Your Turn…

Having stood in my share of lines, I can well remember what it’s like. You stand there and you’re tired of waiting. You’re watching everyone else go ahead of you and wondering when it will be your turn. Then it comes.

“Okay, buddy, you’re up. Hey what are you waiting for? It’s YOUR turn!”

Suddenly what you’ve been waiting is here and now you feel a little queasy. Your hands feel a little sweaty and you wonder why you were so anxious to get here.

If only you could find out what it’s like from someone who had already gone. But they’re not coming back this way. You take an uncertain step and now you’re at the door. Nervously you reach for the door handle just as it flies open.

There are a lot of times when we have to wait for our turn – at the dentist’s office or at the Revenue Office or at Outlaw Run. When your name (or your number) is called it immediately evokes a response.

“Am I really ready for this?”

After riding Outlaw Run (at Silver Dollar City) I would have to say I probably wasn’t prepared. I don’t really care for rides where you go upside down. Some of you are laughing at me right now. But let’s call your name and let you stand up in front of a large crowd of folks and give them a speech or a talk or a sermon about something. Now who’s laughing?

Okay, so we all have some things that make us nervous. Let’s get to the big one.

Are you ready to die?

If suddenly you were ordered to stand to your feet and answer if you were a Christian and all this time you had a gun being shoved into your face, then what? Could you do it? Are you ready? It’s your turn…

I know we talk about eternal life like its way out there somewhere but in reality if you are saved you have eternal life now. Still, there is some fear associated with death because we haven’t been there before. But wait…

There is one who has been there and who has returned to the land of the living. His name is Jesus and He is the King of Life and the Lord over death and the grave and hell itself. He is the eternal God who came in the flesh and personally devastated and decimated the grave. He tore it up. He finished it. Like the Ultimate Boss.

So there is at least one person we can go to find out what it’s like to die. We have One who has already walked the long dark valley of the shadow of death and has defeated every foe. This is good news! If there is even one who can assure us that there is something beyond the grave and that in fact the words of Scripture are absolute truth then that is the best news I’ve ever had.

So there it is. Life is so clear and certain and long that death seems so far away and yet we also know that it could come at any moment. Our challenge is not to live for that moment and give Christ our life then – it is to live for this moment and give Christ our life now.

You may have been waiting a long time. But… it’s your turn.

Your Pastor,

Bro. Tim Hobbs

 

“The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.“ Proverbs 14:27 (KJV)

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.“  John 5:24 (KJV)

“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:4 (KJV)

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:2 (KJV)

“But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:”  2 Timothy 1:10 (KJV)

“We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.”  1 John 3:14 (KJV)

“Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Revelation 2:10 (KJV)