WATCH OUT!

WATCH OUT!  Luke 21:29-38

Introduction: Nearly 108 years ago there was a ship out on the water in trouble. This ship was considered unsinkable, it had the latest technology built in. The Captain of the ship said, “I can’t Imagine any condition that would cause this ship to flounder I cannot conceive of any vital disaster happening to this ship.” On a moonless night at 11:30 p.m. the watch out saw a black shape ahead There were many warning signs of impending disaster, but no one heeded them. There was an iceberg ahead and the mighty Titanic went down.

            Titanic’s disaster was one of the worst maritime disasters in history on that fateful day just before midnight on April 14, 1912. Of the more than 2220 persons aboard, about 1513 died.

The Titanic sank in less than three hours. Subsequent investigations found that the ship had been steaming too fast in dangerous waters, that lifeboat space had been provided for only about half of the passengers and crew, and that the Californian, close to the scene, had not come to the rescue because its radio operator was off duty and asleep.

            These findings led to many reforms, such as lifeboat space for every person on a ship, lifeboat drills, the maintenance of a full-time radio watch while at sea, and an international ice patrol. The Church and we as individuals in a lot of ways are like the Titanic and is sailing right towards an iceberg, there are warning signs but we are not heeding them.

            God is saying wake up! Wake up! there’s danger ahead! In the passage, we read, after giving various signs about the end times, Jesus warns his disciples to “WATCH OUT!” He warns them how not to live and how to live in the light of His imminent return to the earth and the end of the world. In order to teach them a lesson, he gives them a clear sign of his return and the establishment of His eternal Kingdom on earth. He tells them a parable of the fig tree.

I. THE PARABLE OF THE FIG TREE: (Vs 29-31)

            Vs 29, Then he gave them this illustration: “Notice the fig tree or any other tree. 30 When the leaves come out, you know without being told that summer is near. 31 In the same way, when you see all these things taking place, you can know that the Kingdom of God is near.”

            What does the fig tree or any other trees have to do with Christ’s return and the establishment of God’s Kingdom on the earth? Merely from a horticulture point, unlike most Judean trees, fig trees lost their leaves each year; they produced new leaves when summer was coming, before the wheat harvest and well before the grape vintage. When the fig branch “puts forth leaves,” only a short time remains until summer. Likewise, when the final labor pains begin Christ’s return “is near; it is at the door!” The truth of this lesson is even much deeper.

            According to some interpreters, from a historical and eschatological point of view, the fig tree plays a vital role in fulfilling God’s prophetic promises for the nation of Israel. Jesus was prophetically speaking here about one of the signs that would take place before his return to the earth. Jesus was using the fig tree as an object lesson. It is mentioned in the three gospels: (Matthew 24:32-36, Mk 13:29-32, and Luke 21:29-33) In Matthew and Mark it reads, “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree.”

II THE LESSON OF THE FIG TREE

            What is the lesson we ought to learn from the fig tree? What does the fig tree represent in these passages?  Let us backtrack to some ancient prophecies. In the OT we often read God comparing Israel to a fig tree. Consider these scriptures. Hosea 9:10, “The Lord says, “O Israel when I first found you, it was like finding fresh grapes in the desert. When I saw your ancestors, it was like seeing the first ripe figs of the season.”

            Jeremiah 24:3-5, “Then the Lord said to me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” I replied, “Figs, some very good and some very bad, too rotten to eat.” 4 Then the Lord gave me this message: 5 “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: The good figs represent the exiles I sent from Judah to the land of the Babylonians.” The figs in these passages represent the nation of Israel. So often they rebelled against God’s decrees, for which God punished them by sending them into exile. However, when they repent, he promised them healing and restoration.

III THE RESTORATION OF ISRAEL

            Here are a few prophecies that tell us of God’s restoration of Israel Ezekiel 37:21-22, “And give them this message from the Sovereign Lord: I will gather the people of Israel from among the nations. I will bring them home to their own land from the places where they have been scattered. 22 I will unify them into one nation on the mountains of Israel. One king will rule them all; no longer will they be divided into two nations or into two kingdoms.”

