September 29 Worship

(You can see this service on the SSB Facebook page)

Yesterday’s service had a number of points worth repeating and since I can’t preach it again soon or likely ever again, I want to repeat a few in this musing.

1. We talked about Heaven being marked by full joy (Ps 16), perfect peace (Is 9), love (I Jn 4), beauty (Ps 24), and worth (Is 43:7) – we love music, we love concerts, we love events, we love crowds, we love being swept off our feet – giving glory to God will do just that.  “And the soul felt its worth.”
2. We talked about Christmas.  God has put eternity in our hearts and only eternal things can bring fulfillment (Ecclesiastes 3:11, He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts.).  So God, Jesus, the Bible, and humans – all are eternal – can touch humans in deep ways.  So Christmas gifts, even lavish ones, don’t carry a real deep touch. Rather, Christmas is about relationships – people.  If the Christmas parties and family gatherings aren’t well attended and loving, the Christmas is not merry!
3. We talked about Psalm 16:11 and the three phases of human existence (You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore).  God shows us the path of life – we need to embrace Jesus and follow Jesus now, before we die. Susan Nylin had done so. Then we step out of our body into a second phase.  For those saved, they find themselves instantly in the presence of the Lord where joy abounds.  Later, the body will be raised perfect and the person’s spirit will re-indwell it and spend eternity with God where there will be pleasures for evermore (again, only for those truly saved).  We noted again that we spend eternity with Jesus – not in Heaven.  In fact, we will spend eternity on earth with God.  Consider the opening verses of Rev. 21.)
4. We talked about evangelism.  We are born on the Long Black Train (Josh Turner) driven by the devil going to a dark, terrible place.  It is a funeral train for all humans have a terminal illness.  Some coaches on the train are more joyful and better than others. Some are very religious but all are going to the same destination.  Now every once in awhile there is a Thomas the Tank Engine train (or Percy or James or…) passing going the other direction.  And the coaches are full of joyful and contented people who are calling out to the people on the funeral train to join them.  I sang this ditty:

We’re going to a mansion on the Happy Day Express
The letters on the engine are J-E-S-U-S
The guard (Spirit) calls “All for heaven!” We gladly answer, “YES!”
Come with us all you people, on the Happy Day Express!
(Singspiration, Action, Vol. 1)

So as this happy little train chugs by going up-hill there is this call to those on the long black train to join them as they head for Heaven with God.

The one stipulation is that one needs a ticket in order to get on the happy little train.  And the ticket can’t be purchased because its price is beyond the ability of anyone to pay (Mark 8:37). But, a ticket is offered by Jesus who paid the price while on the cross dying and it is offered to those who are repentant, humble, and submissive to Him.  He will snatch them from the black funeral train and put them in one of His bright and happy trains (into a true church).

5. We talked about evidence of salvation.  I had reports of one who had recently accepted Jesus as Savior so I made a visit with the intent of being excited if it was true.  I spent about 20 minutes listening and hoping for an indication that new life, hope, and peace had moved in because of Jesus.  I heard none.  Babies who are alive make noise – you know they are alive. I believe the same is true for born again ones.  They will tell you if they are saved (I often say this about your kids – they will tell you if they are saved.  Too often we tell them and tell them and tell them so they come to parrot it when they are not truly saved).

May we be diligent to live Jesus before the lost and talk to them about the gospel which is only good news if there is bad news – it is only great news if there is terrible news!