Thursday, September 30, 2010

September 30, 2010

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." Jesus the Way to the Father Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:1-6
Jesus was preparing His disciples for his impending death and departure.
First, He wanted to get them focused beyond the grave. Death brings separation and seems very final to those who lose loved ones. Jesus wasn't looking forward to being separated from them and He knew they were not ready to be separated from Him. This was going to be some difficult days. Jesus was about to be arrested and abused and saddistically murdered. If they are not focused beyond death and the grave they will be devastated.
Second, He wanted to give them a big picture idea of where He would be and plant in their spirit the possibility of them being able to come and join Him some day. Just as He would have a safe and serene place to be for eternity, so would they if they will follow Him. Just as they believed in His life they must believe in His death and His "happy ever after".
We are the beneficiaries of this assurance Jesus gave to His disciples. Over the next few days we will learn about this eternal place where Jesus went and where the disciples have subsequently joined Him. Understanding that this place exists, what it is like and how to get there is crucial to having peace when death invades us to steal a loved or when it stares us in the face. When we can look beyond death to a better destination we can take courage to face death.
There is a very real sense in which Jesus came to live to teach us how to live. But He also came to prepare to die. He prepared us to die by assuring us that real life begins on the other side of death. And just as the Father created a beautiful place for us to live our 70 plus years, He also has created an unbelievably incredible place where we can live our eternity.
Don't you want to know about THAT place?
Stay with me the next few days! It will be "Heavenly"!

September 29, 2010

"He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' "Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them." 'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' "He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' " Luke 16:27-31
For the past few days I have been sharing about the topic of urgency. God has been pushing this button in my heart since I studied this text for my message Sunday. As I prepared for Sunday morning I was moved and challenged by these last four verses of chapter 16 which picture the formerly rich man trapped in hell. It wasn't until he found himself condemned to this horrible fate for eternity. It was almost to unbearable but he was moved with an urgency to reach his loved ones and spare them his terrible fate.
I had to examine my own sense of urgency toward spiritually unprepared people. As I meditated on this condemned man and reflected on my own experience, I realized that the enemy of urgency is complacency. So, I asked myself, "What turns urgency to complacency?" I came up with three attitudes that rob urgency and faster complacency.
The first is success. Being successful can be cause complacency especially when you presume that your success is a direct result of God's blessing you. You reason that since He is blessing you then you must ok spiritually. Once you buy into that thought you begin to become careless.
The second we talked about was excess. Once you get too much "stuff" it distracts you from your primary purpose and passion for living. With all that stuff you have to guard it and grow it and get more of it. If success = blessing and blessing = stuff then the more stuff the bigger the blessing. That happened to the rich man and it can happen to you!
Thirdly, complacency can replace urgency because of access. This rich man had access to have compassion and help Lazarus, but he didn't. He remained detached and unaffected by the needs of this desparate man. Because he was unmoved by the needs of the man, he became complacent.
Everyone of us who want to live with passion and urgency need to stay connected with spiritually needy people. We need to have some good friends who are spiritual seekers. We need to befriend those who have an interest in spiritualility but who have not yet been exposed to the gospel. The only way to get an urgency or a burden to reach spiritually lost people is to spend time with them. Make time in your schedule to play golf with them or have coffee with them or go fishing with them or hunting with them, etc. Spend time in their world so you learn how to connect with them and lead them in to our world.
I am glad someone had a sense of urgency about my salvation. I want to be that for others.
How about you? How is your urgency for the lost?
If you don't care enough about lost people, get into a civic club or a golf league or a bowling league, some place where you can spend time with non-believers and begin to reach them for Christ. That will generate a sense of spititual urgency that is healthy and necessary to complete the Great Commission.
Fight complacency. Fuel urgency. Access lost people.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

September 28, 2010

"He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' "Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' " 'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' "He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' " Luke 16:27-31
This formerly rich man now found himself in hell tormented by the horrors of the place plus tortured by the regrets he had about not taking advantage of the opportunities to prepare his soul for Heaven. He was eternally lost and he knew it.
He was suddenly urgent about the eternal destiny of his five brothers who were still living. He wanted to save them from a similar fate.
How is your urgency toward the eternal destiny of people you care about?
He became too urgent too late to help the situation. We tend to do the same. Why?
What are some things that cause us to become complacent rather than feeling urgent? What should we look for? What attitudes can we resist?
In our last post we mentioned that success can lead to complacency. Another attitude that can lead to complacency is excess.
This rich man, in his earthly life, had all the necessities and many of the luxuries and he wanted for nothing. Good for him! We should be so lucky!
Unfortunately, that level of comfort can erase our concerns about other people. You can get so busy enjoying yourself that you lose touch with the needs of others. That insulation from the needs and conditions of others can make you complacent.
In addition, when you have all that stuff you have to guard it and maintain it and protect it and secure it and find time to use it and all that takes time, energy and focus.
I have to believe that this rich man's success and his excess causes him to become complacent. Enjoying and caring for his "stuff" robbed him of his urgency toward the needs of others.
It can happen to you as well. Maybe you don't have an excess of stuff but you can spend an excessing amount of time focused on it or working to acquire more stuff.
Understand that I am not anti-success nor am I against having a lot of stuff. What I am concerned about is whether that success or that excess steals your urgency toward the eternal welfare of your own soul and the destiny of others.
Don't be like this guy and become urgent too late. Have as much stuff as you can get but don't allow it to have you.

September 27, 2010

"He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' "Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' " 'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' "He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' " Luke 16:27-31



One of the things that has always plagued the Church is complacency. The Church consists of Christ-followers and Christ-followers are to be about the mission of winning converts and teaching them to follow Christ. There should be a sense of urgency about accomplishing this mission since it is the central reason for the church to exist.