            Isaiah 11:10-12, “In that day the heir to David’s throne will be a banner of salvation to all the world. The nations will rally to him, and the land where he lives will be a glorious place. In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to bring back the remnant of his people…He will raise a flag among the nations and assemble the exiles of Israel. He will gather the scattered people of Judah from the ends of the earth.”

            I am not a fanatic of the end time prophecies; however, I cannot help but see the movement of God in the last 100 years, in bringing about the fulfillment of these prophecies in a faster phase. These end time signs are being fulfilled right in front of our eyes. Undoubtedly when we hear, see and read what is happening to Israel right in the news, we should not give credit to any man but praise God only, because He is rapidly fulfilling what he said he would do.   How are we paying attention to the work of God in the world even more so in Israel? In the light of Christ’s imminent return what message does, the Holy Spirit has for us?

IV. WATCH OUT!

            All these signs were not given for our curiosity or intellectual stimulation, but they were given for us to warn us and to watch out! I know you might be thinking this song, of Santa Claus coming to town, “You better watch out, you better not cry Better not pout, I'm telling you why

Santa Claus is comin' to town.”  Well, the day of the Lord’s return is not going to be like Santa Claus coming to town. We have no clue as to what that day is going to be like.

            There are 86 verses in the Bible give us a glimpse of that fateful and awful day:  Here a few scriptures: Amos 5:18, “You have no idea what you are wishing for.  That day will bring darkness, not light.”  Zephaniah 1:14-15 “That terrible day of the Lord is near. Swiftly it comes— a day of bitter tears, a day when even strong men will cry out. It will be a day when the Lord’s anger is poured out— a day of terrible distress and anguish, a day of ruin and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness.”  

                The Prophet Isaiah says13:9 “For see, the day of the Lord is coming— the terrible day of his fury and fierce anger. The land will be made desolate, and all the sinners destroyed with it.” You may be wondering why am I sharing all these scriptures? To put some fear in us lest we live like as if the end of the world is never going to come, and all there is to life is here and now.

            The scripture is very clear to warn us about that frightful day. It is up to us now, either to remain skeptical about it or to repent of our sinful ways and be watchful of that day. If you don’t pay attention to anything at least pay attention to what Jesus has to say from the remaining verses Vs, 34 “Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, like a trap.

            For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. 36 Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.” This warning to watch out is very much relevant to us in a time where there is so much focus on getting rich, pleasures, personal safety, and comfort.

            What are we to watch out for in the end times? We are to watch out that our hearts are not dulled with excessive drinking and endless parties. We are to make sure that our faith is not choked and render us fruitless by the pleasures, and the anxieties of this life. We are to watch out that we are not too preoccupied with the vain pursuits of life and forget to prepare ourselves for the imminent return of Christ.

            Eugene Peterson in the Message Bible clearly articulates the warning of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthian believers regarding the end times. I Thessalonians 5:1-8, (The Message) I don’t think, friends, that I need to deal with the question of when all this is going to happen. You know as well as I that the day of the Master’s coming can’t be posted on our calendars.  He won’t call ahead and make an appointment any more than a burglar would.

            About the time everybody’s walking around complacently, congratulating each other— “We’ve sure got it made! Now we can take it easy!”—suddenly everything will fall apart. It’s going to come as suddenly and inescapably as birth pangs to a pregnant woman.

            4-8 But friends, you’re not in the dark, so how could you be taken off guard by any of this? You’re sons of Light, daughters of Day. We live under wide open skies and know where we stand. So, let’s not sleepwalk through life like those others.

            Let’s keep our eyes open and be smart. People sleep at night and get drunk at night. But not us! Since we’re creatures of Day, let’s act like it. Walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation.”

            As a young Christian, these scriptures about the end times freaked me out. They gave me a clear perspective on life and a strong determination to prepare myself to face Jesus face to face, and also share the good news of the gospel to as many people as possible throughout my lifetime. When you go home I encourage you to read up all the references pertaining to the “end times.”

            My prayer is that the Holy Spirit will challenge you and equip you so that you will be ready to meet Jesus whenever he may return to the earth. As you leave I want you to ponder these questions. How are you living your life in the light of end times? What is consuming your time these days? Are you being watchful or, are you being swept away by the torrents of life?      Watch Out, Christ will be coming back sooner than later, at a time you least expect of him to come back. Are you ready to meet Him if he came back today? One of the ways we can prepare ourselves for his return is by developing a lifestyle of prayer. Jesus made prayer an essential part of his life. May the Lord Help us all to be prepared and to Watch Out! Amen!

