CERTAINTIES OF LIFE

     We live in a world that is filled with uncertainties. It seems
as if nothing stays the same very long. There are things which we
thought to be certain, things that would always be the same, and
yet, these things have changed, they have become different. Even
those unshakeable things have been found to be shakeable, the
unmovable have been found to be moved. Life itself is filled with
many uncertain things. There are people whom you had great trust in,
yet these have disappointed you. All of these are because of the
frailties of life.
     Yet, in the face of so much uncertainty around us, there are
some things that are very certain in life. Certainties which each of
us should stop and consider. Especially is this so for those of you
who may not be servants of Christ Jesus; or, for those who may not
be faithful in their service.
     In our study this morning I wish to look at some of the
CERTAINTIES OF LIFE. Some things in which we can put our confidence.
Some things that will come to pass;
     FIRST -- Our sins will certainly be brought to light. From Adam
and Eve, Cain and Abel, on down to our present time, the sins of
mankind have been brought to light to confront the sinner. When the
Israelites came into the land of Canaan, the tribes of Reuban and
Gad desired to remain East of the Jordan and settle, which Moses
allowed, but they were first to assist Israel to free Canaan. Moses
then spoke, "Be sure your sin shall find you out" Numbers 32:23. And
that has always been the case. Rest assured, my friends, whatever
sins you commit will be brought to light; they will be exposed.
     In Genesis, chapter 38 beginning and continuing through the
rest of the book, we learn of the sin of the 11 brothers of Joseph
who sold him into Egyptian bondage. It was years later, but their
sin finally caught up with them and they were exposed for the vile
deed which they committed.
     When the Israelites went into Canaan, they were commanded to
surrender all of the spoils, the gold, the silver, to the priest for
the service of Jehovah. But, Achan disobeyed this command. He took
some of the goods and gold and hit them beneath his tent. The
Israelites suffered defeat when they sought to take the city of Ai.
The secret sin of Achan was finally brought to light and he suffered
the consequence of disobedience unto Jehovah.
     In Galatians 6:7, we read, "Be not deceived, God is not mocked:
for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Neither you
nor I, my friends, can put anything over on the Lord. He is all
knowing. Listen to Hebrews 4:13, "There is no creature that is not
manifest in his sight; but all things are naked and laid open before
the eyes of him with whom we have to do." We just cannot put
anything over on Him. Sins must be answered for. Some seem to think
that they can commit sin in the privacy of their lives, and not be
detected, but such is not the case. Some seem to think, if we commit
this sin under the cover of darkness, it will not be known. NOT
SO!!! Man may, for short times, escape the exposure of sin, but
ultimately sin will be exposed. If not in this life, in the Eternal
Judgment, when we all shall stand before God and render an
accounting of everything which we have done while here in this life.
We simply cannot escape the consequence of sin.
     SECOND -- The certainty of leaving all worldly and earthly
possessions behind. We are warned repeatedly throughout the Word of
God against covetousness. And why is that so?  Because we shall not
take these material things beyond the grave. The pockets of the
shroud are empty. Nothing can be carried with us when we leave this
earth. Paul told Timothy, "we brought nothing into this world and we
shall carry nothing out" 1 Timothy 6:7.  Look around you and see the
multitudes who are putting their trust in worldly possessions. The
masses are struggling to enrich their bank accounts; their stock
portfolios; their precious jewels; and yet, these shall all be left
behind when the great reaper calls. This is not to say that it is
sinful to have bank accounts, stock portfolios; but we simply cannot
allow these things to crowd out the spiritual values of life; to
allow these things to keep us from putting Christ first in our
lives.
     In Luke 12:13-20, we read of a man who was a very successful
farmer. So much so that he had to build new barns to hold all of his
goods. But, death stepped in, and he left all these things behind.
Listen to our Lord, "Thou foolish one, this night is thy soul
required of thee; and the things which thou hast prepared, whose
shall they be? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is
not rich toward God." We just cannot take these things with us.
     Notice the vast difference between God's standard and Man's
standard. When one obtains material wealth and goods, the world
counts him as successful. No doubt the world would have called the
man in Luke 12 a great success. Just look, he had a wonderful crop,
built and filled new barns with his produce. The world would say,
"That man is a success, one to be used as an example." But, God
says, "Thou fool."  No man is a success who shuts God out of their
life. Truly, these worldly possessions will be left behind when we
quit the walks of the flesh. We simply cannot take any of these
things with us.
     THIRD -- The certainty of death. Hebrews 9:27, reads, "And
inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this
cometh judgment." We have no choice as to whether or not we shall
die. Each one of us one day shall cease to live in this flesh. All
will be placed in the grave one day. There is another significant
point which must be inserted just here. And that is the fact of
spiritual death, separation from Jehovah because of our sins. Paul
states in Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death." The death in
this passage is spiritual death, or separation from God; not
annihilation. One does not ceast to exist. But, sin shall cause one
to be cast from His presence. It is a certainty that one cannot
successfully practice sin and expect Jehovah to be pleased with him
or her.
     There is a false security which some feel. They say I intend to
do that later; one day I will serve the Lord. So, they put off their
obedience, they procrastinate, with the trite expression, "I will
one day." But, my friends, we have no lease of life, we have no
promise of tomorrow. The one who puts off obeying the Lord is
playing the part of the fool.  The only day we have is today.
Yesterday has passed away, it is gone. Tomorrow is only a hope, it
may never arrive. We have today, and we had better use it wisely,
because it may well be our last one.
     FOURTH -- The certainty of judgment. I am reading from 2
Corinthians, chapter 5, verse 1 beginning, "For we know that if the
earthly house of our tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building
from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens. For
verily in this we groan, longing to be clothed upon with our
habitation which is from heaven: if so be that being clothed we
shall not be found naked. For indeed we that are in this tabernacle
do groan, being burdened; not for that we would be unclothed upon,
that what is mortal may be swallowed up of life. Now he that wrought
us for this very thing is God, who gave unto us the earnest of the
Spirit. Being therefore always of good courage, and knowing that,
whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord (for
we walk by faith, not by sight); we are of good courage, I say, and
are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be home with
the Lord. Wherefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or
absent, to be well-pleasing unto him. For we must all be made
manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may
receive the things done in the body, according to what he hath done,
whether it be good or bad." Reading through verse 10. Did you hear
what the inspired writer said?  That we must all -- that's you and
that's me -- will appear before the judgment seat of Christ. He is
simply telling us that each one of us will be judged as to what we
have done while here in the flesh. Make no mistake, YOU WILL STAND
BEFORE GOD IN JUDGMENT!!! I will be there. And there can be no
greater mistake that we might make than to be there unprepared.
There are a lot of things which we might go through life and never
do, never experience. But to go through life without obeying Christ
is the most tragic mistake that anyone can make. I can get by in
this life without many of its experiences, but I cannot get by in
eternity if I have left Christ out of my life.
     Here are four things which shall certainly come to pass; four
things which we may put our confidence in. (1) Our sins will
certainly be brought to light. (2) We will certainly leave worldly
possessions behind when we leave the flesh. (3) We certainly will
die. (4) We will certainly stand before God in judgment. These four
things are certain.
     Now, I doubt that I have suggested that which is a complete
surprise to most of you in my audience, you have heard these before.
Yet, they are still truth, facts that each one must answer to. You
cannot misunderstand these, God has made it so very clear. YOU MUST
OBEY GOD. You must put Him first in your life. What can I say that
will lead you to realize the seriousness of life, the certainties
that each one must face. Have you every thought of what you will say
to the Lord when you meet Him in judgment?? You will you know.


Return to Index
Home