Discussion of Man Pt3

If you remember the last time we met we've been talking about man and just basically a discussion about him and I Said to you

I was going to break it down in three Really simple ways, but yet those simple ways are rather complex in that if a man could answer those three questions correctly then we would have

Fairly good assurance that they belonged and had a relationship with God, but if He could not answer that or she could not answer that question correctly

Then we would have to doubt whether they really know who God is and in those three simple questions were

Where did we come from? Why are we here and what's next and if you remember we talked about so many different things

We began with the Foolish said in his heart that there is no God and and of all we talked about all the foolishness of man about where we came from and evolution and you know descendants of aliens and and and really all manner of foolishness and that If you remember we talked about how

God made man upright that was Ecclesiastes 6729 God made man upright and yet he has sought out many inventions.

He has been the one who has Caused the corruption of mind and and everything else that's involved with it and that Even in Romans how it talks about the foolishness of man and how he changed the the glory of the invisible

God into Of the incorruptible

God into an image made like man and bird and four -footed beasts and creeping things and so we realized that Although it's a simple question.

There are so many people that can't answer that question and that is

It's astounding when you think about how people will stick to a theory

Myth a fable Teaching that really has no basis in truth, right?

And again, if you go outside the boundary of the Bible's then all manner of things are open

I mean, I know Gary I brought up to the thought about how people believe in reincarnation and you know

You're gonna come back next time as a giraffe or this that the other thing is this the foolishness of that and then

We moved the last time Into that question of okay

We established that God created us we established he is the originator that he is the one who has made us fashioned us and not only that but he sustains us and then we asked the question why we here and again, the amount of answers that people have for that or as astounding as the answers that people have or how do we get

Here and that we we talked about how many people just have

So many varying Philosophies of the life of why we're here. Some people just believe we're here because we're just here and we talked about that and how

It's really just a matter of serendipity and it's just a matter of You do the best you can for as long as you can as hard as you can and then that's the end and and then there's that fatalism that creeps in that people believe that you you live you suffer or you enjoy and then you die and it's all over and Then there's the group of people who believe

That the reason why we're here is to Be enriched but it's not an enrichment from God.

It's rather an enrichment from the things of this world. And so many people enjoy the creation many people enjoy the relationships in the creation and Yet for all of that They still can't answer that question of why we're here and and we talked about Why we're here.

We're really here to glorify God, right? We're really here to to glorify him to know him to learn about him and again to enjoy creation and and then this one also is

So important that we're here not merely for Self -existence, but we're here to serve

God and not only serve God but serve one another in Serving God in that so many people even in that sense

See life as It's me against the world

Right, it's and as long as I'm okay Well, that's all that really matters because every it's every man for himself and so we

Kind of talked about that for a while. Well anyway so I Want to talk this morning?

about the third part of that The question or the third question What's next?

If you can't understand why you're here or how you got here or why you're here

Could you really ever answer what's next? I? Don't think so.

I think that If you can't answer the first question You're certainly not going to be answer.

You're not going to be able to answer. What's next and again the amount of philosophies and teachings and Thoughts about what comes next is as amazing as the answer to how we got here and Does the

Bible really tell us What's next does the Bible really answer that fact?

Somebody comes up to you and they ask what's next What's your what would be your way of answering them as to what comes next

So, I mean what's next as far as what's after life Yeah, and I think that's the right way to To answer that as far as that big division

What is that dichotomy of it all because it's either You know

God and you return from whence you came right almost as if what

God said to Adam from dust you came and thus you return and Yet there is that part of us our souls that will return to God or Be forever separated from God and again people will that's a real struggle for a lot of people as far as What awaits us on the other side?

How many people have said that They don't believe that there is anything on the other side

And to me it always troubled me if you really believe there's nothing on the other side

Then how do you explain all the? All the things that we face and deal with in this life

Can you possibly have a correct answer if there is let's say there is no accounting let's say there is no

Righteous judgment, let's say there is no Reckoning of the things in this world.

I Don't understand how people can understand life in light of that because there's so much

Diversity there's so much. I'm gonna use the word and I'm gonna try to use it in the right side

Inequality, why is it that some people live a life? That is? absolutely

It's just almost like a gentle river and then there's other people live a life that seems like every single thing is a storm

If you can't understand what comes next and really what is the purpose of being here, right?

