Sermon 02 - Rich Up For Life

ENDTIMEMESSAGESFROMJESUSSabbathMorningEvangelismVolume1
02.REACHUPFORLIFE
1 ENDTIMEMESSAGESFROMJESUS
"TeachingthemtoobserveallthingsthatIhavecommandedyou;
andlo,Iamwithyoualways,eventotheendoftheage.
(Matthew28:20)
2 SabbathMorningEvangelism
3 REACHUPFORLIFE
4 Bewildered!That'showweare.Ourgenerationhasnotmerely
missedtheway,ithaslosttheaddress.Wearenolongerconscious
ofourdestiny!
5 Manyofusfindourselvesinthesamepositionasthesadand
lonelydogsittinginacageonaporter'sbaggagecartinoneof
London'slargefreightstations.Asympatheticstrangerwhowas
passingbyinquiredoftheattendant,What'swrongwiththatdog?
Whyishelookingsodejectedandfearful?Letmetellyou,the
manintheshinycapconfided.Yousee,thatdoghaschewedoff
hisdestinationlabelandnowdoesn'tknowwherehecamefromor
WHEREHEISGOING.
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02.REACHUPFORLIFE
6 Ourboastedcivilizationislikethat.Theexpertsareshoutingthatit
isdoomed,nottomorrow,butwithinthisgeneration.Thelast
fadingraysofasunthathasalreadysetsurrendertothegathering
gloomofnight.Fromeverydepartmentofourlivesboth
national,secular,religious,family,andpersonalwarningsirens
wailouttheirfrighteningmessageofdeadlydangerahead.Our
materialisticsocietywithitsunparalleledtechnologypoursanever
increasingfloodofthingsontoanalreadyfloodedmarket.Butit
isgrindingtoahaltunderthefrictionofitsownmachinery.
7 Thenuclearthreat.Overpopulation.Thestarvationthreat.Civil
disobedienceandcommotion.Thefamilyandsexcrisis.
8 Disasters.Earthquakes.Floods.Hurricanes.Disease.Excessive
wealth.Abjectpoverty...
9 Racism.Itisagrizzlyoldworldthatwelivein.
10 Lifehasneverlookedsobleaktoagenerationofyouth,nortothe
matureortheaged.Wedwellintheshadowofadozen
monumentalproblemswhich,ifunchecked,couldresultin
cosmocideworldsuicide.Allvaluesareunsettled;allnormsare
broken.Mental,moral,estheticandsocialanarchyreigns,saida
Harvardsociologist.
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02.REACHUPFORLIFE
11 Inthegatheringgloomwefeelasinsecureasthelittleboywhose
motherputhimtobedandswitchedoffthelight.Hisfeelingsmay
servetomakeourownvaguelongingsarticulate.Youarenot
goingtoleavemehereallaloneinthedark,areyou?heinquired
anxiously.Godisherewithyouallthetime,repliedthemother
inhermostassuringtone.Yes,IknowGodisherebutIwant
someonewithaface.
12 Godunderstoodourneedfortangibleevidence.ThatiswhyHe
sentJesusChrist,HisonlybegottenSoninhumanform.Heisthe
answertotheuniversalcryofmankind.Hecametorevealthe
Father.InJesusChristweseealltheGodweknowandneedto,
know.Thereisawayoutofthehumandilemma.Christisthe
answer.AswelookintoHisfacewehearHimsay,John14:6:I
amtheway,thetruth,andthelife
13 NoonecomestotheFatherexceptthroughMe.
14 OnlyinChristandHisgospelistherelifeandhopeforourdoomed
anddyinggeneration.John1:4:InHimwaslife,andthelife
wasthelightofmen.Aconvertednewspapereditorwasasked
byanacquaintance.Whatisthenewsofthemorning?Withheart
andmindoverflowingwiththegospelnewsthewriterputthe
essentialmessageintoonedramaticheadline,ETERNALLIFE
NOW.Yes,Christistheonlyleaderwithaprogramoflifeand
lightformankindincivilization'sdarkestandmostdangeroushour.
