Summary: Are you ready

Introduction

A. Richard Baxter Had a Goal in His Preaching

1. He wanted to preach as if he’d never preach again and as a dying man to dying people

2. I want to preach to you today with the urgency of Baxter’s goal

B. The Psalmist Calls Us to Number Our Days

1. This is good advice for us all

2. Preachers die too and should be aware of life’s is so brief

C. What I Would Say If This Was My Last Sermon

I. The First Part of My Sermon Would Be to Those I Love

a. We all have responsibilities to those closest to us

- I would assure my family of my faith in Christ, which gives me eternal life

- Many leave loved ones wondering whether they will see them again

b. I would tell them of the time I trusted Christ as my Savior

- I would describe the times God spoke to my heart about His love

- I would give thanks for those who lived the Christian life before me

- I would describe the church service when I opened my heart to Jesus (Rev. 3:20)

(1) I would recall the words of the pastor at the invitation

(2) I would take my loved ones into the miracle of that moment

(3) I would share Bible verses that gave assurance of my salvation (John 6:37; 1

John 5:11-13)

II. The Second Part of My Sermon Would Be to Show Where I’ll Live

a. When I die I’ll move to a new address: heaven

b. At death, Christians depart from earth (John 13:1; John 16:7; 2 Tim.4: 6)

c. We move to a better place (Phil. 1:21-23)

d.. We immediately leave our bodies and move to heaven (2 Cor. 5:8)

Jesus has been preparing a place there for me (John 14:1-3)

Let me tell you about this place to which I’m moving

a. Heaven is a place of music (Rev. 5:9)

b. Heaven is a place of rest (Rev. 14: 13)

c. Heaven is a place of rejoicing (Rev. 19:7)

d. Heaven is a place of beauty (Rev. 21:10-23)

4. Tomorrow I’ll be living in a better place

III. The Third Part of My Sermon Would Be an Appeal to the Lost

1. Jesus came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10)

2. My last sermon would be an urgent appeal to my hearers to be saved

a. I would preach sin as deadly and damning

b. I would preach the love of Christ as warm and wonderful

c. I would preach the Cross-as full payment for our sins

3. My last invitation would be long, tearful, and pleading-my final calls

Conclusion

A. We Are Not Guaranteed Life Will Last Until Tomorrow

B. Today Is the Day of Salvation (2 Cor. 6:2)

C. Come to Jesus for Salvation Today!