National Youth Day
4/23/06
ONE LIFE, ONE CHANCE
I want to thank my dad for allowing me to speak tonight
Prov 27:1
1 Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
The writer is telling us that we have today
Many people always look to tomorrow, they plan for tomorrow, but tomorrow is never promised to us.
There are 4 words we all like to use --- they are ---“I’ll do it later.”
The cemeteries are full of people who thought they would have another day
It’s like the story of a man named Bill who had never gone to church in his life.
No matter how much he was encouraged, he just couldn’t be persuaded to go to church, not even on Easter or Christmas.
He would say, "When it freezes in June, then I will go to church."
One year there was an unusually cold spring, and it remained cold all the way into the month of June!
One day, in early June, the temperature dipped to freezing for several nights.
Everyone remembered Bill’s statement and wondered if this cold spell would finally get him to come to the church.
Well, yes! It certainly did! On that Sunday, Bill made his first appearance in the church building - while the organ played softly, and six men carried him in.
Yes, he made it, but instead of sitting in a pew, he was lying in a casket.
It has been said – ONLY ONE LIFE WILL SOON BE PAST
ONLY WHAT’S DONE FOR CHRIST WILL LAST
so Tonight I want to talk about One Life, One Chance.
If today is all we have – They we must make today count for Christ.
1. TODAY SOME BODY NEEDS ENCOURAGED
Story of Man & the Choir – Read
Don’t be like these men who hurt Bro. Ira.
Be like this father.
Football Story
There was a skinny young boy who loved football with all his heart.
Practice after practice, he eagerly gave everything he had.
But being half the size of the boys, he got absolutely nowhere.
At all the games this hopeful athlete sat on the bench and hardly ever played.
This teenager lived alone with his father, and the two of them had a very special relationship.
Even though the son was always on the bench, his father was always in the stands cheering. He never missed a game.
This young man was still the smallest of the class when he entered high school.
But his father continued to encourage him but also made it very clear that he did not have to play football if he didn’t want to.
But the young man loved football and decided to hang in there.
He was determined to try his best at every practice, and perhaps he’d get to play when he became a senior.
All through high school he never missed a practice nor a game but remained a bench-warmer all four years.
His faithful father was always in the stands, always with words of encouragement for him.
When the young man went to college, he decided to try out for the football team as a "walk-in."
Everyone was sure he could never make the cut, but he did.
The coach admitted that he kept him on the roster because he always puts his heart and soul into every practice, and at the same time, provided the other members with the spirit and hustle they badly needed.
The news that he had survived the cut thrilled him so much that he rushed to the nearest phone and called his father.
His father shared his excitement and was sent season tickets for all the college games.
This persistent young athlete never missed practice during his four years at college, but he never got to play in a game.
It was the end of his senior football season, and as he trotted onto the practice field shortly before the big playoff game, the coach met him with a telegram.
The young man read the telegram and he became deathly silent.
Swallowing hard, he mumbled to the coach, "My father died this morning.
Is it all right if I miss practice today?" The coach put his arm gently around his shoulder and said, "Take the rest of the week off, son.
And don’t even plan to come back to the game on Saturday."
Saturday arrived, and the game was not going well.
In the third quarter, when the team was ten points behind, a silent young man quietly slipped into the empty locker room and put on his football gear.
As he ran onto the sidelines, the coach and his players were astounded to see their faithful teammate back so soon.
"Coach, please let me play. I’ve just got to play today," said the young man.
The coach pretended not to hear him. There was no way he wanted his worst player in this close playoff game.
But the young man persisted, and finally feeling sorry for the kid, the coach gave in.
"All right," he said. "You can go in."
Before long, the coach, the players and everyone in the stands could not believe their eyes.
This little unknown, who had never played before was doing everything right.
The opposing team could not stop him. He ran, he passed, blocked, and tackled like a star. His team began to win. The score was soon tied.
In the closing seconds of the game, this kid intercepted a pass and ran all the way for the winning touchdown.
The fans broke loose. His teammates hoisted him onto their shoulders. Such cheering you never heard.
Finally, after the stands had emptied and the team had left the locker room, the coach noticed that this young man was sitting quietly in the corner all alone.
The coach came to him and said, " Kid, I can’t believe it. You were fantastic! Tell me what got into you? How did you do it?