But, it is easy to lose the urgency and fall into complacency. Jesus was speaking about that in this portion of Scripture and told a story about a guy who had done just that. Over the next few posts I want to deal with a few things that cause us to lose our urgency and lead to complacency.



Success can lead to complacency.



In the Jewish mind-set, success was linked to spiritual blessing. That is a mistaken notion but it has also found its way into some Christian thinking as well and it can lead to complacency because we can deceive ourselves into believing that because we are doing well materially we are also doing well spiritually. That may not be true. In the case of this guy it wasn't.



So, living under the impression that he was spiritually blessed had dulled his sense of urgency for reaching others or helping those who could have benefited from his generosity. That was illustrated by Lazarus, the beggar who laid outside his house in desparate need but was ignored and neglected by the rich fellow.




Having wealth and privilege should have increased his urgency to help and reach others but it caused him to be casual about it because he mistook his wealth for God's blessing. The truth is that when God does bless us materially He does it so we can bless others. People who do give to others do so because they have an urgency over the spiritual and material needs of that person. And because they give to those people, their urgency toward them grows.
I know human nature and I know that when I am having success it is easier to become content and complacent. You no doubt have struggled with that. It may be natural but it is not acceptable for believers who are called to do what Christ did and care for others. It may be human nature but it is not what called has called us to do. Our calling is to be Christ-followers who serve as the hands and feet of Jesus doing what He would do were He here.
Have you allowed yourself to become complacent? Has your comfort level taken the edge off of your urgency to reach others?
That question deserves an honest and urgent response.










Sunday, September 26, 2010

September 26,2010

“HAPPILY EVER AFTER?”

Week Two – “One Moment After You Die” Luke 16:19-31

The clock of life is wound but once, And no man has the powerTo tell just when the hands will stop. At late or early hour.To lose one’s wealth is sad indeed. To lose one’s health is more,To lose one’s soul is such a loss. That no man can restore.
Thirty-nine people died while you listened to this short poem. During the time we spend in this service 5,417 will go to meet their Maker. According to the CIA World Factbook, as of July, 2005, there were approximately 6,446,131,400 people on the planet, and the death rate was approximately 8.78 deaths per 1,000 people a year. According to our nifty desktop calculator, that works out to roughly 56,597,034 people leaving us every year. That's about a 155,000 a day.

A middle-aged woman had a heart attack and was taken to the hospital. While on the operating table she had a near death experience. Seeing God, she asked "Is my time up?"
God said, "No, you have another 43 years, 2 months and 8 days to live."
Upon recovery, the woman decided to stay in the hospital and have a facelift, liposuction and a tummy tuck. She even had someone come in and change her hair color. Since she had so much more time to live, she figured she might as well make the most of it.
After her last operation, she was released from the hospital. While crossing the street on her way home, she was hit and killed by an ambulance.
Arriving in front of God, she demanded, "I though you said I had another 40 years?"
God replied, "Oh, Sorry, I didn’t recognize you."

A troop of Boy Scouts was being used as "civilian victims” in an emergency services disaster drill. A mock earthquake was staged, and the Scouts impersonated wounded persons who were to be picked up and cared for by the emergency units. One Scout was supposed to lie on the ground and await his rescuers, but the first-aid people got behind schedule, and the Scout lay "wounded" for several hours. When the first-aid squad arrived where the casualty was supposed to be, they found nothing but a brief note: "Have bled to death and gone home..." What happens when we die? Do we go home, home to where?

That IS the question of the day! In this second message of our Fall series, “Happily Ever After?” we will answer the question of what happens after you die?


Jesus once told a story that gives insight to what happens one moment after death. It is found in Luke 16:19-26. Turn in your Bibles to Luke 16, please.


"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' "But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'"

I. Death Ends Prosperity And Adversity, Vv. 19-25

Would it come as a shock to you if I told you that life is not fair? I am pretty sure you have noticed. I like the way Jesus just addresses that head on. Some people have wealth and live in luxury and others suffer under extreme poverty and adversity. So it is in these two characters in the story Jesus told.

We have no idea how the Rich Man came by his riches and we don’t know how Lazarus fell upon such dire circumstances. But they illustrate that in our world there are people who prosper and others who suffer the adversity of poverty.

One thing we DO know from this parable is that death ended the prosperity of the Rich Man and the Adversity of Lazarus. Death was the great equalizer as the Rich Man left his wealth behind and Lazarus left his suffering.

One moment after death ushers you into eternity all injustice will cease and you will receive justice. LIFE IS NEVER FAIR BUT DEATH ALWAYS IS!

Eternity Brings JUSTICE.

II. Death Begins Eternity, V. 22-23

One thing you need to understand is that life is eternal. For the moment you were conceived you became an eternal being. You begin life in the womb floating around in amniotic fluid attached to your mother via an umbilical cord. That period lasts about nine months. Then you are born into the world and live in a new world in a new form for some 70 years or so. At the end of that phase of life – then what?

Someone has put it like this:

“If you are Christian, eternal life does not simply mean going to heaven for eternity. Eternal life means a never-dying spirit that has already sprung to life in you! In other words, eternal life starts NOW! Your life that lasts eternally in the next world is the same life that begins here in this one. When you die, only your body dies. Your spirit – your eternal spirit that is the essence – the deepest reality – of who you are – never stops existing. Never. You pass from one life into another one, with not a moment’s gap in existence.”

“It does a great disservice to Christian ideas when heaven is simply some abstract place after death where we sit on clouds playing the harp. No my friends, eternal life begins here on this earth when God’s Spirit breathes into our Spirits the breath of life and our spirits spring to life for the first time, suddenly capable of living without sin. At that moment they take on a completely different quality and kind of life. Plants are alive, but not in the way cats are. Cats are alive, but not in the way human beings are. Human beings without Christ are alive, but not in the way human beings with Christ are. There are different levels of life and when Christ comes into our lives, he gives us the best kind of life – one that starts at that moment and never ends!’

