INTRO:  It always intrigues me when we get to the end of the year how the media will give us its evaluation and expectations for famous people. 

• Time Magazine and Newsweek will name their man of the year
• Sports Illustrated will name their sportsman of the year
• And the hosts of the Academy awards will announce the much coveted Oscar Winners

But not many people remember who last years man of the year was or the Superbowls MVP was. 

The Superstars of this world soon become shooting stars, they burst on the pages of magazines and the screens of movie theatres and TV sets, but soon burn out and are forgotten.

            In Daniel 12:3 we read of stars that will not burn out but which will shine forever.  These true stars which will shine forever and ever are not Academy Award Winners but soul winners.

            Augie is one such person that Daniel is speaking of, he will shine forever and ever because he turned many to righteousness.  There is a special place and status for those in eternity who win souls.

I.       Brother Ojeda served the Lord wholeheartedly.

A.   Augie and Soccoro were married 30 years before they came to Jesus.

(ILLUS) Soccoro first started going to church and received Christ, then about 3 weeks later on a Sunday morning when Soccoro was getting ready to leave for church Augie said, “Wait a minute.”  Socorro said “what is it.”  Augie replied, “I want to go with you this morning.”  

(ILLUS) Augie became sort of the talk of the town because of his former reputation and the transformation that took place in his life through Christ.  In fact some of those who knew him started following him to church because they couldn’t believe the change that had taken place in his life. 

B.   But it didn’t stop there, Augie then began ministry to others.

In fact he not only began ministry to others, but he ministered the gospel to those who were incarcerated in prison and in jails. 

Many people would think that those behind bars are just not that important, why waste your time.  But Jesus had a very different attitude towards them.  Listen to the words of Jesus on the final judgment.

Matthew 25:34-40

34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

Those incarcerated are some of the most important people in Jesus’ eyes and Augie displayed the heart of Christ by bringing the good news of salvation to them.

II.    Augie was a wise man.

His family and his friends could testify to that.

A.   But Augie gained real wisdom from the Bible.

He loved to study the Word of God.  IN fact I was impressed at his choice of authors.  One of his favorite Bible commentators was James Montgomery Boice.  James Montgomery Boice is a deep and profound Bible commentator and Augie loved to study with his works, especially in the book of Romans.  He was serious about his Bible study and God blessed him with abundant wisdom. 

1.     He looked forward to coming to church and hearing God’s Word.

2.     He looked forward to attending the home Bible Study they were involved in.

B.   Augie was a wise man because he didn’t waste his time with the Lord.

He used much of his time turning people to the Lord. 

Proverbs 11:30  The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,  And he who wins souls is wise.

(ILLUS) Augie would spend the week studying the scriptures in order to go into the prisons and preach all day on Saturdays- eight hours preaching to those incarcerated. 

He could have been doing many other things with his time- he could have spent his Saturdays doing yard work, he could have spent his Saturdays boating or playing golf, he could have spent  his Saturdays watching sports or doing a number of other things. 

Augie was wise because he wasted his time doing the Lord’s will and work. 

We are all given a certain amount of time on earth and we don’t know when that time will expire for us.  It could be today, tomorrow, a year from now, 5 years, 10 years, 20 or 30 years but it will expire. 

One thing I’ve come to realize about time is you can’t get it back, you can’t recoup it once it’s gone.

If your saving account dwindles you can replenish it, if your car gets stolen you can get another one, if your living quarters burns down you can rebuild it, but once time is gone it’s gone…

Augie was wise because he won souls meaning he would lead them back to God. 

C.   Why are souls so important to God?

Because that’s the real you and that’s what lives on forever and ever.  We place great value on our external person, this temporary shell that houses our soul.  We spend lots of money on clothing and hair styles and make up and so on.  But the most valuable part of a person is their soul.  That’s what will live on forever and God made a way for us to spend eternity with Him.  You see all people are separated from God because of their sin.  He is holy and perfect and we are so unholy and so imperfect, it’s called sin.

And the Bible says we are accountable for that sin in our lives, in fact it says the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus.  The penalty for sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus.  When Jesus died He paid the debt of our sin and so we no longer have to perish, but can have eternal life.  This is the message that burned in Augie’s heart as he preached to others, and this is the message that he would want today. 

Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,