WHY IS IT SO EXCITING FOR US?
It is exciting for two reasons:
(1) By nature it is always exciting when we get something new. It is exciting to get…
• A new car
• A new suit of clothing
• A new home
• A new child or grandchild
But it is also exciting as we anticipate entering a NEW YEAR.
WHAT MAKES THE NEW YEAR SO EXCITING?
(2) The old year we have had may have brought some very difficult times for some folks. For instance…
• Some have lost loved ones this year
• Some have had to endure great sickness throughout the year
• Some have lost jobs this year
• Some have lost friends through death or betrayal
• Some have had financial setbacks
Those who have had to endure these things look forward to a New Year, and they are more than happy to close out the Old Year and send it to the history books.
A lot of folks wanted to make it to this new year but it was not what God had planned for them.
But I am sure many of you are resolving to make this a year to have a closer relationship with God than you did last year…THIS IS GOOD!
Did you know the Bible tells us how that can be accomplished?
Take a close look at our text, James 4:8. We read, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you...”
Notice, God places the first step of responsibility on us. He tells us to “draw nigh” to Him, then He will “draw nigh” to us.
Why do we have to make the first step?
Because when the Lord Jesus stepped out of heaven onto this earth, HE MADE THE FIRST STEP. He came to draw us to Himself. The ball is now in our court!!!
James makes a suggestion that we all should consider, He tells us, again, we should “draw nigh” to God and if we do that God will “draw nigh” to us.
That is the wisest thing we can do with these 365 days this year.
We should all “draw nigh” to God…
I. BECAUSE OF THE BREVITY OF LIFE.
Illus: I believe that Carl Sandberg described life best, when he said, "Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you will determine how it will be spent."
Did you notice, when you were growing up, it seemed that it took forever to reach the age of sixteen. But, once you reached that age, it seemed as if you had a birthday every six months? It is amazing how fast a person can get from 16 to 70.
Job said basically the same thing. In Job 14:1, he said, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days...”
The psalmist tells us we are to number our days.
Illus: A few years ago “People Magazine” published an article entitled "Dead Ahead" telling about a new clock that keeps track of how much time you have left to live. It calculates an average life span of 75 years for men and 80 years for women.
So you program your
• Your sex
• Youg age
• Your weight
• Your geographical location
into the clock, and from then on it will tell you how much time you have left to live.
Isn’t that what the Psalmist told us to do - to number our days?
When I first heard about the clock I figured out that if I lived to be 75 years old that I had just about 1,095 days left to live. That’s all, just 1,095 days left to live.
But wait a minute. Neither you nor I have a guarantee of even one day more to live.
In fact the Bible tells us not to count on tomorrow because tomorrow may not come for you or for me.
All we have is right now. So our time on this earth is valuable because it is very limited.
We often hear folks say, “If I could live my life over again, I would do a lot of things differently!” And if they knew what they know today, they probably would!
If we could live our life over again knowing what we know now, probably we all would do a lot of things differently.
Illus: Jesus went to the home of Mary and Martha and Lazarus. He sat down to teach, and Mary was sitting at His feet just soaking in every word. Meanwhile, Martha was out in the kitchen preparing dinner.
Now, you know the story. It is found in Luke 10. Martha gets upset because Mary is not in the kitchen, too. So she complains to Jesus, "Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" (Our translation.)
In Luke 10:40-42, we read, “But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
Many are like Martha, they are taking the one life they have and they are doing all kinds of things that one day when they stand before the Lord they will regret they spent their life doing. It may not be doing bad things, but they are things that do not amount to anything in eternity.
Christians need to evaluate the things they are doing. Will those things be anything worthwhile when they stand before the Lord Jesus.
In fact, most of us seem to be very busy. We’re always in a hurry.
• We Walk fast,
• Talk fast,
• Eat fast.
• And after we eat, all too often, we stand up and say, "Excuse me. I’ve gotta run."
Illus: Someone said, "Life is what happens to you while you’re making plans to do something else."
• Listen, life is short. Some of you have been planning for years to dedicate your life to the Lord and do some things for Him.
• Some have planned to tell certain ones about Jesus.
• Some have planned to set aside time each day to intercede in prayer for others.
• Some have planned to give someone something, just for Jesus’ sake.
I am here to tell you - YOU NEED TO DO IT. BEGIN DOING IT NOW, IN ____!
One of the reasons WE SHOULD DRAW NIGH TO GOD IS BECAUSE OF THE BREVITY OF LIFE.
Some have been here for 60, 70, and even 80 years, but have not “lived” at all.
Illus: Someone wrote:
“There was a very cautious man
Who never laughed or played
He never risked, he never tried
He never sang or prayed
And when he one day passed away
His insurance was denied
For since he never really lived
They claimed he never died.”
There are people like that. They have been alive, but have never lived the abundant life that Christ offers every person. Since they have not lived the “abundant life,” they have never lived at all!
We should draw nigh to God because of the brevity of life. Also, we should draw nigh to God…
II. BECAUSE OF THE UNCERTAINTY OF TIME OF DEATH.
Hebrews 9:27, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”
Look at the word “appointed.” This is telling us that we all will die. Did you know that God is the One Who makes that appointment?