Jesus expressed this truth in the form of a story.


It is important to understand why Jesus told the story and what He wanted to communicate:

1) Eternal life had nothing to do with financial statue.
2) The purpose of earthly life is to prepare for eternal life.
3) The preparation we must make is spiritual preparation.

Passing through a country graveyard, a man was struck by the inscription on a tombstone. The stone was by the side of the path where everyone could see it. It had been placed there in memory of a young man who died at the age of seventeen. It was, "Reader, stop and think; I am in eternity! and you are on the brink."

Eternity Brings JOY! ETERNAL JOY - OR ETERNAL JEOPARDY!

III. Death Ends Opportunity, V. 26

Wow! This is tough! This is definitely NOT a happy ending for this Rich Man. His destination was not happy and his fate was sealed. He had an opportunity to prepare for eternity but that opportunity was now gone –FOREVER.

By the time Abraham broke that awful news to him it was too lake to do anything about it.

Now, here is the Rich Man facing the horrible realization that he is forever damned in the torment of hell. What could be worse than that?

Here’s what could be worse – realizing that you will be in hell for EVER and remembering ALL THE OPPORTUNITES you had to miss hell and make Heaven. Add eternal regret to eternal suffering!

This part of the story is heart-breaking. THINK ABOUT IT – your eternity never ends but your opportunity does! When your earthly life ends your opportunity to choose your eternity ends.

(NOAH AND THE ARK)

In his book, Thirteen Days to Glory, author Lon Tinkle tells about Colonel Jim Bowie and the brave defenders of the Alamo. That sacred Texas shrine had only 183 defenders against a huge army led by Santa Anna. On March 3, 1836, two hours before dusk, the Mexican guns quit firing. William Travis lined his men up in a single line inside the Alamo. He told them no reinforcements were coming and that their destiny was sealed. "Our doom is certain," Travis told the weary men. Travis then pulled his sword from its sheath and drew a line in the dirt floor in front of them and asked every man who was determined to stay in the Alamo and die to cross the line. Topley Holland was the first man across the line. Others quickly followed--Daniel Cloud, Micajah Utry, Davy Crockett. Colonel Jim Bowie was sick and unable to cross the line so he called for help and four men sprang to the side of his cot and lifted him over the line as the other men cheered. On March 6, the Alamo fell and the brave defenders within her walls died. They made the choice that counted most and the Republic of Texas was born out of their shed blood.

Eternity Is No JOKE!

LIFE IS REAL – AND SO IS DEATH! GOD EXPECTS US TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITIES OF LIFE TO PREPARE FOR DEATH.

In Jesus’ story one man did seize the opportunity and the other squandered it.

Meditate on this:
"He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' "Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' " 'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' "He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' " Luke 16:27-31

Let me ask you this – HOW CAN WE KNOW THIS TRUTH AND NOT FEEL A STRONG UGENCY TO GET RIGHT WITH GOD AND PLEAD WITH OTHERS TO DO THE SAME?
WHY DON”T YOU HAVE THIS URGENCY?




Saturday, September 25, 2010

September 25, 2010

"He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' "Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' " 'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' "He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' " Luke 16:17-31
What is there about human nature that has a tendency to get distracted from the truly urgent to the immediately important?
That is precisely what set the occasion for Jesus' teaching. While He was lecturing His disciples about proper priorities and values of His Kingdom, some religious teachers were eavesdropping so He turned the focus of the teaching on them.
Long ago the Jewish religious leaders had lost sight of what was most spiritually urgent for them to be teaching and living. Like many today, they were lured into a focus on power and wealth believing that those were the ultimate indication of God's blessing.
No wonder Jesus flipped the paradigm on them by having the poor beggar being the more spiritual and the Rich Man as evidenced by where they ended up in eternity. This concept rocked the world of these religious leaders.
Only when the Rich Man awoke in Hell did he finally develop an urgency about the eternal destination of others. Unfortunately, he had presumed that he was fine spiritually because of his wealth and his status as a Jew, one of God's chosen. That false belief caused his to spend his earthly life pursuing the wrong things - temporary material things. It turned out to be a fatal error.
Once his fate was sealed did he suddenly become concerned for the eternal spiritual condition of his loved ones. He called out for Father Abraham to intercede for them so they would not end up in the miserable destination he found himself. By the time he cared about the right things it was too late.
We would do well to hear the admonition Jesus is giving to these Jewish leaders. Like the Rich Man, we so easily get distracted by the temporary and lose sight of the eternal, for ourselves and for those we love.
How tragic to wait until it is too late to become urgent about eternal matters.
God, help us to live with eternity's values in mind! Holy Spirit, help stay focused on the things that matter while there is time to make a difference.
Are you sure you are ready for eternity? Have you prepared yourself to live forever in God's Kingdom? If you were to find yourself in eternity before the end of this day, would you see Lazarus or would you be with the Rich Man?
If you are certain of your eternal destiny, what are you doing to reach others?

Friday, September 24, 2010

September 24, 2010

"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side."
Every fairy tale ends the same way, ".....and they lived happily ever after."
The story that Jesus told was clearly not a fairy tale because one man did not have a happy "ever after". Not at all!
When it comes to the fairly tale we are never sure what the "ever after" is. After what?
However, in the case of Jesus' story it is clear that the "ever" comes "after" death. In the story both characters die and enter their "ever after" and one is happy but the other is not.
There are some lessons here that should be addressed.
II. Death Begins Eternity, V. 22-23


“If you are Christian, eternal life does not simply mean going to heaven for eternity. Eternal life means a never-dying spirit that has already sprung to life in you! In other words, eternal life starts NOW! Your life that lasts eternally in the next world is the same life that begins here in this one. When you die, only your body dies. Your spirit – your eternal spirit that is the essence – the deepest reality – of who you are – never stops existing. Never. You pass from one life into another one, with not a moment’s gap in existence.”