Then,REACHOUTTOHIMFORLIFE!
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02.REACHUPFORLIFE
15 AlmosttwothousandyearshavepassedsinceGodintroducedthis
newinfusionofessentiallifeintoourworldinthepersonofHis
Son.ButthemessageofJesusisasmodernastomorrow.Christis
nottheexclusivepropertyofyesterday.Jesusdidnotcometoo
soon;menhaveignoredHimtoolong.HeistheuniversalChrist.
Hebelongstoallpeopleandtoallgenerationsthepast,the
present,andthefuture.
16 Jesuslookedforwardandsawthecrisisofourgenerationjustas
clearlyasHelookedbackwardsandreadthehistoryofpastcrises.
IntheheartofoneofHisgreatestsermonsapropheticoutline
reachingfromHisdaytotheendoftimeJesusstatedthatthings
wouldbeexactlyasyouandIseethemtoday.Lifewouldrun
downtoalevelcomparablewiththedaysofNoahwhenGod
foundHimselfobligedtostepinanddosomethingdrastic.
17 Jesusexplaineditthisway,Matthew24:3739:Butasthedays
ofNoahwere,soalsowillthecomingoftheSonofManbe.
18
19 Forasinthedaysbeforetheflood,theywereeatingand
drinking,marryingandgivinginmarriage,untilthedaythat
Noahenteredtheark,
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02.REACHUPFORLIFE
20 anddidnotknowuntilthefloodcameandtookthemall
away,soalsowillthecomingoftheSonofManbe.Yes,the
comingoftheSonofManistheclimaxofthepresentgospelage.
Thereareclearindicationsthatwearenowinthecrisishourthat
JesussaidwouldbesimilartoNoah'sday,andwhichwould
immediatelyprecedeHispersonalreturn.
21 Youmightask.Whatwerethingslikebackinthedaysbeforethe
flood?Whatcircumstancesexistedthatledtosuchdrasticdivine
intervention?Theinquiriesareofvitalimportancesinceourday
willbelikethedaysofNoah.However,therevealingprofileofthe
peopleinNoah'sdayhasbeenclearlypaintedandcarefully
preservedforusonthedramaticcanvasoftheScriptures.
22 1.THEPOPULATIONEXPLOSION
23 ThefirstfeaturethatweobserveisthePOPULATION
EXPLOSION.Genesis6:1:Nowitcametopass,whenmen
begantomultiplyonthefaceoftheearth.Somepeopleliketo
thinkthatNoah'sworldfacedapopulationproblem.Menwere,
rapidlymultiplyingontheearth.Oneauthority,AlfredM.
Rehwinkelinhisbook,TheFlood,declaresthatitisreasonable
toassumethatthepopulationinNoah'sdaywasatleastequalto
thepopulationoftheworldtoday.
24 Therewassufficienttimeforsuchanincreaseinpopulation,and
thephysicalconditionsconducivetopopulationgrowthweremost
favorable.Therecanbenodoubtthatthepopulationfiguresofthis
moderngenerationofourshave,likeNoah's,reachedthedanger
level.
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02.REACHUPFORLIFE
25 Onemanhassimplifiedourmoderndilemmaoftoomanypeople
andtoolittlefoodasacontestbetweenthestorkandtheplough.
Thefutureappearsgloomierandgloomier.Ifmandoesn'tcomeup
withasolution,theproblemwillsolveitselfinwholesale
starvation.The20thcenturybeganwith1.6billionpeopleonthe
earth.Nowwehave7billion.Feedingthemallwillbeatougher
jobthangentlylandingmenonthemoonandbringingthemback
withcolormovies.
