Will Another Year Matter?
Mike Stone
Luke 13:6-9
The great preacher Henry Ward Beecher once said, ''Every man should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page. Take up one hole more in the buckle if necessary, or let down one, according to circumstances; but, on the first of January, let every man gird himself once more, with his face to the front with no interest in the things that were and are past.''
Someone has said the problem with New Year's Resolutions is that they go in one Year and go out the other.
In the last few days, millions of people resolved to smoke their last cigarette, lose 10 pounds, pay off their credit cards, spend more time with their kids, get on the treadmill, put something in savings, call their mother more often, drive slower, sleep longer, and live better.
If we were honest, however, in spite of our good intentions, very often the New Year becomes just another year by mid-January as we forget most our resolutions, and return to the same routine of the previous 12 months.
Though millions of resolutions are made, unfortunately, for most people another year will not make all that much of difference in how they live their lives.
Tonight's question from Luke 13 is simple: If God chooses to give you another year of life, will it matter?
I dare say if I were to ask you, ''Do you want to live to see the dawn of next year or would you rather die this year?'' the answer would probably be unanimous. We would ask the Lord to let us live.
What if were facing impending death?
What if we asked the Lord for an extended life?
What if the Lord saw our tears and heard our prayers?
What if God said, ''OK, you shall live until January 1 of next year. And on that day I will be back by to do an evaluation.''
Here in Luke 13 we find the parable of a fig tree. The owner comes and tells the ''lawn man'' to cut it down. It's of no use. The vineyard keeper intercedes and asks for an additional year.
''Th ...
Mike Stone
Luke 13:6-9
The great preacher Henry Ward Beecher once said, ''Every man should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page. Take up one hole more in the buckle if necessary, or let down one, according to circumstances; but, on the first of January, let every man gird himself once more, with his face to the front with no interest in the things that were and are past.''
Someone has said the problem with New Year's Resolutions is that they go in one Year and go out the other.
In the last few days, millions of people resolved to smoke their last cigarette, lose 10 pounds, pay off their credit cards, spend more time with their kids, get on the treadmill, put something in savings, call their mother more often, drive slower, sleep longer, and live better.
If we were honest, however, in spite of our good intentions, very often the New Year becomes just another year by mid-January as we forget most our resolutions, and return to the same routine of the previous 12 months.
Though millions of resolutions are made, unfortunately, for most people another year will not make all that much of difference in how they live their lives.
Tonight's question from Luke 13 is simple: If God chooses to give you another year of life, will it matter?
I dare say if I were to ask you, ''Do you want to live to see the dawn of next year or would you rather die this year?'' the answer would probably be unanimous. We would ask the Lord to let us live.
What if were facing impending death?
What if we asked the Lord for an extended life?
What if the Lord saw our tears and heard our prayers?
What if God said, ''OK, you shall live until January 1 of next year. And on that day I will be back by to do an evaluation.''
Here in Luke 13 we find the parable of a fig tree. The owner comes and tells the ''lawn man'' to cut it down. It's of no use. The vineyard keeper intercedes and asks for an additional year.
''Th ...
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