Because again, there's so many things that seem out of whack for lack of a better term so many things that seem

Good is called evil and evil is called good and people pursue this and people pursue that if there's not a true accounting of What's next so and you know what what

I thought is interesting and what I think is interesting you ask people those three questions and it is

It's a stumbling block to many because they can't answer Those three questions and so certainly as we think about what comes next

Well, let's just look at a couple of scriptures that tell us what comes next. So go to Hebrews 9 for a minute

I just want to clear these verses out because they're important for us to know

We have a definitive clear

Vivid answer and It's in Hebrews chapter 9 and verse 27

So it says and as it is appointed for men to die once And if you stop there would would leave us still kind of open -ended as far as what comes out

But then it answers it After this the judgment after this the judgment after this there is an accounting after this there is a reckoning after this there is a

If you will There is to be someone and that is through Christ Or if you want to use it in a larger

God is going to bring what? he says That every word that a man shall speak

He'll give a count thereof in the day of judgment That in and of itself is mind -boggling boggling at least to me it is and if God Knows every thought that I ever thought if God has taken my tears like he says in the

Psalms He says he's put our tears in a bottle and if you think about that Why that there would be an accounting and so this thought of after death the judgment

I don't think anybody will hug you that what's next is death, right?

I mean the cemeteries are such a living witness to that fact that it's beyond dispute it's where You know how many people have said they've died

Come back Seen things and then decided it was better for them to come back all the all the foolishness of thought

The Bible says really it's appointed for man wants to die and after that is the judgment now you could say what about the people in the

Gospels and even in the Old Testament who died and came back and I just want to leave that alone for now because again those were

I Think some of them can be answered in In a number of different ways, but here's the reality

After death will be the judgment. All right Look, let's look at another one in Revelation and certainly

Revelation speaks so much about it but again,

I am just trying to get us to be able to understand how

There is something after this and in Revelation in 14 and I'll just pick it up in verse 6 and we could spend time on context

Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven having the everlasting gospel to preach to those

Who dwell on the earth to every nation tribe? tongue and people Saying with a loud voice

Fear God Give glory to him for the hour of his judgment has come and worship him

Who made heavens and earth the seas and the springs of water?

Again there's that thought and that judgment is coming there is a reckoning to be had there is an accounting to be done and No one

Can't escape it and Guess what? No one can alter it.

So When you think about that of all the people who have ever lived

Only one who has ever rose again Is Christ? Some were translated

Enoch was translated Elijah was translated, but nevertheless they still went from this world

To the next world. They still had a pass through the valley of the shadow of death.

Did you bring up rightly? Every single person goes through that valley of the shadow of death

The difference is to the Christian though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death what I will fear no evil because We belong to him.

All right, look in Jude just In the book before Revelation in Jude we read this

And this one I want to pick up as he talks about Those that have rebelled against God Verse 11 woe to them for they have gone the way of Cain Having one greedily in the era of Balaam for profit and perished in the rebelling of Korah Rebellion of Korah.

These are spots in your love feast and while they feast with you without fear serving only themselves

They are clouds without water carried about by winds Late autumn trees without fruit twice dead pulled up by the roots

Raging waves of the sea foaming up their shame wandering stars For whom is reserved the dark the blackness of darkness forever

Now Enoch the seventh from Adam prophesied about these men saying behold the Lord comes

With ten thousand of his saints and here it is in verse 15 to execute judgment on all to convict all of their

Ungodly All who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds

Which they have committed in an ungodly way and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners

Have spoken against him that's a That's a huge indictment.

Yeah, isn't it? I mean you just think and again, I'll go back to what I said if Every idle word that a man shall think he'll give an account of in a day of judgment you think of all the ungodliness that has been if you will unleashed in this world and yet I've always said it this way that most people apart from Christ believe either

God doesn't see them or God sees them and he can't do anything about it

Right, which both are absolute false God not only sees but God will and again,

I think it's Ecclesiastes 8 Always get mixed up but because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily

The hearts of the sons of men are fully set to do evil Right, and so when you think about it

Sin becomes easier as You Have a hardened heart to it and that people grow callous people grow

What does Paul say to Timothy? He says their conscience becomes seared as with a hot iron so Many men you you and I have talked to people

I heard of people who say I don't fear death Well just because you don't fear death

Doesn't mean you ought not to fear death you ought to because it's a fearful thing, right?

