4-10-07 Ashamed "I John 2:21-29"

Memory Verse: I John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we my have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

When Shackleton was driven back in his attempt to reach the South Pole, he was forced to leave some men on Elephant Island, promising to come back for them. Time and again he tried, but was unable to reach them.

At last, although it was the wrong time of the year, he made another great attempt. An open channel formed between the sea and where he had left his men. He rushed in with his boat at the risk of being caught by the moving ice, got his men, and rushed out again before the ice crashed together. It only took half an hour.

Afterward, he turned to one of the rescued men and said, "How was it you were able to come so quickly?" The man answered, "Sir, Mr. Wild (Shackleton's second-in-command) never let a chance slip. You had promised to come and we were waiting for you. Whenever there was a chance of your coming, Mr. Wild said, 'Boys, roll up your sleeping bags, the boss may be here today,' and, Sir, our sleeping bags were all rolled up; we were ready!"

When Christ returns, some will not be ready. Lost people who are not ready because they have not been born again through faith in Christ will be left for the awful time of tribulation. Christians who are not living as the ought will be ashamed when they are caught up into the presence of their Saviour.

If Christ had come last week would you have been ashamed? Last night? Abide in Him, that, when He shall appear, you may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.

4-9-07 Dissolved "II Peter 3:10-18"

Memory Verse II Peter 3:11 Seeing then, that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy living and godliness.

Most people spend their lives gathering trinkets, all of which will someday be dissolved. The God who formed every visible thing out of atoms will one day release them from their responsibility for a time and allow all things to be dissolved. This in not going to happen soon for the rapture of the church, the tribulation and the one thousand year reign of Christ on earth precede the event. Nevertheless, it is good to be reminded that everything we see about us is temporary.

In view of this, wise people look for better investments than can be found on planet earth. Jesus said: "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal" (Matthew 6:19-20).

Peter said that the coming dissolution of all things calls for holy living. What an object lesson! Every sign of decay is to remind us of our Holy God and our responsibility to live in His will. Every sign of rust on our automobiles is a message to live holily. Every building that is falling apart and returning to the soil is a reminder that we should be holy in our conduct.

Someone said it well long ago: "There's only one life; It will soon be past; Only what's done for Christ will last."

What do you possess that cannot be dissolved?

4-8-07 Scoffers "II Peter 3:1-9"

First off I'd like to say Happy Resurrection Day to all.

Memory Verse II Peter 3:3 Knowing this first, than there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts.

Some doubt the second coming of Christ. "Scoffers," the Bible calls them. They have heard preaching about Christ's return for many years and since it has not taken place, these self-styled experts have concluded it isn't going to happen. Interestingly, their doubting is a sign of the Lord's coming.

We are so tied to time that two thousand years seems like a long period to us. Actually, it is but a moment in eternity. Peter explains that a day is with the Lord as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. The Psalmist added another dimension when he wrote: "For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night" (Psalm 90:4).

It is true that prophets and preachers have been announcing the return of Christ for centuries and it has not taken place. But think how long the world waited for His first coming! The first promise of the birth of Christ was given right after the fall of man. Century rolled into century and the promise remained unfulfilled. Prophets spoke from time to time and some believed while others doubted. When the hour arrived, God's appointed hour, Christ was born. Doubters did not alter the fact. Nor will unbelief make any difference in the sure fulfillment of Christ's promise to return.

Someday, a preacher will say, "Christ may come this week," and He will come. Every hour brings us closer to the moment of His return. the countdown continues. Don't let the scoffers deceive you.

Live in the light of His return.

4-7-07 The Whole You "I Thessalonians 5:14-28"

Memory Verse: I Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God loves you, all of you; body, soul, and spirit. He is not like the hypocrite who claims to love a man's soul but can't stand the rest of him. It is true that your spiritual needs have priority. You are to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33), but stopping there embraces only half the truth.

Consider creation.

Everything is the universe, except the human frame, was simply spoken into existence: "And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so" (Genesis 1:24).

Not so the body of man: "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth" (Genesis 1:26). "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul" (Genesis 2:7)

The bodily resurrection of Christ further demonstrates God's interest in our bodies, for when He returns we will be resurrected too: "But every man in his own order; Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming" (I Corinthians 15:23).

You have a great future -- the whole you -- at the Lord's return. That will be a great day!

4-6-07 Source Of Comfort "I Thessalonians 4:13-18"

Memory Verse: I Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Death is an enemy. The Bible calls it the last one that shall be destroyed. For Christians, however, the sting of death is removed.

Heaven awaits the soul.
Resurrection awaits the body.

Rapture awaits all Christians living at the time of the Lord's return, at which time they will be caught up to meet Christ and will be taken to heaven. That fortunate generation will not experience physical death but will be changed in a moment; "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed" (I Corinthians 15:51-52).

Rivers of tears have been shed because of losing loved ones in death. This is not wrong -- it is normal. God has wisely equipped us with the capacity for weeping when we sorrow. Jesus wept at a grave. Still, Christians need not sorrow in the same way as those who are without hope.

Though grief is to be expected because of separation, we have the assurance that our loved ones are in heaven Beyond this, at the return of Jesus, the resurrection will take place and there will be a glad reunion.

If your heart is heavy because you have recently been touched by sorrow, comfort one another with these words.

4-5-07 Abounding In Love "I Thessalonians 3:6-13"

Memory Verse: I Thessalonians 3:12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you.