WHOSE IMAGE IS ON YOU?

WHOSE IMAGE IS ON YOU?

Luke 20:20-26

Introduction: As the ominous Tax Day approaches, the ethics of paying taxes seems like a timely topic. What should Christians think about paying taxes? Should we pay taxes if our government is doing things with the money, we find morally objectionable? These are some questions to consider. Some say pay as little tax as possible, others say rich people need to pay more taxes yet some others would try to evade the system and pay no taxes at all.

                Nicky Gumbel, tells us of a man who sent a check to the government for back taxes with a note attached that said: “I felt so guilty for cheating on my taxes I had to send you this check. If I don’t feel any better, I’ll send you the rest.” With these varied views on taxes who is right on this matter? What does the scripture say about Christians paying taxes?

            The main theme of our passage is not on taxes however, I would like to briefly talk about what should be the attitude of Christians when it comes to paying taxes. When did the taxing of people begin? Thankfully the Scripture is not silent on this matter, and it provides us clear answers to the ethical questions about paying taxes.  The origin of taxes: Remember there was a time the nation of Israel was led by God. Judges and Prophets were executing God’s instructions.

            For some reason, the Israelites were not satisfied having God their ultimate King and ruler. They wanted an earthly king who would go before them in pomp and royalty, who would fight their battles just like the rest of the nations around them. So they came to prophet Samuel and asks him to appoint a king to lead them. That request displeased Samuel so much so he goes and enquires God. God said to Samuel to listen to their request but also warn them about the consequences of having a king. I Samuel 8: 10-19, “This is the way the kind of king you’re talking about operates. He’ll take your sons and make soldiers of them—chariotry, cavalry, infantry, regimented in battalions and squadrons. He’ll put some to forced labor on his farms…

            He’ll conscript your best fields, vineyards, and orchards and hand them over to his special friends. He’ll tax your harvests and vintage to support his extensive bureaucracy. Your prize workers and best animals he’ll take for his own use. He’ll lay a tax on your flocks and you’ll end up no better than slaves. The day will come when you will cry in desperation because of this king you so much want for yourselves. But don’t expect God to answer.”

            Most helpful when it comes to paying taxes is the account of Jesus paying taxes. On one occasion Jesus and his disciples were at Capernaum, “the tax men came to Peter and asked, “Does your teacher pay taxes?” Peter said, “Of course.” But as soon as they were in the house, Jesus confronted him. “Simon, what do you think? When a king levies taxes, who pays—his children or his subjects?” He answered, “His subjects.”

            Jesus said, “Then the children get off free, right? But so, we don’t upset them needlessly, go down to the lake, cast a hook, and pull in the first fish that bites. Open its mouth and you’ll find a coin. Take it and give it to the tax men. It will be enough for both of us.” Matt 17:24-27

This was not a Roman tax, but a Jewish tax for the upkeep of the temple.

            The apostle Paul was clear in writing to the Romans, that the collection of taxes by a government is legitimate and the payment of taxes by Christians is imperative. “That’s also why you pay taxes—so that an orderly way of life can be maintained. Fulfill your obligations as a citizen. Pay your taxes, pay your bills, respect your leaders.” Romans 13:6-7 (The Message). Much can be said about paying taxes, but you get the point.

            If Jesus, being the son of God paid taxes, not only for himself but also for his disciples, are we exempt from paying taxes?  Let’s make paying taxes our practice in so doing we honor God through our integrity. In the passage, we read Jesus’ integrity and loyalty was challenged by the teachers of the law and the chief priests who were looking for an opportunity to arrest him.

I. CAESAR VS GOD (Vs 20-26)

            Watching for their opportunity, the leaders sent spies pretending to be honest men. They tried to get Jesus to say something that could be reported to the Roman governor so he would arrest Jesus. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you speak and teach what is right and are not influenced by what others think. You teach the way of God truthfully.

