First Church of God in Harvey
Sunday Morning December 30th, 2012
Final Sermon
Let us pray
Welcome....
In 1983 and 1991, I had the privilege of visiting Buckingham Palace in London. England where I was able to observe the changing of the guards. At a set time each day the guards at Buckingham Palace would change, a beautiful sight to behold. In life, we are living in a changing world, and here at the First Church of God in Harvey, we are heading for a change. There are many people who do not like changes, but like it or not, we are heading for a change.
For forty years Moses had lead the children of Israel. Sometimes things were smooth, and sometimes life was stressful. After forty years of leadership the time came when a change had to take place. Physical life for Moses had ended, he had fought a good fight, he had finished his course, and life must go on; because after Moses, there is always a Joshua, and after Joshua there will be someone else. So the question is, What things last forever? In order to consider the question, let's read Isaiah 40 verses 6 through 8, and Matthew 16 verses 13 through 20......
Our topic for today is, “What Things Last Forever?” Really, is there anything that last forever? As you think about this question, I would like to submit to you three things that as long as this world last, these three things will last forever. Number One...The Word of God; Number Two..The Church of God, God's church; and Number Three.. The Son of God.
Today is December 30th, 2012. It is the last Sunday of the year 2012, and my final sermon here as pastor of the First Church of God in Harvey. On Sunday, July 3rd, 1994, I preached my first sermon here as pastor, and I believe the topic was, heaven is a real place. What I believe back then, I still believe now, that heaven is a real place. I still believe that if a person accepts Christ as Lord of his life, and continue to live for the Lord on a daily basis, that person will go to that real place call heaven. Guess what, the following Sunday my topic was, hell is a real place. What I believe back then, I still believe now, that hell is a real place. I still believe that if a person refuses to accept Christ as Lord of his life, and continue to live a life contrary to God's will, that person will go to a real place call hell.
On that first Sunday as pastor here, I had no idea how long I would be here, a month, 6 months, a year, 5 years; but now, eighteen years later I am preaching my final sermon. Permit me just for awhile, not to boast, because I have nothing to boast about, but to praise God for the blessings he has bestowed upon me and my family.
God has given me a wife who has stood by me for over 41 years, despite all my imperfections, and today I want her to know how much I love her and appreciate her. God has given her the health and strength to work and help to take care of our family. God has given us a daughter, who despite her physical challenges is always saying ho much she loves her dad. For over one year, our daughter stayed in her room studying without our knowledge in order to earn her bachelors degree. She is now working part-time in a day care center taking care of kids. God has given us two sons, who have never got into any trouble with the law, but who have been trained to uphold the law, and now they are both lawyers. My older son just made partner in the law firm where he is working. Both our sons have played college football, and my younger son have played in the NFL; arena football, and football in Europe. My daughter have always said she wanted a sister, and God has blessed us with two daughters in law, one is a teacher, and the other is a lawyer, and now Karen has not just one, but two sisters. God did not just stop there in blessing, but we have been blessed with two beautiful granddaughters. Isn't God good. My younger granddaughter is trying to say grand pa, yes, God has been good to us
Eighteen years ago I was much younger. Eighteen years ago I was less stressful. Eighteen years ago I was not bald. Eighteen years ago I was called upon to lead a people who I knew nothing about, but by faith accepted the challenge to lead knowing that God would take care. Over the past eighteen years I have come to know you better. I have preached; I have taught; I have sung, and once in awhile I have sung with my wife; I have performed weddings; I have performed funerals; I have performed baby's dedication; I have performed baptisms; I have visited the sick; I have attended camp meetings; I have attended seminars; and the list could go on, but I did all of this to the glory of God. Yes, God has been good to me and my family.
During my time here, I have been hospitalized twice, the last time I was hospitalized my doctor said he almost lost me. Despite all the good times I have had, there has been some bad times. When you have been blessed by God, you don't talk too much about the bad times, but you dwell on the good times, and if you will dwell on the good times, you will find out that your good times far exceeds your bad times, and you will be able to say God has been good to me. Marvin Winans sing this beautiful song which speaks about the goodness of God, and I am sure many of you here today can agree with the words of this song. Listen to this, “I’ve had some good days, I’ve had some hills to climb, I’ve had some weary days, I’ve had some weary nights, But when I look around, And think things over, All my good days, They outweigh my bad days, So I won’t complain. Sometimes my clouds hang low, I ask the Lord to see them go, And then I ask the question, Lord why so much pain, But God (the one in whom I put my trust, that God) knows what’s best for me, Although my weary eyes can’t see, So I’ll say thank you Lord, I won’t complain. God’s been good to me, The Lord has been so good to me More than the world could ever see, The Lord has been so good to me, And he dried my tears away, And he turn all my midnights he turned them all into day, So I’ll say thank you Lord, I just say thank you Lord, I’ll just say thank you Lord, I won’t complain.”
All of us are here to stay for awhile, but life goes on; 20, 30, 40, 50 years from now most of us will not be here, so we ask the question, why am I here? What is my real purpose in life? If I can help somebody along the way, then my living would not be in vain. If one person’s life is changed because of me, then my living would not be in vain. If that person whose life is changed tell someone else about that change, then my living would not be in vain. So often we look at success based on large numbers, and material things, but God looks on success, not necessarily on large numbers, but on spiritual things, and what are we doing for the Lord.
