One Bullet Away From Eternity - Are You Ready To Meet Your Maker?

This is not a blog, it's a sermon. The Events at Virginia Tech last Monday should cause all people to stop and consider Eternal, Spiritual matters. With that in mind, I preached last Sunday's message from James 4:13-17 as a reminder that we are all destined to leave this world, and spend Eternity somewhere else. My prayer is that God would use the tragedy at Virginia Tech to spark a revival on College campuses that would extend beyond the campus and sweep our troubled and confused Nation. I pray that multitudes would turn to Jesus Christ as Lord, and God would be glorified...even in the midst of this overwhelming catastrophe. The message is entitled, “One Bullet Away From Eternity: Are You Ready To Meet Your Maker?” To hear the audio, click here. The entire manuscript is printed below. I normally don't type out sermons...but I felt this situation demanded it. To God be the Glory.

“One Bullet Away From Eternity: Are You Ready To Meet Your Maker?”

By Shane Kastler, The First Christian Church of Pleasanton, KS (4/22/07)

"Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.’  Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.’  But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.” James 4:13-17 (NASB)

Introduction – The Beating Heart

Everyone reading this has a beating heart. Within your chest at this very moment the heart beats pumping blood throughout your body…and every heart beat brings you one step closer to imminent death. None of us shall live forever on this earth. And while all people are responsible for their sinful actions, we know that God is still Sovereign over all things, including death. God has set a fixed number of heart beats for each and every person. The Psalmist wrote:

“In Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.” --Psalms 139:16 (NASB)

Your heart beats on….today. Tomorrow, it might stop and you’ll find yourself inescapably and forever set in an Eternal Life of Joy, or Eternal Torment of Pain which shall have no end.

Facing eternity is a reality that we must be prepared for every day of our lives because none of us know when that day will come. Young people ignore the issue and embrace life, naively thinking, “it will never happen to me.” And yet constantly we are reminded that the cold hand of death is no respecter of persons. Death shall claim the young and the old. The sick and the healthy. The weak and the strong. The prepared and the unprepared. The Christian and the Non-Christian.

Monday, April 16 started out as a “normal morning” for 32 people in Blacksburg, Virginia. College girls woke up, put make up on, fixed their hair, gathered their books and went to class. College boys went to the cafeteria and scarfed down breakfast before rushing off to class…not knowing that they had just partaken of their last meal.

We all know what happened. Shortly after 7:00 am, a deranged student named Seung-Hui Cho entered a dormitory and shot a young female student, as well as a popular male student who worked in the dorm. A couple of hours later, Cho strolls into a classroom building, chains the doors and begins to methodically shoot student and teacher alike, before finally turning the gun on himself. 33 people dead. 33 people pass from the temporal college world of grades, term papers, and tests. Friends and fun. Sororities and fraternities…..and into an Eternal Spiritual world of judgment and reward. Right and Wrong. Condemnation and Glorification. Heaven and Hell.

Some were READY to go. They didn’t necessarily want to go on that particular day. But they were ready. They were prepared to meet their Maker…..and some sadly, tragically….were not. One who was ready was Lauren McCain, a 20 year-old sophomore from Shawnee, Oklahoma. On her MySpace web page, she described herself like this: “The purpose and love of my life is Jesus Christ. I don't have to argue religion, philosophy, or historical evidence because I KNOW Him. He is just as real, if not more so, as my 'earthly' father.” This week, I went on her MySpace page and read some of the messages written to her on Monday and Tuesday. Friends and family kept sending her messages to call them. They were monitoring news reports about the shootings and longed to know of her safety. Thousands of college students on that day called and e-mailed their family to let them know they were safe. McCain’s family never received such a call. The messages on her MySpace page got more and more frantic. A friend named Whitney writes: “Oh Lauren please call someone. We are so worried about you. We miss you so much.” The call never came. Because Lauren was dead. Her MySpace messages ran the whole gamut of emotion from Monday morning to Tuesday evening. The concerned, became frantic, the frantic became saddened, the saddened became resigned. One of the last messages said this: “You inspired so many because you lived like a real Christian. Your impact on so many lives, including my own, is astounding. You really loved God and now you can finally dance before Him. I love you, Lauren.”

