Sermon Central
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Face The Future Withou Compromise
Contributed by Ray Ellis on May 21, 2007 (message contributor)
Summary: As a young person that faces the future you will have many decisions to make. Will you make decisions in the light of eternity or compromise and conform to the values of this world?
Face the Future Without compromise
Ephesians 5:15-20 reminds me of the motto:
Only one life,
Will soon be past;
Only what’s done for Christ
Will Last.
As you face the future you will have many decisions to make. Will you make decisions in the light of eternity or compromise and conform to the values of this world?
J.B. Phillips translates Ephesians 5:15 this way, “Live life then with a due sense of responsibility, not as men who do not know the meaning and purpose of life but as those who do.”
God’s purpose for you is to make your life count not just for this brief life on earth but for eternity.
As you face the future you face many uncertainties and questions.
The story is told about Albert Einstein who was going on a train to an out-of-town engagement. The conductor stopped to punch his ticket. The great scientist preoccupied with his work with some embarrassment rummaged through his coat pocket and briefcase to no avail. He could not find his ticket. The conductor graciously said, “We all know who are you, Dr. Einstein. I’m sure you bought a ticket. Don’t worry about it. Everything is okay.” Then the conductor walked on down the aisle punching other tickets. Before he moved to the next car he looked back and saw Dr. Einstein down on his hands and knees looking under the seat trying to find his ticket. He came back and said, “Dr. Einstein, please don’t worry about it. I know who you are.” Einstein looked up and said, “I too, know who I am. What I don’t know is where I’m going.”
None of us can accurately predict what our life will look like in the future. When I graduated from High School my plans were to major in Chemistry and become a research Chemist. During my first two years of college my passion for chemistry changed and I sensed God’s call to Christian ministry and I changed my major to Philosophy and Religion.
Whatever path God opens for you I encourage you to face the future without compromise.
The life of Daniel is the story of a young adult that “Lived a Life Without Compromise.”
Nebuchadnezzar and his army conquered Jerusalem and took the majority of the people back to Babylon. Among the hostages were Daniel and his three friends. Daniel was from a royal family and only a teenager at the time he was forced to travel 1,500 miles from Judea to Babylon – Iraq.
Nebuchadnezzar’s plan was to train the most gifted youth from Judea and have them join his political team as leaders. They were to be trained for three years and after that they were to enter the king’s service.
Daniel 1:8 “But Daniel made up his mind not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief official for permission to eat other things instead.”
Daniel was willing to face the consequences rather than defile himself by eating any food dedicated to false gods. Daniel and his three friends were committed to living without compromise.
As you face the future I encourage you to
Not Conform to the Values of this World
Romans 12:2 - The Apostle Paul tells you how to face the future: “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.”
You have the promise of God that if you refuse to compromise to the values and customs of this world God will guide you and help you find your true purpose in life.
Proverbs 3:5-6 gives a similar promise: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.”
If you seek God’s will He will guide your life. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Remember that the god of this world, Satan helps form the values of this world. Satan will do all he can to keep you from fulfilling God’s purpose for you life. Ephesians 6:12, “Your struggle is not against people, it is against principalities and powers and darkness present in this world.”
Satan is a great deceiver and will do all he can to derail your life of faith and compromise.
To defeat Satan do what Jesus did, confront the Devil with God’s Word. Make studying and knowing God’s word the goal of your life. You can overcome temptation by using God’s Word.
