Sermon Tone Analysis
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Well, we are 1/3 of the way through our Believe series.
Just a reminder, the first 10 are what we believe.
The next 10, which starts in January are what we do and then who are we becoming.
Let’s recite together the 10 I Believe statements.
Take these to heart ….
1. “I believe the God of the Bible is the only true God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”
2. “I believe God is involved in and cares about my daily life.”
3. “I believe a person comes into a right relationship with God by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ.”
4. “I believe the Bible is the Word of God and has the right to command my belief and action.”
5. “I believe I am significant because of my position as a child of God.”
6. “I believe the church is God’s primary way to accomplish his purposes on earth.”
7. “I believe all people are loved by God and need Jesus Christ as their Savior.”
8. “I believe God calls all Christians to show compassion to people in need.”
9. “I believe everything I am and everything I own belongs to God.”
And today’s key topic is eternity – and …
10. “I believe there is a heaven and a hell and that Jesus will return to judge all people and to establish his eternal kingdom.”
That last one is a lot to cover in one sermon.
How much time you got?
So, what are the essentials to know about eternity?
So what should we know before we go?
This is not a perfect illustration, but let’s imagine that we’re going to take a journey.
On this journey we will leave home, arrive at an airport, go on our flight and then return home.
So, here’s what we need to know about this journey:
1) Our journey is not optional, but our destination is
Someday, we will all leave this home - we will leave this earth, this life and this body.
Leaving home is not optional.
I mentioned several weeks ago that only a small minute fraction of people in the world do not believe in an “afterlife” of sorts.
It’s safe to say that 99% of the world’s population is in agreement with Scripture - we’re all heading toward an eternal destiny.
Where we disagree, of course is the destination, but the Bible is clear, we choose our destination in this life.
For instance, in Matthew 25, Jesus tells what it will be like on the day of judgment.
There’s a conversation between the sheep (righteous) and the goats (unrighteous) - it’s is all about past choices while living on earth (when did we see you?).
In verse
Again, eternity is not an option, but the destination is.
Depart from me - continue on the journey you have chosen.”
In a cemetery in Indiana, there is a tombstone well over a hundred years old - it has this epitaph inscribed upon it:
Pause, stranger, when you pass me by:
As you are now, so once was I.
As I am now, so you will be.
So prepare for death and follow me.
Sounds wise.
Until some time later, an unknown person etched these words into the tombstone:
To follow you, I’m not content,
Until I know which way you went.
I mention this because we would do well to remember that this life is not the end – for us or the people around us.
There is an eternity - a realm without time or end.
We don’t choose eternity, but God gives us the choice where we spend it.
Choosing our destination begins now in this life prior to leaving home.
Scripture says, “Today is the day of salvation, choose this day whom you will serve” because when that “taxi cab” shows up at your door - the choice has already been made - by you.
Choose Christ now.
So, this taxi picks us up and takes us to an airport.
One of the most important things that they check at an airport is … identification.
2) Our IDs will be checked
We’ve already read that when we die, we face judgment.
We don’t often think of this, but there are actually two judgments.
One is immediately after death; the second is sometime later prior to entering eternity.
We’ll get to that one in a moment.
The first judgment is a judgment of “identification” - a judgment of faith.
Most of us have probably seen the commercial “What’s in your wallet.”
This is critical.
We all carry our IDs in our wallets or purses - whatever (navy has man-purses).
When we arrive at this airport, the first thing security will ask to see is our ID.
So, we pull out our wallet, pull out our ID and hand it over to be checked.
I’m telling you, what’s in your wallet is critical.
Now, what is an ID?
An ID is proof of who we are.
The security guard will look at our ID and look at us and see if the picture matches who we are.
Here’s what they see - metaphorically, either a picture of a goat or of a sheep.
Matthew 25 is not about the initial judgment, but the fact is, each person has already been identified - already seperated.
If you were to die today, what’s in your wallet?
A picture of a sheep or goat?
We’ve already read that not everyone who says I’m a Christian is a sheep.
Not everyone who goes to church is a sheep.
(A false sense of security - a fake ID.
Nonchalant approach to salvation - I’m good).
This initial judgment is not about what we’ve done or what we said, but about faith - whether or not while in this life we truly believed and received the free gift of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
Did we truly receive His atoning work on the cross (He paid for my sin through His blood) - I received His pardon, His forgiveness?
Has His life changed my life?
On occasion, security will ask for a second form of ID.
Sheep will say - “I’ve got nothing.
All I have is what I’ve given you.
I don’t have anymore proof.”
The goat will say, “Listen here you dimwit security guard, don’t you who I am.
Wait until ‘you know who’ gets here.
He’ll set you straight, buddy.”
Jesus just happens to arrive.
Jesus will say, “Look Mr. and Mrs. Sheep, when you received my gift of salvation, it changed your life.
You turned away from a life of sin, you were transformed, and you began to grow in faith, and you began to give back to society, and to the church - you went and did something with your salvation.”
Then Jesus turns to goat.
“Listen here, goat-head.
You said you believed in me.
But I don’t know you.
You didn’t do anything with salvation.
You didn’t change.
You didn’t turn from sin.
You didn’t give back.
I gave you so much ….”
“Our deeds are not the basis of our salvation, they are the evidence of our salvation.”
Listen, if you think you’re a sheep and you still act like a goat ….
Let’s get back at the airport.
Everyone, both goats and sheep will experience a
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