            22 Now tell us—is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” He saw through their trickery and said, “Show me a Roman coin. Whose picture and title are stamped on it?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. “Well then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” So they failed to trap him by what he said in front of the people. Instead, they were amazed by his answer, and they became silent.

            This particular incident was mentioned in the three Gospels, (Matt 22:15–22; Mark 12:13–17; Luke 20:19–26). Matthew 22: 9 reads, “and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” The spies came to catch Jesus saying something wrong. According to a New Testament scholar Robert Stein, by asking the question “is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?  the Pharisees are putting Jesus in a dilemma.

            “If he answers yes, he will lose favor with the people, for they despise the Roman taxation. If he answers no, he will be advocating rebellion against Rome and force the Roman authorities to take immediate action against him.” Jesus evades the religious leaders’ trap cleverly using the very image of Caesar that was imprinted on the Roman coins.

            Tiberius Caesar was the emperor ruling from AD 14 until 37, that was during Jesus’ adolescence and adulthood.  Jesus was fully aware of how Roman taxation was implemented under the reign of Caesar. Moreover, Ceaser exalted himself to god status by inscribing his name on the coins as, “ Tiberius, Son of the divine Augustus.”

            The provinces under the emperor were subjected to both a poll tax and a land tax. The revenue supported the army, the imperial household, government salaries, road maintenance, and public works, as well as the dole of grain for the Roman masses.[1] The very image of Ceaser on Roman coinage caused something of a religious dilemma for the Jews.

            By saying, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” Jesus was acknowledging the institutional authority of Ceasar as the earthly king and ruler. He was also encouraging people to pay the Roman taxes, which would only be helpful and beneficial for them. At the same time in a very subtle way, he wanted the people, the religious leaders and including Ceaser to recognize whose image and inscription was on all of them.

            This passage is not about whether we should be paying taxes or not, it is clear that we are required to pay. But the bigger point of Jesus was that people in general and we as Christians who bear the image of God ought to give themselves to God.

II WHOSE IMAGE IS ON YOU?

            The image of Tiberius Caesar on the Roman coins was a constant reminder to the Roman citizens that they were subjects of Rome and they were ruled by a godlike Caesar. Similarly, the image of God upon the lives of people, even more so upon us the children of God, should constantly remind us that we are subjects of God’s Kingdom and God is our King and ruler.

            I want us to explore the following scriptures that clearly highlight the fact that we belong to God. Genesis 1:26-27, Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So, God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

            To nothing and to no one in this entire creation did God say, let’s make them in our image, except for man. No matter who they are and where they are from, whether we agree with their ideologies or not, all people were made in the image of God, and God loves them, therefore they deserve our love and respect.  We are called to be the image bearers of God.

            Unfortunately, sin and Satan marred that image, that is why man instead of behaving like God, at times acts like a monster. God did not want mankind to remain in that broken state. He wanted to restore that broken image of His, so he sent his Son Jesus Christ to die on the Cross, and through his shed blood, our sin-stained image of God can be once again restored forever.

            I Corinthians 6:19-20, “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So, you must honor God with your body.”

        

            I Corinthians 3: 16-17, “Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” These scriptures tell us that both individually and together we don’t belong to ourselves but we all belong to Him and He owns us. What an honor to know that no earthly ruler, establishment or church owns us, but the creator of the universe, calls us His own.  Isaiah, 43:1-3“But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.

            O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.”  How should we then live as the image bearers of God?

Firstly, since we belong to Him, we offer ourselves, all our faculties as living sacrifices to Him, which is our true worship. Secondly, we do not copy the behaviors and the customs of this world, instead, we will let God transform us into his likeness. (Romans 12:1-2).

             In other words, as image bearers of God, we Christians are to live differently than the rest of the world. We are to reflect God’s love, kindness and mercy of God as he has shown to us.  Thirdly, God's word leads us to use our bodies and the gifts He has given us to achieve the will of God. The will of God is that none would perish but everyone would come to know Him. The will of God is that we live lives that are holy and pleasing to God. The will of God is that we love our neighbors as we love ourselves. The will of God is that we love mercy and act justly.

            In closing, whose image is on you? How are you reflecting that image of God in your family, workplace, church and in the society? Is your life reflecting God, by which God is glorified or bringing shame and disgrace to His name? My prayer is that we will bear the image of God humbly and responsibly so that by seeing our lives people would turn to Him. Amen!

