Can We Touch Them After A 911 Or Katrina?
Eccl. 9:11,12
11
I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. 12For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.
As we consider all that happened four years ago, we need to know…
Life is an unknown drama – Ja. 4:13-17
It ends we do not know when (in this life)
It ends we do not know where
Really, it is short
It is fragile
We need to plan accordingly
13
Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 16But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. 17Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.Which shows our next point…
Life is full of unavoidable decisions
Crucial
Consequential for us
Changes others
What will you do with Christ?
You are choosing
What will you do with your life for Christ?
You are choosing
What will you do for Christ's church?
You are choosing
What will you do for your family?
You are choosing
What will you do for your friends?
You are choosing
What will you do with the unsaved?
You are choosing
We need to face these decisions with wisdom – James 1:5,6
5
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.We need to face these decisions now – today…
We need to face these decisions with determination - Phil. 3:13-14
13
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Can We Touch Them After A 911 Or Katrina?– page 2
Life’s is an uncertain future (in this life only)
We do not really know what it holds – Ecc. 10.14
4
A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?We should do a good job – Ecc. 3.22
22
Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?We should be prepared to face life – Mt. 24.43
43
But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.Life eternal will be unceasing (It goes on and on)
We need to go forward with that in mind– Acts 20.22
22
And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:We will become part of that future in one of two places
Revelation 21:1-8
1And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithfu 6And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.We do not need to know the future, but the one who holds the future.- Col. 1:16
16
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:We affect those who will be part of our future
Touch them now
Touch them next week
Touch them before a 911 or a Katrina Hurricane
Then you can…
Touch them after a 911 or a Katrina Hurricane
Gary Marcum – New Beginnings Church – 091105pm