I wonder…what would have been said about you, if it was your life taken on that day? Perhaps people will praise your kindness, your intelligence, your personality, or other aspects of your life. While that may be commendable….it’s not good enough to get you to Heaven. When people see our lives, they had better be constantly mentioning the name, “Jesus Christ.” This should mark us. This should define who we are. When people think of us……it should make them think of Jesus. This was obviously the case with Lauren McCain. And now, I’d like to take a glimpse into that world in which Lauren entered on April 16.

The Glories of Heaven

As sad and tragic as this story is…..Lauren’s story is not as sad as many others. Jesus Christ was not simply a name from History to her. He was the Lord of her life. And rest assured, those who follow Christ in this life enter in to an Eternity that is utterly unspeakable in its Glory and Grandeur. The Apostle John records this vision of Heaven:

“Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne.  And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance.  Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads.

Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder.  And the four living creatures, day and night they do not cease to say, "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME.”  And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever,  the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, "Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed , and were created.” Revelation 4:2-11 (NASB)

Again, we’re told:

“When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.  And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.’  Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.’  And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, ‘To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.’  And the four living creatures kept saying, ‘Amen.’ And the elders fell down and worshiped.” Revelation 5:8-14 (NASB)

This is a worship service, par excellence. Our worship doesn’t reach this level on Earth, because there are so many barriers in the way. But in Heaven, those barriers will be forever removed. No sin to hinder. No weariness to extinguish. No pain to distract. No clock to watch. Just infinitely joyous and eternally comforted creatures….worshipping their Creator, Savior, and Lord.

If you die in Christ…you will experience this. If you die apart from Christ, you won’t. Are you ready to meet your Maker?

The Miseries of Hell

As glorious and comforting as the picture of Heaven is….the pictures Jesus gives of Hell are equally sad, disturbing, and miserable. In fact they’re so miserable that modern man likes to dismiss them as legends, fairly tales, and superstition. We might like to do that. Maybe we could….if they weren’t so REAL. If you’re sitting on the railroad tracks with a train barreling towards you….simply closing your eyes WILL NOT make the train disappear. You can tell yourself again and again: “There is no train. There is no train.” Yet inevitably, the train will all too painfully make its presence known to you. And so it is with Hell. Jesus spoke of it more than anyone, and what He said wasn’t pretty. He described it as a place of “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt.8:12), “eternal destruction” (Matt. 7:13), “eternal darkness” (Matt. 8:12), “eternal flames” (Matt. 25:41), and pain, agony, and torment. (Luke 16:23) Jesus said:

“If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell , into the unquenchable fire, where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED. If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame, than, having your two feet, to be cast into hell , where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED. If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell , where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.  For everyone will be salted with fire.” --Mark 9:43-49 (NASB)

You might be tempted to dismiss Jesus’ statement as hyperbole. You might say He’s using figurative language. Perhaps He is…….but make no mistake, He’s describing a place so horrible that we should consider losing a limb as a far happier event that to go there. But don’t miss Jesus’ point. It’s not your hand or foot He wants. It’s your heart and your life. He offers salvation to all who will come to Him in repentance and faith. He offers forgiveness and a brand new life, plus eternity in Heaven with Him when you die. The other option is horrendous. What makes Hell, “Hell” is that it NEVER GOES AWAY. There is no Rest In Peace, because there is no escape. No death to end it. No drug to ease it. No way to escape it once you’re there. You must escape it TODAY.

