Why Wait?
Galatians 6:7-10 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. {8} For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. {9} And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. {10} As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
INTRO – Does it bother you that people get away with things? Does it kind of bug you when people speed by you and there is not a cop to be found? We even have a saying, "He can get away with murder." Or there is the one, "The perfect crime." Of course the idea is whoever did the perfect crime, will never get caught. But, we really know that is seldom true. Or least it may seem true in this life, but let me assure you there is not a perfect crime, and they do not get away with murder. Yes it is easy to think that only what we see with our eyes counts. Only what we see laid out in the way of punishment.
Do you know the Bible has examples of people who did get caught. Two examples are David and Achan. At first it looked like they would slip by, but sin cost them greatly.
King David, who sinned against God and Uriah when he took Uriah’s wife and committed adultery, paid a great cost because of his sin. His child who resulted from this act died.
Achan who secretly stole a costly garment, some silver and gold, cost himself and his whole family their lives. Beleve me, sin does not go unheeded by God.
Today, I want to look at a Biblical principal that deals with paying the penalty for sin or misdeeds. Let’s get into the message.
First, let’s see how God feels about sin…
God hates sin, period
Not just on Sunday
Not just when people are looking
Not just in the open
Not just when it concerns certain people
All the time, totally, for everyone, for every sin
Ezekiel 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
We can also see that…
Sin has a penalty
Even for the "high and mighty"
1 Chronicles 10:13 So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to inquire of it;
And for the low and hungry
Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
The penalty is severe, but the rescue is sufficient
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Sin’s penalty will happen on God’s timetable
It is not forgotten
It is not erased by time (God devised a means for erasure – His Son)
It still brings death and separation
Ecclesiastes 8:11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
One who doubts might think…
"Would God be so petty to penalize me when everyone else is doing this?"
God’s nature will not allow sin’s presence
Not theirs
Not yours
Not mine
Not anyone’s
He is never tolerant of sin – no matter how much sin we think we are getting away with.
Isaiah 64:7 And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.
God (in His great love for us) prepared an escape from the penalty of sin
Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ, the Messiah, our only hope.
Hebrews 9:28 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.
Came for us – if we will call upon Him as Savior
He was sinless
He was the perfect sacrifice for us
He became our substitute
He became our only hope
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Let us look back…
God hates sin, period
Sin has a penalty
Sin’s penalty will happen on God’s timetable
God’s nature will not allow sin’s presence
God (in His great love for us) prepared an escape from the penalty of sin
Let me ask you, I want you to carefully consider…
If you fail to accept God’s gift of salvation, if you fail to accept Jesus as your Savior, if you fail to call upon Him for forgiveness of sin, whose fault is it?
I want to ask you one more thing today and I will close.
Why are you waiting to accept the Lord and His sacrifice He has made for you?
The scripture asks us
Hebrews 2:3 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;
It encourages us
Hebrews 3:15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
Will you be like the five in the the parable of the ten virgins where they forgot their oil?
Matthew 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Will you be found in a slumber like the disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane?
Matthew 26:40-41 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? {41} Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Will you in your busyness miss out on God’s plan for your life?
Jeremiah 8:20 The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.
Will you forget, God’s thoughts about sin and our part in them?
Galatians 6:7-8 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. {8} For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Will you accept God’s plan for your life?
Galatians 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
Why wait any longer? Truly, is there a better time than today to call upon Him?
Gary Marcum – New Beginnings Church – 021708am