Seeing What You've Missed
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Introduction
Introduction
And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the LORD shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan, And all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the utmost sea, And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar. And the LORD said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither.
So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day. And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.
I remember many years ago, when Nicole and I were dating, I had an old Ford Explorer, and I just about went broke driving all over Surry county just to see her every night. I didn’t care if I got off work at 10PM, I would always go up to her house and see her for a little bit before I went home for the night.
One night in particular, I stayed too late, and I remember driving on I-74 going home, probably about 1AM, I was tired, sleepy, and really had no business driving, but I had to get home.
So, I’m driving, and I see someone driving toward me, they are driving the wrong way, coming toward me in the left lane, I’m in the right. I flashed my lights, honked the horn, and got around them and called 911 to let them know someone was driving West in the Eastbound lane.
I got home, went to bed, and didn’t give anymore thought to it. I think it was a day or two later, I’m at work, and I was looking at the newspaper, and (it still gives me chills, ya’ll) Based on estimated time I read in the paper that day, only a minute or two after I saw that person driving the wrong way on the interstate, they hit a man head-on who was asleep, and the crash killed both the older woman driving the wrong way and the man who had fallen asleep.
It was a sobering experience to see how close to eternity I was that morning…And I told you that story to say that I had the privilege of seeing what I missed that night...
Moses, in our text this morning was allowed to see what he missed. Sometimes it’s good to see what you missed, other times, it’s heartbreaking, but in our Bibles, there are people who saw what they missed, and I want to preach a while this morning on the thought of “Seeing What You’ve Missed.”
Moses Saw What He Missed
Moses Saw What He Missed
He missed the promised land...
And the LORD said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither.
When Moses struck the rock in anger, years before this, God had told him in Numbers 20, he would not enter the land.
Now the time came for him to leave his people and he died well! He gathered the nation together, and with the help of the elders and leaders of the Tribes, delivered the great sermons on holy living that make up the Book of Deuteronomy.
When we come to Chapter 29, we come to the end of the line for the man who talked face to face with God. And he did not sit down and weep or whine. He preached his best sermon (29–30), appointed his successor (31:1–8), sang his last song (32), blessed the people (33) and went up on Nebo to see the land and die.
Moses saw what he missed. God showed him the Promised Land, but wouldn’t allow him to enter because of his disobedience.
I believe Moses missed the best because of his disobedience, and I wonder this morning who here is missing the best God has for your life because you are being disobedient?
Maybe you are experiencing some benefits from God, Moses certainly did also, but are you missing out on the blessings God wants you to have?
I just wonder this morning what all God would do through us if we were just obedient to His Word, what would you and I see if God took us and showed us what we could have had, if we hadn’t disobeyed Him.
Moses saw what he missed...
The Rich Man Saw What He Missed
The Rich Man Saw What He Missed
He missed Heaven...
There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
The rich man had all this world could offer; he had no worries, money was no object to him, he could buy whatever he wanted; he had a comfortable life, but the Bible says when he died, “…in hell he life up his eyes, being in torments,”
He prayed “have mercy on me” but it was too late to pray then!
There was a great gulf fixed between where he was and where Paradise was and there was no crossing!
He had missed the greatest thing in life - salvation - It was too late; his destiny was fixed!
The rich man saw too late, what he missed in life!
Lazarus Saw What He Missed
Lazarus Saw What He Missed
He missed the pain and torment of hell...
And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
Unlike the rich man, Lazarus had made preparations for death while he was living on this earth…He knew that the wages of sin was death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord…He knew that it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment!
He knew and he was prepared!
Lazarus had a peace to know he would be carried and not buried…He saw what he missed!
Let me ask you today…Have you made preparation for death? It’s foolish not to prepare while you have time!
Where will you spend eternity? Heaven or Hell?
Lazarus saw what he missed, but oh my, what a difference between he and the rich man!
The Carnal Christian Will See What They Missed
The Carnal Christian Will See What They Missed
They will see that they did not please God...
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
The Bible says, concerning the carnal Christian, that is a Christian who is still influenced by their sinful nature. Carnality in a Christian life can manifest itself in a number of ways, such as giving in to temptation, living a double life, or not being fully committed to their faith.
The Bible tells us that these folks, their works will be burned and they will suffer loss, although not a loss of salvation, but a loss of rewards.
Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
Carnal Christians will have great regret on judgment day because they will see what they missed out on by not being full commited to Christ!
They will not hear the words “well done” - They will not have confidence, but they will be ashamed...
And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
The Carnal Christian will see what they missed, and last of all this morning...
The Sinner Will See What They Missed
The Sinner Will See What They Missed
They will see they have missed Heaven...
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Why do people miss Heaven? Verse 11 says “there was found no place for them.”
They were not born again...
John 3:3 (KJV)
...Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
One birth (physical) will guarantee two deaths, but two births (physical and spiritual). guarantees no second death...
They’re nature has never been changed...
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
They aren’t believer, they are unbelievers.
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Their name was not in the book of Life...
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
You must make a reservation! If there’s no name in the book, there’s no place for you in Heaven!
The sinner will one day see what they’ve missed!
Conclusion
Conclusion
Seeing what you’ve missed!
Dear Christian, don’t lose your reward and be ashamed!
Dear Sinner, don’t lose your soul!
One day you will see what you’ve missed, save or lost, right or wrong…We will all see what we’ve missed.