“It does a great disservice to Christian ideas when heaven is simply some abstract place after death where we sit on clouds playing the harp. No my friends, eternal life begins here on this earth when God’s Spirit breathes into our Spirits the breath of life and our spirits spring to life for the first time, suddenly capable of living without sin. At that moment they take on a completely different quality and kind of life. Plants are alive, but not in the way cats are. Cats are alive, but not in the way human beings are. Human beings without Christ are alive, but not in the way human beings with Christ are. There are different levels of life and when Christ comes into our lives, he gives us the best kind of life – one that starts at that moment and never ends!’
Both the Rich Man and Lazarus discovered the truth of this statement when each of them died and entered into eternity. One to a happy ever after and the other to a torment of agony and regret.
Life is eternal even though it changes forms. At the moment you were conceived you became an eternal being. First, you lived in the womb for nine months connected to your mother by a life-line called an umbilical cord. Then, you were born into this world of sight and sound and touch. This phase of your life lasts about 70 years or so. Your new life-line is relationships. Who you choose to love and follow will shape your "ever after". Those who choose to trust Jesus as their savior find Him to be their life-line. You don't want to die without a life-line. Finally, like the men in Jesus' story, your life will move into eternity and the destination will be determined by your choices made during your earthly journey.
Since you will exist forever it is undeniable that you are an "ever after" person! Yet to be determined is where that eternity will be spent. That decision rests with you. It is within your power to have a "happy ever after". But that decision must be made now, while you are in this phase of your life.
Jesus told this story for only one reason. He wants every to have a "happy ever after" like Lazarus. He warns us so we won't end up like the Rich Man.
Will you learn the lesson? Will you assure a "happy ever after"? Will you do it today?

Thursday, September 23, 2010

September 23, 2010

Every hour 5,417 go to meet their Maker. According to the CIA World Factbook, as of July, 2005, there were approximately 6,446,131,400 people on the planet, and the death rate was approximately 8.78 deaths per 1,000 people a year. According to our nifty desktop calculator, that works out to roughly 56,597,034 people leaving us every year. That's about a 155,000 a day.


Those are rather grim statistics but force us to face a fact of life - death. Everyone who reads this
has had someone very dear stolen from them by death. Since that is true you might find it helpful to understand what happens after the moment of death. That is what we are exploring this week as our series "Happily Ever After?" continues.
I. Death Ends Prosperity And Adversity, Vv. 19-25

"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' "But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony."

Would it come as a shock to you if I told you that life is not fair? I am pretty sure you have noticed. I like the way Jesus just addresses that head on. Some people have wealth and live in luxury and others suffer under extreme poverty and adversity. So it is in these two characters in the story Jesus told.

Jesus introduces the first character in His little story and he is a very rich person. There is nothing wrong with having wealth and we have no idea how he came by his riches. Perhaps he worked hard and was successful in business. Maybe he inherited it. Possibly he obtained it by illegal or illicit means. We don't know how he got it and for the purposes of this story it really doesn't matter. The point is he lived in luxury and had no need of anything. That was not a problem but his problem was his lack of compassion for people who did not have what they needed.
In contrast to this wealthy man was Lazarus, a man reduced to begging by his poverty and his miserable physical condition. Each day he struggled to place himself where the wealthy man would have to pass by him at least twice a day as he left and came home. Every day the rich man had two opportunities to lift some of the burden of this poor man's suffering. But, apparently, he never did a thing to help. Just as wee have no idea how the Rich Man came by his riches, we don’t know how Lazarus fell upon such dire circumstances. But they illustrate that in our world there are people who prosper and others who suffer the adversity of poverty.


One thing we DO know from this parable is that death ended the prosperity of the Rich Man and the Adversity of Lazarus. Death was the great equalizer as the Rich Man left his wealth behind and Lazarus left his suffering.
Eternity flipped everything. Lazarus, who had nothing in life suddenly had everything! The rich man who had never known want now needed everything. One moment after death eternity imposes justice. A moment after death ushers you into eternity all injustice will cease and you will receive justice.
Each of us have an "ever after". The crucial question is whether our "ever after" will be happy. While it is too late for the rich man and for Lazarus, it is not too late for you. You have the moment but you don't want to wait one moment too long.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

September 22, 2010

"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' "But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'" Luke 16:22-26




Keep in mind that Jesus told this story as a parable and parables are about illustrating truths and not revealing details. To build a theology of heaven or hell around this story would not be a solid approach to faith.




