As I sit here this Monday morning I should be writing an Easter message full of flowers and happy little stories, but I can only write as the Holy Spirit guides me. So on this Monday morning, I'm going to start the day by talking our our deaths.
What could be the reason for such a deep topic on a Monday morning? Could it be that I learned of a seminary classmates passing yesterday? Could it be that I have a member grieving the loss of a sister? Could it be that I have an eighty year old father battling cancer? Or could it be that we had a great discussion at our young adult gathering last night, and a great discussion in last weeks Revelation study? I'm thinking that it is a little of all these things, plus a Holy Spirit that said: "Preacher Tim, write about this"!
Is this all there is? Is our life finite and are we just destined to a six foot deep hole in the ground? Are we a civilization whose only future is an errant asteroid striking us and wiping out any semblance of our existence? These are such deep and downing questions for early morning, especially a Monday morning, but they must be discussed.
Yesterday we shouted in celebration as Jesus entered Jerusalem as our King that entered in humbleness and humility. Little did the crowd know that a few days later they would be shouting "Crucify Him", and this king would soon be killed. Was his death his choice, our choice or God's choice or was it part of God's Master plan that would supply us all with a choice to be finite or infinite?
Often we speak about this Free Will choice that God gave us when we were created, a choice to turn to God or to turn away from God. This free will choice actually goes much deeper in the fact that God loves us so much that we are given the choice to decide if we will have a limited shelf life and be finite, or to decide that we will do not have an expiration date, thus being infinite.
Yes, we are all going to die and we do not know when, today, tomorrow or years in the future, our date of death is unknown. Today is the day of salvation, today is the day of choice, today is the day to decide if you are to be or not to be, yes that is the question!
As we journey this week and can see the cross in the near distance, we must make a choice to follow the Christ on the cross, the Savior that paid our price as to be infinite. Will you be here an hour from now, a day from now, our years from now????? Finite or Infinite, the choice is yours and the decision must be made sooner than later.
If you have yet to make your choice for finite or infinite, I pray that you look at the cross in the near distance and pray this prayer today.
“God, I know that I am a sinner. I am sorry for my sins, and I ask You to forgive me. I believe You gave Your Son, Jesus Christ, to die in my place, for my sins, on the cross.
I believe You have forgiven me, and I accept Your salvation through Jesus.
Jesus, I choose to turn from doing them again and to live for You for the rest of my life.
I choose You to be the Lord and Master of my life.
I will be who You want me to be.
I will do what You want me to do.
I will go where You want me to go.
Thank you, God, for hearing my prayer and forgiving me of all my sins.
Amen.”
See ya in church, welcome to God's kingdom where the word "finite" is not in the heaven dictionary.
Pastor Tim.
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