That's what it says in Hebrews. It's a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living

God and again, this this Scripture in in Judaism really

Just full of thought he executes on all to convict all

And he stresses that who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds

Which they have committed in an ungodly way and of all the harsh things

Which godly sinners I mean which ungodly sinners are spoken against Not much leeway

Matter of fact, there is no leeway. How many people will try to Suppress that and Just think have nice thoughts and again that whole

Portrayal that's out there of Peter sitting at the gate of heaven and how you you kind of have to step on the scale when you get there and everything gets your good gets weighed against your bad and well,

I Don't see anywhere in this scripture nor any of the other scriptures where there is this if you will check and balance

Right and yet how many people believe that how many people believe that they have done more good?

than bad and therefore When it's all said and done They will be allowed to Enter into the presence of God or as the

Catholics think right? well, no, you just have to go to purgatory because you you still got to pay for all those things and you know after a

Couple million years you get to come out Yeah, you work your way out or you could buy your way out basically and that was the great issue during the

Reformation Right was they were selling they were basically selling forgiveness. They were assuring people that what came next

Wouldn't have an effect on him as long as they put silver in the box or gold in the box Crazy stuff.

All right. Let's look at another one And it's at first John First John chapter 4 again, these are these are important scriptures for us to be able to hang on to Okay, and and I'm gonna pick it up in verse 12 because I just think it's better to do

This one in a little bit of a context It says in first John chapter 4 verse 12 says no one has seen

God at any time If we want to if we love one another God abides in us and his love has been perfected in us

And by this we know that we abide in him and he in us because he has given us of his spirit and as we have seen and testified that the father has sent his son as Savior of the world whoever confesses that Jesus is the

Son of God God abides in him and he in God and we have known and believed the love that God has for us

God is love and he who abides in love abides in God and God in him

Love has been perfected among us in this that we may have boldness in the day of judgment because as he is

So are we in this world? You think that how many people Will have the ability to answer the question of what's next with boldness?

How many people have the ability to answer? What's next? with Comfort how many people can answer that question without having a sense of again?

Fear and intrepidation of what comes next Only the

Christian as you said it does that that dichotomy is so vast and not only is it so vast

It's for eternity. And so again What does our assurance tell us

I don't know what tomorrow brings But I know who brings tomorrow, right?

I have no Real understanding of what lies on the other side of the veil but I know

God is there and that is my assurance and it's a As we sing blessed assurance that we know that whatever is there

Will be there for our comfort because that's where God is and that's where Christ is and therefore wherever he is it can be nothing but Comfort and joy and understanding.

Okay. I want to go to first Timothy. We're going to just get through the rest of these and close this out as far as Just answering that question.

What's next first Timothy chapter 5 And I just picked up a little

Smattering of things first Timothy chapter 5 and Verse 24

Look what it says some men's sins are clearly evident preceding them to judgment

But those of some men follow later And I think that goes along with what

I said because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily Therefore the hearts of the sons of men are fully set to do evil

Some men understand and they're fearful of judgment other men Think that neither

God sees nor can do anything about it and they have no real concern About what lies across the veil and yet We're given this word that Sometimes that's the way

God works Is that some men's judgment is clearly seen and again what we sow we reap

Right, we we're going to give an account of ourselves Whether people think or not think that's true.

All right one more and then I just want to Kind of try to draw this through a little bit of a conclusion and it's in Romans chapter 2 in Romans chapter 2 and again,

I'm gonna read this from verse 1 of Romans chapter 2 is that it'll help us see the setting for it as Paul's talking he's been talking to the

Jews and and Telling them they were as guilty as the

Gentiles and it says therefore you are Inexcusable, oh man

Whoever you are who judge for whatever you judge another you condemn yourself

For you who judge? practice the same things But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth

Against those who practice such things and do you think this? Oh, man, you who judge those practicing such things and doing the same that you will escape the judgment of God Would you despise the riches of his goodness and his forbearance and long -suffering not knowing that the goodness of God?

Leads you to repentance But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself

Wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God Who will render to each one according to his deeds?

Eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality

But to those who are self -seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness indignation and wrath

Tribulation and anguish on every soul of man who does evil to the

Jew first and Also to the Greek but glory and honor and peace to everyone who works

What is good to the Jew first and also to the Greek where there is no partiality with God?

You talk to a person about that and again, they will either Be able to say amen

Or they will not be able to say anything again because It's a fearful thing, would you not say that Even the

Christian has some anxiety about crossing the veil. I I do

Not from the sense that I don't know whom I believed in And I'm persuaded that he's able to keep what

I've committed unto him against that day But it isn't in a sense. It's still an unknown.

It's still something that is radically Different than everything that I've experienced.

So I do think there is some Anxiety and again, I'll go back to Psalm 23 though.

I walk through the valley of shadow of death I'm gonna say there's some anxiety going through that veil through that Dimension There is a dimension right?