26 Twohundredyearsfromnow,andthat'snotsuchalongtimewith
ourexpandinglifespan,therewillbe150billionofusclawingone
anotherforstandingroom.IfmanorGoddoesn'tdosomething,
naturewill,asitalwaysdoesintheanimalkingdom.Forman,
famineisconstantlyjustaroundthecorner.People,governments,
andtheUnitedNationsarenotyetalertedtothemagnitudeofthe
danger.ButasthedaysofNoahwere,soalsowillthecoming
oftheSonofManbe.Menbegantomultiplyonthefaceofthe
earth!
27 2.SOCIALCRISIS
28 Thesecondprominentfeatureoftheprofilewearestudyingisthe
SOCIALCRISIS.Genesis6:2:ThesonsofGodsawthe
daughtersofmen,
29 thattheywerebeautiful;
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02.REACHUPFORLIFE
30 andtheytookwivesforthemselvesofallwhomtheychose.
ThesesonsofGodwhichwerethegodlychildrenofSethmarried
thedaughtersofmenwhichwerethegodless
Cainites.Becauseofthesemixedmarriagesbetweenthegodlyand
thegodlessthehumanracedegeneratedandfamilyproblems
becamemoreandmoreperplexing.
31 Jesussummarizedtheprobleminthewordsmarryingandgiving
inmarriage.Whilewearegivenlittledetailofthenatureofthe
socialsystemofNoah'sdayorthefactsleadingtoitsbreakdown,it
isabundantlyclearthatinthisareaofhome,family,andsexlaya
majorportionoftheprefloodproblem.Jesussaiditwouldbelike
thatdownintheendoftime.Anditis!
32 Whattimeisit,someoneaskedatthebarofamuchfrequented
nightspot.Sexo'clock,repliedtheattendant.Hereitisalways
sexo'clock.Therearemanywhofeelthathemighthavebeen
speakingforthenationorforwesterncultureingeneral.Toomany
seemtohavepickeduptheimmoralitybugfearedbysometobean
oldstrainresponsibleforwipingoutentirecivilizationsofthepast.
33 Itplayedhavocintheantediluvianworld;itisdestroyingthefaith
ofmillionsandthefutureofnationsinourday;anditisavitalpart
ofthecrisisatthecloseofourworld'shistory.Somethingintheair
hasanesthetizedthenerveofselfcontrol,releasedtheinner
restraint,andfreedmenofvitalchecksandbalances.Wehave
becometheanythinggoesgeneration.Unfortunately,the
prevalenceoftheproblemnumbsusintoshock.Wedon'twince
anymore;somemightevenlaughorsneer.
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02.REACHUPFORLIFE
34 Exposedbythenewsandentertainmentmediatonudity,orgies,
wifeswapping,pornography,obscenity,homosexuality,incest,
freelove,andpregnantteenagers,wemayveryeasilyfailto
recognizeitforwhatitis.Therecanbenoquestion,itisasignof
thetimes.It'slikebeinginanasylumrunbytheinmates.Asin
Noah'sday,thefamilyunitinwesternsocietyhasbeenseriously
shaken.
35 Workingwomen,changingsexroles,freerattitudestoward
premaritalandextramaritalsex,aswellasthepillandlegalized
abortion,haveallweakenedthetraditionalfamilystructure.The
resultisthatwhilepeoplearemarryingmoretheyareenjoyingit
less.Divorcescometobeconsideredpartofthelivingprocess,ora
maturingexperience.Fartoomanyarematuring.Alongwiththe
newsexualfreedomsthedecadehasproducedanalarmingincrease
invenerealdiseaseandtheillegitimacyrate.Butasthedaysof
Noahwere,
36 soalsowillthecomingoftheSonofManbe.Itispartofthe
handwritingonthewallofourdoomedcivilization.Theywere
marryingandgivinginmarriage.
37 3.GREATWICKEDNESS
38 AnotherglanceattheprofilerevealsGREATWICKEDNESS.
Genesis6:5:ThentheLORDsawthatthewickednessofman
wasgreatintheearth,
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02.REACHUPFORLIFE
39 andthateveryintentofthethoughtsofhisheartwasonly
evilcontinually.
