YOLO is Dead. Eternity is now.

Talk about this weekend and what to expect.

1 Peter 4:7–11 NIV

The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Matthew 25:1–12 NIV

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ “ ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

How many of you would say you are always late to things? How many of you would say you are always on time? (Story of how I want to always be on time, but never estimate the right amount of time.)

I think far too often in our walk with Jesus, we don’t fully estimate and count the cost, and for a lot of us we are late to the party.

In our weekend passage of scripture, Peter clearly states, “the end of of things is near. Therefore be alert and sober minded, and pray.” (Talk about end times and how no ones knows the time the hour, but as believers Jesus has called us to live in a mindset that is eternity focused.)

Then we see in our story of the ten virgins, that 5 were ready, they had lamps filled with oil and 5 were not, they waited until it was too late. Simply put 5 had eternity on their mind, and 5 were living in YOLO.

Rick Warren, who is a well known pastor says this about eternity, “Living in the light of eternity changes your priorities.”

One and only point: With eyes fixed on eternity, living for another age becomes clear.

So how do we do this?

1.) Jesus is the main point of our life, not the side point.

-I know this sounds like, well duhh, but if we are just honest Jesus is not the main point most of the time.

-My prayer is that your life would be so consumed with Jesus, that He would be the focus of your life.

-Priorities change when a new Lord takes over.

2.) Lamps require attention to be ready.

-Pull out lamp illustration. Have Jon help me.

-I believe the lamps in the parable refer to us, and what we are filling our life with. So many times we only run to Jesus when we feel like it, and just like the 5 virgins who had no oil, when we feel like it, we might return to Jesus.

3.) Fix your eyes on Heaven.

-Talk about story I had of Mansion in Heaven.

-God showing me this powerful vision of Heaven, not only shifted how I live, but gave me hope for the future.

-Story of knowing the end destination. (Talk about hiking trip with Preston.)

End:

The thing I want, and your leaders want so bad for your life is that you would just simply get it, that Jesus loves you, He pursues you, and is calling you to a higher way? What else do you need to convince us? (Talk about supernatural)

Activation/Prayer

Find a place in this room to get with Jesus by yourself.

Ask Jesus this

1.) What is holding me back from having eyes fixed on eternity?

2.) Is there something you need to let go, now is the time, don’t wait, Jesus is here to take anything that is holding us back.

I want to encourage you, that if you want to pray with a leader we are here to partner with you, and to walk through life together.