But, having said that, there are some principles and truths that can be learned from what Jesus told these religious leaders. It has some helpful insights for us. I want to highlight three of them in this post.
First, eternity is not a joke.
I am sure you have heard many jokes about Heaven and probably even more about hell. I guess it is human nature to laugh at what frightens us. But one of the truths that Jesus wants to communicate is the important fact of a heaven and a hell. While almost everyone believes there is a Heaven many of those same people deny the existence of hell. Wishful thinking does not lead us anywhere except hell. It takes eternal truth to lead to eternal life.
Heaven exists and it is a place of perfection because it is the presence of God. Wouldn't you like to spend your eternity in the presence of God? Jesus tells us that is a real option!
Hell exists and it is a place of punishment and pain because it is separated from God. Spending eternity being separated from God is almost unimaginable. It is a real option but it is one we should avoid at all costs and do our best to keep others from ending up there.
Second, eternity brings justice.
Maybe you have noticed that life is not fair. You know good people who suffer very bad things, unfair and unjust things. They spend their lives believing good and doing good and seemingly receiving only hard things - bad things. Perhaps that is you. Doesn't seem right does it?
Similarly you may have noticed that there are also people who are bad - maybe even evil - and yet everything seems to fall their way. They cheat and win. They cut corners and prosper. Their shortcuts seem to lead to success. All their shady efforts seem to be rewarded with sterling results. How can that be?
That is the story Jesus told. One man was ultra rich and lived in luxury and self-indulgence. We have no idea how he got his wealth. It could have been by virtue of hard work. That would be good. Maybe he inherited it. No problem with that! Or, perhaps he was corrupt and shrewd in the obtaining of his wealth. Regardless of how he got it. He hoarded it and lavished it upon his own desires while neglecting the obvious needs around him. Not fair? No, but real life!
And there was the other guy, Lazarus, who found himself in abject misery. Seemingly everything that could wrong for this fellow did. We have no idea if he was careless with his money and became poor. We don't know if he had a catastrophic event that drained his wealth or maybe he was just born poor and became even more destitute. All we know is that he needed help and didn't receive it from the rich man. Not fair? No, but it happens in real life.
BUT, then after each of them died - and that is real life - justice evened up the game. The rich man went to hell because of his love of money and his lack of love for the beggar. He mistook his wealth as God's seal of approval on his life-style and thought the poor man was cursed for being evil. This arrogant and presumtuous attitude cost him his eternity. Not, wealth was gone and he faced the eternal consequences of his spiritual poverty.
On the other hand, Lazarus who had nothing in life now had everything in eternity. All the injustices of life were suddenly replaced with the abundance of God. Everything he lacked in life, physically, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually was now given to him in extravagance!
Third, eternity brought joy.
For Lazarus, eternity brought complete joy for he landed in the place of God's presence! In the presence of God is fulness of joy! Jesus is there! The Spirit is there! The saints of all the ages are there! You can be there and so can I.
But there was no joy for the rich man because his arrogance and greed kept him separated from God. Hell, is eternal separation from God. Therefore, it is the absence of any vestige of goodness or grace or light or truth. It is complete darkness and absolute despair in the presence of the Devil and the doomed.
Heaven is a real place and hell is, too. They are places where eternal justice is meted out. One is a place of great joy while the other is just - well......HELL!
The good news is Heaven can be attained and hell can be avoided. The eternal destinies of these two characters were determined by the decisions made during life. You are still in the land of the living and have opportunity to choose a personal relationship with God through Christ and gain eternal life.
A happy ending is still possible for those who believe the story!

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

September 21, 2010

"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'" Luke 16:22-24
The drama continues but the scene changes as well as the scenery. Both the rich man and the beggar have died, their locations have changed and their roles have reversed.
From this insightful story we learn several significant facts about our eventual destiny:
1) Existence Is Eternal
When the beggar died he was carried by an angel into heaven. In this version of the story it was Abraham who was the central figure in heaven. I'm sure Jesus told the story this way because he was telling it to people devoted to Judaism and they revered Abraham. Also, this is prior to His own sacrificial death and resurrection which was an absolute game changer.
Later, the wealthy man passed and the news is not so good for him. He found himself in hell, still alive but extremely tormented. To add to his torment was the fact that he could look up into heaven and see what he had missed.
We believe that the Bible teaches that each of us exist for eternity. From the moment we are conceived and life begins we become eternal beings. The only question is where we will exist. And that is a HUGELY important question.
The nine months we spend in the womb is short compared to the length of our life after we are born. But what happens in that period is extremely important to how life happens after our birth.
In the same way, our earthly life is very short when compared to eternity, but the choices and commitments we make during that life-span is vital to where we will spend eternity.
This story that Jesus told tells us that existence is eternal. The fact that you exist is evidence that you are eternal.
Where will you spend your eternity? Will you live happily ever after?

Monday, September 20, 2010

September 20, 2010

"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores." Luke 16:19-21
If you causally or randomly read the New Testament you could conclude that Jesus doesn't like rich people. In several of His stories He makes them the bad guys and the poor people are the victims of these villainous wealthy folk. You might wonder if He would buy into our current culture of class envy where the people of means are being demonized and punished via tax laws and governmental policies.
Was Jesus promoting class envy? Did He have a grudge against the wealthy?
Let me remind you of an encounter he had with a young man identified only as "the rich young ruler". Jesus appealed to this young man to get his priorities in order and come follow Him. But in the end, the young man was more invested in his wealth than in his spiritual well-being. When he declined Jesus' offer and walked away the record shows that Jesus was very sad.
Also consider the fact that many of the early Patriarchs were extremely wealth people. Abraham was. Isaac was. Jacob was, for example.
Why would a God Who owns everything be envious of anyone with a large net worth? He's not. He cares very little about stuff. In Heaven, gold is used for paving! They fix potholes with it!
Consider who He is having a conversation with in this portion of Scripture. He is talking to greedy, self-righteous people who were trying to maintain an appearance of piety while looking for every angle to enrich themselves. In other words, they were hypocritical frauds. That is what bothered Jesus, not their riches but their poverty of spirit.
In addition to their hypocritcal hearts, Jesus despised the harm their greedy behavior inflicted on the poor.
Scroll up a few verses and you see the statement Jesus made regarding the responsibility of riches, "To whom much is given, much shall be required." Jesus isn't as interested in what you have as He is interested in what has you. If you are selfishly hoarding riches trying to create a heaven on earth while doing nothing to help relieve the hell of the poor, that is a problem. And that is the point.
Our founder, John Wesley, often said, "Make all you can, save all you can, and give all you can." Jesus would say, "Amen".
You can't buy your way into Heaven but you can spend your money and your time in a way that keeps you out. Invest all your heart, all your hopes, and all you have in Jesus. That is where real riches are found!