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[1] Archeological study Bible, Roman Taxation, Page 1855 

Hell: Fact or Fiction

HELL: FACT OR FICTION

Luke 16:19-32

Introduction:  Here is a real-time take on hell by Ted Turner, founder of Turner Broadcasting blasted the Christian faith at a speech to the National Press Club. "Remember, heaven is going to be perfect. And I don’t really want to be there. Those of us that go to hell, which will be most of us in this room, most journalists are certainly going there... but when we get there, we’ll have a chance to make things better because hell is supposed to be a mess.

            In 1989, Turner told Dallas Morning News that "Christianity is a religion for losers." Christ died on the cross, but He shouldn’t have bothered. "I don’t want anybody dying for me. I’ve had a few drinks and a few girlfriends and if that’s gonna put me in hell, then so be it."

            Certain idioms we use I believe trivialize this matter further. For example, we say What the hell? Who the hell are you? All hell breaks loose, as hot as hell, go to hell etc. John Blanchard, in his book, Whatever Happened to Hell? Notes, “We have reached a place where the word hell has as many meanings as people want to give it.  It is spread so thinly over the English language that for most people it has lost most or all of its original significance.

            By and large, the word has been watered down so much that it has almost totally lost its impact upon mind and conscience and hardly affects how most people live.” For a variety of reasons, hell makes people uncomfortable to the point of ignoring, rejecting or mocking its very existence. Is hell a fact or fiction? Is it true or a myth? What does happen after death?

            What if the traditional pictures of hell as a bottomless fiery pit are true? What if we are traveling in that direction, is there a way we can evade or even avoid it? Today, we will explore this difficult subject.  After telling the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son, Jesus continued his teaching to his disciples with another story of the Rich Man and Lazarus.

            Before we go further it is important to note that this is a parable. Though certain details such as feelings, emotions, conversations are very vivid, we cannot necessarily take each part literally. Jesus could have been describing a hypothetical scene in the afterlife rather than the way things actually are. This story doesn’t teach us all that we need to know about hell, however, it does offer some insights concerning the afterlife. Where the righteous and the unrighteous go to after they die. And what hell might look like. With that in mind let’s explore the story.

I. THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS

            Let me paraphrase this familiar story. Once was a rich man, expensively dressed in the latest fashions, wasting his days in parties and pleasures There was a poor beggar named Lazarus. It is surprising that Jesus names the beggar rather than the rich man. This beggar was the only character in any of Jesus’ parables ever given a name.

            Some, therefore, have speculated that this was no imaginary tale, but an actual incident that really took place. Either way, Christ employs it in the same fashion as all His parables, to teach a lesson, in this case for the benefit of the Pharisees. The beggar’s constant companions were hunger, painful sores and the dogs that were licking his sores. He had been dumped on the doorstep of the rich man. All he lived for was to get a meal from scraps off the rich man’s table.     When the time came they both died. Lazarus was taken up by the angels to the lap of Abraham. The rich man was buried and woke up in hell. In hell, in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham in the distance and Lazarus in his lap. He called out, ‘Father Abraham, mercy! Have mercy! Send Lazarus to dip his finger in water to cool my tongue. I’m in agony in this fire.’“But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that in your lifetime you got the good things and Lazarus the bad things. It’s not like that here. Here he’s consoled and you’re tormented.

            Besides, in all these matters there is a huge distance set between us so that no one can go from here to there and from your place to here. The rich man said I beg you father: Send Lazarus to my house to warn my five brothers how horrible this place is. I don’t want them to end up here in this place of torment. Abraham said they have Moses and the Prophets to warn them.

            Let your brothers listen to them. The rich man said, I know, Father Abraham, ‘but they’re not listening.  If someone came back to them from the dead, they would change their ways. Abraham replied, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the Prophets, they’re not going to be convinced by someone who rises from the dead. What a horrifying story!

            I want to make a few observations from this story, which might contradict some of the misconceptions, unfounded mythical explanations, and boastful proclamations of skeptics like Ron Reagan, the son of the former president who proudly said in a TV commercial, “ I am unabashed, life long atheist, not afraid of burning in hell." Really?

