Almost is not close enough (Mark 10:17-23)
Story It started out with a low rumbling; then there was the sound of the violent explosion. It seemed like the whole world was rocking and reeling under the blow of Mother Nature. The sky was filled with smoke as dark as a midnight; the ashes from the eruption were falling like snow in a winter blizzard .It seemed like the very air was heated to a temperature impossible to breath .As she pulled the air into her lungs they were scorched, and her body ached with pain. She struggled as she made her way to the shore where the boat was waiting to take her to safety. She put one foot in the boat, and then she remembered the jewels she had left at home. Blocking out the cries of her rescuers, she turned around and made her way back into the towering inferno to save the things more important to her than life. As she clutched the jewels in her hand the poisonous gases from MT Vesuvius overcame her. So close to rescue; but not close enough. Almost in the safety of the boat, then tempted away by mere wealth .WHAT WILL A MAN GIVE IN EXCHANGE FOR HIS SOUL!
The Challenged Man (almost in )The rich young ruler
Text: Mark 10:17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Mark 10:18 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone.
Mark 10:19 You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'"
Mark 10:20 "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy."
Mark 10:21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
Mark 10:22 At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
1). Had integrity
2). Was a good Moral person
3). He loved God
4). Kept the commandments
5). Loved possessions more than God
Let's take a trip down the corridors of the doomed and the damned ; we hear the tormented words of this rich young ruler as he says almost ,I was close but I let my possessions stand in the way
The Concerned Man (almost in ) The scribe
Mark 12:28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"
Mark 12:29 "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
Mark 12:30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'
Mark 12:31 The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."
Mark 12:32 "Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him.
Mark 12:33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."
Mark 12:34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.
1). A Scribe one of the most important people in Israel
2). Sometimes Scribes became Judges
3). Was glad that Jesus answered the Sadducees well
4). Was in agreement with Jesus
5). Loved his job more than God
Let's enter that place of eternal darkness can you hear the Scribe as his voice utters words of parched lips "Almost in ,I was that close: but I let my job stand in the way
the Cautious man (almost in )Gamaliel
Acts 5:34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.
Acts 5:35 Then he addressed them: "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men.
Acts 5:36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.
Acts 5:37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.
Acts 5:38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.
Acts 5:39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."
Acts 5:40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
1). The most respected man in Israel
2). The Apostle Paul's teacher
3). Willing to go part of the way but not all the way
Out of the pit we can hear his intellectual voice as he speaks " I almost stood up for Jesus and his disciples but I stopped short, why didn't I go all the way with him
the Convicted man (almost persuaded )King Agrippa
Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
1). An earthly King
2). Knew the word an customs of God
3). Had Paul preach a personal sermon to him
4). Almost persuaded; but his position stood in the way
"Almost persuaded! Almost persuaded" can you hear the painful moan as it comes up from the place of the dead: a place of torture and dread
the Condemned Men
Luke 23:32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.
Luke 23:39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"
Luke 23:40 But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence?
Luke 23:41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."
Luke 23:42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
Luke 23:43 Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
1). Two men two stories
2). Both were guilty
3). One saved
4). One lost
A/C Some time back there was a conversation in hell. Satan called a meeting to discuss a major problem. Satan listed the statistics that too many people were getting saved and living for God. "Something must be done he barked out. One of the head demons said I will go to the earth and spread the lie that THERE IS NO GOD. Another demon said that won't work "A fool has said in his heart that there is no God, these people are not fools. Everyone knows that there is a Supreme Being. Another demon said, "let's tell them there is no Hell, that the bible is all a lie" Satan said that won't work they are not stupid, But I think I've got it figured out. We'll tell them
there is a God
there is a hell
God's word is true
BUT THERE'S PLENTY OF TIME: PUT IT OFF UNTIL LATER!
