Today Could Be Your Day - 2022

Hebrews 9:27–28 KJV 1900

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Introduction: Have you ever thought that today could be your day? Today could be the day that you get a phone call that you inherited $25 million dollars from a long-lost, very rich relative who just passed away. What would you do with all of the money? It could happen.

Today could be the day that you meet the man or woman of your dreams, fall in love and make plans to get married. Today could be the day that you get the letter in the mail letting you know that you just landed your dream job or you got the big promotion and raise that you were hoping for.

Today might be the day that you got the news…you’re gonna have a baby! Better yet, a grand baby! (After all, everyone knows that Grand babies are much more fun than having your own babies!)

Or have you ever thought that today could be your day….to die? Uhhh….no Darrel, I try not to think of THAT. If you are like most people today, you are like the guy who had this epitaph inscribed on his tombstone: “I expected this, but not yet!.”

If it happened today, and you found yourself standing before Almighty God and God said, why should I let you into my heaven, what would you say? I’ve asked this question many times to people and have received all kinds of answer.

Maybe you know how you would answer. Or maybe you would be like most people and say, “I have no idea.” Well Today could be your day to find the answer.

This life is uncertain, that is for sure. James, the brother of our Lord, compares life to a vapor. It appears for a short time and the next thing you know, it’s gone.

That’s because we live in a world where:

Death is a Reality

“It is appointed unto men once to die...”

Statistics on death - 10 out of 10 people will eventually die.

According to the CDC website, the average life expectancy in the USA was 77.0 years in 2020 which is a decrease of 1.8 years from 2019.

Heart disease is the number one killer in the US. Cancer is #2 Covid 19 is third.

There is an old saying that goes, “two things in life are Certain: Death and Taxes.” Well, people have found ways around paying their taxes but not a way to avoid death.

Death is the great equilizer. There are many inequalities in the life - rich vs. poor, powerful vs. powerless, but death treats everyone equally!

We don’t like to talk about it. We have many other ways of saying someone died...

They passed away.

They bought the farm.

They cashed in their chips.

They kicked the bucket.

They are pushing up daisies.

Here is one I have never heard of…riding on a sin wagon.

Apparently this was from a country music song by the chicks. They sang they they were gonna fly away on a sin wagon one day.

Well there is some truth to that…because Life is short, death is sure, sin is the cause, but Christ is the cure! Sin is truly the #1 killer worldwide! The CDC doesn’t track those statistics but the Bible does.

Romans 5:12 KJV 1900

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Death wasn’t a part of God’s original plan for man but our first parents, Adam and Eve brought the curse of death into the world through their disobedience to God.

When the Bible talks about death, it is separation.

Physical separation - Body from the soul

Spiritual separation - the soul from God

You have an appointment that you are going to keep one day. You won’t be able to postpone it or cancel it. And it is an appointment that you don’t even know the day nor hour.

illus. Reinhard Bonnke, the great evangelist once said, “many people think that eternity is something that hey will have to deal with in the future - 20, 30, 40 years into the future. But the line to life runs parallel to eternity. And at any moment, you or I can cross over.”

You will never be ready for that moment until your soul is right with God! And you need Jesus to be right with God!

Acts 4:12 KJV 1900

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Final Judgement is a Certainty

“It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this comes the judgment...”

Once you leave this life, it’s not over. You don’t go in the ground and become food for worms. You will spend eternity in one of two places. Heaven, for those who ave trusted in Jesus and Hell for those who have rejected Jesus.

God will bring every action of man into Judgment - both public and private.

Ecclesiastes 12:14 KJV 1900

For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Matthew 12:36 KJV 1900

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

Psalm 44:21 KJV 1900

Shall not God search this out? For he knoweth the secrets of the heart.

Illus. When the Comedian W.C. Fields, a life-long agnostic, was on his deathbed, someone discovered him reading a Bible. When he was questioned about what he was doing, he said “I’m looking for a loop-hole.”

No Loop-holes friends. God will judge us based on his commandments. Ever lied? How many lies do you think you have told in your life? Yet it takes just one to make you a liar. Stolen anything? God didn’t qualify stealing based on value. If you steal up to $1000 you are OK, but if you go over that...

Jesus took it a step further when he pointed out that sin is not just what we do, but it can be the way you think.He said, if you hate a person in your heart, you are guilty of murder.

When God judges you, how are you going to beat the case that he as built against you?

1 John 2:1–2 KJV 1900

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Jesus did keep the law in every way. Therefore, he was the perfect sacrifice that paid the penalty for our sin. The penalty for sin is death according to scripture. Jesus died in your place.

But, not everyone will be saved...

King James Version Chapter 7

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

And what is the will of the Father. What does he desire - the you turn away from your sins and trust Jesus Christ as your Savior of Lord!

Eternal Life is a Possibility

King James Version Chapter 9

So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

God’s plan is simple!

Acts 16:31 KJV 1900

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

When the Bible talks about believing, it is not about knowing the facts. To believe is to consider something to be true AND therefore worthy of one’s trust.

It also means to trust oneself to someone in complete confidence.

King James Version Chapter 3

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

To believe here is in the present tense which means to keep on believing. Keep trusting!

I’m here to tell you today that you can be assured that your sins are forgiven and that you have eternal life.

King James Version Chapter 2

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God

How do I receive this Gift you ask?

Admit

Believe

Commit

King James Version Chapter 2

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

Closing: Every time a certain little boy went over to his friend’s house, he found the boy’s grandmother reading her Bible. Out of curiosity one day, he asked the friend, “Why do you suppose your grandmother reads the Bible so much?” “I am not sure,” replied the boy, “but I think it’s because she’s getting ready for her final exams.”

Are you ready for your final exam? It is coming and probably sooner that you think!” Will you receive Jesus today? He is your final answer!