            Hell is not a hoax but a real place. It is not a cool place to hang out with friends it is a fiery lake. As some might think when we die, we will not simply turn into ashes and remain ashes. But we will be fully alive having all of our five basic senses in place: sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. The story of the Richman and Lazarus makes two points: 1. Taking your comfort in this life is hazardous to your life in the next life. 2. Miracles (even resurrection from the dead) will not persuade people to repent.  Let’s look at what the Bible has to say about hell.

II. HELL: FACT OR FICTION

            In a highly secular and pluralistic society, where conflicting beliefs and views on the afterlife, heaven and hell abound it is important for the disciple of Christ to know and understand what the Bible has to say about these matters. Here is some scriptural evidence that would help us understand whether hell is a fact or fiction.

            In the scriptures, three words one from Hebrew and two from the Greek language often translated into Englis as, “Hell.” They are Shoel, Hades and Gehenna. Let me explain briefly what each word means. Firstly, Sheol, the Old Testament Hebrew word sometimes used to refer to death or the grave, mainly to the place to which all the dead go and occasionally to the place of punishment for the wicked.  Secondly, the NT Greek word Hades has a different emphasis, so that in most cases it refers to a temporary place of punishment for the wicked.

            Thirdly, another NT Greek word Gehenna is by far the clearest and most vivid of the three “hell” words and includes the punishment of both body and soul after the final Day of Judgment.  Gehanna, more than the other two words teaches the reality of eternal punishment.

This word occurs twelve times in the New Testament, eleven of which are in the Gospels and in every incidence they were uttered by the Lord himself.[1]

            What Jesus has to say about hell is true and comprehensive, for me that settles the matter once for all. Hell is not a fiction but a fact. Here are a few scriptures where Jesus uses the word Gehenna, which is translated as “hell” Jesus doesn’t mince words. He speaks about a person’s whole body thrown into hell (Matthew 5:29), of those who will be thrown into the fire of hell, (Matthew 18:9), and of hypocrites being condemned to hell (Matthew 23:33).

            When he sent out his twelve apostles on their first mission he warned them of the persecution that would come on them because of the preaching of the gospel. He encouraged them not to be afraid.  Matthew 10:28, “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” This scripture tells us that the children of God need not be afraid of those who can kill us but can not do anything to our soul, that is eternally secured by God for us through our faith in Jesus Christ.

            Another question we must try to find an answer, for who the hell was created in the first place? The Bible says that God created hell for Satan and the wicked angels who rebelled against Him, but there are people in hell also (Matthew 25:41). Both angelic beings and human beings are in hell for the same reason, sin. Romans 3:23, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Who will finally end up in hell?

            Out of his abundant love for the world God, sent His only son Jesus Christ to save the world from eternal destruction. Whoever believes in Jesus will have eternal life, but those who do not believe in Him will perish eternally. Rev 21:8 “But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

            Revelation 20:15, “Anyone whose name is not written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.” Can you imagine what would that be like falling into the fiery lake of burning sulfur? It will be somewhat like falling into the Swelling Lava Lake of Hawaii. We all watched with horror, how Lava flowed into the streets of Hawaii and consumed everything that came in contact with. Whatever Lava touched was completely destroyed, so is the fate of those who would fall into the lake of burning sulfur.

            I could give you more scriptural examples to prove to you that Hell is not Fiction but an undeniable fact. Whether you believe it or not it very well exists, and if you are wise you will do all that you can do to save yourselves, your loved ones, and others from entering hell. Can we actually avoid hellfire? Yes, we can! Jesus said, John 5:24, “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.” Jesus’ words are trustworthy.

III WHAT WILL YOU CHOOSE?

            No matter who you are, whether young or old, rich or poor, good or bad, educated or uneducated, successful or unsuccessful, male or female, straight or gay or transgender, one day we all have to face death. About 260,000 every day. I wonder how many of them will go to heaven and how many will end up in the lake of fire?  

            In his book “One Minute After You Die” Erwin Lutzer notes, “ One minute after you slip behind the parted curtain, you will either be enjoying a personal welcome from Christ or catching your first glimpse of gloom as you have never known it. You will be either elated or terrified. Either way, your future will be irrevocably fixed and eternally unchangeable.”

