Are you ready?

Life is a climb...always will be. It's funny how much people can change in a matter of months. A few months ago, I would not have guessed I would be entering a tennis tournament. Matter of fact, I NEVER would have imagined I would do that! I am still sort of scared, but I keep thinking about "Facing The Giants" and how the teams goal was not to win, but to leave EVERYTHING they had on the field, and leave the rest (results) up to God. So many people focus on the winning of the game so much, that they miss the joy and fun of it! Just like life. Everyone wants to have money, friends, and stuff...not just any stuff, though. They have to have the BEST. They don't care where they will go when they die, they don't care how they live until they die. Just so long as they have what they want, then they won't go have a fit and cry. People around the world, more specifically American's, have become so complacent. So long as we are "above average" we're good to go! We're noticed more for what we DON'T do (drugs, smoking, drinking, partying) and not the things we DO do! We thrive on hearing how "good" we are. But, would it make you feel worse if you knew the only reason people thought you were a "good person" was because you didn't smoke, drink, or do drugs? Is that how you want to be thought of, just above average? Above average is simply slightly better than your every day person. We are all comfortable with where we are, we don't need to try new things, especially if we might fail! "That would just be awful!" we say. "Failure is not an option," like you're told on movies. If we fail, we are a "failure" (or so we think.) Do you know how many people fail swimming, running, walking, singing, playing an instrument, and writing? If we were all scared to try those things, try things that are HARD for us, then we would be a mess! People walk, they write, and they talk. That's just what they do. So, we work hard, and don't give up until we finish our task. Yay for us. We can now walk, talk, and write! Woohoo, gold start for us! But, is that really all you want to do with your life? We were told we had to learn how to do those things, and now they aren't hard for us, so we gladly do them, only this time nobody has to tell us to do them! Again, another gold star for initiative! Do we not see a problem with how the human race is working here? We are all scared to try anything new, because we're afraid of being embarrassed. So what! God hasn't called us to be afraid! He has given us a spirit of courage, NOT fear. Also, we might be weak, but God MADE us that way, so they, through us, He can show others how strong HE is! He has made things so out of reach for us, so that we won't ever stop growing. If we are constantly trying to reach a new goal, then we are constantly learning new things, and doing "hard things." God wants us to grow, and be better than "above average." We are to stand out...and we SHOULD be noticed for the things we DO for God, and not the things we DON'T do for the world. Not doing something is the easy part. It takes a spirit of courage, though, to go out and run a marathon. Everyone can "not" run a marathon...but not many people will actually DO it. Isn't it about time we started "doing"? Those of us who have have the myth of adolescence is the strongest myth out there. Teens are just a bunch of lazy, irresponsible kids who are in an adult body. Since teens aren't pushed to get outside of their comfort zones, and do what's HARD for them, they grow into adults that are the exact same way. Yep...that makes not only TEENS who don't do anything, but now ADULTS too! This myth is making the "lazy" generation grow bigger, and bigger. Yet, nobody can see it happening, and wouldn't do a thing about it if they DID. The only thing you can change is yourself. After that, let God's light shine through you, and it can change other people's lives. It's a choice...will you make that decision?

Sermon

Christ died for all of us; believers (Christians) and non-believers. However, without putting our faith in Him, is doesn't do us any good. Just knowing what God did and that He exists will not get you into heaven. Even if you try to obey the ten commandments, or follow "the golden rule" (do unto others as you would have them do unto you.) The greatest question one could ask, is, "are you a good person." Most everyone you ask that to will say, "yes, I believe so. I try to do for others, I try not to cuss and hate. Yes, I think I'm a very good person compared to a lot of other people." However, we start going through the ten commandments together...one by one. Your mind MIGHT change...just a little bit.

