Adapted from Church of the Highlands series Legacy 2013

Yearly Checkup 2017

[HAVE YOU EVER] felt like time has just flown by? - Of course you have!

I look at photos of my kids and I wonder where has the time gone?

Those moments when they were so small - I’ll never have that back!

I’m so thankful that at many points in time, I was made aware that this is a moment to remember. Stop and take it in

[STORY] - One random day, I was walking the neighborhood with Jackson.

He was 3 years old. Wild curly hair. Strutting his stuff.

Something told me, remember this time. Take in every second.

I’m so thankful for that moment, there. I wish I had done more of that!

[PAYOFF] - Here we are, on the very last day of 2017.

There must be many things that you wish you have done this year.

Things you said you would do, or would stop doing (bad habits)

[ASK] - Do you think it will be that way at the end of your life?… as you stand before the throne (judgement)?

[POINT] - Might there be things you will wish you could go back and do or undo?

LET TODAY BE THAT DAY!

This is your checkup! How are you doing in these things?

[TRANSITION] - One of my pastors said this...

The value of your life isn’t determined by how much you accomplish or gain, but by how much of yourself you give away.

You’ll discover it’s fulfilling, then you’ll discover God likes it.

Before you find Christ, the goal of life is to find Christ,

Then after you find Christ, the goal of life is to about this single goal: how can I leverage my life… even my failures.

It’s all good

[SAY IT WITH ME] - It’s all good!

Everything in your life, the good, the bad, and the ugly can all be used for good!

Romans 8:28 NIV

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

“Complaining is wasting your trial” – Phil Pringle

“Frustration is a waste of energy” – someone

[ILLUSTRATION] In the Bible, there’s a guy called Joseph. His brothers sold him into slavery… then a whole series of bad events played out in his life.

Later he rose to be governor or all of Egypt.

A famine came and his family came for help…

Genesis 50:20 NIV

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

His attitude was, if that hadn’t happened to me, we wouldn’t be here now…

o I want to see life this way. The good, the bad, and the ugly!

[PAYOFF] - I want to see life this way. The good, the bad, and the ugly!

Every part of you can be leveraged to make a difference.

You must see yourself this way. In fact, this is how God sees you!

[PAYOFF] - So much so that one-day we will stand before Him and will be asked 2 questions…

The big test

What did you do with Jesus?

WRONG answer:

I went to church

I sang songs about him

I gave money, I volunteered….

RIGHT answer:

I met your Son

I knew your Son

I love Him!

[STORY] – As a child, always thinking of God… As a teen, wanting to experience God… (My mentors) I sat with Damon T., he told me “just go there…” … I sat with Fergus M., he told me “just go there…”

Matthew 7:21–23 NIV

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

The greatest message of this church is RELATIONSHIP, not RELIGION

[TRANSITION] - This first judgement is known as the great white throne judgment

The Bible also speak of another judgment – a rewards judgment…

What did you do with what I gave you?

2 Corinthians 5:10 NIV

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

Romans 14:10 NIV

You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.

Romans 14:12 NIV

So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

Romans

Matthew 16:27 NIV

For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

We think of this judgment as a scary/bad thing - But there will be a celebration!

[LISTEN TO ME] - It’s OKAY to celebrate the things you have done - because it’s not about you!

It was Christ in you!

This judgement will be like a party!

Revelation 22:12 NKJV

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.

The work of CHRIST!

[TRANSITION] - We must “get” this!

If we don’t, the work He entrusted us to do, will not get done!

Jesus told parables about this life…

Here’s one of them…

The gifts

Matthew 25:14–27 NIV

“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

“settle accounts”… this is the judgement

“hard”… Your view of the master determines how you live

Take Away

Let’s live our lives giving our lives away!

Luke 6:38 The Message

Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.”

There is a right way to live. The example was given to us by Jesus.

If we live this way, we’ll pass the “test!”

Let’s live our lives giving our lives away!

I believe we will have fewer moments of regret - I wish I could go back, if we take time each year to examine how we are doing (the Yearly Checkup)

How are you doing with these two questions?

Let’s pray...