“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”– Gal. 6:10
Robert Louis Stevenson wrote, ” Every man shall one day be seated at a table of consequences”. That is true, but to some degree he already is there. Sin has its own built in consequences. In other words, sin itself produces suffering before judgement day ever arrives. We see this clearly in Rom. 1:21-32. It will be worse in the day of judgement but it isn’t good at the present.

When people rebel against God and refuse to repent God gives them up to uncleanness, vile affection, and a reprobate mind. He allows them to walk in their own counsel and wallow in their corruption, and that is painful–more painful than pleasurable. At first glance it might seem like a dream come true that God would allow them to be wed to their ways, pursue their plans, and persist in their pleasure, but eventually that dream becomes a nightmare! Such sinners are consumed by their own lust. They do as they please, but they are never pleased. Sin never brings satisfaction. Sinners stuff themselves on what they crave, but are never full. They are forever hungry– a taste of hell on earth.

Hell is a place of unsatisfied desires. The rich man in hell, pictured in Luke 16:24, craved a drop of water, but never received it. Even so, it is said of Christ rejectors in eternity, “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he that is filthy let him be filthy still“(Rev. 22:11). Picture how awful that will be–to crave what you desire most and not able to get it. Thank God there is a remedy for sin, a source of satisfaction—“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.“(John 6:35).- HDS

David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain”–Phil. 1:21

It seems mighty strange to me. A man, perhaps even a professing Christian, can spend his life in the pursuit of things that bring him pleasure, refuse to contribute to the needs of others, be unfaithful to the Lord’s church, wreck his marriage, love money, cheat others, and strive for popularity, then die and be called a “good”, “great”, or “wonderful” person. Really? Who are we kidding?

Point is–we shouldn’t live in such a way that people would have to lie in order to say something nice about us at our funeral. Rather we should invest our lives in things of eternal value rather than things that will perish. We should desire to please God rather than ourselves or others. And it will be evident when we do– no one will be wondering about what we value. Jim Elliot, martyred missionary to the Aucas in Ecuador, wrote in the flyleaf of his Bible, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” He’s talking about giving his life for Christ.

Adrian Rogers once said, “I’ll tell you, in these days the most dangerous thing you can do is to play it safe. You are safer out on the waves with Jesus Christ than you are in the boat without Him. These are desperate days, and we need to live like it.    Don’t just sit there and let life pass you by! You’re going to die anyway. You can’t save your life. You’re not going to get out of it alive. And so you might as well invest it in something important.” 

We need the attitude of William Carey who said, “I’m not afraid of failure. I’m afraid of succeeding at things that don’t matter”. That’s good advice. Being a success in something that is unimportant doesn’t make you a success in life. Those who spend their lives majoring on minors are failures–regardless of what they accomplish, or how wealthy or popular they are. If the end result of my life doesn’t glorify God I have missed my purpose and failed miserably in life.

They can say all manner of nice things about you, erect a marble statue on your grave, and even establish a memorial to keep your name in the lime light for a while, but the truth is — you wasted your life. It is only by living in God’s grace and for God’s glory that it can truly be said, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant“(Matt.25:21). Now that’s a life worth living! –HDS

David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

THE MESSAGE EVERYONE NEEDS

“So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you….”– Romans 1:15
Millions will gather this morning in churches all across America. While all would say they meet to worship, I can’t help but wonder how many actually do. And all would say that they expect to hear God’s Word, but I wonder how many will. And when all is said and done, when everyone has vacated the buildings, I wonder what was accomplished. I wonder how many unsaved people will depart without ever having heard the gospel (1 Cor. 15:1-4).
Of all the subjects needing to be studied the gospel is the most important. Of all the messages that need to be delivered it is the most urgent. It doesn’t make any difference what you hear unless what you hear can make a difference, and nothing can make more of a difference than the gospel. As Paul said, “it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth”( Rom. 1:16). It alone has the power to save poor lost sinners. Without it man has no hope. While there are other messages that need to be delivered, no amount of preaching is sufficient if the gospel is missing.
We need the gospel because we all have sinned and stand justly condemned in the sight of God. Thankfully God had a plan before the world began that would provide salvation for sinful man. That plan can be summed up in a man, the man Christ Jesus. Through His sacrifice we can be saved. By His death we can be delivered. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” ( 2 Cor. 5:21). Due to that, “God….reconciled us to himself by Christ Jesus” ( 2 Cor. 5:18). All you need by way of salvation is provided for you as a gift the moment you place your faith in Christ. It all boils down to this– “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3:16).- HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346