            Dear friend, you have only one life to live and then die. If you believe in Christ and live a life that would be pleasing to him when you die you will be with him in heaven forever. But if you refuse to believe in him, and live like the rich man in the story for yourself you will end up in the lake of fire. In closing, let me ask you if you were to die today, on which side of eternity would you wake up to? Do you have the assurance to know that your name is entered into the book of life? Jesus Christ is here today by the power of the Holy Spirit, offering you eternal life.          What will you choose? Would you accept his offer of forgiveness of your sins and enter heaven, or would you refuse that loving offer and make your way to eternal destruction? The choice is yours. A word of encouragement for those who have been saved by grace and been following Christ how concerned are you about that are perishing souls without Christ?         

            Let me close with the task that is given to every follower of Christ. Jude 22-23,  And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.” Amen

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[1] John Blanchard, “Whatever Happened to Hell”? Pages 42-43

GOING AFTER THE LOST & THE LEAST

GOING AFTER THE LOST & THE LEAST

Luke 15:1-7

            Introduction: Have you heard the story of Shrek, the merino sheep that had evaded capture and shearing for 6 years? When he was finally discovered in 2004 in his high mountain cave of New Zealand by rancher Ann Scanlan, he was almost unrecognizable as a sheep. The first thing his rescuer did was pin back his wool so he could see to walk.

            There was such an interest in Shrek’s return that the owner kept him in a pen for weeks so reporters and television stations could broadcast the amazing return of the lost sheep. And then, on live television, world champion shearer Peter Casserly shaved off 6 years of matted wool. As the shearer worked, he laid Shrek on his side with a foot of wool as his bed. Later he died in 2011, not with heavy wool or laden with fleece, but a rescued and freed-up sheep.

            How much is Shrek’s story like our story, for "we all like sheep have gone astray." We evaded God’s care and protection. But thank God for Jesus who did not give up on us the Lost Sheep. For the past few weeks, we have been studying through the Gospel of Luke. Last week we looked at the theme, “The Greatest of All Time.” Today we will look at a familiar story in Chapter 15, where we will see how God goes after the lost and the least.  

            BACKGROUND:  In Chapter 14 we read: On a Sabbath day Jesus went out to eat at the house of a prominent Pharisee. He was being watched carefully. He heals a man suffering from edema. The healing of this man on a Sabbath day did not go well with the Pharisees. He shares with them the story of the Great Banquet. A certain man prepared a great banquet.

            He invited many guests but everyone turned down his invitation by giving lame excuses.   The master was furious and tells his servant to go out and bring in the lame, the poor, the crippled and blind and fill the house. Even with all of them in, there was still more room.

            The master tells his servant to go and compel from the country lanes and behind the edges to come and enjoy the feast because he wanted his house to be filled with guests. Similarly, God is inviting all of us to enjoy the great banquet, but what lousy excuses are we giving? God wants the whole world to be at his banquet table. There is still more room.

            In Chapter 15, we see a peculiar crowd gathered around Jesus. There were sinners who were eager to hear, but the Pharisees and teachers of the law were complaining that Jesus was associating with such sinful people and even eating with them. That opens up a door for Jesus to share this all familiar story of, “THE GOOD SHEPHERD &THE  LOST SHEEP.”

I. THE LOST SHEEP:

             In ancient times people tended sheep, goats and other cattle.  A typical shepherd would have a sizeable flock of a hundred sheep. Shepherds and other herders often watched over their animals together, so the shepherds could leave their flock with the other herders while searching for the lost sheep. In our story, a shepherd has hundred sheep and one of them “gets lost”, in Matthew, we read, “wanders away.”

            Generally, sheep are gregarious creatures, a sheep lost from its flock becomes quickly agitated and disoriented and must be carried back to the other sheep. In the story, the lost sheep represents the sinful crowds. Though the self-righteous Pharisees and the teachers of the law who were supposed to be shepherding their flock were themselves lost too.

