You just died - now do it right.

Introduction:

A preacher (Reggie) had a bout with death, recovered, but afterward soon died.

When he approached death at first, he said all his friends, especially family were on his mind.

He poured final words into them.

But then a point came, when they didn’t matter to him.

In those moments, it was just God, and the eternity before him.

We are not promised such a timeline, for many of us the moment of death will sneak up on us.

We are promised to meet the moment when all that matters is you and eternity.

Do it right?

Break every link that ties you to yourself(16.24)

Like Peter disowned (denied) Jesus three times (Matthew 26.34ff, 75).

Disown, disclaim

Matthew 10:37 ESV

Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

“Deny” and “Take” aorist - “Follow”

This depicts a man condemned to death, who regards his life already finished (Galatians 2.20).

Like Reggie

Give Jesus ownership of your life, all of it (16.25).

1 Corinthians 6:19 (ESV)

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

Believers act for Jesus’ sake.

Self-preservation is the most basic aspect of this life.

Drown a man who asks for it, and his reflexes will fight you.

We worry about income, housing, health insurance, and natural calamities.

We protect our feelings and how we are perceived.

So we control others with anger, passive aggression, tears.

We find enjoyment when others hit hard times, because it justifies our own hard times.

Discipleship is the hard process of replacing our desires with Jesus’ desires.

“If I do this I might lose everything.”

You very well may.

Matthew 10:16 ESV

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Remember, nothing else matters in life, nothing (16.26)

How much are your possessions worth if you are not there to enjoy them?

Matthew 6:19–21 ESV

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The world - the prizes of business and social life.

The disciple makes the same decision his Master made.

Matthew 4:8–9 ESV

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.”

Your gains in this life can’t buy you a place in eternity.

Remember, all of this will soon be over (16:27-28)

(The rope illustration)

Conclusion: