The Last Mile
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Charles Spurgeon said:
Perseverance is the badge of true saints. The Christian life is not a beginning only in the ways of God, but also a continuance in the same as long as life lasts. It is with a Christian as it was with the great Napoleon: he said, “Conquest has made me what I am, and conquest must maintain me.”
Charles Spurgeon
The last mile is every bit as important as the first mile....if not more
the race is not merely to those who start it, but to those who finish it.
1 But King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites—
2 from the nations of whom the Lord had said to the children of Israel, “You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love.
3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart.
4 For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David.
5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
6 Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not fully follow the Lord, as did his father David.
7 Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, on the hill that is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the people of Ammon.
8 And he did likewise for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.
9 So the Lord became angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned from the Lord God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice,
10 and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he did not keep what the Lord had commanded.
Introduction
1. What would cause a wise person to backslide?
a. Looking on forbidden things
b. Self-management: I can do it my way or myself
c. Taking undue liberties: Living on the edge
d. Self-confidence: Look at me, what i’ve done
e. Resisting separation and holiness: Hanging on to the world…I don’t want to stand out or be different.
f. Taking salvation for granted: I’ve got plenty of time…not holding it as precious
g. Occupied with the cares of this life
h. A critical spirit: Did you hear what so and so did or said....criticizing others.
WORTH MORE THAN ANYTHING
WORTH MORE THAN ANYTHING
To see Jesus face-to-face will be worth more than anything this world has to offer.
More Than Riches or Worldly Activities
When the rich young ruler in the bible came running to Jesus, he expected to pass a test and be commended for his good works.
perhaps the man had the right attitude when coming to Jesus at first…maybe thinking that whatever he said that the rich man would do it.
17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”
He wanted reassurance that he had eternal life.
a. He really was not expecting to be asked to give anything up.
His love for temporal possessions eclipsed his love for eternal truths.
Jesus saw his heart and knew the real love of his life.
24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
How often only one thing is lacking in a person’s life that keeps him or her from being saved.
how insignificant would that one thing be when we are before God in judgement.
That one thing turns out to be a great love that competes with eternal values.
Jesus will never be satisfied with a partial commitment of our love or the leftovers of our energy.
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
there was a precedent that was set here.
seek not the things that are needed or desired in this world, but seek first the kingdom of God and he will take care of our needs here on earth.
This rich young ruler went away sorrowful, not because he had great possessions, but because possessions had him.
38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,
39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We make little sacrifices here for eternity over there.
More Than Anything in This World
More Than Anything in This World
44 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls,
46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
The first man apparently sold his home and all of his belongings and purchased a piece of land.
The second, likewise, sold everything he had to purchase something of greater value.
When the first man walked away with a deed in his hand, his family and friends may have thought he was the most foolish man in the entire world.
What good is that old piece of land going to do your family?
How is commitment to that church going to improve your status in life?
How is giving away a tenth of everything you make going to pay your bills?
And when the second man stood with his destitute family on the street with an oyster’s growth in his hand, he would have been the perfect target of ridicule.
It is true that many of your family, friends, and associates will not understand the value of the church as preparation for Heaven.
But I cannot emphasize enough the value of Heaven.
29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.
NO SUBSTITUTE FOR FAITHFULNESS
NO SUBSTITUTE FOR FAITHFULNESS
Zeal will not due
Jehu was a man known for zeal, but his zeal was insufficient to win the heart of God.
He had zeal for the Lord, but his zeal was disconnected from the source of real devotion.
In fact, when the watchman saw him coming, he could tell who it was by the reckless way he drove his chariot.
20 So the watchman reported, saying, “He went up to them and is not coming back; and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously!”
11 So Jehu killed all who remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men and his close acquaintances and his priests, until he left him none remaining.
But when measured with God’s scales, he was found lacking.
30 And the Lord said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in doing what is right in My sight, and have done to the house of Ahab all that was in My heart, your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.”
31 But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart; for he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam, who had made Israel sin.
If all we have is zeal behind the wheel, we will end up lacking.
Tongues Are Not Enough
Speaking in other tongues is vitally important.
It is the initial evidence of having received the Holy Ghost.
39 Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.
Speaking in tongues builds you up spiritually.
4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
18 I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all;
But are tongues really sufficient if no fruit is produced
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
An Outdated Experience Is Not Enough
An Outdated Experience Is Not Enough
The five foolish virgins had allowed their experience in God to grow stale, and when they tried to get
12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
LETTING DOWN ON THE LAST MILE
LETTING DOWN ON THE LAST MILE
There are many things our flesh is attracted to, so we must constantly remain on guard.
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
It Could Cost You Your Soul
Lust, from a biblical perspective, is defined as a desire.
There are two stereotypes of a lustful person:
One makes a show of what he or she is able to get away with.
The other secretly lusts and denies it.
Jesus spoke of the deceitfulness of worldly desire in the parable of the Sower.
18 Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word,
19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
Jesus said if something tempts you, cut it off.
29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
I do not believe He is instructing people to defile the temple of God by literally gouging out your eye or cutting off your hand.
But He is instructing us to take the old human nature to the “slaughter site” (the Hebrew word for altar) and sacrifice it.
Usually when the desires of the past rise within us, it is because we are not praying, and we have lost our first love.
4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.
It Could Cost You Souls in Your Family
When the Lord conquered Jericho and Israel entered the city, they were forbidden to take anything from that city.
Everything in the city was to be devoted to the Lord.
But Achan coveted a wedge of gold, two hundred shekels of silver, and a good-looking Babylonian garment among the spoils of the city.
Even though he knew God had forbidden him to take anything out of the city, he took it anyway:
21 When I saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. And there they are, hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent, with the silver under it.”
Little did he realize that his lust for material possessions would cause his death and the death of his entire family.
24 Then Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, the silver, the garment, the wedge of gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and all that he had, and they brought them to the Valley of Achor.
25 And Joshua said, “Why have you troubled us? The Lord will trouble you this day.” So all Israel stoned him with stones; and they burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones.
Sin never affects only you.
If your faith in God can be bought by anyone or anything, Paul has a suggestion for you:
11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
Also, he reminded us of our crown.
8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
CONCLUSION
Heaven Stands as an Open Gate before Us
Heaven Stands as an Open Gate before Us
No one but ourselves can keep us from going there.
17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”
Jesus did not give that young man a formula for eternal life that day.
Instead, He personally addressed an issue in the heart of that young man that would have kept him out of the Kingdom, no matter what the formula.
11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.
I cannot think of anything worse than to lose out with God the last mile of the way.
to come down to that final lap but never cross the finish line.
22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’
23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’
12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
when all is said and done....nothing will be worth losing heaven for....
when we’ve been there a thousand years, eternity will have just begun.
Conversion is a turning into the right road; the next thing is to walk in it. The daily going on in that road is as essential as the first starting if you would reach the desired end. To strike the first blow is not all the battle; to him that overcomes the crown is promised. To start in the race is nothing, many have done that who have failed; but to hold out till you reach the winning post is the great point of the matter. Perseverance is as necessary to a man’s salvation as conversion.
Life’s Need And Maintenance, Volume 22, Sermon #1300 - Psalm 22:29
Charles Spurgeon