Illus: When we have a dental appointment, we have to know what day and what hour we are supposed to keep that appointment so we set the date and time.
Every church has people who make a habit of showing up late. But, I can assure you that on the day when their appointment with Mr. Death comes they will not be late.
We have not been given a specific hour or day. All we are told is that we all have an appointment.
Illus: Perhaps someone is saying, “Preacher, I am not worried about death. I went to the doctor and he told me I was in perfect health.”
How many times have we heard mourners at a funeral talking about the deceased, saying, “Just the other day he went to the doctor and the doctor told him he was in excellent health. Who would ever have thought that in just one week he would be dead?”
We should draw nigh to God because of the uncertainty of time of death.
Illus: Dr. Odell Belger when he attended Bible College in Lakeland, Florida he worked in a hospital. He said it was always shocking that many of the patients he worked with appeared to be in good shape one day and died the next!!!!
Also, we should draw nigh to God…
III. BECAUSE OF HIS IMMINENT RETURN.
The Lord’s disciples went to Him and said, Matthew 24:3, “Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?”
We are commanded to watch for His return.
There is a big difference between WAITING and WATCHING.
The difference between these terms is illustrated by the story of a fishing vessel returning home after many days at sea.
Illus: As they neared the shore, the sailors gazed eagerly toward the dock where a group of their loved ones had gathered. The skipper looked through his binoculars and identified some of them:
• “I see Bill’s Mary,
• And there is Tom’s Margaret
• And David’s Anne.”
One man became concerned because his wife was not there. Later, he left the boat with a heavy heart and hurried up the hill to his cottage.
As he opened the door, she ran to meet him, saying, “I have been waiting for you!” He replied with a gentle rebuke, “Yes, but the other men’s wives were watching for them!”
We read in I Thess. 5:6, “Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us WATCH and be sober.”
Also, we read in Rev 3:3, “Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.”
Illus: A tourist, driving through West Texas, stopped at a gas station and observed a piece of rope dangling from a sign labeled, “Weather Conditions.” “How can you possibly tell what the weather is with a piece of rope,” the tourist wanted to know. “It’s simple, sonny,” was the droll answer.
• When the rope swings back and forth, its windy.
• When it is wet, it is raining.
• When it is frozen stiff, its snowing.
• And, when its gone...tornado!”
Jesus has told us there are certain things we can look for and when those things come about, we should look up because our “...redemption draweth nigh.”
Jesus has told us His return is imminent. Certainly all the signs point clearly to His soon return.
We all should draw nigh to God because of His imminent return. Most importantly, we should draw nigh to God…
IV. BECAUSE THE BIBLE COMMANDS US TO.
God’s Word tells us to, “Draw nigh to God...” There are several things we need to consider about these four words.
First we need to realize, THIS IS A COMMAND. God made it clear that those who love Him would obey Him. This is for our good.
Illus: The people who make up this nation’s armed forces are first taught they must obey commands. This is not for fun. This is for their good.
We need to understand this is NOT just something GOD WISHES we would do. There is a difference between a wish and a command. There have always been some who could not tell the difference.
Illus: Many parents do not know the difference between a command and a wish and because of this everyone suffers. When they want the child to do something they often say, “Honey, I wish you would...” Then they wonder why the child sits there as if he did not hear anything. Even children realize “wishes” are usually things that do not come true. The parent should state clearly the request. “Honey, take the trash out, please!” If the child does not obey, then is the proper time to take him “out behind the barn” and teach him obedience.
The Lord gives a clear command, “Draw nigh to God...”
We need to realize WHAT WE ARE TO DRAW NIGH TO.
Conclusion:
Illus: John Blanchard explained it well, when he said, "The moment a man is born he begins to die, and that death could come at any time, by design, disease, disaster, or decay. Man in not here to stay, he is here to go!"
What is going to determine if you are going to draw near to God this coming year? It all depends on us.
God has put the responsibility in our laps, He has said, DRAW TO ME AND I WILL DRAW NEAR UNTO YOU.
None of us know what this year will hold for us. I sincerely hope it will be one of the many more wonderful years of your life. But we do not know what this year holds for us:
• Perhaps there is a car waiting for us to get into and it will be the last car we will ever get into.
• Perhaps there is a curve on the highway somewhere waiting for us to arrive but we will not make it around it.
• Perhaps there is a hill for us to drive up but it will be the last hill we will ever top.
• Perhaps we will walk out of our home for the last time this year.
• None of us know what this coming year holds for us.
Whatever the future holds for us, we want to have that close relationship with the Lord Jesus.
He has done everything He can to have a close relationship with you. Now it is up to you!!!
IF GOD SHOULD BE SO GRACIOUS AS TO GIVE US ANOTHER YEAR…HOW DO YOU PLAN LIVING THOSE 365 DAYS!!!
We all should draw nigh to God-
I. BECAUSE OF THE BREVITY OF LIFE.
II. BECAUSE OF THE UNCERTAINTY OF TIME OF DEATH.
III. BECAUSE OF HIS IMMINENT RETURN.
IV. BECAUSE THE BIBLE COMMANDS US TO.
