Your Next Event

Everyone seems to have a busy calendar, but some events are more important than others. We should never allow the daily “urgent” things to distract us from what’s most important. Your two most important events are: 1. Salvation: 2 Corinthians 6:2 “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Tomorrow may be too late. 2. Service: Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” If we respond to these important events, everything else will fall into place Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Time is running out for salvation.You must: 1. Be drawn by the Spirit: John 6:44 “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him.” 2. Discover that you are a sinner: Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” This causes you to realize that you are: 3. Deserving of death: Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death [eternal separation from God]; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” 4. Dependent upon Jesus: 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.” 5. Desperate for a relationship: Romans 10:9-10 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” When the Spirit drew me, and I discovered that I was a sinner deserving of death, and that Jesus was my only hope, I wanted Jesus more than my next breath of air! Time is running out for service.If you are saved, but not serving, let me ask you; why not? Some statistics reveal that 90% of the work within the church is done by 10% of the people. You may ask, “Why should I serve?” 1. We are persuaded by the Savior: 2 Corinthians 5:14 “For the love of Christ constraineth us.” Our love for Christ is responding from His love for us, which persuades us to serve Him. 2. We are empowered by the Spirit: 1 Peter 4:10 “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” God has gifted every Christian that He might accomplish great things through them. 3. It shows proof of our salvation: James 2:17-18 “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” Faith is the root of salvation; works is the fruit of salvation. We never work to be saved, but we work because we are saved. If we don’t have any fruit, then we better examine the root. The Last Event: JudgmentHebrews 9:27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” There are two judgments mentioned in the Bible. One is for the saved, and the other is for the lost. 1. Judgment for the saved: 2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.” The judgment seat of Christ will determine rewards or loss of rewards according to your obedience. Disobedience will bring shame and regret. Faithful servants will be eternally rewarded for being available for God’s service. 2. Judgment for the lost: Revelation 20:11-15. “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.” Because these individuals died in their sin, rejecting forgiveness through Jesus Christ, they will be judged for sin. The penalty is eternal separation from God in the torment of Hell. If you are ready to reject your sin and to turn to Jesus Christ for forgiveness and eternal life, you can pray something like this, from your heart: Lord, I am a sinner deserving judgment, but I believe Jesus’ death on the cross is sufficient to cover all my sin. I now repent of my sin and ask forgiveness. Cleanse me in Jesus’ name and I will serve you from this day forward. In Jesus name, amen.