40 Crimeandimmorality,whichateoutthesouloftheantediluvian
worldandconditionedmillionsfordestruction,areskyrocketingin
mostwesterncountries.Raceriots,politicalassassination,mass
murders,sniperkillingsofinnocentpassersby,terroronthe
streets,allarethesignsofadeeplydisturbedsociety.
41 Thecountriesaredailyencounteringabarrageofviolencethathas
madecrimeandlawenforcementapoliticalissue.Courtdecisions
seemtogivecriminalsallthebreaks.Therearesickeningexamples
ofpublicapathyandlackofconcernforothersindiredistressat
thehandsofthugsandmurderers.Theexpertscallitamoral
tobogganslide.
42 Christistheanswertoourmoderncrimeandimmoralityproblems.
Butforourpresentpurposewepointoutthatitisafurther
demonstrationthatwehavereachedthosetimeswhichJesussaid
wouldparallelthedaysofNoah.ThetimeoftheEND!
43 ButasthedaysofNoahwere,soalsowillthecomingof
theSonofManbe.
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02.REACHUPFORLIFE
44 Thewickednessofmanwasgreatintheearth,andthat
everyintentofthethoughtsofhisheartwasonlyevil
continually.
45 4.CORRUPTIONANDPOLLUTION
46 Aswegazeagainontheprofilewefindthatthefeaturesare
becomingmoredistinctive.Infact,CORRUPTIONAND
POLLUTIONseemtobeemphasized.Genesis6:11Theearth
alsowascorruptbeforeGod,
47 andtheearthwasfilledwithviolence.Theearthalsowas
corruptbeforeGodManhassucceededinbringingaboutnotonly
hisownmoralcorruptionbutalsothepollutionofhisGodgiven
environment.Adamwasplacedinthegardeninabrandnewworld
todressitandkeepit.
48 ButBibleprophecypredictedatimewouldcomewhenGodwould
beobligedtostepinto.Revelation11:18destroythosewho
destroytheearth.
49 Theplanetearthissick,verysick.Thesymptomsofthisplanet's
diseaseareallaroundusinourair,ourwater,andourfood.
Somescientistsfeelthediseasemayalreadyhaveprogressedtoo
far.Beforeourmoderneraofadvancedtechnologytheearthseems
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02.REACHUPFORLIFE
tohavebeenopentoabsorbmansinsults,buttwentiethcentury
manhasacquiredsuchadditionalcapacitytotamperwithhis
environmentthathethreatenstodestroyit.
50 Onepresidentsscienceadvisorisquotedassaying:Itisour
wholeplanetthatisindangerofdeterioration...Surely
mankindhasreachedaturningpointinhistory.
51 Hemustdosomethingnow,toreversethedeteriorating
environmentaltrends,orelseourchildrenand
grandchildren
52 willfindtheearthquiteuninhabitable,anditwillevenbe
increasinglymoreunpleasantandunhealthyforus.
53 Backin1968,theApollo8crewmembersmadeaninteresting
observationontheirroundtripmissiontothemooninDecember
1968.TheynoticeditwaseasytospotLosAngelesfromhundreds
ofmilesoutinspace.Theylocateditbyobservingthelarge
blanketofsmoghoveringoverthesouthernCaliforniametropolis.
(NewYorkwasaboutaseasytolocate).
54 InaLosAngelesschoolplaygroundasignappearsthatsays
Warning!Donotexercisestrenuouslyorbreathetoodeeply
duringheavysmogconditions.InTokyo,Japan,schoolchildren
sometimeshavetowearmasksonsmoggydays.Trafficpolicein
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02.REACHUPFORLIFE
certainareasofTokyomusttakeperiodicoxygenbreakstokeep
frombeingoverwhelmedbynoxiousexhaustfumes.