He looked at the coach, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Well, you knew my Dad died, but did you know that my Dad was blind?"
The young man swallowed hard and forced a smile,
"Dad came to all my games, but today was the first time he could see me play,
and I wanted to show him I could do it!"
The point I want to make is – With your life, action, & words we can lift up or tear someone down.
Somebody in this service needs encouragement.
Someone at the home needs encouragement.
Someone at school needs encouragement.
Someone at work needs encouragement.
Encourage someone today – this may be the only chance you get.
2. TODAY BUILD GODLY CHARACTER
Someone once said
"We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give."
My dad always says – we are soon become what we will be.
Everyone of us will be remembered for something.
What will people say about us after we are gone.
Kids at camp – call me stretch
My dad will be remember as a Preacher that would not let you sleep in service.
He is LOUD!!!
Bro. Knight --My dad will always remember you as the man that stood up on mothers day with all the ladies
Dad always tells me – People are watching you.. Don’t do anything to hurt your testimony..
Several years ago a pastor moved to Houston, Texas.
Some weeks after he arrived, he had occasion to ride the bus from his home to the downtown area.
When he sat down, he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him ten cents too much change.
When his stop came he paused momentarily at the front door, and handing the driver the dime he said, "Here. You handed me too much change."
The driver replied, "Aren’t you the new pastor in town?
I have been thinking lately about going to church somewhere.
I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you ten cents too much change."
When the pastor stepped off the bus he literally grabbed the nearest light pole, and held on, and said, "O God, I almost sold your Son for ten cents."
If I say Judas – you think of Betrayer
If I say Peter – You think of one that failed in time of testing
If I say Thomas – you think of doubter
We will all be remembered – But How
We are all being watched…..
We are all representing God
Our Lives are the only Gospel – some will ever read.
Prov 22:1
1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches,
More than a lot of money – we should want a good name
Eccl 7:1
1 A good name is better than precious ointment;
Charles Spurgeon wrote,
"A good character is the best tombstone.
Those who loved you, and were helped by you, will remember you when flowers have withered.
Carve your name on hearts, and not on marble."
Romans 8:29 – tells us we are to be fashion into the likeness of Christ
To be like Jesus – This should be our prayer
Today lets us be like Jesus
Today lets people see Jesus in Us
Today lets us built a good & godly reputation
3. TODAY BE READY TO MEET GOD
Luke 12:16-20
16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
(KJV)
He is a man that thought he had all the time in the world
He was going to rebuild his barns.
But God said today is your last day on earth.
Today someone woke up this morning not realizing this was their last day on this planet
Not realizing that today they would be going out into eternity to meet God
Heb 9:27
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die,
Many are making plans for the future, but their future doesn’t include God…
On Feb 22 of this Year Anthony Burger, a well know piano player for many of the gathier homecoming concerts at the age of 44 --- while on a Gaither Homecoming cruise in the Caribbean while playing an arrangement – suffered a heart attack..
One moment we was playing for the audience, the next he was playing for the king..
That is how fast we will leave this life…
One moment were here – the next in eternity…
Hell is full of people that thought they would have another day to get right with God
Hell is full of people that wished they had another chance..
Closing
I have been raised in church all my life
But being a preacher’s kid won’t get me to Heaven.
I made a decision to make Christ my Savior.
And since then He has blessed me greatly.
He baptized me with the Holy Ghost.
In 2004 He has allowed me to go to New York for ministry, where I learned to do my stick ministry.
He has allowed me to be able to play the drums.
And now He is allowing me to preach the Word.
I realize I only have one life to live, One Chance to make a difference, one chance to make Heaven.
Would you please bow your heads.
Lord I thank you for your word
I ask you to bless it & speak to our hearts
(a) If you’re here & your not a Christian, this may be the only chance you ever get again.
Will you accept Jesus tonight.. Raise your hand if you want to give your Heart to Jesus.
(b) – How many want to make a difference today..
If you do. come join we in prayer
Disclaimer:
These sermons are not copyrighted and may be used or preached freely, I trust these sermons will be a blessing to all who read them. Please note that due to the large amount of material on the Internet concerning sermons, illustrations & ideals. Any similarities in wording, or titles of other preachers sermons are simply coincidental. May God Bless You is my Prayer!
