Subject: Everyday Temptations, #12 in Sain’s filing system

1/4/04 am

Christians Live For The Next Life

Introduction

1. Some of man’s greatest and most perplexing questions are stated below.

a. Where did I come from?

b. Where am I going?

c. Why am I have?

2. The Bible answers each of these searching questions and points out the temporary

nature of our surroundings.

3. This study will attempt to put our time here in this life into perspective—we are here

only to get ready for the hereafter.

I. This world attracts and distracts.

A. There is undeniable beauty in nature (Psalm 19:1; Romans 1:20).

1. God pronounced that His creation was “very good” (Genesis 1:31).

2. There is nothing wrong with admiring the grandeur of God’s creation. In fact,

more time spent in reflection of God’s Work (Isaiah 66:1) could help many

draw nearer to God (Hebrews 3:4).

B. Christians must guard against allowing these attractions to become distractions.

1. Too many are enthralled with the pleasantries of this world to the neglect of

the God Who made them.

a. Some even think that God can be found in nature.

b. During the warmer months, how many fishing boats can be seen going to

lakes on Sunday morning?

2. Whether it’s vacation in Gatlinburg or recreation at the local sports field or

camp ground, we cannot let this world distract us from our main goal of

getting to heaven.

C. There is pleasure in sin (Hebrews 11:25), so we must beware (2 Peter 5:8).

II. This world is where we live, but it’s not our home.

A. We must not become too attached to this world.

1. 2 Peter 3:9—This world will be destroyed.

2. 1 Peter 2:11—This world is not our home.

3. Hebrews 11:13—This world never has been home to God’s faithful.

B. Many Christians struggle with having to give up the world, but the world itself

gives up truly converted Christians (John 15:18).

1. Perhaps the apostles rejoiced when they were rejected (Acts 5:41) because it

proved that they were unlike the world around them.

2. Christians who have too much in common with the world (i.e. watches what

the world watches, wears what the world wears, speaks like the world speaks,

etc.) cease to be the called out (2 Corinthians 6:17).

a. Our Christianity should make our interaction with the world a little strange

(1 Peter 4:4).

b. We should experience many moments where we want to escape “the

pollutions of the world” (2 Peter 2:20).

3. Let’s not be guilty, as many are, of apologizing for our Christianity. There is

never a need to apologize for doing what Christ wants over what the world

wants.

4. Let’s not be guilty, as many are, of feeling trapped by our Christianity.

Christianity is truly liberating, but fact transcends the worldly mind.

III. Time spent in this life is only to prepare us for the next life.

A. “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his

commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

1. Life is not all about our job. In fact, our only real job is to please God; Paul

calls that our “vocation” (Ephesians 4:1).

2. Life is not all about clubs or organizations. Many will leave this life in a lost

condition even though they were members of numerous community activities.

B. One of the greatest facets about being a Christian is our ability to assist people in

areas that really matter!

1. Doctors, mechanics, and other highly trained professionals can help

individuals in a number of ways, but these services pale in comparison to what

a faithful Christian is able to do for others.

2. Christians can offer guidance in life and death/heaven and hell issues.

Conclusion

1. How do you view your time here on earth? How attached are you to this world?

2. It is very healthy for us to have a proper view of this life.

a. We will fear death less.

b. We will appreciate God more because of the numerous opportunities He provides

for us to make our calling and election sure (1 Peter 1:10).

c. It is in our best spiritual health that we properly view life.

_____

YOU KNOW YOU’RE CHANGING WHEN…

Dennis Gulledge

You know you’re changing physically when you round out, gray up, slow down and turn in early and don’t see any comfortable way to stop any of it. It’s all part of growing older. You know you’re changing temperamentally when your teenaged daughter’s musical preferences begin to grow on you. You see it coming when you be-come less resistant to the sounds of the Backstreet Boys, NSYNC and 98º. Then you may have cause to worry, but never at the sacrifice of the “old music.” You know you’re changing spiritually when the old Jerusalem gospel loses its appeal, when pointed sermons have lost their point with you and when liberalism has slowly crept in, taking you captive and you hardly seem to be aware of it.

Some change is natural. It is part of our physical makeup and goes along with God’s design. Like it or not we are all changing. Some change is a good idea. A father needs to get along with his daughter. I may complain about some of the music my teenaged girls listen to, but my parents also disliked my beloved Carpenters thirty years ago. Some change is a definite mark of spiritual decline. This kind of change has affected the Lord’s church at large for years and is marking our general spiritual digression. This kind of change is destroying the distinctiveness of the Lord’s church, corrupting the pulpit by producing an uncertain sound in many quarters, resulting in wide-spread spiritual slumber among us. Let’s fight this kind of change!