The Vaporous Life

What if I had special knowledge from God, concerning your death? Hypothetically, what if I KNEW when you were going to die, and I revealed to you that it would happen, next week. Wednesday at 2:54 p.m., you’re going to die. Would you live the next 3 days differently? Of course you would. You would know the clock is ticking and you would make the most of your time. You would prepare yourself to leave. Now, let’s remove the hypothetical portion of the equation. I don’t know the day, time, or circumstances….but I do know the reality…..YOU ARE GOING TO DIE! You will not spend the next 500 years in your hometown. Every heart beat draws you closer to the grave. Every second draws you closer to Eternity. Are you ready to meet your Maker?

How are we to live as Christians in a society like ours? A society in which, on any given day, some crazed lunatic might blow you away. A world in which, at any given moment, a plane might fly into a building you’re sitting in. A nation in which, at any time, a bomb could take your life. Shall we live in paranoid fear? NO….far from it! The Bible exhorts us to fear NONE, but God.

“Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 10:28-33 (NASB)

FEAR GOD! TRUST IN JESUS CHRIST!.....and let the world do what it will do. If you die, die rejoicing in a Savior who has removed the sting of death by His victory over it on the cross. (1 Corinthians 15:58) Die fearlessly looking to the reward, rather than clinging to the passing pleasures of a sin cursed world.

JAMES’ LESSON

“ Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit’  Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow.” James 4:13

James makes it so clear in James 4:13-15. Live your life. Make plans. Make money. Take care of your family…..but in doing all of that….recognize God’s Sovereign Authority over every minute detail of your life. And bow to Him, relinquishing any “right” you think you might have to dictate the parameters of your life to Him. Oh, how we need to realize God’s Sovereignty over our lives! How much frustration would we avoid? How much pain would be eliminated? How much comfort would come…..if ONLY, we bowed the knee….and lived our lives, content in His Perfect Control.

The reality of the matter is: WE DON’T KNOW WHAT TOMORROW WILL BRING. You might live to be 100. Or you might die tomorrow. Either way, the Christian is signed, sealed, and ready to be delivered. The one who has turned from sin in repentance and placed their faith in Christ as LORD of their life, is ready to go. Your death isn’t important. Your LIFE is. Are you following Jesus? Do you really love Jesus? Is He the Lord of your LIFE, everyday (not just Sunday)? Are you ready to meet your Maker?

“You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.” James 4:13

Do you want to see an example of what your life is? Light a candle, then blow it out and watch the smoke. At first there’s a lot of smoke. Then it begins to drift and float away. Eventually, after a few minutes……it’s gone. And so it is with you and me. Today, you’re here. Tomorrow you’re gone. Your physical life will end…..but your soul will spend Eternity somewhere. Follow Jesus Christ to Heaven. Or reject Jesus Christ and continue on to Hell. But make no mistake, once this life ends…you’re forever SOMEWHERE.

“Instead , you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.’” James 4:15

God is in control. He is the King and Ruler of this Universe. That’s a fact. Some accept and embrace it. Some ignore and reject it. Yet, it’s still a fact. You and I are sinners. Our nature is such that we will choose sin over God every time. As a perfectly Holy and Righteous Creator, God would be well within His rights to cast all of us into the Eternal flames of Hell. But, He is Loving, Gracious, and Kind. You are alive today because of the Grace of God. By His Grace, we come to realize our sinfulness before Him. By His Grace, we feel the conviction of having sinned against His perfect standard. By His Grace, we hit the floor, in broken repentance over our sin. By His Grace, we say, “YES!” and embrace Jesus Christ as the One and Only, Supreme Lord of our lives. By His Grace, the punishment for our sins was poured out upon Jesus Christ on the cross. If you’re saved….it’s because of His Grace. If you’re lost, it’s because of your sinful rebellion against Him. By His Grace, you’ve heard this message today. Will you follow Christ and be saved? Will you reject Christ and be damned? Today you can turn to Him. Tomorrow, as we painfully learned again this week, may be too late. Your life is a vapor, that’s here for a while, and then it’s gone. Are you ready, TODAY……… to meet your Maker?

Comments

[Chris]

Great job, Shane! A timely word from the Lord. Well done.

Chris