• Have you ever stolen? Even something as simple as taking a cookie from the kitchen when you were little? If so, what does that make you? --- A theif ---
• Have you ever lied? Even just a little "white lie?" If so, that's makes you...a what? ---A liar---
• Have you ever used God's name as a curse word, or a word to show your disgust with something? God says He will not hold a man guiltless that takes his name in vain (aka: cursing)
• Have you ever killed anyone? Now wait, before you answer this question....God said if you hate your brother/neighbor, you've already murdered them in your heart. Have you ever hated anyone? If so, that makes you ---A murderer at heart---
• Have you ever committed adultery? God says if you look at someone with lust, you've committed adultery with them already in your heart. Have you ever looked with lust? If so, you are: ---An adulterer at heart---

If you've done even just one of these...we all have...God says it's as if you've broken all of His commandments. Now, God IS a God of love, but He is also a pure and just God. On judgment day when you stand before Him, and He judges you by these laws that you've broken, would you be innocent, or guilty? Of course, we will ALL be guilty! We've all broken His laws! You might say, "But God wouldn't ever send people to hell. There are a lot of people who aren't that bad!" Think of it like this...there is a man who's murdered someone. He's broken the law, would you want the judge to send him to prison, or let him go...because "he's a good man in every other way, and he's promised to never do it again!" Of course, if the judge is just, he would do what's right, and send the man to prison. Well, we will all stand before God one day, and because we've broken GOD'S laws, we will all be unworthy of heaven. But think of it this way, a man comes in when you are about to be lead to be executed, and says, "I will take their place." That's just what Jesus did. when everyone in this world was bound for hell, eternal death, Christ stepped in and took our place. HE died, because he knew that to save us, there had to be blood shed. Someone had to die for all of the sin. So many people have watered the truth of the gospel down. They won't talk about God's awful, gruesome death. How He was beaten, spit upon, mocked...they just tell everyone God is love. Which also means they can't mention hell! If they did that, they'd offend some people, and the church numbers can't go down! Since when did people start wanting more numbers for their volleyball team than true to the heart believers? People don't even preach about repentance anymore. All they tell people, is that they have to say a little prayer, and they're home free! Heaven bound for eternity! Just, stop it. I know God has got to be SO SICK when He looks down at people making a TERRIBLE name for Him. All of these hypocrites out there, who only think of themselves, the money they will make, the number of Sunday-school attendants they can put up on the board. People get so antsy when they have to sit in church for an hour, the leave as quickly as possible afterwars, just so they can make the football game that's on in 10 minutes. No fellowship, no worship...definitely not the second! They're thinking the whole time, "the pastor had better not go over 12:00! I've got a game to watch." Either that or we're sitting thinking of everyone ELSE the sermon applies to...because "we're perfect." Since WHEN did Christians become so arrogant and prideful? WE didn't die on the cross. WE are not the perfect ones. WE are the sinners...the ones Christ died FOR. We deserve...nothing. We DESERVE eternal death...total damnation. God was SO kind, and loving that He sent the most precious thing He had so that just a FEW people might get to receive His blessings. Just like a judge wouldn't throw a party for a murderer, God won't give us His gift for just living the kind of "good" we have come up with in our stupid heads. If that were the case, we could be as horrible as a murderer, but not murderer anyone, and we'd be better than him! That's how we silly humans think. As long as we're better than "_____" we're good enough to get to heaven. As long as we've "helped out others" we'll be sure to get into heaven! Heaven isn't some fairytale land. It's a place God has made for ONLY the ones who will take His gift...everyone else WILL go to hell. No matter how hard you try on your own, there is nothing you can do aside from repenting and putting your TRUST in Christ. NOTHING. We're so prideful, though, that we can't even admit we're wrong, that we've DONE wrong. Stop being so terribly prideful, and take a leap of faith! People don't realize the freedom they will feel. The life full of blessings they will get. No, becoming a Christian will in NO WAY make "life" easier. But, it will give you someone to trust in, that things have a reason for happening, and that God HAS a plan for your life. Otherwise, you will live each day lost, and always look for that something that makes you feel "whole." Jesus is THE way, THE truth, and THE light. No man comes to the Father but by Him."
For God (the greatest giver)
So loved (the greatest reason)
The world (the greatest number)
That he gave (the greatest gift)
His only son (the greatest cost)
That whoever (the greatest invitation)
Believes in him (the greatest condition)
Should not perish (the greatest guarantee)
But have everlasting (the greatest time)
Life (the greatest possession)

Think on it some. Are you living your life for YOU, or for HIM? Have you taken His gift, or left it to work your way to heaven? If it is the second...you will be sadly disappointed when you're judged.