that day is coming in which I will answer for my deeds. That means that I will not be distracted by useless arguments and speculations that can jeopardize my faith and the faith of those I discuss it with.

5. Our God Reigns and Is in Control

I will not twist Scripture. I will not be carried away by those who do so themselves. And certainly I will not try to keep one foot here and one foot in heaven. We are all in with God, or we are all out. We need to choose to serve our King. And we think about focusing on what matters, and we come back to Acts chapter 17, you see that if we follow Paul’s outline, this changes the Christian life because we see our God reigns and our God is in control. Perhaps no other scripture is more clear on the issue of God’s sovereignty than the book of Daniel. And if you look in Daniel chapter 4 and verse 17, look with me in Daniel chapter 4 and verse 17.

See what God’s place is in the kingdoms of men. And Daniel chapter 4 and verse 17. When you think about Daniel’s life as he was fit to serve his Babylonian king after being taken out of Judah, he finds himself in chapter 2 having to answer before this proud king. And chapter 3, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abinagar have to answer this king because they won’t bow down and worship him. But in Daniel chapter 4 and verse 17, when hearing the dream, note what is said here in verse 17. The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the most high rules the kingdom of men and gives to it whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.

This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw, and you, O Beltashazzar, tell me the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation, but you are able, for the Spirit of the Holy Gods is in you. This was even known to this man. Even here in Daniel chapter 4 and verse 17, what is understood so clearly? What about the one most high God? What does he do? Do you see it again? He rules the kingdom of men. And not just does our God reign. Look at the last part of this verse. He sets over it whom he will, even the lowliest of men. Our God is in charge. Our God doesn’t just exist. Our God didn’t just exist and kick start the world.

Our God created this world. As I said before, our God doesn’t need us, it doesn’t need to be served, as Paul was reasoning with the Athenians in chapter 17. Our God exists beyond temples made by human hands. Our God is eternal and reigns forevermore in this kingdom and forever, past the world that he created, that he will destroy. What a blessing to serve that great God. When we think about God’s power, we think about his might. We think also about Daniel chapter 2, do we not? And when you see the interpretation of the first dream, and you see this great dream that King Nebuchadnezzar had had of the statue with the head of gold, the middle of silver, and on down, what was the conclusion of the dream?

6. Jesus Lives

Look with me in verse 44 and 45. In the days of those kings, what would happen? The God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed. Nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever. Let’s be a part of that eternal kingdom. Let’s worship our eternal God. If we commit ourselves to that, we don’t just mentally acknowledge that God reigns, but we will show the belief that Jesus teaches in John chapter 3 and verse 16 is necessary to benefit from the slain Savior. Think secondly about Paul’s point in Acts chapter 17. We see that Jesus lives. That means not only that Jesus came to this earth and that he died on the cross for our sins, but that God raised him from the dead.

That was the very mechanism through which Paul reasoned with the Athenians in Acts 17 that they can know the day of judgment was coming. That the judge was raised from the dead by God Himself. When we think about the impact of that, Paul states it himself in 1 Corinthians chapter 15. Look there with me. You want to think about a passage that teaches that there is something in Scripture that matters most, that is matters of first importance? Know the scripture. Have it in your heart. 1 Corinthians chapter 15 and verse 3. For I delivered to you as of first importance. Not of only importance, but of first importance. What I also received. That Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and then he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

What is of most importance? What is of first importance to Paul? That which he delivered to them. That Jesus, you see it in verse 3, Jesus died for our sins. In verse 4, that he was buried according to the scriptures. In verse 5, he appeared. He was raised from the dead. Why is that so important, Paul? In verse 12. Now, if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? This is the question upon which in verse 34 of Acts 17, the Athenians mocked. What is he to say there is a resurrection of the dead? Whether it be about the Christ coming back into this life or our eternal salvation, the resurrection is an important question that as Christians we must have the answer to.

Here is our faith, verse 13. But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God. Because we testified about God that He raised Christ, whom we did not raise, if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, and you are still in your sins. Verse 20, but in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.

Because he lives, we can live forever. Because Jesus not only came to this life, but because he was resurrected from the dead, we are not stuck in our sins. Our faith is not in vain, and like Paul, we can go all in with God for me to live as Christ and to die is gained. Think about how that would change your life. Because if that is the God who we believe in, if Jesus lives. When I look back at Acts chapter 17, I have to face a startling, powerful truth. Look back in Acts chapter 17 one more time with me this morning. In Acts chapter 17 and verse 30, it says, The times of ignorance, God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.

Conclusion

Because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead. Brothers and sisters, we know God exists. We believe Jesus died on the cross for our sins. But can I ask you a question? How much do you think about and anticipate the coming of the Lord? See, it’s kind of easy to have a belief in God. It’s kind of easy even to believe that Jesus was raised from the dead because of the account of the scriptures, because of the historical events surrounding it that build a compelling case for the fact that Jesus lives. And so we come to church. We be with our brothers and sisters that make up the body of Christ.

We partake of the Lord’s Supper as God has commanded and shown us by example. We live our life for Christ. But do we live every day for him? Because in verse 30 of Acts chapter 17, God had commanded all people everywhere to repent, to turn from wrong, get out of the life of sin, turn to God. Why? Because judgment day is coming. If we as Christians believe that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night, we know Jesus is coming, and it could be today. So what do we do with that information? If I know God exists, if I know Jesus lives, I have to believe that God. I have to believe the inspired apostle Paul, who says, there is a day in which we will be judged by he who was resurrected.

We are going to answer to Jesus the Christ. We are going to give account to him and be judged based on the words that he has spoken. Are you ready? Are you looking forward to that day? God has blessed us a great deal here in this country and in our individual life on earth. But make no mistake, God’s true blessings for his people are after this life is over. We don’t have to die twice. If you will commit to God, if you will believe in him, confess of your sins, repent, turning towards God and are baptized, having your sins washed away, you can destroy the old man of sin. You can take Paul’s heed to all people everywhere to repent, knowing that that day is still coming that Paul described as a thief in the night.

Be ready for the coming of the Lord. Make things right. Don’t delay. If you’re going to serve God, you are ready for the day to come. If you aren’t ready for the day to come, if you aren’t looking forward to it, you either don’t understand how great God is or you are not truly a believer. Are you ready for the day of the Lord? If we can help you come to a better understanding of God, ask. If you need your prayers in repentance and turning your life to God, ask. If we can help you in any way, if you want to start a new life with God this very day, knowing that Jesus can come at any time and you want to serve your king, who is the King of kings and Lord of Lords, come forward right now.

Take the opportunity as we stand and sing the invitation song.