In ascending to the Father, after His resurrection, Jesus left his disciples all of one accord. Humanly speaking they would have had good reason for being divided. Their personalities were very different. One of them had denied his Lord before the crucifixion and another had doubted the resurrection until he saw the risen Saviour. Nevertheless, those personal problems were laid aside and they were united in love for one another. A few days later, on the day of Pentecost, the city of Jerusalem felt the impact of a group of Christians who were of one accord and three thousand were saved in a day.

Through the centuries, there have been periods of revival in the church when carnality was conquered and the church moved forward in power. These have been times when love among Christians was evident. Love for Christ and one another has been counted more important than personal gain.

In awaiting the return of Christ, it is important that Christians abound in love. To often churches are bogged down in personality clashes, struggles for power in the local group, petty grudges and carnal gossip. How sad to have the Lord return and find any local church in that condition!

What steps would you have to take to make love abound in your church? What would you have to forget? Who would you have to forgive?

Are you willing?

4-4-07 The Crown of Rejoicing "I Thessalonians 2:11-20"

Memory Verse: I Thessalonians 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye to the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

An aged farmer visited his son, a popular senator in Washington D.C. The farmer was a zealous Christian. During his stay in the nation's capital, his son introduced him to the ambassador of Belgium. As soon as they had exchanged greetings, the farmer earnestly asked, "Sir, are a you a Christian?" The senator was greatly embarrassed by his father's question and before the ambassador could reply, changed the subject of conversation.

Shortly thereafter the senator's father became ill and died. Hearing of his death, the ambassador sent flowers. A note was attached to them that brought tears to the eyes of the popular senator. There not said: "He was the only man in America who asked me if I was a Christian."

In the Bible's final chapter, there is a message from Jesus about rewards that will be given to Christians at His return: "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be" (Revelation 22:12). If we knew the real value of those coming rewards, we would surely be more diligent in our service for Him.

Paul wrote of another reward that he anticipated at the Lord's coming -- that of seeing people whom he had led to Christ. He called them his "Crown of Rejoicing," and added that these converts were his glory and joy.

Many Christians miss the joy of leading others to the Saviour. Opportunities abound. And taking advantage of them is the only way to have the Crown of Rejoicing at the Lord's return.

4-3-07 Waiting " I Thessalonians 1:5-10"

Memory Verse: I Thessalonians 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

In 1860 the French scientist, Pierre Berchelt, said, "Within a hundred years of physical and chemical science, man will know what the atom is. It is my belief that when science reaches this stage, God will come down to earth with His big ring of keys and will say to humanity: 'Gentlemen, it is closing time.' "

The first part of Berchelt's prediction has come true. We live in the age of the atom. Signs on every side indicate the last part of his prediction may be near. That is, God may soon intervene, closing this present age. The prophetic event to signal that miracle will be the Rapture of the church -- the personal return of Jesus Christ. Christians have been waiting for that event through the centuries. Now it seems imminent.

How should we then live?

We must live waiting for the Lord's return. But we must not wait idly. D.L. Moody said, "I have felt like working three times as hard since I came to understand that my Lord is coming again."

The Thessalonian Christians gave themselves to labor, love and service while awaiting Christ's return. They were known far and wide for dedicated Christian living. They turned from idols and served God with all their heart. Had the Lord returned at that time He would have found them faithful. Ready.

Are you waiting for His return?

4-2-07 This Same Jesus "Acts 1:1-11"

Memory Verse: Acts 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

What will Jesus be like when He returns? Will we see Him? Recognize Him? Take His hand?

Angels announced the answer. He will be the same as when He went away. The disciples saw Him, viewed the scars from the cross and ate with Him. And all this after the resurrection.

Some expect Christ to return as an invisible spirit. Anticipating that coming error, He refuted it saying: "Behold my hands and my feet, that is I myself: handle me and see; for the spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have" (Luke 24:39). Following this revelation, He ate broiled fish and honeycomb before them.

Writing of His return, John said: "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also who pierced him; and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen? (Revelation 1:7).

The Bible calls the return of Christ the blessed hope; "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13).

Are the skies dark today? There is a better day coming.
Does the future seem hopeless? Remember the blessed hope.
Do you feel like giving up? Look up, Jesus is coming.
Are you burdened? Depressed? It will be worth it all when we see Christ.

4-1-07 The Promise "John 14:1-6"

Memory Verse: John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Jesus is coming again.
He promised.

Two ministers, long friends, met one day after being apart for a time. The discussed their churches; then began to talk on present-day events. One said, "I don't preach on the Lord's return at all. My congregation doesn't like it, I hear you have many against you for preaching it. There's no use in setting people against you."

"My friend, " said the other pastor, "by God's grace, I preach His whole Word, and if the Lord Jesus comes in my lifetime no one who is left behind will be able to say that I did not give out the truth. How about?"

Nothing could be more sure than the return of Christ because He gave His promise that He would come again. That promise was given to encourage the disciples because of His coming crucifixion. They would soon be separated from Him and reunited only for the brief time following the resurrection. These men had left all to follow Him. He had their dedication and devotion. They needed to know about His plans for the future.

But what does the return of Christ mean to you and me?

It means there is a coming resurrection of all Christians. It means that all Christians will be caught up to meet Him when He returns, never experiencing death. It means that all should prepare for His coming.

Are you ready?