IF YOU HAD ONE MORE DAY TO LIFE!!
Intro:
A. Death is a very scary thought to each and every one of us.
1. I believe that it would be correct for me to say that each
and every one here tonight has wondered what death holds in
store for themselves:
a. How will I eventually Die??? By fire, car accident,
Drowning...ect...How will I DIE?
b. This is a very disturbing thought as each and everyone of
us knows that death is inevitable....Heb. 9:27.
B. However, one must realize the importance that as Hezekiah
was told to set his house in order, as he would soon
die,...II Kings 20:1 so are we also told the same thing in
the N.T....James 4:13-16 ; Mark 13:32-33, 37.
1. Many of us would think that this was a bad situation,
(being told that you would die shortly), yet we need to see
the blessings of this knowledge.
a. The knowledge of death provoked a changed attitude.
b. The knowledge of death led Him closer to God.
c. The knowledge of death turned His face to the wall and
wept bitterly to the Lord, displaying his dependency upon
the Lord for forgiveness.
2. The same should be true of the Christian today.
a. We have the knowledge of pending death...Heb. 9:27.
b. We have the knowledge of the time when this is to
occur...could be any time... Matt. 25:13.
c. With this knowledge we should have the same attitude and
reaction that Hezekiah displayed in II Kings 20:2-4.
d. Our houses should be set in order at All times, 24 hours a
day, 52 weeks a year...ect.
3. Yet the sad truth of the matter is that many of us think
that we have much time to spare and that when we have done
all the things that we think are important we will get our
lives straight with the Lord.
C. So on this thought I want us to consider this vitally
important question...IF YOU HAD ONE MORE DAY TO LIVE WHAT
WOULD YOU DO???
1. This is truly a sobering thought!
a. Some Atheists would do nothing, Yet we who are believers
in Christ come to the realization that in 24 hours I'm
going to stand before my Creator and will have to give an
account of the good and evil that I have done in this
life...Eccl.12:13-14.
b. Will I stand approved of God or will it be disapproval?
c. Would a run around frantic trying to right all the wrongs
that I have caused or would I just continue to Live like I
presently am.
2. This knowledge of oncoming death should provoke us to
examine our lives and our deeds to see whether our ways are
God's ways.
D. So let us this evening consider some sobering thoughts that
we should examine in our lives.
Body:
I. WHAT SOME NEED TO DO!
A. There are many today who are not ready to face the Lord in
judgment, who still need to come to the belief that Jesus Is
our Lord and Savior.
1. One must realize that this is more than just a mere mental
acceptance and acknowledgment that Jesus is the Christ.
2. Rather the belief that is referred to here is that saving
belief that comes about by convicted OBEDIENCE to the will
of God...James 2:14,17,24.
a. The belief that is related with action...John 3:16,18 ;
John 8:24 ; Heb. 11:6.
b. There are many who believe that there is a God but they
have no greater belief than is said of the demons...
James 2:19.
1) Notice their belief...Lk.4:33-34, 41.
2) The demons believe what many today refuse to accept.
3. The only way that this convicted obedience comes about is
through the investigation of God's word...Rom. 10:17.
4. There are many, maybe even in this audience tonight, who
have turned a deaf ear (through pride and prejudice's) to
the Word of the Lord...Matt. 13:15.
B. There are many who need to obey the Gospel. They know that
they need to do it but just keep on putting it off.
1. Listen to this wise person of poetry...
"Procrastination is the thief of time and of souls"
a. Not all have obeyed the Gospel...Rom. 10:16 ; but the Lord
is not willing that none should perish but that all should
come unto repentance...II Peter 3:9.
2. One might ask what Gospel is to be obeyed?...Rom. 1:16 ;
Gal. 1:6-8.
a. This is the Gospel commissioned to the Apostles...
Matt. 28:19-20 ; Mk. 16:15-16.
3. One might ask the question Why?...Acts 2:38 ; Rom. 3:23 ;
Rom. 6:23.
4. Some might ask when have I obeyed the Gospel...Rom. 6:1-10
; Rev. 2:10.
5. Those who have heard and did not obey Await Eternal
Destruction...II Thess. 1:7-9.
C. There are many who have believed in Christ and have obeyed
the Gospel, yet there are many in this situation who need to
live that faithful dedicated life as children of
God....Matt. 7:21-23.
1. We should be "Zealous unto all good works"...Titus 2:14(b);
3:8 ; I Cor. 15:58.
2. Those works that are lukewarm where not acceptable to God
in Rev. 3:15-19 and certainly will not be accepted of God
now.
a. Those who have become to worldly minded, forgetting about
their spiritual well being would need to start getting
their priorities in place...Matt. 6:33-34.