In our text for today it says that, “the grass withereth, and the flower fadeth; but the word of God shall stand for ever.” There used to be time when Sears and Roebuck “was the dominant retail company of the world.” There used to be a time buying a General Motors car was the car to buy, but the world has changed. In 1975 when I bought my first new car, that car cost less than $4,000 with payments over three years. A similar car today would cost over $25,000 with payments stretched over 6 or 7 years, yes, time has changed. Back in the 70’s you get gas for 39 cents a gallon, a fresh loaf of bread for possible 25cents, and the list could go on and on, yes time has changed. “In the world of sports and in the world of business, things are constantly changing.” Talking about sports, just a few years ago the basketball team to beat in the regular season was the Cavaliers; they had the best record in basketball for about three years in a row. But time has changed, the Cavaliers has changed, and winning a game seems to be a thing of the past.
Is there anything that does not change? Are there any things that last forever? Have you ever tried to compare a photograph you took 20 or 30 years ago, with a photograph you recently took? Have anyone ever said to you, you look like the same person they knew in High School 20 or 30 years ago, and you give them a big smile knowing fully well what they have said is not the whole truth. Really, are there any things that last forever?
The word of God, God’s eternal word will stands forever. This word I am talking about is the word that have stood the test of time. This word shows you how to walk right. This word shows you how to act right. This word shows you how to live right. This word you can hide it in your heart, so that you wont have to sin against the Lord. This word can be a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path. Everything you and I need to know it is in the word, the Bible. The “teachings of God, the promises of God,” are all spelled out in the Bible, the word of God. Since I may never see you all again, let me encourage you all to stay in the word. Don’t allow any friend any love one too make you doubt the word. The word of God is true, and it never changes.
Nations and Kingdoms will rise and fall, but the word of God will last forever. It seems to me America is heading in the wrong direction, it is following the path of other great nations, but the word of God will last for-ever.: “The grass withereth, the flower faderh; but the word of our God, shall abide for ever.”
It is said that, “there are nearly one million books in the main library at Harvard University, one of the largest libraries in the world. The vast majority of them are preserved on microfilm because they are no longer being widely read. Most of the books in that great library are out of circulation. That is not the case with the Bible. It remains the best selling book of all time. It is regularly being reprinted not only in English, but in virtually ever known language on earth.” I am talking about the Bible, the word of God, it will last for ever.
The Bible, the word of God will last forever, and the Church of God, God’s true church will last forever. In Mathew 16 Jesus told his disciples that he is going to establish his church, based “upon the faith and testimony of Peter.” Peter, when the question was asked by the Master, “whom say ye that I am?” spoke up boldly, “Thou art the Christ the Son of living God. “ It was on this testimony of Peter that Jesus declared, “I will build my church: and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Man will destroy a man made church. Man will cause division in a man made church. Man will cause problems in a man made church, but the church that Jesus built, the gates of hell will not destroy the church, but God’s true church will last forever. Yes, there might be problems, yes, there might be misunderstanding, but in God’s true church there will be a bond that keeps us all together.
The world need to see the church, I am talking about the church that Jesus built. I am talking about the church that Paul talks about in Ephesians 5 verse 27 that is a glorious church not having spot or wrinkle. It is said that, “There has never been a time when American society was in more dire need of the Christian church to provide a pathway to a better future.” I remember in Jamaica as a young boy growing up, on Friday evenings my younger sister used to play church with the kids around us. It seems to me in America, there are many who are just playing church, and playing church will not last forever, but the true church that Jesus built will last forever.
I want someone to know today, despite what people might think, God’s church is alive and well. I agree with Bill Gaither who penned theses lines, “Let the Church be the Church, Let the people rejoice. Oh, we’ve settled the question, We’ve made Jesus our choice. Let the anthems ring out, Songs of victory swell, For the Church triumphant (I am talking about God’s true church) this church is alive and well.”
Finally, In Matthew 6 , in the Sermon on the Mount “Jesus warned the people not to establish their lives on things that moth and rust can consume or that robbers can break in and steal.” Instead, “we should establish our lives on things that last forever..” The Bible, the word of God will last forever; God’s true church will last forever, and according to Hebrews 13 verse 8, Jesus Christ, the Son of God will last forever, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.”
Jesus Christ, the one whose birthday we celebrated a few days ago, the one who many have forgotten at Christmas time, this Jesus, he was dead, he gave up his life for you and for me, because of his love for us. Today I have some good news I would like to share with you, Jesus is no longer dead, but he is alive, and he lives for ever more The grave could not hold him Jesus is alive, and because he is alive you and I can have life for ever more.. On this last Sunday of the year 2012, you can have life. You might have thought you were living, but real life starts when you have Jesus. You might have thought you had a good thing going for you, but you don’t have a good thing going for you until you have Jesus. As you leave here today, please do not forget that there are three things in this life that you can stand on, The word of God; The Church of God; God’s true church and the Son of God, Jesus Christ.
To the saints here at Harvey, my final words to you today, is words I have said over the past eighteen years, for you to hold to God’s unchanging hands. (refer words.."time is filled….....")
Let us all stand
Call to discipleship
Closing song/prayer