Sunday, September 19, 2010

September 19, 2010

“HAPPILY EVER AFTER?”

Week One – “Dead Certain” Hebrews 9:27-28

Well all love fairy tales. We enjoyed them growing up. We tell them to our children. All fairy tales end the same way – “and they all lived happily ever after”.

Is there a real life “happily ever after”?

If so, how does that happen?

Have you ever heard these humorous epitaphs?
1. “Here lies Anne Mann. Who lived an old maid, but died an old Mann.”
2. “Beneath this sod, a lump of clay lays Arabella Young; who on the 21st of May began to hold her tongue.”
3. “The children of Israel wanted bread, the Lord sent them Manna. Old Clark Wallace wanted a wife, the devil sent him Anna.”
4. Here lies Johnny Yeast- ‘Forgive me for not rising.’
5. “Here lies Butch, we planted him raw. He was quick on the trigger but slow on the draw.”
6. “Under the sod and under the trees, lies the body of Jonathan Peas. He’s not there, there’s only the pod. Peas shelled out and went to God.”These are all pretty funny but when we think about it seriously, what will your tombstone say?



I. DEATH IS A CERTAINTY, V. 27a
“It is appointed unto man once to die……”

Woody Allen’s once stated, "I don’t want to achieve immortality through my work," he said. "I want to achieve immortality by not dying."

Country Music Super-Star, Tim McGraw discovered at age 11 that his real father was the star major league pitcher, Tug McGraw, when he happened to get a glimpse of his birth certificate…..
He said I was in my early forties with a lot of life before me when a moment came that stopped me on a dime and I spent most of the next days looking at the x-rays Talking bout the options and talking bout sweet time I asked him when it sank in that this might really be the real end how's it hit you when you get that kinda news man what'd you do
I went sky diving - I went Rocky Mountain climbing
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named FuManchuand then I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter –
and I watched an eagle as it was flying –

He said I was finally the husband that most the time I wasn't and I became a friend a friend would like to have and all the sudden going fishin wasn't such an imposition and I went three times that year I lost my dad well I finally read the good book and I took a good long hard look at what I'd do if I could do it all again

I went sky diving - I went Rocky Mountain climbing
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named FuManchuand then I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter –
and I watched an eagle as it was flying –

Like tomorrow was a gift and you got eternity to think about what'd you do with it what did you do with it what did I do with it what would I do with it' -

I went sky diving - I went Rocky Mountain climbing
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named FuManchuand then I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter –
and I watched an eagle as it was flying –
and he said someday I hope you get the chance - to live like you were dying.- To live like you were dying - To live like you were dying- To live like you were dying - To live like you were dying

There are some very healthy and amazing things that can happen when you begin ordering your life in view of your morality. I think Jesus would agree with Tim McGraw – “LIVE LIKE YOUR ARE DYING” because you are – and you will.

II. DEATH IS A REALITY, V. 27
“…..and after that to face judgment…..”

Some nine year old children were asked what they thought of death and dying. Jim said, “When you die, they bury you in the ground and your souls goes to heaven, but your body can’t go to heaven because it’s too crowded up there already.” Judy said, “Only the good people go to heaven. The other people go where it’s hot all the time like in Florida.” John said, “Maybe I’ll die someday, but I hope I don’t die on my birthday because it’s no fun to celebrate your birthday if you’re dead.” Marsha commented, “When you die, you don’t have to do homework in heaven, unless your teacher is there too.”

A doctor called one of his patients into his office to deliver some very important news. "I have received the results of your tests and I have some bad news and some good news", said the doctor. The patient was quiet for a moment, sensing the severity of the announcement. "Let me have the good news first, doc", said the patient. The doctor took a deep breath and said, "You only have 24 hours to live." "Oh my goodness", shouted the patient, "If that’s the good news what could the bad news possibly be?" The doctor replied, "I was supposed to tell you yesterday."

FOUR IDEAS ABOUT DEATH:

1) Annihilation
2) Reincarnation
3) Soul Sleep
4) The Truth

The fact that there is a judgment that each of us must prepare for is a major game-changer. Since God is keeping a “permanent record” everything we do in life takes on more significance! Everything we do in life echoes in eternity!

III. LIFE IS A POSSIBILITY, Vv. 27-28
“Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”

Winston Churchill arranged his own funeral. There were stately hymns in St. Paul’s Cathedral and an impressive liturgy. But at the end of the service, Churchill had an unusual event planned. When they said the benediction, a bugler high in the dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral on one side played Taps, the universal signal that the day is over. There was a long pause. Then a bugler on the other side played Reveille, the military wake-up call.

When John Owen, the great Puritan, lay on his deathbed his secretary wrote (in his name) to a friend, "I am still in the land of the living." "Stop," said Owen. "Change that and say, I am yet in the land of the dying, but I hope soon to be in the land of the living."

An aged minister was lost on an unpaved, unmarked road in west Texas. He went to a farmhouse to inquire as to how he could reach his destination. A little freckle-faced boy gave the following directions: "Go right on down the big road for several miles. It is plenty sandy and rough. Sometimes you will bog down and get stuck, but keep going until you come to a graveyard. Go right through the graveyard and just on the other side you will come to a paved highway. Turn to the right and the place you are looking for is just around the corner. When you get to the paved road beyond the graveyard, your troubles will be over!"
The old minister thought as he rode along: "I am traveling down the rough road of life. Sometimes it seems that I almost bog down. After I travel life’s road for a few more miles, I will come to the graveyard, and then my troubles will be over, for God's highway and the heavenly home are just the other side of the cemetery!"



That is true because of the salvation provided by Jesus – the Son of God Who stepped out of eternity into time and put on flesh and blood. He willingly left the land of the living to come to the land of the dying and die! And though He was totally innocent and holy, He took our guilt and the penalty of our sin so we can live and so when we leave this life we can live forever with Him!

THE REASON THAT JESUS CAME – THE CENTRAL REASON FOR SALVATION, AND REDEMPTION, AND THE ATONEMENT – IS SO WE CAN HAVE A CHANCE TO CHOOSE A “HAPPY EVER AFTER”!

As believers, we take our ideas from the Bible and the Bible teaches that life begins at conception and never ends! It just changes forms………

“See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.” Deuteronomy 30:15


You have an “ever after”.

Only you can make your “ever after” a happy “ever after”

Will you?

September 18, 2010

"Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." Hebrews 9:27-28
Later today I will be sitting at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, VA with 66,238 of my closest friends. We will have several things in common. All of us love the Hokies and all of us have a date with death. (Some of us live and die with the Hokies, but that is a different story) And after we each did we will each face a judgment before God.
You might be saying, "Wow! Thanks for that depressing thought!"
I am simply echoing the truth recorded here in this portion of the Scriptures written by the author of Hebrews. When you back away from these couple of verses and look at the bigger picture of what is being said, it is actually good news - no, great news!
The purpose of Hebrews is to explain the advantages of the New Covenant over the Old Covenant. In the Old Covenant, the Law was central and you atoned for violations of the Law through the shedding of the blood of the sacrifices in the Temple by the priests. But the New Covenant was established by the grace of God through the shedding of Christ's blood on the cross. So, he is essentially asking this question, "Would you rather depend on the continual offering of sacrifices or would you rather just depend on the 'once and for all' sacrifice of Christ, God's Son?"
Good answer!
Trusting the sacrifice of Christ is not only a better way to live, it is a better way to die! Since everyone of us is going to die, would you rather die hoping that you have offered the right sacrifice or would you rather die KNOWING that Christ's sacrifice is sufficient for your salvation!?
Good answer!
After death come the judgment. Let me ask you again - would you rather face the judgment trusting in the blood of goats and bulls OR would you rather face the judgment knowing that Christ was offered for your sins and that He took your judgment for you?
Good answer!
So, let me summarize. What sounds like a blunt and cold statement of depressing news, at further examination is GREAT news! Knowing that you will die and that there is a judgment means you need to do something to prepare. And the something you should do is trust Jesus as your Savior and Lord because He died and He was judged for you! His death provided the means for you to be forgiven of your sins and freed from the penalty of judgment!
When he delivers this news he is saying, "God died and God was judged (in the person of Christ) so that you can face death and the judgment without fear or dread!
Will you? Have you put your faith in Christ and trusted Him for your salvation?

Thursday, September 16, 2010

September 17, 2010

"Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment" Hebrews 9:27

You are familiar with the old truism that only two things are for sure - death and taxes. I suppose if you are in a certain income bracket and can find enough deductions and a good accountant, you might possible avoid your tax liability. However, there is no way to escape dying.

With that in mind I want to share with you four mostly commonly held ideas within our culture.

1) Soul Sleep

2) Reincarnation

3) Annihilation

4) Heaven or Hell

Soul sleep is a position held primarily by members of the Seventh Day Adventists or the Jehovah's Witnesses.

The proponents of the soul sleep position have two premises. First, they hold that at death the soul does not leave the body; both soul and body sleep until the Day of Christ’s return. Second, they teach that the soul has no consciousness as it sleeps; it is aware of nothing. What is the basis for these two premises? They base their argument primarily on passages that speak of death as sleep (or unconsciousness) and passages that speak of bodies awakening on the Last Day.

Proponents of this view hang their position on three verses that refer to death as sleep, but the word used in the Greek for sleep is taken figuratively every other time it is used. The vast evidence of Scripture clearly implies that at death there is a separation of the soul and the body.

The death of Jesus illustrates that the soul departs the body at death. Ephesians seems to indicate that upon His death Jesus went to the lower regions since he died as a sinner and his body was sealed in a tomb guarded by Roman soldiers.

Reincarnation originates in Eastern religions and teaches that life recycles into another form until it finally is able to rid itself of bad karma and merge into nirvana with the cosmic consciousness. In Western thought, the soul is thought to evolve to a higher or lower life form based on how you behaved during this reincarnation.

The writer of Hebrews speaks directly to any notion of reincarnation when he states flatly "it is appointed unto man ONCE to die and after that the judgment"

I am not sure where the idea of annihilation comes from. We believe the Bible clearly teaches that once life begins at conception that life is eternal. Though it changes form from the womb to the world into eternity, it continues to exist. Our verse from Hebrews also suggests that life continues following physical death.

Without going too deep into the Bible I can think of the encounter Jesus had with his deceased friend, Lazarus in Bethany. Lazarus had already been departed from his body four days when Jesus came and raised him from the dead. If Lazarus had ceased to exist upon his death Jesus would have had to recreate him and not resurrect him. I also think of what happened on the Mount of Trnasfiguration where Peter, James and John saw both Elijah and Moses appear with Jesus. Both of them had been gone quite awhile before they appeared on the mountain with Jesus. If they had gone out of existence they would not have been able to appear there.

Overwhelming Scriptural evidence supports the idea that upon death the soul leaves the body and goes either to Heaven or to eternal torment in Hell. In the words of the classic board game, Monopoly, "go directly to eternity and don't pass 'go'".









