Just Keeping it Real (Part 2)

Introduction

As I said at the beginning of this series, what I want to talk about is true whether you believe the Bible or not. Truth is real, objective and immutable, which means it never changes. Truth never changes because it does not need to change, because it is true. I am not talking about my truth or your truth, but the truth. Amen, somebody. Just keeping it real.

The second universal truth is what happens when you run out of time. Notice I said when, not if. It is at this point people start feeling a little squeamish and perhaps even afraid.

The wise-guys are a lot less sure of themselves, tough-guys are not so tough anymore, and bold-guys start to turn cowardly and run away when confronted with this truth, which is, “When you run out of time, you are going somewhere.”

Life is so ordered that when a person runs out of time, they do not and cannot remain among us. In fact, when they run out of time, meaning they are dead, we start to use different language to describe their existence.

We make statements such as:

“They made their transition,”

“They passed away,”

“They went home to be with the Lord,”

“They’re gone.”

What do these statements have in common? They all describe motion. Why do we describe the people who have run out of time in these terms? Because, they are no longer here!! They have gone somewhere.

Although the body may still be present, , the body no longer responds to any stimuli. They no longer breathe or talk or move. You can scream in their ears, poke them with a pin or give them a hot-foot and they will not respond.

Why, because the real them is gone and only the body or the house or the tent that they use to live in remains.

In fact, even their remains must go somewhere—either the cemetery, crematory, or the bottom of the sea. Because of sin, these bodies will perish, but the soul will live on—somewhere. Amen somebody. Just keeping it real.

Life will end here on earth but begin somewhere else. In other words, you are going to spend eternity somewhere. The only question is, where are you going? What is your destiny? Amen somebody. Just keeping it real.

Well, to answer the destiny question, we need to circle back to some previous questions, “Where did your life come from? What is its cause?

If you are not a Bible believer and are being honest, you will admit that you do not know where your life or life in general came from and that you cannot explain its cause.

The fact is, outside of the Bible, you cannot know. You may can guess or conjure up some theories, like the Big Bang, but you cannot know with any degree of certainty.

You may be asking, “Why?” So, glad you asked. The answer is because you were not there neither was any other man! Nevertheless, one thing I know, and you do as well, you came from somewhere, and when your time runs out, you are going somewhere. Amen somebody. Just keeping it real.

You did not come here to stay; you came to pass. Regardless of what you believe, when your time runs out; ready or not, you are going to leave here and go somewhere. Amen somebody. Just keeping it real.

On this subject the Bible says,

Genesis 3:19 – “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”

Again, the question is where are you going? The answer to this question depends upon your worldview. What happens after death terrifies and haunts most people.

People find comfort believing that nothing happens to you after death. You just cease to exist or as many espouse today, whatever your truth is, that’s what will become of you.

However, each of these is false comfort. The Bible says something altogether different. Hebrews 9:27 warns:

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”

In other words, you have an appointment with death that you will keep. As certain as you had a time when you arrived in this world, you have a time when you will leave this world. Amen somebody. Just keeping it real.

Now comes the other part of the verse, which is the frightening part, the “but” part. The text says, “…but after this the judgment.” The “judgment” is the Judgment of God against sin, of which all men are guilty. What does the Bible have to say about sin? Glad you asked:

Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Since all men are guilty of sin, what is sin? The Greek word for sin is hamartia (ham-ar-tee’-ah), which means ‘to act contrary to the will and law of God’ or ‘to miss the mark of God’s holy standard.’ Therefore, sin is contrary to the will and law of God, it is ungodly; and, to act ungodly is not right, which is unrighteous.

Romans 1:18, says, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;”

Thus, sin is a real human problem and God has appointed a day when He going to deal with it:

Acts 17:30-31 – “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: (31) Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.”

That man whom God has ordained to judge the world is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, whom He raised from the dead. Jesus said that the Father has given all judgment to the Son (see John 5:22-27).

So, the Judgment of God is directly tied to where you are going when you run out of time. Because all men must meet their maker, who is God! Yes, that’s right I said it, God is your Maker. We all know that you did not make yourself, neither did you have any input in the matter. You did not volunteer to come here, you were sent.

This brings us back to the question that was asked in the previous message, “Where did your life come from?” As previously mentioned, Genesis 1:26-27 declares that your life came from God.

Your life came through your parents, but it came from God; and, since it came from God it will return to God. Ecclesiastes 12:7 says, “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” Amen somebody. Just keeping it real.

I can hear somebody say, “Enough already. Could you just get to the point and tell me where I’m going?” Let me put it to you like this, only two choices exist:

Heaven, the abode of God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, holy angels, and Believers in Christ known as the Church or

Hell, the abode of Satan, his demon, and all unbelievers.

For heaven to become your destiny, you must make a conscience choice to go there before you run out of time. Heaven is a place of eternal love, peace, rest, joy, beauty, and rewards.

For hell to become your destiny, you need not do anything, just keep living until you run out of time. Hell is man’s default destiny. Hell is a place of eternal fire, torment, suffering, weeping, gnashing of teeth, regrets, darkness, foul odors, and punishment.

When your time runs out in this world and your eyes close and your voice is hushed, you will immediately and eternally open your eyes in Heaven or in Hell.

I implore you not to allow anyone to deceive you. There are no other options. There is no purgatory, no escape, no do-overs, and no excuse. Amen somebody. Just keeping it real.

Conclusion

Well, what have we learned? We have learned that although you may not have a choice as to when you are going to run out of time, you do have a choice concerning your eternal destiny.

We have learned that you are going to meet your maker, who is God, who is your Judge, and, that God has given all judgment to His Son, Jesus Christ. John wrote in Revelation 20:10-15:

“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (11) And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

(12) And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (13) And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

(14) And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (15) And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

To avoid going to hell you must address your sin problem. You must confess and repent of your sins to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Scripture informs us in Romans 10:9-10, 13, that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

It takes faith to call on Christ, and saving faith is a gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-9). For without faith it is impossible to please God. For he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

Oh, my brother and my sister, my son, my daughter, won’t you call on Him today? Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

I heard Jesus say in John 6:37-40, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (38) For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

(39) And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. (40) And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

Jesus died on the cross to pay your sin debt and the third day rose from the grave with all authority in heaven and in earth in His hands. He has the keys of hell and of death. He can look at death and ask, “Where is your sting?” And, He can look at the grave and ask, “Where is your victory?”

For the sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: (10) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; (11) And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11) Amen somebody. Just keeping it real.