Late Night Thoughts
Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night…have an inspiration…go back to sleep…
And when you wake up, only really recall you had an inspiration…and no matter how much you torture yourself to remember…you cannot clear your foggy memory?
Well, this sermon is based on one of those situations…where I didn”t loose it entirely, but it is all the more aggravating because I actually could remember it in the morning…but didn’t write it down…and then later forgot the punch-line!
But I did remember the theme. 🙂
Santa Claus
When I started composing this sermon there were between 93 and 94 days to guess what?
Being that Michelle and I have a year-round Internet Christmas radio station, it probably doesn’t surprise you I’m speaking of Christmas…
And I assume everyone here is familiar with the holiday tune, “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”? Do your remember how the part that starts with, “He knows when you are sleeping,” goes?
He knows when you are sleeping
He knows when you are awake
He knows if you’ve been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake
If someone thought too much about those verses, it might be a little frightening. 🙂 Santa Claus is “Big Brother,” watching you all the time?!
However, when I survey the state of the modern world, I suspect much of the evil we see is based on not having a healthy fear of being “found out.”
[ These are quick sermon notes…not cleaned-up…and missing the “extras” that come out in the audio (which is available here). All quotes are from the English Standard Version unless otherwise noted. ]
Let’s chat a bit more about that.
Issue #1: They Don’t Believe
Let me ask you this…
Does anyone here, perhaps, ever drive a bit faster than they should?
Do you do that if you know there is a cop with a radar gun right ahead?
Unless you like paying for a speeding ticket and higher insurance rates, of course not! You slow down to either the speed limit or a value you feel is within the officer’s range of grace.
When people excessively speed, run stop signs, or break other motor vehicle rules…they do it because they don’t believe there is anyone around to call them on it.
They know it is wrong, but they do it anyway.
When people steal…
When people say cruel things…
When people mess around on their spouses…
When people commit all manners of sin, from little white lies to torture and murder…
Do they act like they believe there is “anyone around to call them on it”?
Issue #1 is that no, they don’t believe there is a God who will hold them accountable. But, I’ve got some bad news for unbelievers:
18Â For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19Â For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20Â For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21Â For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Â Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23Â and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things (Romans 1:18-23).
What does Romans say about an unbelievers’ “unbelief”?
They have no excuse, “For what can be know about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.”
Now, Romans 1 is speaking of what theologians call “general revelation”…and traditionally Christianity has taught that “general revelation” isn’t enough to get someone over the line salvation-wise…that they need “special revelation.” In my opinion, many basically say that Romans 1 says you know from nature to be damned, but not enough to be saved.
However, I am not going to quibble over that interpretation. Instead, I am going to suggest it doesn’t matter, because I believe everyone gets special revelation. As I wrote in an article about inclusivism:
In addition to being able to see the Law written in certain individual’s hearts, we know that God searches and tests hearts (1 Chr. 28:9; Prov. 17:3; Jer. 11:20, 17:10; Rom. 8:27; 1 Thes. 2:4, Rev. 2:23).
What good would that be if it was not for the purpose of finding those who will accept God’s offer of eternal life?
We know from John 6:44 that the Father draws people to Jesus—would it not make sense that this would happen when He is searching “all hearts” (1 Chr. 28:9, Jer. 17:10)?
Additionally, what good is a “heart test” if there is no way for the answer to be in the affirmative?
I believe that along with the substantial argument that creation makes for God, the Holy Spirit work on everyone…so their disbelief is their choice. We won’t read all the versus I just mentioned, but let’s look at ones in 1 Chronicles and Jeremiah:
9Â “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever (1 Chronicles 28:9).
20Â But, O LORD of hosts, who judges righteously,
who tests the heart and the mind,
let me see your vengeance upon them,
for to you have I committed my cause (Jeremiah 11:20)
I believe that along with the substantial argument that creation makes for God, the Holy Spirit work on everyone…it is not due some random fate of being born in the wrong place and/or the wrong time…or, worse, our Lord arbitrarily deciding to save some, but not others.
Everyone should believe. Most do not.
The horrible state of this world is due, in great measure, to issue #1: They don’t believe there is a God who will hold them accountable.
Issue #2: They Don’t Act Like They Believe
Although I like the power of three, for this sermon only two issues seemed appropriate.
So, what is issue #2?
Let’s read a couple of verses before I reveal it:
29Â Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear (Ephesians 4:29).
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things (Philippians 4:8).
I’m sure you interact with a lot of Christians.
How often does “corrupting talk” come out of their mouths?
How often do they think about non-honorable, non-just, non-pure, non-lovely, non-commendable, non-excellent, non-praise-worthy things?
How many Christians join in social media mobs and post or tweet harsh things? How many Christians spend countless hours watching shows and ovies we shouldn’t watch?
Obviously, I could continue with the list…
I wouldn’t be surprised is issue #2 is a bigger problem than issue #1, because it gives an excuse to those with issue #1 to continue in their disbelief.
Issue #2 is they don’t act like they believe.
Or as Brennan Manning is recorded as saying in the DC Talk song, “What if I stumble?”:
The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians: who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.
And this isn’t just a dangerous issue for unbelievers. If you or I act like we don’t believe…guess what?
We just might not!
What are your pet sins? The things you do that mean you don’t act like you believe?
Let’s be sure to ask ourselves that. Regularly.
And let’s help each other out. With love, if you see your brother or sister driving off the cliff…
Let them know!
Realities
Okay, I may not have felt there was a good set of three issues, but I do have three realities to wrap up this sermon.
Issue #1: They don’t believe.
Issue #2: They don’t act like they believe.
Reality #1: There is a God.
I am not going to try to prove reality #1…I’m assuming you wouldn’t be a Christian if you didn’t already agree. 🙂
Reality #2: That God will hold everyone accountable. That is there will be a judgment. Or, as Hebrews 9:27 says:
And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,
Life in this world is not fair. God never promised it would be.
But in the afterlife it will be and we will all be measured by the same scale when we die.
Reality #3: It’s not too late.
As our recent trucker-visitor, Donald, noted…1 John 1:9 states:
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
There is a God. He will hold everyone accountable.
It’s not too late: if you confess your sins, he is faithful and just to forgive you your sins.
And that’s a God I am glad exists!