Gtcotr/ss092224
Early on a Saturday morning, January 27, 1996, I was awakened from a dream. In the dream I was in a Church filled with about 200 men praising God, when a minister stepped to the platform and said:
“Since you left the world behind, have you gotten any closer to Jesus?”
I wrote it down, pondered the question, and studied what it meant to be closer to Jesus for over 8 years before sharing that dream in a sermon I preached on September 15, 2004.
Now, more than 20 years later, my heart is still burdened. Do you know Jesus? Are you closer to Him than you were last year?
I truly hope the messages I preach help you to be a better person but if that’s all you get out of coming to Church, we are missing the boat. The reason we leave the world behind is to follow Christ!
You can become a better person by learning what to stop and what to start. You can work hard and change everything about yourself and the way you were. You can learn new and better ways and save yourself and others a lot of trouble, heartache and pain. But the one thing you cannot save is your soul.
No amount of change will save your soul. Only Jesus can save your soul. You must be born again. Salvation is more than leaving the world behind. Salvation is more than becoming a better person … salvation comes by giving our lives to Jesus and following Him.
Mark 10
17 ¶ Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”
18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.
19 “You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ”
20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”
21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”
22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!”
This perplexed the disciples. If this young man who was really, really, good was not going to get into the Kingdom of God … what chance did they have?
24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!
Jesus was pointing to the fact that this man treated people good but treated God with disregard. He was afraid of God, but He didn’t love Him. He was concerned about eternity but more concerned about his comfort and security now. Peter wanted to make sure he wasn’t missing anything himself.
Mark 10:28 Peter said to Him, “We have left everything to follow You!”
Peter said “We …” Who is the we Peter is talking about?
There is only one first place. Jesus said it this way:
Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other, you can’t serve both God and money.”
Jesus left His throne in glory for you. What expense is it for you to leave your throne for Him?
“Since you left the world behind, have you gotten any closer to Jesus?”
Where can you start? Here is a simple, yet effective, prayer.