55 Thinkingofmanspollutionofhisenvironment,theatmosphere
andthewaters(includingtheoceans),frightenedscientistsfrankly
warnofthepossibledeathofourplanet.Theyask.Willthisbe
manslastdecade?Therehasbeenmoreverbiageaboutgarbagein
thelastfewyearsthaninallhistory.Butinthemeantimegarbage
andpollutioningeneralcontinuestomount.
56 ThosewhoknowtheWordofGodareconvincedthatthetimehas
comewhentheOnewhomadetheworldwillcalluponitshuman
caretakerstoaccountforthewayinwhichtheyhaveusedtheir
environment.
57 Mat.24:37;Gen.6:5ButasthedaysofNoahwere,soalso
willthecomingoftheSonofManbe.everyintentofthe
thoughtsofhisheartwasonlyevilcontinually.
58 5.VIOLENCEANDCRIME
59 Buttheprofileisnotcomplete.VIOLENCEandCRIMEdrawan
increasingamountofattention
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02.REACHUPFORLIFE
60 Genesis6:11:andtheearthwasfilledwithviolence.
Trillionsofdollarsarespentonarmamentsandthemilitaryby
manynationseveryyear.Insomecasesthisrepresentatenthof
theentirenationalincome.Enoughtofeedandclotheeveryoneon
earthforawholeyearormore,ortoprovidehousingforoverone
thirdofmankind.
61 Overninetymillionpeoplehavediedinmajorwarsinthelast
century.Morethanhalfofthesedeathswerearesultofone
conflict,WorldWarII.WithoutmentioningKorea,VietNam,
Africa,TheGulf,etc.Tocompletelylistallthewars,rebellions
andconflictsintheworldforthelast25yearswouldbenearly
impossible.
62 Butthewasteofhumanlifeisnotconfinedtothebattlefield.We
couldaddtothehorrifyingstatisticsquotedabovestaggering
statisticsofmurderandsuicide,theoutwardsymbolsofhatredand
despairwithinthehumansoul.Didyouknowthateverytwo
minutessomeoneintheUnitedStatesattemptssuicide?TheWorld
HealthOrganizationestimatesthatsome1,000+peoplecommit
suicideintheworldeveryday.Ithascometotheplacewhere
suicidesnowoutnumbermurders!
63 Inthelastyearsthenationalrateofcriminalhomicideperone
millionpopulationincreased36%,therateofforciblerape65%,of
aggravatedassault67%,andofrobbery119%.Violentcrimeinthe
UnitedStatesisprimarilyaphenomenonoflargecities.Thisisa
factofcentralimportance.Violentcrimeinthecitiesis
concentratedespeciallyamongyouthsbetweentheagesof15and
24.Anthisistrueineverypartoftheworldtoday.
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02.REACHUPFORLIFE
64 Thiswholesalelackofrespectforthepreciousgiftoflifeis
anotherparalleltothedaysofNoah.Mat.24:37;Gen.6:5Butas
thedaysofNoahwere,soalsowillthecomingoftheSonof
Manbe.everyintentofthethoughtsofhisheartwasonly
evilcontinually.SurelywecanexpectthattheAuthoroflifewill
againstepintotheprogramandtakechargeofthefinalactasHe
didbackinNoah'sday.
65 6.MATERIALISM,SECULARISM,ANDREVELRY
66 Materialism,secularism,andrevelryarethelastmajorfeatures
composingtheprofileofthelastdaysthatwenote.Luke17:26
30:AndasitwasinthedaysofNoah,soitwillbealsointhe
daysoftheSonofMan:Theyate,theydrank,theymarried
wives,theyweregiveninmarriage,
67 untilthedaythatNoahenteredtheark,andthefloodcame
anddestroyedthemall.Likewiseasitwasalsointhedaysof
Lot:Theyate,theydrank,theybought,theysold,
68 theyplanted,theybuilt;butonthedaythatLotwentoutof
Sodomitrainedfireandbrimstonefromheavenanddestroyed
themall.EvensowillitbeinthedaywhentheSonofManis
revealed.
