January 14, 2013 (Monday)
“It ain’t over ’till it’s over.” — Yogi Berra
Yesterday the Atlanta Falcons won the right to play in the NFC Championship game this coming weekend, by winning their playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle scored to go ahead of Atlanta with only 31 seconds remaining in the game. Some people may have thought the game was over, but it wasn’t. Atlanta came alive and delivered a winning score within 18 seconds. Some may have thought, “That’s it. Atlanta lost,” after Seattle went ahead with what seemed like a winning score. If so, they were wrong. Atlanta won.
This scenario, in which the “loser” actually won, sounds familiar to these preacher ears. Long ago, in a faraway land, the enemies of Jesus treated Him shamefully, unjustly tried Him, crucified Him, and placed an “immovable” stone over the door of the tomb in which He was buried. “There, that’s that!” they must have said to themselves. But it wasn’t. There was more to come.
When the friends of Jesus came to visit His tomb, they found angels instead of a dead body. The angels declared triumphantly, “He is not here. He is risen!” After appearing to many, he ascended to His Father in Heaven.
In today’s world, those who hate the very idea of God are claiming victory over Faith. “It’s over,” they say, “..this whole God thing.” But it isn’t. Jesus lives in the hearts of those who believe in Him. Jesus promised to return to this troubled world, raise the dead and take His children home to Heaven. Every one of us will give account of ourselves to Him.
No, it’s not over yet. The best is yet to come.
There’s a Great Day Coming
There’s a great day coming, a great day coming;
There’s a great day coming by and by,
When the saints and the sinners shall be parted right and left,
Are you ready for that day to come?
Chorus:
Are you ready? Are you ready?
Are you ready for the judgment day?
Are you ready? Are you ready?
For the judgment day?
There’s a bright day coming, a bright day coming;
There’s a bright day coming by and by.
But its brightness shall only come to them that love the Lord.
Are you ready for that day to come?
Chorus
There’s a sad day coming, a sad day coming;
There’s a sad day coming by and by,
When the sinner shall hear his doom: “Depart, I know you not!”
Are you ready for that day to come?
Chorus