Two Sides of the Fence
Notes
Transcript
I hope that everyone had a great 4th of July. We got to celebrate the independence that we have, the ways that God has blessed us as a nation, and hopefully, we spent some time in prayer for our nation, that revival would come and that we would place our hope back in the God who created us, instead of politicians and policies.
I am proud to be an American. I am grateful to be in a nation that so many others want to live in. That they are willing to sit on long waitlists to be able to immigrate, or even sneak in because the wait is too long. That wasn’t a political statement. It’s a statement that people want what we have so much that they are wiling to do everything that it takes to come into this land, they are willing to give up their lives and their lifestyles to come here.
This is a treasure worth so much.
Sometimes, we get caught up so much on treasures of this earth, that we forget the treasure that is too come. The treasure that we get a taste of now, but the fulness later on.
The Kingdom of Heaven. Why do we forget this so much? Well, because the world and the enemy wants us to forget it.
We live in a world of uncertainty about the future, especially about the future after death. The majority of the world believes that you cannot know what will happen after death.
However, Jesus, the son of God, entered the world as the one who is in control of life and death and brought confidence and assurance of that future.
He traveled around Israel preaching:
From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
He offered and is still offering the Kingdom of Heaven as an assured reality to everyone who comes near, telling them to flee from the Kingdom of Darkness.
Around the world, people know what America is and they flock to it like a treasure. And Jesus offers such a greater treasure.
Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”
He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
“As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
“Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
“Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.
“Yes,” they replied.
He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”
Today, we are going to talk about the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of Darkness, and then we are going to ask you to make a decision today.
Before we dive in, will you pray with me?
1. The Kingdom of Heaven
1. The Kingdom of Heaven
Let’s start with the Kingdom of Heaven.
A. The Treasure
A. The Treasure
The Kingdom of Heaven is a treasure. A treasure to be found. Jesus talks about a priceless treasure, a pearl of great value.
Think about it. Eternity in a place that can only be described as paradise. A place where God himself dwells. And since God is perfect and can have nothing imperfect around him, this place is going to be perfect. As I like to remind people when I officiate funerals:
Those who turn from their sins and trust in Christ are promised to live eternally on this earth again, but this earth won’t have anything out of place, there won’t be any decay, there won’t be any sin, there won’t be any sickness, there won’t be any wars, or arguments. We will have an uninterrupted fellowship with God and each other.
I so look forward to that time. Standing with my grand parents, my cousin, my best friend, and seeing Jesus, living forever in a place where we will be completely satisfied, doing what we were uniquely created to do.
That will be glory. That is a treasure.
But there is more. Because the treasure isn’t just in the future. The life that Christ offers isn’t just then, but it is now.
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
We have peace with God now. We have a relationship with God now. And we have all the blessings that come from that relationship now. Peace, joy, hope, Love, fulfillment, courage, confidence, wisdom, direction, purpose. All these things that Christ offers through the Kingdom of Heaven. It truly is a Treasure that so many people pass by.
B. The Sower
B. The Sower
Let’s talk about the Sower of the Kingdom.
There is only one person that offers access to the Kingdom of Heaven.
Jesus tells a parable about a man who sows a field, but someone else comes and sows weeds among the crop. This is before herbicide.
Jesus explains the parable at the beginning of our text:
He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one,
Jesus is the one sowing the good seed.
There are many people who say: “Hey! People can get to paradise, the kingdom that we yearn for, through so many ways: Islam, Hinduism, paganism, being a nice person, doing religious stuff. This is the path that I choose and hopefully it will get me there.”
But, Jesus is the only way.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
He is the one who brings the seeds.
In the parable, there are only two sowers: Jesus and the enemy. We are either following Jesus or we are following the enemy.
Jesus is the one who gives access to the Kingdom.
C. The Citizen
C. The Citizen
So, we have seen the treasure of the kingdom, the sower of the kingdom. Now, let’s look at the citizen of the kingdom.
In the first parable, we read a description of the citizens of the Kingdom:
Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.
They are called righteous. But how are they called righteous? We know that everyone who is ever born is a sinner, which is why we need Jesus, left in our sin, we are separated from God forever. There is nothing we can do about it.
So, what brought people over from being in the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of heaven?
Jesus tells two parables,
The first is about someone who is not looking for the kingdom of Heaven:
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
He is not looking for anything. He is just walking around and stubs his toe on the wealth of the world.
The second parable is someone who is looking, searching for more meaning in life.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
As he compares all of the religions of the world, honestly looking and assessing, he realizes the treasure of Jesus Christ and drops everything for him.
There are many people who discover the Kingdom of Heaven, whether they are actively seeking truth or whether they are stumbling through life. They discover the kingdom and they realize that is is holding what they have been longing for.
