Why Me Lord?
Introduction:
A. This week:
1. Laverne Watson passed away.
a. A sister in Christ.
b. A member of the 39th St. congregation.
c. The wife of Avis Watson.
2. I also found out that a friend of mines wife has been
diagnosed with inoperable stomach cancer.
a. She is a very sweet christian woman.
b. Her husband is a gospel preacher in Sth. MO.
c. She has 2 children, and 3 grandchildren.
B. This ought to make us think just how fragile life is.
1. Any one of us here could:
a. Come down with some fatal desease.
b. Be involved in some sort of accident, and be killed.
2. Life is fragile.
a. We have no promise of tomorrow.
b. We have no promise of reaching old age.
As much as possible, we need to be prepared for the worst. But, how?
I. We need to understand that bad things happen to good people.
A. Some people have false ideas that make it difficult to understand
why bad things happen to good people.
1. Some people believe that God is in total control, and that
everything that happens is God directed.
a. God is in control - Colossians 1:16-17.
1) He created all things.
2) Consist = He holds all things together (sustains).
b. But, for the most part, He allows things to happen naturally,
and without intervention.
1) He gave man a free will, and man sometimes chooses to
do things that are not according to God's will (i.e. sin).
2) He has set certain laws of nature in motion, and He allows
them to operate naturally (i.e. gravity).
c. God can, and does, intervene at times = providence.
1) Providence is God doing things to accomplish His will.
2) He answers our prayers providentially.
3) Joseph ending up as 2nd in command in all of Egypt is
an excellent example of God's providence.
d. But, we need to keep in mind that He does not direct every
step, every action, and every event in life.
2. Some people have the false idea that if you become a christian
that you are not going to have any problems.
a. Paul was a christian, but he was stoned, ship wrecked, lied
about, and thrown in prison.
b. Stephen was a christian, but he was stoned to death.
c. John was exiled on the island of Patmos (Revelation 1:9).
d. The early church was being persecuted for being christians.
e. So, we can see that being a christian does not mean you will
be free from problems.
B. Why do bad things happen to good people?
1. Man's free will can account for a lot of it.
a. We can choose to sin, but if we do we may suffer the
consequence of it.
1) Drinking is a sin, and will keep us out of heaven
- I Corinthians 6:9-10.
2) If we drink we may also suffer (loss of $, serosis of the liver,
car accident, family problems, etc.).
b. People suffer as the result of other people choosing to sin.
1) Pregnant woman takes drugs.
2) Her innocent baby may suffer birth defects as a result.
2. Some suffering brings about good.
a. Stephen was stoned (Acts 7), but it resulted in good, for it
caused the church to go everywhere preaching the word (8:4).
b. Paul suffered a thorn in the flesh (II Corinthians 12:7), but
it helped him to remain humble.
c. Jesus suffered death on the cross, but it resulted in the hope
of salvation for all those who obey His gospel.
d. The loss of Laverne Watson may cause the 39th St.
congregation to: draw closer together; be more vigilant in
their evangelistic efforts; etc.
e. The sister that has inoperable stomach cancer. If she
handles her sickness the way I suspect that she will, she
may be an example to others that will help them to be stronger
as christians.
II. We need to develop the strongest faith, and love for God we can.
A. Strong faith is essential.
1. Stephen was "full of faith" - Acts 6:5.
a. Therefore he was able to stand up to the religious leaders of
his day, and preach the gospel to them, even though it cost
him his life.
b. And, while they were stoning him, he still had great faith,
and did not cry out for mercy, or take back what he had
said, but instead said - Acts 7:59-60.
2. Paul's faith carried him through.
a. II Timothy 1:12.
b. Romans 8:18.
c. II Timothy 4:6-8.
B. Love is a must.
1. Faith is not enough. We must also have love.
a. We might have faith, but without love we might not endure
the problems, and suffering that comes our way.
b. We need to love God with all of our heart, soul, and mind.
- Matthew 22:37-38.
c. If we have great faith, and this type of love, there is nothing
we cannot endure.
2. We need to develop faith and love.
a. Faith cometh by hearing....- Romans 10:17.
b. How do we develop this type of love? - I John 4:19.
1) This love is reciprocal. We love Him because He first
loved us.
2) When we understand just how much God loves us, we
should love Him in return.
3) Understanding His love, of course, is only going to come
about by studying His word, and meditating on just what
He did for us in sending His Son.
3. Again, if we have this type of love and faith, we can endure
whatever suffering and problems that come our way.
a. If we would lose a child, we could endure it by realizing that
God loved us enough to send His Son to die for us.
b. If we should lose everything we have financially, we can go
on by believing that God loved us enough to send His Son
so that we can have an inheritance that is incorruptible,
undefiled, and fadeth not away (I Peter 1:4).
III. We need to also realize that the world is not our home.
A. This world is full of suffering and sorrow, but this world is
not our home.
1. If we come down with a fatal desease, we need to remember:
a. When Jesus returns we shall have a new body - I Cor.15:51f.
b. In heaven there will be no more suffering (Revelation 21:4).
2. If we lose a loved one, we need to comfort ourselves with
these truths:
a. II Samuel 12:23.
b. I Thessalonians 4:13-18.
3. This world is not our home.
a. We sing a song that has those very words, and it is true.
b. We, like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Sarah are strangers,
and pilgrims on this earth, and we are looking for a
better country, a heavenly one (Hebrews 11:9-16).
B. Since this world is not our home...
1. We need to be seeking those things which are above where
Christ sitteth, and setting our affections of things above,
not on things on the earth (Colossians 3:1-2).
2. We need to be laying up our treasure in heaven, not upon
this earth (Matthew 6:19-21).
3. We need to be looking for the time when we can go on to
be with the Lord, which is far better - Philippians 1:23.
4. If we have this mindset then whatever might happen will not
really mean all that much, because we realize that THIS
WORLD IS NOT OUR HOME!
Conclusion:
A. Things are going to happen, but if we will trust in God, and love
Him with all of our heart, mind, and soul, we can overcome anything.
B. Are you ready, for you never know when something might happen?
1. Do you regularly study His word?
2. Are you faithful in your attendance?
3. Are you seeking those things which are above, and laying up
your treasure there?
4. These are things you need to be doing so that you can face the
problems of life.
C. If there is anything we can help you with in your relationship with
God: obey the gospel; repent of some sin; provoke you to love and
good works...won't you come as we stand and sing?