69 Rememberthestory?Whatalessonforustoday.Jesuswarnedus
aboutthesamedanger.
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02.REACHUPFORLIFE
70 Thecatalogueofactivitieslistedhereseemsquitenormalbehavior.
Amanmusteat,andhewouldnotliveverylongwithoutdrinking.
MarriagewasordainedbyGodandtheWordofGodsaysitis
honorable.Moreover,buying,selling,planting,andbuildingare
honorableactivitiesiftheyareconductedhonorable.Butwemust
rememberthatitwasnotthethingstheydidthatledtothe
disintegrationofcharacterandsocietysomuchasthethingsthey
neglectedtodo.Theirtimewasfullyoccupiedwiththebusiness
andthepleasureoflifetotheexclusionofthethingsoftheSpirit.
Theyfailedbecausetheydidnotmakeroomintheirdailyprogram
forGod.
71 ThislackofspiritualpowerledthehumanraceinNoah'sdaytobe
corruptedthroughtheindulgenceofpervertedappetitesand
passions.Feasting,revelry,anddrunkennessweretheorderofthe
day.Mentreatedtheirbodies,notasapreciouspossessiongiven
thembyGod,butasthingstobeexploitedforpleasureandfeeling.
Needwedrawtheparallelwithoursocietytoday?
72 Jesussaid,Matthew24:37ButasthedaysofNoahwere,so
alsowillthecomingoftheSonofManbe.Thehardening
materialismofourmodernsocietyisnotonlybasictotheproblems
bywhichweareplagued,itisthesurestevidencethatwearedown
inthetimewhentheSonofManisabouttoberevealed.
73 7.AWARNINGMESSAGE
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02.REACHUPFORLIFE
74 Genesis6:3AndtheLORDsaid,MySpiritshallnotstrive
withmanforever,forheisindeedflesh;yethisdaysshallbe
onehundredandtwentyyears.Thisischaracteristicofthe
attitudeofGodineverytimeofcrisisthroughwhichmankindhas
passed.Godsetdefinitelimitstotherisingtideofviolence,
lawlessnessandwickedness.
75 Job38:11Thisfaryoumaycome,butnofarther,andhere
yourproudwavesmuststop!wasthedivinedecreethatshored
upthewatersofthenaturalsea.Onehundredandtwentyyearswas
thelimitsetfortherisingtideofsininNoah'sgeneration.
76 Wedonotknowtheexactnumberofyears,butwemaybeassured
thatalsoinourdaythereisalimitbeyondwhichthepatientloveof
GodwillnotwaitformentoturntoHim.
77 Butduringthis120yearperiodbeforethefloodGodsentthrough
HisservantNoah,apreacherofrighteousness,amessageof
warningandpreparation.Anarkwasbuilttoprovidesafety
throughoutthestorm.
78 ThewaywardgenerationwasurgedbyGod'smessengerto
REACHOUTFORLIFE!Itwillbethesameinourday.Matthew
24:14Andthisgospelofthekingdomwillbepreachedinall
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theworld
79 asawitnesstoallthenations,andthentheendwillcome.
80 Jesussawourdays,Luke21:26.OursisanagewhenMens
heartsfailingthemfromfearandtheexpectation
81 ofthosethingswhicharecomingontheearth.Thisfearis
notthelotofsimpleminded,superstitiouspeople.Thescientists,
thethinkers,theworldstatesmenfearanunknownbutmenacing
future.Thereisfearofpollution;fearofoverpopulation;fearof
drugs;fearofourcrumblingmoralstandards;fearofviolence;fear
ofwar;fearofdestruction.Addtothislisttheindividualandmore
personalfearsforfamily,health,andsurvivalinaworldofplenty
whereinflationthreatenstoforbidman'senjoymentofGod's
bounties.
82 IFTHEREISANYHOPEOFDELIVERANCEFOROUR
WORLD,THATDELIVERANCEMUSTCOMEFROM
ABOVE.