And they grab a hold of it and hold on.
Both of the men in these parables found the treasure of the Kingdom of Heaven and they sold everything to acquire it.
When we realize that Jesus came to earth and died on the cross for our sins that whoever believes in him will not perish but will have eternal life. That this is a free gift for everyone who just reaches out and takes it, we will give up everything: we will give up our false religions, we’ll give up our pet sins, we’ll give up our priorities and our pride. We’ll say: I am a sinner and I need you, Jesus, save me.
And he will and he places in our hands the Kingdom of Heaven.
What a gift.
The majority of the world won’t take the gift though, because they are not willing to give up. So, they are stuck in the kingdom of darkness.
2. The Kingdom of Darkness
2. The Kingdom of Darkness
I would much rather end this sermon with the Kingdom of Heaven, but Jesus ended his parables with the Kingdom of Darkness, so I need to as well.
A. The Fire
A. The Fire
The Kingdom of Heaven is known for it’s treasure that it offers. The Kingdom of Darkness is know for the fire.
“As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The Bible teaches the presence of a literal lake of fire which was prepared for the devil and his demons, and for all those who serve the devil his demons. Anyone who does not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven will be thrown into this lake of fire for all eternity.
Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
This place is not a place of jokes. It is not a place of pleasure. Jesus describes it as a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth.
I remember a coworker of mine at McDonalds, who laughed and said that she was going to hell in a handbasket and was going to have a party with the devil. So flippant. But, so many people have this perspective.
The worse part is not the fire, but the separation from God, the giver of life, joy, love, peace. Complete separation from God means an utter lack of joy, peace, love, hope, and so many other things that we long for. Complete, utter lack for all eternity.
B. The Enemy
B. The Enemy
The Kingdom of Darkness is run by the enemy, who is trying to keep people away from the Kingdom of Heaven.
Jesus tells about him:
The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
“Satan is a fallen angelic being who opposes God and seeks to frustrate his plans and lead his people into rebellion.”
We see this as he creates chaos among the people of the Kingdom by scattering people opposed to the Kingdom into their midst. He is the deceiver.
Paul writes of him and his servants:
For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
He spreads lies to everyone who hears that the path they are on is okay. Their faith is okay. Their sins are okay. They don’t need Jesus, because everything will be okay.
But, everything is not okay. Those who follow the enemy into the kingdom of darkness are doomed.
C. The Doomed
C. The Doomed
Jesus tells us about them:
“As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
And again:
This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
There is an end result to those who refuse to enter the Kingdom of Heaven but live in the Kingdom of Darkness, the end result is that lake of fire.
This is the result of those who refuse to turn to Jesus in this life.
There are some who might say: I’ll be fine. Someday, at the end of time, whether it is when I die or after, I’ll realize the truth and I will then turn to Jesus. However, there is no second chance after death.
Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,
Once we die, we will be before the judgement seat of God and will be judged based upon whether we turned to Jesus in this life or not.
But, what if Jesus comes before death, once I see him for who he is then I will turn to him!
That’s not the case.
They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
After the fire is the judgement seat scene that we read about earlier. Those consumed and everyone else will stand before the judgement seat. There will be no time to say: Oh, yeah! I should have followed Jesus! No second chances on that day.
Those in the kingdom of darkness are doomed.
3. The Choice
3. The Choice
That day is not here yet.
We are still in the day. Darkness has not come yet. People are able to choose Jesus.
A. Will You Accept?
A. Will You Accept?
Paul writes:
For he says,
“In the time of my favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.”
I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
Every time I preach, no matter where it is, I am painfully aware that people are listening who are not followers of Jesus Christ. They are in the Kingdom of Darkness, having been sown there by the Devil. And I know that the end of time has not occurred so these people could make the choice to turn from darkness to light. If they would but do it.
I urge you, if you are one of those who has never made the decision to trust Jesus as your savior, make the decision today. Even if you have to get up right now and stop us from taking communion, so we can talk, we will wait for you. Or if you want to take my hand before the fellowship meal, do it. We’ll talk and pray. Don’t let today go by, because the end is coming. The Kingdom of Darkness is approaching to seal the deal.
Will you accept Jesus?
B. Will You Share?
B. Will You Share?
If you have accepted Jesus, you know the amazing treasure that we have. Will you share it? There are many who are seeking, and you hold the prized possession. Don’t hide it! Hold it up so that the light can glint off of it.
There are many who are not seeking, but you have the ability to place it in their path so that they will stumble across the chest. Do it! Don’t shirk back from it. Even if they stub their shins and curse you. Make them away of the treasure and let God work on their heart and bring true healing.
Pick someone this week who you can share about the treasure of the Kingdom of Heaven, pray about it, tell someone else so that you will be held accountable, and do it.