There is a there is a another dimension that Just like there's another dimension of things in this world that we can't see we can't we can't comprehend

So I do think there's some anxiety but for us who? know not only

Who made us why we're here, but where we're going. There's a there's a comfort

There's a an assurance I wanted to read one more passage because I wanted to show you

How foolish men are in in thinking about so many things so with that if you would go back to the book of Isaiah and I'm gonna read this and this will certainly take us to the end of our time.

I wanted to read Isaiah 44 because I think it puts a it puts things straight in our mind

So let me read to you Isaiah 44 yet here now

Oh Jacob my servant and Israel whom I have chosen thus says the

Lord who made you Formed you from the womb who will help you

Fear not Oh Jacob my servant and to you Jeshurun whom I have chosen for I will pour water on him who is thirsty and Floods on the dry ground and I will put my spirit on your descendants and my blessing on your offspring

And they shall spring up among the grass like willows by the water courses One will say

I am the Lord's another will call himself by the name of Jacob another Will write with his hand the

Lord and name himself by the name of Israel Thus says the Lord the

King of Israel and his Redeemer the Lord of hosts. I am the first and I am the last Beside me there is no

God and who can proclaim as I do Then let him declare it and set it in order for me

Since I appointed the ancient people and the things that are coming and shall come let them show these to them

Do not fear do not be afraid have I not told you From that time and declared it you are my witnesses.

Is there a God beside me? Indeed, there is no other rock. I know not one Now he says this those who make a graven image all of them are useless

Their precious things shall not profit. They are their own witnesses. They neither see

Nor know that they may be ashamed Who would form a God or cast the graven image that profits him nothing

Surely all his companions would be ashamed and the workmen. They are mere men.

Let them all be gathered together. Let them stand up Yay Yet they shall fear they shall be ashamed the blacksmith with the tongs works one in the coals

He fashions it with hammers and he works Works it with the strength of his arm and even so he's hungry and his strength failing he drinks no water and his faint and the craftman stretches out the rule and he makes one out of One out with chalk and he fashions it would have plain and he marks it out with a compass

And he makes it like the figure of a man according to the beauty of a man that it might remain in his house

And he cuts down Cedars for himself Takes the cypress and the oak and he secures it for himself among the trees of the forest

He plants a pine and the rain nourishes it that it shall be for man to burn

For he takes some of it and warms himself Yep, he oh, yes, he kindles and makes bread indeed

He makes a God and worships it he makes a carved image and falls down to it

He burns half of it in the fire with this half. He eats meat He roasts a roast and is satisfied.

He even warms himself and says I am warm I have I have seen the fire and the rest of it.

He makes him to a God his carved image He falls down before it and worships it.

He prays to it. It says deliver me for you. Oh my god They do not understand

But he has shut their eyes So that they cannot see in their hearts so that they cannot understand and no one considers in his heart

Nor is their knowledge or understanding to say I've burned half of it in the fire

Yes, I have baked bread on the coals I have roasted meat and eaten it and shall

I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?

He feeds on ashes he does his Deceived heart has turned him aside and he cannot deliver his soul nor say is there not a lie in my right hand

Remember this Oh Jacob in Israel. You are my servant. I formed you you are my servant.

Oh Israel and and Will not be forgotten to me. I applaud it out like a thick cloud your transgressions and like a cloud your sins

Return unto me for I have redeemed you Sing all heavens for the Lord has done it shout your lower parts of the earth break forth into singing you mountains of Forests and every tree in it for the

Lord has redeemed Jacob and has glorified himself in Israel Thus says the

Lord your Redeemer and he who formed you from the womb I am the Lord who makes all things who stretches out the heavens all alone who spreads abroad the earth by myself who frustrates the signs of the tablets of Babel is

It turns the the wise Backwards and makes their knowledge foolishness

Who confirmed his word? Who confirms the word to his servants?

He performs the counsel of his messengers who says to Jerusalem you shall be inhabited

To the city's Judah you shall be built and I will raise up her waste places

Who says to the deep be dry and I will dry up the rivers who says to Cyrus?

He is my shepherd who has performed all my pleasure Even saying to Jerusalem you shall be built and to the temple your foundation shall be laid the whole point of reading that was how foolish man is

Even to the point where he cannot even begin to realize that he cut a tree down used it to warm use it to cook and then

Turned it into a God if we can answer those three questions whether we're theologians whether we're

Baptist Presbyterians Pentecostals, I don't care where you fall in and that if you can add honestly and truthfully

Biblically answer those three questions then you Can be assured that you have eternal life

Where I am Jesus said there you shall be also All right that that pretty much concludes the conversation.