It's a Sure Thing

It’s A Sure Thing...

II. Rev. 21:1-2

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.

2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

The Truth of Christ’s Return Gives Us:

A. Motivation: I Thess. 1:8-10

8 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. 9 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,

10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

B. Warning: II Thess. 2:1-4

1 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers,

2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.

3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,

4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

C. Urgency: Jude 1:20-23

20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,

21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.

22 And have mercy on those who doubt;

23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

D. Hope: Rev.21:1-8

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.

2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place[a] of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.

7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

IV. Conclusion

Quote...”Some wish to reside within the sound of a chapel bell...I wish to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell....” C.T. Studd

To live within the sound of church or chapel bell was not enough for Charles Thomas (C.T.) Studd, (1860-1931), an English missionary to China, India, and Africa.

C. T. Studd was born into privilege and wealth, but God had other plans for his life. His father, Edward, was converted after hearing the famous American evangelist Dwight L. Moody speak.

Then subsequently, C. T. and his brothers were also converted.

But, 6 years after C. T.’s conversion, he realized that his commitment to the Lord was lacking and he decided to give everything up, and seek God’s will.

He wisely said, "I know that cricket would not last, and honour would not last, and nothing in this world

would last, but it was worthwhile living for the world to come."

The Gospel message is the sound that we should want to hear, more than the sound of church bells, because it’s the Gospel that transforms and saves lives.

And in response to what Jesus Christ has done, we are motivated to live for Him, volunteer at our church, and serve with ministries and organizations; that are passionate about saving souls and discipleship.

How many people are content to live within the sound of church or chapel bell, but never step foot inside of a church to hear the Gospel message.

Or, how many are content to live within the sound of church bells and attend, but never take the Gospel to heart or share Jesus Christ with others.

They haven’t counted the cost of discipleship, but C. T. Studd did and he chose a life of hardship and sacrifice, because of His commitment to Jesus Christ.

And when others questioned him about the decisions he was making for the sake of the Gospel, he could only reply with this quote:

“If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.” –C. T. Studd

Although salvation through Jesus Christ is a free gift from God given to us by grace (Ephesians 2:8-9), it was not without cost to Him.

To be a disciple of Jesus Christ, a person must realize the cost of His sacrifice and respond with a commitment to follow Him wholeheartedly; without reservation and whatever the cost.

We should also want more than to live within the sound of church bells, and be actively involved in helping to fulfill Jesus’ “Great Commission”.

To do so we have to daily surrender ourselves to Him. As a result, we give up our own way of living and submit to His will and rule in our lives.

Romans 12:1 says, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice--the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.” (NLT)

Mark 8:34-37 says, “Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said;If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” (NLT)

Great missionaries like C. T. Studd, Hudson Taylor, Jim Elliot and so many more were not content to merely live within the sound of church bells.

They gave their lives, and left their homes and families, to be used by the Lord to spread the Gospel.

We also shouldn’t be content to just live within the sound of church bells.

We, like them, should be passionate about spreading the Gospel; and endure hardship and danger if necessary, so people would be rescued from going to hell.

If we can’t, then we should at least support the work of missionaries prayerfully and financially.

As Christians, we can follow in the steps of these great men of faith, by surrendering our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ, seeking His will, and living by faith and trusting in Him.

John 12:24-26 says, “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives.

25 Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.

26 Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.” (NLT)

This famous quote from the poem, “Only One Life, Twill Soon Be Past” by C.T Studd, is a sober reminder of the brevity of life and that only what’s done for Christ has eternal value.

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last. –C. T. Studd

-PRAY