Almost Too Late

ALMOST TOO LATE—BUT SAVED

LUKE 23:32-43

IN THE GOSPEL OF LUKE WE ARE INTRODUCED TO A MAN WHO IS ALMOST LOST, BUT WHO WAS SAVED.  EVEN THOUGH ALL GOUR GOSPEL WRITERS RECORD THAT THERE WERE OTHERS WHO SHARED CHRIST’S HUMILIATION AND DEATH:

1.  ONLY LUKE REPORTED THAT ONE OF THOSE, IN THE LAST MINUTES OF LIFE, MADE LIFE’S GREATEST DISCOVERY.

2. THE DISCOVERY OF GOD’S FORGIVING GRACE.

3. THE DICORVERY OF ETERNAL LIFE

4.  ONLY LUKE WROTE ABOUT ONE MAN WHO WAS ALSMOST LOST, BUT WHO WAS SAVED.

I.  THE PREDICAMENT

            A.  THE THIEF ON THE CROSS WAS COMING TO THE END OF A WASTED LIFE.

            B.  WE DON’T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE CRIMES HE COMMITTED ….WE DO KNOW THA HE HAD THROWN AWAY HIS LIFE.

            C.  ALL OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR GOOD AND GOD ADDED UP TO NOTHING.

            D. THIS MAN WAS ABOUT TO DIE AND WHAT GOOD COULD HE POINT TO FOR ALL OF THE MINUTE, HOURS, DAYS, WEEKS, MONTHS AND YEARS GOD HAD GIVEN HIM.

            E. WHAT PERSON’S LIFE HAD BEEN BLESSED BECASUSE HE HAD TOUCHED IT.

            F.  WHAT SERVICE HAD HE RENDERED THAT WOULD BE A LASTING MEMORIAL TO HIM  AFTER HE WAS GONE..

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!! HE WAS IN A AWFUL PREDICAMENT OF COMING TO THE END OF HIS LIFE AND HAS NOTHING TO SHOW FOR IT.

1. Young people you do not have to do what this man in order to know the predicament of a wasted life.

2.  You do not have to throw your life away in lawlessness and crime

3.  SOME OF US HERE TONIGHT LIVES ARE IN A TERRIBLE PREDICAMENT….SIMPLY BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT MADE A DECISION TO ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST.

THE BIBLE SAYS THAT METHUSELAH LIVED 969 YEARS AND DONE NOTHING.  NO ACHIEVEMENT…NO SERVICE….NEVER BEEN TO CHURCH ETC…..

THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH….LBUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE.

II.  PLEA  VERSE 42.  REMEMBER ME………

1.  LORD I AM GUILTY REMEMBER ME..

III.  THE PROMISE:  VERSE 42 WHAT A GLORIOUS STATEMENT…LOOK AT ALL WHAT THE LORD PROMISE.

1.  PROMISED A FUTURE

2.  PROMISED HIM A GARDEN..PARADISE

3.  PROMISED HIM GLORIOUS FELLOWSHIP (WITH ME)

DO YOU HAVE THE ASSURANCE OF TOMORROW

DO YOU HAVE A GUARANTEE FROM GOD THAT HE WILL GIVE YOU ANOTHER DAY?

IT MAY WELL BE ALMOST TOO LATE, BUT YOU CAN BE SAVED RIGHT NOW.