What Shall The End Be?

1 Peter 4:7,8,17

There has probably never been a time such as now where people are so interested in bible prophecy and end time events. I don’t think there has ever been a time such as now where Christian book stores have shelves literally lined with this subject.

All we have to do is look around us and we can plainly see the signs that Jesus spoke of all around us. Wars and rumors of wars. Famines and pestilence. He said that wickedness would abound and that people would come to a point where they would easily be offended. Paul spoke of end time events a lot and he described the end times in great detail.

1 Timothy 4:1,2 “Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times, some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy, their consciences being seared with a hot iron.

   2 Timothy 3:1,2,4,5,7 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2For men shall be lovers of their own selves…disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy. 4 …lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. 5 Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof. From such turn away. 7 Ever learning, yet never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

 

This last summer, right after Lori and I left Panama City Florida, the hurricanes hit, and then all over that city tornadoes literally swept the entire area, they were everywhere!

Many might ask, why would a loving God allow these things to happen. I can’t really answer that, all I know is this, “anything God allows or causes in our lives is done out of love, Jesus Christ is a God of love.”

1 John 4:7,8 Beloved let us love one another for love is of God. And everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love!“

In fact did you ever consider this, that if you look at the life of Job, it wasn’t God that afflicted and wanted to destroy Job it was Satan. AMEN, I came to tell you this morning that our God is a God of hope and love.

Tsunami story-Pastor Dayalan Sanders in Sri Lanka. This man is a local Pastor there and runs an orphanage. He, his wife and the children at the orphanage were caught by the Tsunami in a small cove. This great Pastor stood up on that boat and rebuked the onrushing wave saying, “the word of the Lord declares that when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will raise up a standard against it! In the name and authority of Jesus Christ, I rebuke you! The wave that killed over two hundred thousand simply cascaded in that tiny cove and no one in that boat was harmed! So praise God, it’s not always bad news! There’s still power in the Name of Jesus Christ AMEN!

I said all of that this morning not to talk to you about bible prophecy or end times or hurricanes or any of that but to try to get it across to us all here this morning, of just how uncertain life is. I’m trying to get across to you today that even if you were to live to one hundred years old, according to the bible, one hundred years is just like grass in the field, here today and gone tomorrow.

We must get to a point in our lives where we look at and consider eternity!

We’ve got to be like some of those old testament saints like Abraham of whom it said that he waited for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Speaking of OT saints Hebrews 11:16 But now they desire a better, that is a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city!” 

I came here this morning to remind you that just like these poor people affected by this Tsunami, that your life too, can change in a heartbeat! Your life can change in the blink of an eye! AND when it does, WHEN IT DOES, what will your relationship with Jesus Christ be like? What shall the end be for you my friend?

When the day comes that you stand before him, will your life be one that was close to God, a life that had a relationship with him. A life that had the peace of God in it and that was prepared to meet God? Will they be able to say of you what they said of Abraham, that you were a friend of God?

OR if you stood before God today, would you be caught unprepared? Have you been offered this great salvation before but you had the attitude of “I can wait, I’ll have plenty of time to turn my life over to God later!”

The fact is, you may not have time LATER to turn to the Lord. The bible says TODAY is the day of salvation.  What shall the end be?

You may be here today and there may have been tragedies in your life. Things have happened that were not your fault, and you’ve been hurt, wounded, abused, bruised and dropped. Somewhere in your heart of hearts you blame God for what has happened to you.

I’m here to tell you this morning that God is not some bully running around in a black hat with a bat ready to knock you down with a club of judgment. I came here today to tell you that he is a God of love. Jesus Christ loves you with a love that took him to a Roman whipping post…to a Roman scourging where His skin was ripped to shreds and the blood flowed out of Him like a river….to a lonely hillside where nails were smashed into his hands and feet…

I’m here today to tell you of a God that is full of mercy and compassion. Psalm 136 is one of my personal favorites because over and over it simply says “for His mercy endures forever!” Praise His wonderful Name!

The word of God says that He came to bind of the broken hearted, to set the captive free, that he came to comfort those that mourn, that he came to open the prison of those that are bound………..

What has you bound today? Is it wounds from the past? Are you struggling to live for God? You may be in a prison of depression or oppression. You may be in a prison of loneliness or despair! You may be bound by the prison doors of drugs or alcohol or immorality! I’m telling you that what ever has you bound, Jesus Christ is your answer and he will set you free today.

You might say, “Brother Boyd you don’t know the sins I’ve committed and the life I’ve lived.” I would say to you that every Christian in this room can identify with that. We are all sinners saved by grace. The bible says that all have sinned and come short….I would say to you simply today that all you need to do is TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD!”

I would say to you today that God can wash every sin. I would say to you what the Psalmist said in Psalm 136:1 O Give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever!”

I would tell you what David said in Psalm 103:2,3 Bless the Lord O my soul and forget not all His benefits. Who forgives all thine iniquities, who heals all thine diseases.

I would tell you today what Jesus said in Luke 9:56 that he did not come to destroy men’s lives, but he came to save them!

I would tell you what the Apostle Peter said that God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

I would tell you what the Apostle Paul said, that where sin abounds the grace of God does much more abound! That while we were yet sinners Christ died for us! I would tell you what Paul said when he said, in Romans 5:19 that by the disobedience of one many were made sinners, but by the obedience of one many were made righteous.

 

I would say to you what the old song said, “Once like a bird in prison I dwelt! No freedom from my sorrow I felt. But Jesus came and listened to me and glory to God, HE SET ME FREE!

 

What shall the end be for you? If you are here today and you need Jesus Christ today, his mercy and love are here, right now being extended to you. Would you be willing to admit your need for him today? Would you be willing to repent and call on him today? Would you be willing to turn your life over to Jesus today, and let him be the Lord of your life?

When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in December of 1941, the Japanese had a commander named Mitsuo Fuchida. He was the commander that uttered the words TORA TORA TORA, attack, attack, attack. After the war was over Commander Fuchida was very discontented and unhappy. He was a man full of guilt and shame. But one day a missionary introduced him to Jesus Christ and his life was changed forever. He told the missionary but you don’t know what all I’ve done. How can God forgive me? The missionary told him, “the price has already been paid.” Commander Fuchida later said before his death, Jesus Christ is the only one powerful enough to change my life and inspire it with His thoughts. Jesus is the only hope for this troubled world.”

Commander Fuchida found the peace that comes only from having Jesus be the Lord of your life. Jesus said in John 7:37 If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink. Fuchida answered that call.

What shall the end be for you today?

As I journey thru this land, singing as I go.

Pointing souls to Calvary, to the crimson flow.

Many arrows pierce my soul, from without within.

But my Lord leads me on, though Him I must win

Oh I want to see Him look upon His face, there to sing forever of His saving grace.   On the streets of glory let me lift my voice,

Cares all past, home at last, ever to rejoice.

When in service for my Lord, dark may be the night.

But I’ll cling more close to Him, He will give me light.

Satan’s snares may vex my soul, turn my thoughts aside.

But my Lord goes ahead, leads what ere betide

When before me billows rise from the mighty deep

The my Lord directs my bark he does safely keep,

And he leads me gently on through this world below

He’s a real friend to me, O I love Him so.