D. These are but a few of the things that we should do, let us
consider just for a moment:
II. SOME THINGS WE WOULD NOT DO!
A. With the knowledge of Death, we would not be busy in selfish
hording of material things for a rainy day....Luke 12:15-20.
1. Much of that which we call "security" is covetousness...
which is seen as idolatry..Col. 3:5.
2. We would also be wise to heed the warnings that it is
impossible to serve two masters...Matt. 6:24 ; Matt. 6:33.
3. By seeking for the "good life" in the years to come would
be foolishness if we only had 24 hours to live.
B. Secondly we would not be selfish in our giving of the
talents that God has given us.
1. I would no longer Rob God of the things/ offerings that
have been put aside for His work.
2. The song "Here I Am Lord Send Me" would have more meaning
to me.
3. I certainly would not say that their is too much preaching,
but rather GIVE ME MORE.
C. Thirdly we would not put off things until tomorrow.
1. Eccl. 12:1 ; II Cor. 6:1 ; Acts 24:25 ; James 4:17.
a.If we were to die in 24 hours we certainly would like to
use every single minute that we have for God work. We will
not spend time frivolously or foolishly, knowing that every
minute counts.
2. Procrastination is truly the thief of souls...Heb.3:13,15.
a. Illustration: Of a young man who had been raised in the
church and in the ways of the Lord, yet kept on saying
that someday he would obey the gospel. That someday came
oneday to soon, he was involved in a car accident,
seriously wounded, he requested that he wanted to be
baptized. Due to the circumstances it took time to
prepare the baptistery for him, while in the meantime he
past away. Truly his procrastination and the love of
sowing his wild oats cost him his soul.
b. Certainly the expression..."I'm too busy" will seem
foolish to the one who only has 24 hours to live.
D. Fourthly we would not continue to take the gifts of God for
granted.
1. So many forget the great sacrifice that Christ paid on our
behalf...John 3:16 ; Rom. 5:8.
2. So many forget the great gift that we have of being able to
assemble with others members of like precious faith...
Heb. 10:24-25.
3. Praying for our health, food, and our families well being
would not seem foolishness to us anymore...James 1:17.
E. Fifthly we would not take chances doing questionable things.
1. We might think well just this one time, but that one time
might be all it takes to lose your soul.
2. Each and every day would be filled with walking for Him.
F. Sixthly we would not be indefinitely undecided in religion.
1. Some say they are concerned about spiritual things but
truly are undecided as to what to do about it...Rom. 14:23.
2. Some are "almost persuaded" yet with 24 hours will they be
"almost persuaded" and go to our graves as such.
a. Will our Epitaphs read..."He/She. was almost persuaded to
do right.
3. Consider Acts 17:11 they were only persuaded by the
investigation of what was being taught.
a. Consider the Ethiopian Eunarch's reaction...
1) Could have said..."I'll wait till I get home"
2) Yet His reaction was...Acts 8:32-38.
4. The Gospel is clear and understandable to all...Eph. 3:4.
III. WHAT WOULD OR SHOULD WE DO? ...Do all that is needful to put
one's house in order.
A. We should search ourselves...II Cor. 13:5.
1. Critism of others become of less importance.
2. Look towards ourselves...Matt. 7:1-5 ; Lk. 15:17.
3. We would reflect upon the number of years that we have
spent in foolish living.
B. We would spend time in the study of God's Word...
II Tim. 2:15.
1. We would love its precepts...Psa.119:71,72 ; Psa. 1:2.
2. We would be interested in religious discussions not worldly
thoughts.
C. We would spend time in Prayer...I Thess. 5:17.
D. We would become faithful in our service to the Lord.
1. By becoming a Christian in the true sense of the word.
2. I would not argue about Baptism. or attendance...Mk 16:16 ;
Heb 10:25.
E. Certainly we would fix up all the wrongs we have with
others...Matt. 5:23,24.
1. We will try and be reconciled...Matt.18:15.
2. Pray for those...Matt.5:44-45.
a. We would not longer hold grudges towards others.
Concl:
A. The Christian should live each day as though it were his
last...Matt. 24:36-46.
B. The Christian would realize that there is no assurance of
tomorrow...Prov. 27:1 ; Mk. 13:32-33 ; James 4:14.
C. The Christian will also realize that we need to redeem the
time while we still have it...Eph. 5:15-16.
D. It is to late after death!
E. Why do you wait? You have the time now; the opportunity is
Now , yet do you have the right condition of the heart Now.
F. Why not come while we stand and sing.
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