DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU WILL SPEND ETERNITY?
2 Timothy 4:6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of
my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have
finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is
laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but
unto all them also that love his appearing.
"Do you KNOW where you will spend eternity?” is a question that
everyone should consider carefully, and answer honestly, because
so much depends on the answer you truthfully give.
A few years ago town leaders in Charlotte, North Carolina, invited
Billy Graham, to a luncheon in his honor. Mr. Graham hesitated to
accept the invitation because of Parkinson’s disease.
But the leaders said, "We don’t expect a major address. Just come
and let us honor you."
After wonderful things were said about him, Dr. Graham stepped
to the rostrum, looked at the crowd, and said, "I’m reminded today
of Albert Einstein, the great physicist who was honored by Time
magazine as the Man of the Century.
"Albert Einstein was once traveling on a train when the conductor
came down the aisle, punching the tickets of every passenger.
When he came to Einstein, Einstein reached in his vest pocket. He
couldn’t find his ticket, so he reached in his trouser pockets. It
wasn’t there, so he looked in his briefcase but couldn’t find it.
Then he looked in the seat beside him. He still couldn’t find it.
"The conductor said, "Dr. Einstein, I know who you are. We all
know who you are. I’m sure you bought a ticket. Don’t worry
about it." Einstein nodded in appreciation.
The conductor continued down the aisle punching tickets. As he
was ready to move to the next car, he turned around and saw
Albert Einstein down on his hands and knees looking under his
seat for his ticket.
The conductor rushed back and said, "Dr. Einstein, Dr. Einstein,
don’t worry, I know who you are. No problem. You don’t need a
ticket. I’m sure you bought one."
Einstein looked at him and said, "Young man, I too, know who I
am. What I don’t know is where I’m going.’"
Having said that, Billy Graham continued, "See the suit I’m
wearing? It’s a brand new suit.”
“My wife, my children, and my grandchildren are telling me I’ve
gotten a little sloppy in my old age. I used to be a bit more
fastidious. So I went out and bought a new suit for this luncheon
and for one more occasion.”
"You know what that occasion is? This is the suit in which I’ll be
buried. But when you hear I’m dead, I don’t want you to remember
the suit I’m wearing. I want you to remember this: I not only know
who I am…I also know where I’m going!"
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO
KNOW WHO WE ARE!
Forget titles or abbreviations that follow names. There are only
two kinds of people in the world:
• sinners in need of the Savior
• sinners saved by the grace of God!
1. We are: Sinners in need of the Savior:
Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of
God.”
Ezekiel 18:4b “The soul who sins is the one who will die.”
1Ti 1:12 CEV I thank Christ Jesus our Lord. He has given me the
strength for my work because he knew that he could trust me. 13 I
used to say terrible and insulting things about him, and I was cruel.
But he had mercy on me because I didn't know what I was doing,
and I had not yet put my faith in him.14 Christ Jesus our Lord was
very kind to me. He has greatly blessed my life with faith and love
just like his own. 15 "Christ Jesus came into the world to save
sinners." This saying is true, and it can be trusted. I was the worst
sinner of all!
2. We are: Sinners saved by grace: unmerited favor...
Romans. 10:12-13“... there is no difference between Jew and
Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who
call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will
be saved."
Ephesians 2:8-9 “... by grace you have been saved through faith,
and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest
anyone should boast.”
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO
KNOW WHERE WE’RE GOING!
1. It is important to know that we can know.
It would be cruel of God to let us live every day knowing that “it
is appointed unto men to die once, but after this the judgment”
(Hebrews 9:27) and not knowing where you will spend eternity.
2Ti 1:10b MSG ... Since the appearance of our Savior, nothing
could be plainer: death defeated, life vindicated in a steady blaze
of light, all through the work of Jesus. 11 This is the Message I've
been set apart to proclaim as preacher, emissary, and teacher. 12
It's also the cause of all this trouble I'm in. But I have no regrets. I
couldn't be more sure of my ground--the One I've trusted in can
take care of what he's trusted me to do right to the end.
Later in same letter to Timothy, he wrote, “ 6 ... I'm about to die,
my life an offering on God's altar. 7 This is the only race worth
running. I've run hard right to the finish, believed all the way. 8
All that's left now is the shouting--God's applause! Depend on it,
he's an honest judge. He'll do right not only by me, but by
everyone eager for his coming. 2 Timothy 4:6-8 MSG
2. It is important to know that there is a literal hell to escape:
In the light of God’s Word, it is more ridiculous for a Christian to
deny the existence of a literal hell than it is for the President of
Iran to deny the Holocaust during World War II.
Mat 13:47-50 GNB "... the Kingdom of heaven is like this. Some
fishermen throw their net out in the lake and catch all kinds of fish.
48 When the net is full, they pull it to shore and sit down to divide
the fish: the good ones go into the buckets, the worthless ones are
thrown away. 49 It will be like this at the end of the age: the
angels will go out and gather up the evil people from among the
good 50 and will throw them into the fiery furnace, where they
will cry and gnash their teeth. 51 "Do you understand these
things?" Jesus asked them.
Revelation 20:11-15 “Then I saw a great white throne and him
who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and
there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small,
standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book
was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged
according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea
gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the
dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to
what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake
of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was
not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake
of fire.”
No one really wants to go to hell...
Some will joke about it...
“Where are you going?”
“Hell, if I don't change my ways.”
It's Not about changing ways....
IS about discovering Christ
3. It is important to know that there is a heaven to be gained!
Why?
That's where Christ will be...
John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not
so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if
I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive
you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
I Cor. 2:9 "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has
conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.”
MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO
KNOW THE ONE BY WHOM YOU CAN BE SAVED
1. If you only look at Christianity as a “GET OUT OF HELL
FREE” card you're missing the point
A free ticket into heaven is just a wonderful side benefit of
knowing Jesus Christ
Not “head knowledge”, “heart knowledge”
CONCLUSION
Is there going to be a second chance? Yes, there will probably be a
lot of "second chances", but they all will be in this life!
When you breathe your last breath, your eternal destiny is forever
determined....
The only second chance you will ever get is while you are still on
this earth... Not after you die.
“Life is like a parachute jump, you’ve got to get it right the first
time.”
Do you have it right? Do you know Jesus? Really know Him?
Jesus said in, Luke 19:10 ... the Son of Man (Jesus) came to seek
and to save the lost."
Mat 10:32 If you tell others (confess) that you belong to me, I
will tell my Father in heaven that you are my followers. 33 But if
you reject me, I will tell my Father in heaven that you don't belong
to me.
How can you be saved?
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe
in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be
saved.
Invitation
