Sermon Central
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Why Are You Living Series
Contributed by Mark Elkins on Aug 17, 2010 (message contributor)
Summary: A Biblical description of what God has for us.
WHY ARE YOU LIVING
Many years ago, there was found in an African mine the most magnificent diamond in the world’s history. It was presented to the king of England to blaze in his crown or state. The king sent it to Amsterdam to be cut. It was put into the hands of an expert lapidary: a cutter, polisher, or engraver of precious stones usually other than diamonds
2 : the art of cutting gems. And what do you suppose he did with it? He took the gem of priceless value, and cut a notch in it. Then he struck a hard blow with his instrument and—lo!—the superb jewel lay in his hand cleft in two. Did he do this out of recklessness, wastefulness, and criminal carelessness? Indeed not! For days and weeks that blow had been studied and planned. Drawings and models had been made of the gem. Its quality, its defects, its lines of cleavage had all been studied with minutest care. The man to whom it was committed was one of the most skillful lapidaries in the world.
Was that blow a mistake? No! It was the climax of the lapidary’s skill. When he struck that blow, he did the one thing which would bring that gem to its most perfect shapeliness, radiance, and jeweled splendor. That blow which seemed to ruin the superb precious stone was, in fact, its perfect redemption. From those two halves were wrought two magnificent gems which the skilled eye of the lapidary saw hidden in the rough, uncut stone as it came from the mine.
Sometimes, God lets a stinging blow fall upon your life. The blood spurts; the nerves wince. The soul cries out in agony. The blow seems to you an appalling mistake. But it is not, for you are the most priceless jewel in the world to God. And He is the most skilled lapidary in the universe.
TELL YOUR NEIGHBOR, “God really loves you. He knows what is best for you.”
Answer the questions, why are you living the way you are? Why are you enduring what you are enduring? Why?
When faced with tough decisions, I always choose the easy route!
PICTURES OF OLD TO NEW; BEFORE AND AFTER.
PRAY- God in this life we have it backwards. Often we have the physically best life at first, but then we lose it as we get older. But spiritually, we can get better with age.
READ VERSES.
Remember Peter describes these people as elect or chosen of God, sanctified, and obedient.
They didn’t feel chosen. They left their first class citizenship for second class.
They didn’t feel sanctified. They had left their city, Jerusalem, the very place of worship.
They didn’t feel obedient. They were being persecuted. They left, not because they wanted to leave, they left because they were forced to leave.
Book of Acts 1:8; 8:1. Jesus told them they would do this. Then they got this new restaurant called Gondeliers. After worship everyone started talking about the restaurant. So they all went to eat there. Then everyone started talking about others, and completely forgot the message! 8 chapters later, Jesus reminded them of His message.
Some of you are relating to these people. And you like they are asking, “is it worth it?” Is what I am going through really worth it? Peter answered this question with an adamant, and emphatic YES. God has begotten us to a living hope, and an inheritance.
Tell your neighbor, “pay day is coming.” Do you ever ask yourself, “Is my job worth it?” But after payday you realize that it is. Your pay may not be money; it may be the impact you had on someone. That is how it will be in heaven. In fact, when we get there we will say these words, “We should have endured more.” I wish I had endured more!
· Our inheritance is described as incorruptible. This word means that it cannot
perish; it does not age; does not deteriorate, or die; it does not have the seed of corruption within it.
Matthew Henry points out that “everything on earth changes from better to worse, but not our inheritance. It is perfect and incorruptible. It never changes, and it shall never cease to be the most perfect inheritance and gift imaginable.”
God in you will make a difference! God in you will change the corruptible to incorruptible! God in you will overcome that which appears to be overcoming you. God in you has led you to the impossible to show you that nothing is impossible with God.
We live in a corruptible world. A world that perishes, a world that deteriorates, a world that eventually dies. BUT He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1 Jn 4:4.
