Why Not Now?

Psalm 15 / Luke 12:13-21

Rich in Possessions

Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

Matthew 19:22 “When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”

1 Timothy 6:10 “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”

Material wealth (money and possessions) is not evil of itself, but is a common idol for people across the ages. It will all burn in the end, and is worthless in comparison to eternal things, namely being saved and secure in Christ Jesus.

Robes and Crowns

2 Timothy 4:8 “Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”

Revelation 19:7–8 “Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8 it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.”

crown of righteousness

righteous deeds…

Ephesians 2:8–10 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

FOR good works. IN ORDER THAT YOU WOULD DO good works… Your soul salvation is about much more than your being rescued from Hell!

You were created and saved FOR THE PURPOSE OF committing righteous acts. Why are we not doing them now?

Don’t treat the miracle of the rebirth as if it were merely the answer to getting you out of a jam once you became afraid of eternal punishment.

If I read my Bible as being all consistent, before the foundation of the world you were planned, to include a Savior Jesus to rescue you, so that in time you trust in Jesus to be saved, commit righteous acts, and until your dying day be more and more conformed to the image of Christ Jesus.

Turning back to the text, knowing that your days are numbered, but not known to you, what are you doing now? Is it those righteous deeds for which Jesus bled and died that you would do?

The rich man in the text was assured in his wealth.

Many are assured in their experience.

I say, be assured in Christ!

2 Peter 1:10–11 “Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

2 Peter 1:5–7 “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.”

So, Why Not Now?

Are you spending your days seeking peace or conflict?

Are you returning good for evil?

Are you trusting in Jesus by living your life according to God’s laws?

Are you spending prayerful time in The Word?

Are you compelling your friends, neighbors, coworkers to Christ? To visiting with the church?

You can’t make a horse drink, but you can lead it to water

Church family, let us consider the lives we ought to be living and ask ourselves, why not now? Since we do not know the day of our departing, let us be about the Lord’s business now! He saved us for righteous living. He equipped us with The Word. He stand ready now to empower us in the doing!

Being Rich Toward God

Luke 12:32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

Matthew 13:45–46 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”

Matthew 16:26 “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”

Being rich toward God means being saved.

So, to those who can hear my voice today, who have been awakened to your sin, your guilt, your need of a savior, I ask you: Why not now?

Believe what the Bible says about what Jesus said and did.

Believe that it is enough; Jesus paid it all!

Believe that Jesus lived, died, and resurrected for YOU!

and you will be rich toward God.