Repentance Could Be Too Late!

Introduction

I. 	I read an article recently about an adventurer who said he had never prayed because he concluded that if he got himself into difficulty, he should get himself out.
A. 	The article continued to tell about one time when he finally recognized his need and he did pray.
II. 	A man telling of his experience in the tornadoes in Alabama last week said he prayed and repented because he knew he was not right with God.
A. 	Obviously this is dangerous because he might have been killed in the tornado with no opportunity to pray.
B. 	We should pray without ceasing, and that should include asking for forgiveness.       I Thess. 5:17; I Jn. 1:9. 
IV. 	In this lesson let us consider the need of our being ready to meet the Lord at any time.

Body

I. 	We neither know the time of our death, nor do we know the time of Christ’s coming.
A. 	Our lives are brief, and we cannot know the time of death.
1. 	We shall die, and the judgment will follow our deaths.  Heb. 9:27.
2. 	We do not know when we shall die in most instances.  Jas. 4:13-15.
a. 	We may be exceptions to this if we have some terminal illness and medical information indicates that we have only a few days or hours to live.
b. 	Those of us in this audience are not in this situation.
3. 	The rich man of Luke 12:20-21 illustrates this uncertainty of the time of death.
      B.  The time of Jesus’ return is also not known. 
1. 	Jesus will come as a thief when the world does not expect it.  II Pet. 3:1-10.
2. 	Since His coming will bring about the destruction of this present universe, we should be living right in God’s sight.  II Pet. 3:11-15.
3. 	God’s grace has given us this very day, and we should take advantage of it.              II Pet. 3:9, 14-15, 17-18.

II. 	We should be sure that we are right with God today!
A. 	God has told those who are not “in Christ” what to do to be saved.  John 8:24; Mark 16:15-17; Acts 2:36-40; Gal. 3:26-27; II Cor. 5:10; Rev. 2:10.
B. 	Those who are “in Christ,” but who have unforgiven sins, must repent of sin, confess the sin and pray for forgiveness.  Acs 8:22; I Jn. 1:9-2:2; Jas. 5:19-20.
1. 	This is the way one who has been overtaken in a trespass is to be restored to the Lord.  Gal. 6:1-2.
2. 	We are warned to take heed lest we fall.  I Cor. 10:12; Gal. 5:4.
3. 	Paul said he buffeted his body lest he should be lost.  I Cor. 9:27.

Repentance Could Be Too Late, page 2.

Conclusion

I. 	This may be the only day we will ever have to obey the Lord.  II Cor. 6:1-2.
II. 	Don’t wait until it is too late to get right with God.  
III. 	Those who are unprepared cry out to be hidden from God in a day of judgment.     Rev. 6:12-17.
IV. 	Prepare for your judgment today by getting right with God now!

Prepared by:
   David Arnold
   April 12, 1998