The Time to Begin! Now!

Scriptural Text: ,

Columnist Herb Caen writes in the San Francisco Chronicle, “Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn’t matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle; when the sun comes up, you’d better be running.”

Spurgeon writes likewise, “If you are not seeking the Lord, the Devil is seeking you. If you are not seeking the Lord, judgment is at your heels.”

750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers and Writers 612: Seeking God

Columnist Herb Caen writes in the San Francisco Chronicle, “Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn’t matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle; when the sun comes up, you’d better be running.”

Spurgeon writes likewise, “If you are not seeking the Lord, the Devil is seeking you. If you are not seeking the Lord, judgment is at your heels.”

In the Christian life, it’s not enough simply to wake up. We are called to run, to become more like Christ, to press ahead in godliness.

Godliness, Complacency

Date used __________ Place ____________________

In the Christian life, it’s not enough simply to wake up. We are called to run, to become more like Christ, to press ahead in godliness.

Peter indicates we are chosen as a part of God’s plan. He uses the word foreknowledge ().

...elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. (NKJV)

Peter indicates we are chosen as a part of God’s plan. He uses the word foreknowledge ().

This means something is known before or planned ahead. God planned the church and the whole idea of salvation in Christ beforehand. We are now God’s chosen people because God planned that we would be His chosen people.

In , Peter says that Christ was “chosen” from the beginning, “before the creation of the world.” But He did not finally appear until these last days. God planned it ahead of time!

(NKJV) He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.

20He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you

Regardless of what man may desire to do, the sovereign will of the Lord will stand:

Foundations of Grace (1400 BC–AD 100) 4. Fixing Directions

Fixing Directions. Man makes his plans, but what God has determined to do is irrevocably unalterable. Regardless of what man may desire to do, the sovereign will of the Lord will stand:

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.

—Proverbs 19:21

Man makes his plans, but God’s eternal purpose will prevail. In His sovereignty, God will alter man’s plans when they conflict with His will.

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.—

—

Man makes his plans, but God’s eternal purpose will prevail. In His sovereignty, God will alter man’s plans when they conflict with His will.

People have many plans, but the Lord’s counsel or purpose will stand.

Steven J. Lawson, Foundations of Grace (1400 BC–AD 100), vol. 1, A Long Line of Godly Men (Lake Mary, FL: Reformation Trust Publishing, 2006), 153.

A man’s steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way?—

A New Purpose: God’s purpose for me is to be conformed to the character of Christ.

—

“Those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son …” ().

— “I’ll do whatever it takes to be conformed to the character of Christ.”

A New Priority: God’s priority for me is to change my thinking.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” ().

— “I’ll do whatever it takes to line up my thinking with God’s thinking.

A New Plan: God’s plan for me is to rely on Christ’s strength, not my strength, to be all He created me to be.

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me” ( ESV).

— “I’ll do whatever it takes to fulfill His plan in His strength.”

And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. (NKJV)

The Time is Near