The Good Ole Days

Scripture: Philippians 3:12-14

Introduction:

I. I have not arrived, so I press on

a. Paul is writing these words that demonstrate great spiritual maturity.

b. Going back to the good ole days.

In creation God said “it was good” 6 times and after creating man in Genesis 1:31 “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.”

God placed man in the garden of eden and provided everything they would ever need.

even then we see that God gave man the ability to choose Him with the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the garden.

God walked with Adam and Eve in the cool of day

Can you imagine Adam and Eve looking back on these days and the different emotions it would have

They went from living in this lush garden with all their needs met, to having to work the ground for food and experiencing pain, suffering, and ultimately death.

Today we have not attained the final prize, so press on!

II. The One thing I do know! v13

a. Paul says even though I don’t know it all. I have figured out this one thing.

i. Forget the things which are behind and reach for what lies ahead

ii. Many of us allow our past experiences both good and bad to distract us from what God has for us now and in the future!

b. 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

i. When I became new in Christ my desires changed, the way I walked and talked changed, who I represented changed.

ii. If your sitting here today and you have things in your past that continue to weigh on you remember God said I am doing a new work in you!

c.

III. The prize for answering the high call v14

a. Friends listen to me when I say that it is a high calling to be called of God.

b. How many times do we take great pride in titles and positions we attain in our lives?

c. There is no greater calling than that of a child of God

i. He instructed us to be salt and light in this world, to go and tell others, to baptize, to disciple, to love!

d. 1 Peter 1:3–4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,”

e. Those good ole days that came to mind earlier in the message. Those that put a smile on your face....

i. As believers of the one Jesus Christ there will come a day that I will not long for those days.

ii. When we find ourselves walking in the presence of God we will not long for the Good ole days anymore because what God has promised us so better than anything we could ever experience on this fallen planet.

ii. Philippians 3:20 “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:”

f. Anyone else looking forward to our Lords return?

i. There's an old saying that if you saved this is as bad as it will ever be, but if not this is the best it will ever be.

g. Romans 8:18 “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

i. Friends it worth having an awkward conversation with someone to share Jesus with them.

ii. Its ok to get out of your comfort zone and risk embarrassment to share Jesus with someone.

iii. Its worth every snicker, negative comment, and dirty look you may receive to tell someone that Jesus loves them.

iv. I can’t help but think about the disciples and the horrific deaths they all experienced. But I’m confident that each would say “it was worth it all”

v. The troubles we have for God here is nothing in comparison in the reward we receive in glory.

IV. Closing

a. Heaven and hell are as real as the people sitting next to you are.

b. John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

i. To experience heaven there is one way.

ii. to experience hell there are many ways

a. Matthew 7:13–14 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

c. Many today are being lead astray. falling victim to the lies of satan

d. Philippians 3:12–14 “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

e. For those who have put their trust in Jesus there is coming a day that we will not long for the best times on this earth.

f. Look at what God is going to do at the appointed time...

c. Revelation 21:4–8 “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said [b]to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.  He who overcomes [d]shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, [e]unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death

Today will you choose Jesus? He will make all things new