IF THIS WERE MY LAST SERMON

By David J. Riggs

Intro.
   A. My topic for my lesson is: "If this were my last sermon."
      1. Thus, I am approaching this sermon as though I will be dying
         soon, and this is the last sermon I will ever preach.
      2. If you remember, I was at the point of death a few years ago
         when I had cancer.
      3. As a matter of fact, I was convinced I would die.
   B. At that time, I wrote a farewell letter to my wife and         
      daughters.
      1. Some of the things I wrote in that letter are the same
         encouragement that I would give to everyone; that is, if    
         this were the last sermon I would ever preach.

I. If this were my last sermon, I would encourage you to remember
   how uncertain and brief life really is.
   A. It is very easy to take life for granted; however, let me      
      emphasize that life is uncertain and brief at best.
      1. Many people approach life as if they will be here forever.
   B. Life is as a shadow, a vapor, weaver's shuttle, and as grass of
      the field. 1 Pet. 1:24; Job 7:6
   C. A true realization of "someday we will die" does us good. Eccl.
      7:2
   D. We need to realize that this world is not our home. We have    
      only a brief stay here, and then we pass on to the next world.
      1. We are all going down the valley one by one.
      2. When one is staying in a motel overnight, he doesn't go into
         the room, frown at the decor, and start redecorating. Why?
         Because he doesn't live there. He has a permanent home in
         another place. While he is away, he will manage only on
         what he needs, and will save his money to furnish his
         permanent home.
      3. Likewise, we should not work hard at trying to make our life
         in this world more comfortable. We need to spend our time
         and energy in enhancing our eternal home. Matt. 6:19-20

II. We need to remember the value of our souls. Matt. 16:26
   A. Our souls are the most valuable thing we possess. They are more
      valuable than all things in this world. Actually, our souls are
      "who" and "what" we are.
   B. The soul or spirit which is in our bodies is that part which is
      made in the image of God. Gen. 2:7
      1. This is the only part of man which is eternal. John 6:63a
      2. At death, our souls or spirits will return back to God.     
         Eccl. 12:7
   C. In the end, our souls will be in either the eternal place of   
      bliss, or the eternal place of torment.
      1. Thus, let me encourage you to seek God with all your hearts
         that you might be in heaven.
         a. Fearing God and keeping His commandments is what is
            truly important in life. It is that which is truly good  
            and right.
         b. Determine in your own mind that you will be a godly,
            spiritually minded person, and pursue it with all of your
            being.
         c. Center your heart on God. Give Him your utmost. You
            will never regret it.
         d. This poem entitled "Invictus" is thought to be in
            defiance of God.

            Out of the night that covers me,
            Black as the pit from pole to pole,
            I thank whatever gods may be
            For my unconquerable soul.

            In the fell clutch of circumstance
            I have not winced nor cried aloud.
            Under the bludgeonings of chance
            My head is bloody, but unbowed.

            Beyond this place of wrath and tears
            Looms but the horror of the shade,
            And yet the menace of the years
            Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.

            It matters not how strait the gate,
            How charged with punishment the scroll,
            I am the master of my fate:
            I am the captain of my soul.
            (Author Unknown)

         e. In a sense, one is the captain of his soul, at least     
            while here on earth; however,  in another sense, he is   
            not. God will be the final captain of our souls.
      2. Remember, God has made a place of eternal punishment for
         all who do not fear Him.
         a. For over 20 years a fire has been burning deep within
            the earth at Centralia, a small community of 1,200
            residents in the heart of Pennsylvania's coal fields.
            Fifteen different federal, state, and local agencies have
            spent more than $3.5 million to extinguish the fire
            without success. Persons can touch the earth and feel
            the heat. Deep holes and crevices vent hot, smoky air
            and noxious gases. One citizen said: "Standing by a
            hole, you can hear the fires roaring. It's an eerie      
            sound, like the beating of a thousand wings." Government
            officials have indicated that they are no longer willing 
            to attempt to put out the fire; it is a futile task. As  
            flames continue to burn without restraint, townspeople   
            plead for someone to save their community. 
         b. Jesus solemnly warned of a far greater, eternal fire in
            which all the wicked will be cast. Luke 12:4-5
         c. Let us avoid hell at all cost. Some people seem to take
            comfort in the fact that they will not be the only ones  
            in hell. They somehow think that hell will be more
            tolerable because there will be a great crowd there.
            What foolish reasoning!

