Be Ready (May 22 - A.M. Service)

In regards to his infamous May 21st “end-of-the-world” prediction, Harold Camping is quoted as saying: “God has given sooo much information in the Bible about this, and so many proofs, and so many signs, that we know it is absolutely going to happen without any question at all. There’s nothing in the Bible that holds a candle to the amount of information to this tremendous truth of the end of the world. I would be absolutely in rebellion against God if I thought anything other than it is absolutely going to happen without any question.”

Harold Camping was obviously wrong . . . and now, his May 21st prediction will simply take its place as the most recent in a long line of equally errant predictions regarding the return of Christ and the end of the world.

Isn’t it true that whenever there’s thought or discussion concerning the end of the world, the first thing we want to know: When is it all going to happen? We may wonder about the how, we may speculate about the after . . . but what we really want to know is the when! No wonder then that the entire world has been more than intrigued by what Mr. Camping had to say. What if he’s right after all? What if he’s figured out the answer to the question that plagues us all? What if he really knows the day and the hour of the end?

Well, he didn’t did he? And for the record, he doesn’t . . . and neither does anyone else!

You see, what we’re so desperate to know . . . God makes unknowable. Jesus said in Matthew 24, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son.” In Acts 1, Jesus told his disciples that the “timing” business was God’s business, not theirs.

Simply put, the Bible makes it abundantly clear: you can’t know the when . . . but you can be ready for it!

Let’s be ready!



1. Remember the Certainty of Eternity
Eternity is our destiny!

Regardless of how we used to think when we were young, we’re not immortal, are we? The Bible reminds us that it is “appointed unto man once to die” . . . in light of that, it then goes on to ask us: “How can you be so sure about your life? It is nothing more than a mist that appears for only a little while before it disappears.” We typically paraphrase that last bit into the simple reminder that we are not promised tomorrow. Statisticians tell us that 155,000 people in the world will experience the reality of those scriptures sometime today . . . their life here will end and eternity will begin. For the rest of us . . . we await what we know we cannot escape.

For Christians, there is the hope of avoiding death by way of Christ’s return. In Thessalonians, Paul writes of a day when the trumpet call of God will sound; and all those then that have died in Christ along with all those that are alive in Him will be “caught up” to be with the Lord in heaven. It’ll be a glorious moment that could happen at any moment.

Ultimately, either death will come or Christ will return . . . one way or the other though, there is coming a day like May 21st was supposed to be – a day where our life here ends and our eternity begins.

It could be today . . . be ready then for that; be ready for eternity!


2. Let Your Life be Impacted by Eternity
The certainty of eternity should make a huge difference in our lives . . . knowing that we are not promised tomorrow, should have an incredible impact on our today. Does it?

Are you prepared to leave this world? If you left it today, would it be without regret . . . without feelings of wishing you had done this, or wishing you had taken care of that? What if you don’t have another opportunity to mend that relationship? What if you don’t get another chance to tell that person how much you love them, how much you care about them? What if you don’t get any more time to spend with them? You see the impact of living life in light of eternity?

Never mind leaving this world, how about this . . . are you prepared for the next? The Bible asks the same question this way: What profit is there if you gain the whole world and lose eternal life? So, how about it? Have you done what God commands and demands that you do in order to be in good standing with Him? Are you prepared to stand before Him and give and give an account of every action, every word, every thought throughout your life? Have you done enough for Him? Have you done anything for Him? I know . . . that’s what tomorrow is for, right? We’ll do all that then, won’t we? But what if you don’t have a tomorrow? Again . . . do you see the impact of living life in light of eternity?

Eternity is coming – it could be today . . . let your today be different then!

Be ready . . . live ready!


3. Set Your Desires on Eternity
Remember, Christian . . . this is not our home – we are pilgrims here; we’re just passing through!

And so then, may we know again what it is to live life looking upward . . . watching and waiting! May we remember that it’s not about the moth-eaten and rust-corrupted treasures of this world, but rather instead the treasures that we’d store up for ourselves in our real home of heaven. May we persevere in our faith, knowing that the unfathomable glories of our eternity will far surpass the sufferings of our today. May we find ourselves increasingly becoming less and less comfortable in having to be here and more and more comfortable in the expectation and hope of being there.

In Revelation 22, Jesus told John that He was coming soon . . . that eternity was fast approaching. And John, who was ready for eternity and who was no doubt desiring to be there, responded to Jesus’ revelation by saying, “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” May our readiness for eternity and our desire for it be like John’s . . . so that his prayer becomes then our prayer – “Come, Lord Jesus! Come!”

God's Great Peace (May 15 - A.M. Service)

Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks. And God’s peace, which is so great we
cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds
quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7

Beware of “peace-killers”!

In a life filled with so many “peace-killers” how much more we need, long for, and should pursue God’s great peace . . . how much more priceless then God’s great peace becomes!

Peace can seem to be so incredibly elusive . . . so terribly hard to find.

And yet Paul found it . . . oddly enough in a Roman prison cell!

His prison-found peace, will teach us a lot about God’s peace, and most of all help us to find it! After all, if Paul could find it while chained to dungeon walls, then we can find it irregardless of our situation. And if God’s peace was peace for Paul in his situation, then it can be peace for us in any and all of our situations in life.



1. Don’t Worry
Philippians 4:6 – “Do not worry about anything . . .”

Quit being anxious! Quit worrying!

Maybe peace is always so elusive, because we’re always so inclined to worry! By definition, peace and worry cannot exist together - you will never have peace as long as you continue to worry.

Paul had a lot to worry about . . . but he says, “Don’t worry!”

Maybe you have lots to worry about . . . but to find and live in God’s peace, you must learn to practice the discipline of worry-free living.

There’s no shortage of things to worry about . . . and yet the message is this: “Don’t worry about anything!”

And maybe no wonder . . . after all, worry doesn’t do any good, does it? It doesn’t make us feel any better. It doesn’t help the situation. It doesn’t do any good at all. No wonder then, Paul’s instruction: Don’t do it!


2. Pray and Praise
Philippians 4:6 – “Do not worry about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

To experience God's great peace, it’s not enough to empty your life of worry – you also have to learn to fill it with prayer and praise. Prayer and praise in everything!

In your little anxious moments, in your big monster panic attack moments of life . . . instead of trying to fix everything, instead of becoming so anxious and upset, instead of shrinking back in paralyzing fear . . . spend time in prayer and praise!

There’s nothing like God’s presence in prayer and a God-focus in praise that will bring God’s great peace into your heart and mind!


3. Experience Peace
When you do Philippians 4:6 . . . when you replace anxiety and worry with prayer and praise . . . then you get to Philippians 4:7 – “And God’s peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.”

God’s great peace . . . it transcends understanding!

It's an absence of anxiety and pressure even in the midst of life's anxiety and pressure filled situations. It’s a peace that comes from knowing we can cast all our cares and worries on Christ! It’s a peace that comes from knowing that God is in control! It’s a peace that comes from knowing that God is not only in control, but that He’s also on your side! He is for you . . . and He’s always working in your life for your good!

God’s peace . . . it’s wonderful peace; it’s “peace that sweeps over your soul in fathomless billows of love”!