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83 Onedayahunterinaredcapandcoatwasstalkingdeerona
heavyforestedslope.Suddenlyafirebegantosweepupthehill.It
camenearerandnearer.Thehunterretreatedasfarashecould,but
atthetopofthehillhefoundhimselfontheedgeofatwo
thousandfootprecipice
84 Withthisbeforeandthefirebehindhimwhatcouldhedo?To
jumpofftheedgemeantcertaindeath.Tostandtherewouldbefar
worse,hewouldbeburnedalive.
85 Butinthisextremitytherewasunexpectedhelp.Theeyeofa
friendlyfirewatcherlookingdownfromastillhigherelevationhad
seenhim,andrecognizinghisplight,hadradioedheadquartersfor
ahelicopter.Intheverynickoftimethemachinecamehovering
overtheheadoftheseeminglydoomedman.
86 Aropewasdroppedandthehuntereagerlyreachedoutforlife!
Stronghandsfromabovewerereachingdowntoclasphisandhe
wassaved.
87 Ouronlyhopeofdeliveranceisfromabove.Jesuspromised,
88 John14:3IwillcomeagainandreceiveyoutoMyself.
Reachingoutforlifemeanstakingholdoftheoutstretchedhandof
Jesus,ourRedeemer,andpermittingHimtoprepareusforthe
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greatdayofHiscomingwhichisnearathand.TheAuthoroflife
steppedintotheprogramandtookchargeofthefinalactbackin
Noah'sday,andwecanexpectthatHewilldoexactlythesamein
ourgeneration.
89 WhenJesusChristcametoearththefirsttimeeveryhandsincerely
reachingoutforlifefoundit.Thereweremiraclesofphysical
healing,butthegreatestmiraclesofallwereinthehigherhealing
ofthesoul,deliverancefromtheshacklesofsin.
90 WhenJesuswalkedamongmen,thefameofthepreacherhealer
spreadrapidlyandcrowdsthrongedaboutHim.Doubtlessmany
cameoutofcuriosityhopingtoseefirsthandtheevidenceofhis
supernaturalpower.Butotherscamedrivenbyasenseofpersonal
need.Theseinvariablywereblessed,healed,satisfiedandfilled
wihjoy.Markinchapter5,verses2634ofhisgospel,relatesthe
experienceofaneedywomanwhojoinedthecrowdswihafond
hopeandagreatneed!Fortwelveyearssheandhadsuffered
manythingsfrommanyphysicians.Shehadspentallthatshe
hadandwasnobetter,butrathergrewworse.(Mark5:26)
91 Herplightseemssymbolicalofthedirestraitsinwhichmanyofus
findourselvestoday!Neverinthehistoryofmankindhassomuch
beenspentwithsomanywouldbephysiciansforpeaceofmind,
happiness,andasolutiontotheproblemsthatmenaceourvery
existence,withsolittleresults.Wearenothingbettered,ratherwe
growrapidlyandalarminglyworse!ButChristwastheanswerto
thewoman'severyneed!Heisstilltheanswertoday.Thewoman
determinedtoreachoutatremblinghandoffaithforlife.
92 ItwasfarfromeasytogetnearJesus.EvenwhenHewaswalking
throughherhomevillageitwasquiteimpossible,itseemed,to
secureapersonalinterview.Withcrowdsjostlingeachothertobe
nearHimandtoseeHim,itwasonlywithgreatdifficultythatshe
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02.REACHUPFORLIFE
managedtogetcloseenoughtoreachoutandtouchthehemofHis
robe.
93 Immediatelythehealingvirtueflowed.Sheknewthatherbodyhad
beenhealedofthatplagueatthemomentofcontact.AndJesus
knewtoo!Whotouchedmyclothes?Hedemanded.Any
numberofpeopleinthisjostlingthrongmusthavedonethat,the
disciplesasserted.Howcanyouaskandhowcanwetellwho
touchedyouincircumstanceslikethese?ButJesuswasthinking
ofadifferentkindoftouch.Hehadfeltandrespondedtothe
TOUCHOFFAITH!