III. If this were my last sermon, I would encourage you to remember
   that Jesus is the answer for all things.  Phil. 4:13
   A. Jesus Christ passed, by means of death, into the other world   
      and came back again. Acts 2:31-32
      1. Thus, Jesus is the one who has the answers, the revelation,
         and the comfort regarding death, and life beyond the grave.
         a. Let us be comforted in the Lord. Let us rejoice in the
            Lord.
         b. Through Christ, we gain the victory. 1 Cor. 15:54-57
      2. A boy and his father were traveling in a car when a bee flew
         through the open window. The boy was so highly allergic to
         bee stings that both he and his father knew that his life   
         was in danger. As the boy frantically jumped around to avoid
         the agitated bee, the father calmly reached out and grabbed 
         the bee with his hand. The father took the bee sting so that
         his son would not be stung.
         a. Likewise, Jesus took the sting of death for us. We gain
            the victory through Him.
         b. Let us strive to overcome as He did. Rev. 3:21
      3. A young man who had been blind since he was ten years old,
         years later met a wonderful young lady with whom he fell
         madly in love. They married and had lived together from
         some time when the young man discovered that a certain
         operation would restore his sight. After the operation, when
         the bandages were finally removed, the first thing he was
         able to see was his wife, and he said, "You are more
         beautiful than I ever imagined."
         a. Like this young married man, though we have never
            seen Jesus Christ, our Savior, when we see Him in all
            His glory, truly, "He will be more beautiful that we ever
            imagined." 1 John 3:2-3

IV. If this were my last sermon, I would encourage you to remember
   that we all are approaching the day of judgment.
   A. None will escape the judgment. It is one reservation or
      appointment we cannot cancel. Heb. 9:27; 2 Cor. 5:10
      1. We all will die; however, many people think that surely     
         there will be an exception in their case.
      2. Someone said, "The only thing I have to do is die, and if   
         you make me mad, I won't even do that."
      3. Another said, "I'm not afraid to die; I just don't want to  
         be there when it happens."
   B. Acts 17:30-31
      1. We learn from this that the "time" for the judgment is
         ordered already - "He has appointed a day."
      2. The "manner" in which He will judge is set - "He will judge
         the world in righteousness."
      3. The "Judge" has been given already - "He will judge the
         world by the Man whom He has ordained."
      4. The "assurance" of the judgment has been given already -
         "He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from  
         the dead."
   C. Everything that we have ever thought, said, or done will be
      brought into the judgment. Rom. 2:16; Matt. 12:36-37
      1. The best way to prepare for the judgment is to make friends
         with the Judge.
      2. Since Jesus Himself will judge us, it is exceedingly wise to
         make friends with the Judge.
         a. We can make friends with Him only on His terms. John
            15:14

Concl.
   A. It is very difficult to relate to people who are dying. What   
      would say you to a person who was dying? What would you say to 
      a close friend or relative?
   B. When my father-in-law was dying, I didn't know what to say to
      him because I had never been in that situation.
      1. I think I can now relate to the dying because I have been
         there.
   C. Someone asked, "What is the best advice you can give to one
      who finds out that they have cancer?" My answer is: "Prepare to
      meet thy God."
      1. When your life is about to end, prepare to meet your Maker
         with all humility, repent of all the sins you have          
         committed.
      2. Here is part of my letter: "I want you to know that I have
         repented of all my sins, weakness, and shortcomings, and so
         far as I know I am ready to go on to meet God. I am a
         sinner, and am relying on God's mercy and goodness, not my
         own worthiness, to save me. Even now, as I write this       
         letter, I am begging God to remember me for good as I       
         anticipate departing from this life. As everyone knows, it  
         is now completely in God's hands as to whether I will live  
         any longer. I have often taught, and you have heard me say, 
         'This world is not our home.' There is a world beyond that  
         is far better than this one. May the Great Eternal God      
         reward all of us with it."
   D. My encouragement to you, if this were my last sermon, is:      
      "Strive diligently to go to heaven. Remain faithful, and when  
      it comes time for you to leave this world, go to God in all    
      humility, relying solely on His mercy and goodness.
      1. Don't give up! Don't give in! Don't give out!