            In fact, all of humanity can be compared to that lost sheep. Matthew 9:36, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

            The prophet Isaiah laments over the lostness of mankind. Isaiah 53:6, “All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own.”Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.” In our story, Jesus asks his audience, what will the owner of the sheep do? Suppose if you were the owner of a hundred sheep and one of them got lost, what would you do? You might say to yourself, well I still have the ninety-nine intact with me, why to bother about the one that got lost, right! Well, the owner in the story reacted differently than what we might have done. He left the ninety-nine obedient sheep and went after that one rebellious, and wandering sheep.

            The shepherd was searching. It must have been dark, the mountains were steep and rugged, filled with thorny bushes but he wouldn’t give up his search, he must find his lost sheep. At last, he hears a faint voice of his sheep, he reaches out risking his life over a cliff and pulls the sheep. He puts it on his shoulders goes home rejoicing and throws a party to his friends.

             As children, we were fascinated every time our grandfather pulled out a crumpled picture and tell us dramatically the story of the Lost sheep. Even as a child I saw myself as the that lost, lonely and fearful sheep. I longed t be picked up by that caring and loving shepherd. This story echoes the prophecy of Ezekiel where God rebukes the un-caring shepherds of Israel.

II THE GOOD SHEPHERD

            The prophet Ezekiel prophesied denouncing the uncaring and apathetic attitude of Israel’s shepherds (leaders). These shepherds were only looking after their own selfish needs and they neglected the poor, the weak and the wounded, as a result, they were scattered over the whole earth. Because there were no shepherds, God’s people became a target for their enemies.

            Therefore God himself got involved in the searching and rescuing of his people. Here are God’s rescue mission and the warning to the un-caring shepherds in Ezekiel 34: 11-16, “For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search and find my sheep. I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock.  I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day.

            I will bring them back home to their own land of Israel from among the peoples and nations. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel and by the rivers and in all the places where people live. Yes, I will give them good pastureland on the high hills of Israel. There they will lie down in pleasant places and feed in the lush pastures of the hills.

            I myself will tend my sheep and give them a place to lie down in peace, says the Sovereign Lord. I will search for my lost ones who strayed away, and I will bring them safely home again. I will bandage the injured and strengthen the weak. But I will destroy those who are fat and powerful. I will feed them, yes—feed them justice!

            In this passage, we see God’s caring heart of a Good Shepherd. Jesus personified God’s heart of love and care when he said in John 10:11-18, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming.

            He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep.“I am the good shepherd;

            I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.” Throughout his ministry, Jesus was involved in rescuing the lost and the least. Towards the end, he commissioned his disciples to go and do likewise.

III THE GOOD SHEPHERD’S COMMISSION

            Jesus, the Good Shepherd, while he was on the earth, went after the lost and the least.  He healed the sick and the broken-hearted. He fed the hungry with physical and spiritual food.

            He restored the dignity of the rejected and abandoned.  He rebuked the proud and arrogant. He strengthened the weak and gave grace to the humble. He formed a new community of believers from the lower strata of society. Among them, he called twelve disciples and appointed them as apostles After his death and resurrection he gave them a command saying: “Go into all the world and preach the good news to everyone.” 

            In the 21^st century,  we the Church, the followers of Christ belong to that new community of love and care. The Good Shepherd Jesus is still going after the lost and the least and he is calling us to join his search and rescue team. This story contains two broad themes:

            In our sinful state, we were like Shrek in the introductory story, who evaded sheering for six years. We too have evaded God’s care and gentle loving correction. We wandered away in search of greener pastures, only to get stuck in a thorny lifestyle, unable to find our way back. But Jesus our Good shepherd was relentless and did not give up. He came to us and rescued us.

            Maybe some of you here are evading God’s love in pursuit of worldly riches and pleasures. Jesus is going after you. He will come right into the pit if he has to. He won’t let you stay in your miserable state because he loves you too much. He will pick you up, and carry you home rejoicingly. I have a word of encouragement for those who had already been rescued.

            The master is commanding you to go out to the streets, to the market place and compel the lost and the least to come to the banquet so that the master’s house will be full. As we come to the table of communion, let’s remember that the Good shepherd bore our sins in His body on the cross so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. May we commit ourselves to the noble task of going after the Lost and the Least, compelling and pointing them to the Good Shepherd, our Lord, and Savior Jesus Christ Amen!