94 WecantouchtheChristinhistory,inart,inliterature,in
philosophy,andinlotsofotherwaysandyetremainunsaved.Itis
thetouchoffaiththatheals.Nonewhohaveeverreachedoutfor
lifewiththehandoffaithhavefailedtofindastronghandwaiting
inthedarknesstoclasptheirs.Daughter,yourfaithhasmade
youwell.Goinpeace,andbehealedofyouraffliction.Mark
5:34
95 WeeachhaveaneedagreatneedbutthankGodthereisan
answer.Christ.Itistimeforusasindividualsaswellasour
countrytoreachoutandgraspthehemofHisgarmentlestwe
perish,victimsofourowndevices.Howdoesheavenviewour
condition?AndwhatwouldourGodsayifHesetabouttodescribe
it?WhatlanguagewouldHeemploytoawakenourconsciencetoa
senseofourtragicneed?Wemayverywellfindtheanswerby
readingGod'sindictmenttoHisownpeople,Israel,ina
comparableperiodofindividualcarelessnessandnational
apostasy.
96 Itisnotonlyimportantthatwerealizeourneed,butwemustbe
awareofandacceptheaven'sprovisiontomeetit.Wecanreach
outforlifeandfindit.Godhasasurecureforthediseaseofsin.It
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istheonlyknowncureand,therefore,man'sonlyhope.Wecannot
choosefromalistofantibiotics
97 ThereisOneonlythatwillmeetourneed,butoneisallweneed
whenitistherightOne.
98 YearsagobeforePasteur'streatmentforrabieshadbecome
generallyavailable,amaddoginaremotecommunitybitayoung
manandayoungwoman.Toobtaintreatmentwouldrequirea
long,inconvenienttriptoadistantcity.Theownerofthedog
offeredbothofthevictimsthetriptothecityfortreatmentwithall
expensespaid,oralumpsumoffivehundreddollarseachin
settlement.Theyoungwomandecidedtogofortreatment.She
wantedtobesure.Buttheyoungmanthinkingofallhecoulddo
withthemoney,chosethe$500.Hewouldtakehischance!
99 Nowwithrabies,too,thereisonlyonecure.Andtobeeffectiveit
hastobeadministeredbeforethesymptomsoccur.Theperiod
betweenaninfectiousbiteandtheappearanceofsymptomsmay
varyfromtwoweekstofourmonthsorevenlonger,sosafety
requiresadministrationofthecurewithoutdelay.Imaginethe
youngman'sdespairwhenaftertwoweekshebegantoexperience
difficultyinswallowing.Couldthisbethebeginningofrabies?...
100 Thencamemusclespasmsandparalysisthesuresymptomsof
thedisease.Nomistakeaboutitnow,hehadgambledandlost.
Finallyahorribledeath.
Page 21
02.REACHUPFORLIFE
101 Youask.Whywouldamantakeachancelikethat?AndIask,
Whywouldmantakeachancewithdeathtoday?Whytryquack
remediestocurethediseaseofthesoulwhenatbesttheycanonly
relievethesymptoms?AgreaterHealerthanPasteurishere.Why
notgiveHimachancewithyoursinproblem?Whynotplaceyour
caseentirelyinHishands?HeisthegreatPhysician.TheSonof
Godhasneverlostasinglecase.Whatanopportunity.Whata
promise.OurGodiswaitingforonethingonlythepatient's
consent.Whywaittillyoutakeaturnfortheworse?Thereisa
doctorinthehousetonight.HeisthebestDoctorofthemallthe
GreatPhysician.WhynotconsultHimtoday?WhynottakeHim
now?WhynotREACHOUTFORLIFE?
102 Appeal and prayer.
Page 22

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ENDTIMEMESSAGESFROMJESUSSabbathMorningEvangelismVolume1

102 Appeal and prayer.

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