OceanSide church of Christ




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THERE COMES A POINT IN TIME WHEN… (2)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    We are all familiar with various quotes about time.

1.      Time flies.

2.      Time flies when you are having fun.

3.      A stitch in time saves nine.

4.      There is never enough time to do all that you want.

5.      Take time to smell the roses along the way.

 

B.      Another phrase that we sometimes hear is, “There comes a point in time when…”  It is this phrase that we would like to discuss in this sermon.

 

I.                   THERE COMES A POINT IN TIME WHEN ONE MUST BE DISCIPLINED

 

A.    Human beings are unique creatures.

1.      They are selfish.

2.      They do not like to submit to authority.

3.      They can be easily tempted.

4.      They can be easily distracted.

5.      They often choose the easiest way.

 

B.      For these and other reasons, there often comes a point in time when one must be disciplined.

1.      One must be taught control.

2.      One must be taught restraint.

3.      One must be taught focus.

4.      One must be taught manners.

5.      One must be taught good behavior.

 

C.     Discipline comes in many forms.

1.      Teaching (Col. 1:28)

 

Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

 

a.      Paul notes that he taught every man in all wisdom.

b.      The purpose of that teaching was to present every men perfect, or, complete, in Christ.

2.      Training (Prov. 22:6).

 

Train up a child in the way he should go:  and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

 

a.      Training involves teaching, but it also involves other things.

b.      Training involves hands-on experience.

c.       Example:  Teaching a child to throw a ball (words, videos, then, actual throwing of a ball).

3.      Rebuke (Tit. 1:13).

 

This witness is true.  Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith.

4.      Punishment (Prov. 19:18)

 

Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.

 

a.      Punishment often forces one to get serious.

b.      Punishment causes an individual to focus.

c.       Punishment lets one know that the authority figure is truly in charge.

 

II.                THERE COMES A POINT IN TIME WHEN ONE REALIZES HE CANNOT ANYMORE

 

A.    There are some individuals who love the Lord, love the truth, and love the church so much that they dedicate their all to these things.

1.      They labor day and night.

2.      They have made many sacrifices for the cause.

3.      They have suffered many things in their labors.

4.      They have never regretted or belittled their lives being totally dedicated to the Lord.

 

B.      Sadly, there comes a point in time when these individuals have to realize that they can’t any more. 

1.      These times are usually due to physical or mental issues the individual has.

2.      The person can no longer teach.

The person can no longer preach.

The person can no longer head the program.

The person can no longer even attend the worship services.

 

C.     Examples:

1.      Moses had to give the reigns to Joshua (Deut. 31:7).

2.      David had to give the monarchy to Solomon (I Kings 1:29-30).

3.      Jesus had to leave the establishment of the kingdom in the hands of the apostles (Matt. 28:18-20).

4.      Paul had to leave the work to his assistants because he would be slain for the cause of Christ (II Tim. 2:2).

 

D.    This is one of the most difficult things for a person who has given his/her life to the ministry to do.

1.      He still senses the burden of obligation.

2.      He still realizes the needs that are out there.

3.      He still feels in his mind that he can perform.

4.      He does not want to feel that deep sense of loss.

5.      He wonders what he will do from that point on.

 

E.      Many devote themselves to study, writing, prayer, visitation, or simply caring for their aged spouse.

 

III.             THERE COMES A POINT IN TIME WHEN ONE SHOULD BE READY FOR DEATH

 

A.    Death is certain (Heb. 9:27).

 

B.      We do not know when.  Pick up a newspaper and read the obituaries.  Some are old.  Some are middle age.  Some are young adults.  Some are babies and children.

 

C.     Death is certain.  There comes a point in time when one should be ready for death.

 

D.    Two things MUST be done to be ready.

1.      Obey the gospel of Christ (Matt. 7:21; Rev. 22:17).

 

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

 

2.      Be faithful unto the very moment of death (Rev. 2:10).

 

Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

 

IV.             THERE COMES A POINT IN TIME WHEN GOD’S LONGSUFFERING RUNS OUT

 

A.    God is not a God who longs to punish man.

1.      Man is His creation.

2.      Man was made in the image and likeness of God.

3.      Man was loved so much that God gave His only begotten Son to die for him.

 

B.      God bears with man.  He is longsuffering (II Pet. 3:9).

 

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

 

C.     But, there will come a point in time when God’s longsuffering will run out.  When that time comes, His anger and wrath will be poured out in abundance.

1.      In the days of Noah, the longsuffering of God was present (I Pet. 3:20).

 

Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing…

 

2.      His longsuffering ran out eventually (Gen. 7:11-12).

 

In the sixth hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the earth broken up, and the windows of heaven were open.  And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.

 

D.    God is waiting right now, but His patience will come to an end (II Pet. 3:10).

 

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

 

E.      When that day comes, we are either ready, or, we are not.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    There comes a point in time when…

1.      One must be disciplined

2.      One realizes he cannot any more

3.      One should be ready for death

4.      God’s longsuffering runs out

 

B.      If we are not ready when the time comes for various aspects of our lives, we can face struggle, hardship, harm, and, even, death.

 

C.     If we are not ready for death itself, or, for the time when God’s longsuffering runs out, we will face the loss of our soul eternally.  That will be the most devastating loss of all.