September 16, 2010

"Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, " Hebrews 9:27



You wouldn't want this guy for your doctor. He walked into the examination room and told his patient, "I have some bad news for you and I also have some worse news. Which would you like to hear first?"
"Oh, my," said the patient, "I guess you can give me the bad news."
"Okay, then," responded the doctor, "I'm afraid you only have 24 hours to live."
"My, gosh!" cried the patient, "What could be worse than that news?"
"Well," the doctor hesitated, "I meant to call you yesterday."
Most of us live in dread of hearing those fateful words, "You are going to die." But it is a natural fact of life. You are born, you live and then you die. Everyone of us is facing the reality of death and the curious truth is the sooner you come to terms with your mortality the sooner you can enjoy living, and can begin to make your life count for eternity.
The writer of Hebrews wants to help you come to terms with the fact that you are mortal. And he does it by reminding you that you are eternal and how you live your mortal life has eternal significance. You are accountable to God and everything you do during your life has eternal consequences. The Psalmist wrote, "Lord, teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom."
So, the Bible's attitude toward death is, "Deal with it!" And you can take a fatalisitic attitude saying, "I will eat, drink and be merry before I die" or you can choose faith and make your life count for God.
Which will you choose? How will you live today? Will you make your time count for eternity?"

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

September 15, 2010

"Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." Hebrews 9:27-28
You have an "ever after". So do I.
God created you and designed you to live forever and you will. The time you spend in your flesh and blood and bone body is limited to seven or eight decades, but your spirit will live "ever after."
That begs the question, "Ever after what?"
Good question! Let's talk about that.
In our finite world of time, we are familiar with "after". "After" is the next thing to happen when the current thing transpires. We live in the world of "now" and "after". You look at your schedule now and look at the things you have scheduled after.
But the Scripture tells us that there is a day coming when we run out of "after" and move to the world of "ever". Then what?
How you answer the question of "ever" depends on what you do in the "after". For example, what will you do "after" you read this article? How will you respond to the truth expressed in the Scripture?
Here's my take on this "ever after" question.
Your "ever" is determined by what you do "after" you know the truth about Jesus. Once you are presented with the truth that you are a sinner and because your sin separates you from God, your "ever" does not look optimistic. If you continue trying to earn your own salvation you will be lost "ever after" you die. But, if you confess your sins and repent of your sinfulness and turn to Christ "after" you hear the truth of the Gospel, your "ever" suddenly becomes happy.
Your "ever' begins the moment "after" you are born, but your happy "ever" starts "after" you are born again! When God breathes the life of His Holy Spirit into your spirit you become spiritually alive and one with God through Christ. "Ever after" that decision, your whole world changes. You gain abundant life here and eternal life "after".
How does your "ever" look? What will you do "after" you know the truth                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              ?

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

September 14, 2010

"Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." Hebrews 9:27-28
Each of us have an "ever after". It is not just the stuff of fairy tales. But unlike fairy tales, a happy ever after is not a given.
Let me ask you, "How is your ever after looking?" Are you staring at a happy ever after or is it scaring the stuffings out of you?
Here's the really important thing about "ever" - it is never-ending. We are talking about eternity. You and I have a date with our "ever after". That is what these verses are telling you! You had best pay attention.
If you spend your "ever after" with Jesus in Heaven you will know a joy that is unimaginable. But, if you miss Heaven the only other destination is Hell and that, too will be unimaginable - unimaginable horror.
The good news is that you get to determine your "ever after" by the choices you make in your "here and now". It is within your power to determine your eternal destination. So, if you can determine your destination and choose Heaven or Hell, why wouldn't you? Who would choose to go to Hell?
From my experience working with people for many years, I would say that those who fail to choose Heaven do so because they fail to choose. By not making a clear commitment they revert to their default setting - sinfulness, separation from God and a very unhappy "ever after." I think they miss it by assuming they will have another opportunity to choose. Sometimes they do, but sometimes they don't. You can't afford to be wrong because you could be dead wrong.
Today is the best time to to assure that your "ever after" will be happy is RIGHT NOW. Christ was sacrificed for your sins. He paid the price for your forgiveness. He took your sin and your guilt upon Himself on the cross. He died as a sinner so that you don't have to! Why not receive His wonderful gift?
You don't have to wait until forever to be happy. Your "happy ever after" could begin today.

Monday, September 13, 2010

September 13, 2010

"Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." Hebrews 9:27-28


This week I will begin my Fall Sermon Series entitled "Happily Ever After".



Before I get into the series let me take a look at the title. I didn't just draw this out of a hat, there is significance to it and I want to focus on that.



Of course, you readily recognize that phrase from fairly tales. The heroes and heroines ALWAYS live "happily ever after". Well, good for them, but it is never clearly specified exactly WHERE they live this happy ever after.




In this series I want to discuss things of greater importance to you - your "ever after". Will it be happy?



What makes for a happy ever after? How would you define "happy"?



Let me take a wild guess here but I'm thinking that "happy" would have to include God in the equation. In my 60 years on planet earth I can't think of anything truly happy that didn't involve God. I'm not sure what your experience has been but from what I have seen, happiness = God.



Since God created you and me to need Him and since He placed a God-sized hole in the center of your being, how can you possibly be happy without God? That is true for your now and for your forever.



Here's another radical thought. Your "ever after" starts now. You are in your "ever after", so if it is going to be happy that happiness needs to be realized now. The fact that you have an "ever after" is not in question. What is at risk is where you will spend your "ever after" and will it be happy?



Happiness begins with a Person. You must fill the hole in your life by receiving Christ as your Savior and getting connected with God. There is no lasting happiness apart from God - period - case closed.



When you receive God you receive His Presence. The Bible says, "In His presence is fullness of joy".

And when you receive God's Presence you get His Peace. His Peace comes from His pardon. Recieving Christ erases your sins and your guilt. That results in peace.



You also begin to realize God's Purpose for your life when you receive God. Living with purpose adds to your happiness!



So, "Happily Ever After" begins with being happy and being happy begins with God for all the reasons I mentioned and many more!



How will the tale of your life