ONE DAY THE NEXT DAY WILL BE THE DAY HE COMES
By Rev. Dr. Jerry Schmoyer jerry@schmoyer.net
http://india.christiantrainingonline.org/
INTRODUCTION
Gospel concert Labor Day weekend, spiritual retreat for me
Some songs stick in my head, stay for weeks and months
2 songs really struck me in a special way, want to share with you
– stick in your heart as well
One today, next in 2 weeks
Both by same group – Down East Boys
I. IMPACT OF HIS COMING ON OUR FUTURE
A. THE TRUTH OF IT
One day the next day will be the day He comes…..
So SIMPLE
But SO TRUE we often forget it
So busy in life, etc., don’t think about it
“BLESSED HOPE” for us
Persecuted believers more in touch with this
Us here caught up in ‘life’ and juggling everything often don’t think about it
PROMINENT TRUTH IN GOD’S WORD!
1 Thess 4:13-18 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.
ME NEW BELIEVER much talk, focus on rapture, Jesus coming back for us
I first became familiar with this passage 45 years ago
In the Army, start of Viet Nam war – looked for His return any day!
Threat of war, separation, death overwhelmed me
I thought about it and spoke about it often
CONVINCED this world couldn’t go more than a few months at the most!
But time went on and He didn’t return
Then out of Army, life easier, not think about it as much
Especially when years go by and not return
RECENTLY TRUTH OF IT coming alive in me again
-older, most of my life behind me, not ahead
-near death of my father
LONG for a way to avoid going through old age & death – father and me
Maybe not have to! – maybe Jesus return first
Great thought – GLORIOUS HOPE!
TRANSITION
NOT JUST ESCAPE, though
Jesus’ return far more than that!
B. THE HOPE FROM IT
SIN, SUFFERING, AGE, PAIN, SORROW GONE FOREVER
WITH GOD IN HEAVEN FOREVER more and more of a reality
We saw that in recent series on Jesus death and resurrection as well
Came, died – ascended
Next thing – COME AGAIN
Told the disciples:
John 14:1-5 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Last sermon, about ascension
Acts 1:10-11 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
TRUTH of His coming reassuring, peace, HOPE (assurance)
TRANSITION
But song impacted me about more than just FUTURE assurance, event
Listen again and see what else God says to you through it:
II. IMPACT OF HIS COMING ON OUR PRESENT
A. WHAT WE WOULD DO TODAY
What else does that song convey besides what awaits us in the future?
ME impacted, implications for TODAY
IF HE COMES TOMORROW, WHAT SHOULD I BE DOING TODAY?
If I knew tomorrow was the day, what would I do today?
This MIGHT be the day before, am I doing/living as I should?
WHAT SHOULD I DO TODAY IF I KNEW HE WAS COMING FOR ME TOMORROW?
WHAT WOULD YOU DO TODAY IF YOU KNEW HE WAS COMING FOR YOU TOMORROW?
Walk in isle, everyone share, give mike if needed
GET RIGHT WITH GOD
Confess sin, get victory over it
Remove anything between me and God
Recommit to relationship with Him
SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH GOD
Spend time with Him – pray, read Bible
GET RIGHT WITH OTHERS
Make up with any where things not right, as much as is up to us to do
Reconnect with those not talked to in a long time
SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH OTHERS
Reassure those closest to us that we love, appreciate them
Tell those who don’t know Jesus about Him
B. WHAT WE WOULDN’T DO TODAY
WHAT WOULDN’T YOU DO TODAY?
Walk in isle, everyone share, give mike if needed
WHAT WE WOULDN’T DO
Wash kitchen floor
Work on stock portfolio
Watch hours of TV
Slip into that sin that seems to trap us
Hang out at the mall
Why not? Those things wrong?
NO – but not top priorities!!!
(do you see where I’m going with this?)
C. WHAT WE SHOULD DO TODAY
-if CAN do it if Jesus comes, then why not now? Why put off?
NOT sell everything and live on mt top
BUT keep the most important things first
It is doable, just face it and do it
Procrastination one of Satan’s best weapons
WRONG PRIORTIES keep us from being ready whenever He comes
Wouldn’t it be GREAT to be able to say we wouldn’t do anything different today
Everything in order, everything ready for Him to come!!
IT CAN BE THAT WAY for us
He WILL come one day
If not come before we die, then know will die one
Another song:
I’m closer to where I’m going than where I’ve been
True of me
ALL of you, even really young – not guaranteed life
Rapture or die any time
CONCLUSION
-going to India, closer time comes more in touch with them, all ready
Think about it more, more anxious to get there
Closer we get to heaven more ready, in touch
Not just when get older
But each day one day closer to DAY HE COMES
One day the next day will be the day He comes!