Galatians chapter 3. Now we'll
read the first four verses in a moment. The title of my
message, as you'll see from these verses, why I would choose these
words, is look up. Look up. That's what Paul is
encouraging and exhorting believers to do. Look up. That's where
Christ is. So by faith, keep your eyes upon
Him. Because if we're not looking
up, where are we looking? If we're not looking up, we're
looking down. If we're not looking up to Christ,
we're looking at this world. That can't be good. We're in
the world, of course we are. But the Lord said, remember this,
you're not of the world. As Paul says here, your life
is hid with Christ in God. Therefore, look up. Now, before
we read these four verses, it might be helpful, necessary,
I think, to be reminded why we should, and the benefits, before
we go, rather, to the benefits of it, the danger of not doing
so. The danger of not doing so. As
you know, many believers, professors, I'm sorry, professors, in our
day, believe that faith in Christ is a one and done deal. Terry,
I was still working at the University of Kentucky when, I can't even
think of his name now, came to coach the basketball team, he
was in Mississippi. He's still there, I think, it's
not important. But he had so many, he could recruit So many
good players all over the country, Calipari, that's his name. But
they would play one year and then they were done. Because
the NBA would shake that multi-million dollar contract in front of their
face, how many 20 years old is going to turn that down? But
they called it one and done, one and done. None of them hardly
ever stuck around after their freshman year. A lot of folks
consider faith to be that way. We make a profession of faith
in Christ and we're done. One and done. That's the end
of it. That's how most people look at
faith today. That it begins and ends at the
time of profession. That is so contrary to God's
Word. For example, Romans 1 verse 17. And these words are repeated
beginning in the Old Testament in Habakkuk. And they're here
in Romans 1, they're in Galatians, other places. Romans 1 verse
17, the just shall live by faith. Live by faith. Now that sounds
more like just a start and then nothing else. Just as our natural
life begins at birth, it doesn't stop there. We continue to live. and we will live until we draw
our last breath. So it is with the new birth,
the light that God gives us in the new birth, rather. Faith,
being a gift of God, continues. Remember what our Lord said.
In John 14, in that same chapter where we read those comforting
words of him going away and preparing us a place, on down in the chapter,
at verse 19, he told his disciples, yet a little while, and the world
seeth me no more. But you see me. You see me. Because I live, ye shall live
also. Now that's not a one and done
thing. Because I live, ye shall live also. The same life in our
head is the same life in the body. No wonder he said it's
eternal life. I give him eternal life. He can
give none other kind. Now compare that, what we just
read in John 14 and 19, to what Paul said in Galatians 20 verse
20. He said, I am crucified with
Christ nevertheless, I live. Yet not I, but Christ liveth
in me. And the life which I now live
in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me
and gave himself for me. And we just read these verses
a moment ago from Hebrews 10. Now the just should live by faith. They should live by faith. They
don't begin and stop. It's not one and done. It's not
to profess faith in Christ and then it have no effect on my
life whatsoever. That's not faith. That's not
genuine faith. The wise man, Solomon, in Ecclesiastes
3, you're familiar with this verse, Ecclesiastes 3, 14. I
know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Forever. Nothing can be put to
it. It's perfect. It doesn't need
our help. Nor anything taken from it. And God doeth it that men should
fear before him. Those were the words of Solomon,
the wisest man on earth at that time. Oh, but behold, as our
Lord said, a greater than Solomon is here. Because what we're about
to read from John 11 are the words of him who was wisdom personified. He is the one that God has made
unto us wisdom. In this one dwells all the fullness
of the Godhead, all wisdom. And this is what he said to a
grief-stricken believer, Martha. Before they go to the tomb of
her brother, Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and
the life. He that believeth in me, though
he were dead, yet shall he live. Now listen to this. Whosoever
liveth and believeth, where there's life, there's faith. Faith is
the evidence of life. It's not the cause of life, but
it's the evidence of life. And whosoever liveth and believeth
in me shall never die. She'll never die. Believest thou
this? I like what one old writer said. He said, faith is a pilgrim grace. We're pilgrims while we make
our way through the world. When we enter heaven, we're not
pilgrims anymore. But faith is a pilgrim grace.
It travels with us to heaven. And when it sees us safe within
our Father's house, it takes leave of us. Because then, Billy,
faith gives way to sight. In heaven, faith will no longer
be required, because we'll see that one, the object of our faith,
we shall see him as he is. Another scripture along this
line is in 1 Peter 2, verses 3 and 4. I encourage you to read
along with me, just don't listen to me, because I think it's beneficial
and helpful to you. if you look at these with me.
Verse Peter chapter 2. Now here, faith is compared to
coming, coming. Seeing Christ, the eyes of faith,
coming, the feet of faith. If so be, verse Peter 2 verse
3, if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious, if you've
really experienced his grace, then you've done this. To whom
coming, coming, continually, as unto a living stone, disallowed
indeed of men, set aside, we'll not have this man rule over us,
but chosen of God and precious. Coming to Christ is a continual
thing. Believing in Christ is a continual
thing. Savior doesn't speak of coming
to him as a one-time thing, a single act, but a constant, continual,
lifelong thing. That's what genuine faith is.
If I worship God, if I truly worship God, if I know God, if
I know God, I worship God, and I don't worship him one day out
of seven. No, no. A lot of folks foolishly
think they do, but they don't. I don't worship God one day out
of seven. I worship Him all my life. Seven days a week, 24 hours
a day. It's a way of life, the new life. If I don't worship Jesus with
my life, I don't worship Him at all. Faith in Christ is not
an event in my life, but it's a way of life. To just live by
faith. They don't talk the talk, they
walk the walk. They live by faith. This is so
very important to understand. Because in our day, as Mr. J.C. Rowe noted in his day, probably
200 years ago this was written. It may sound familiar to you
because it's been in our bulletin. I can't help but think when I
read these words and decided to use them in the message, what
he would say about our day, because it sounds like he could have
written this this morning. He said, there is a common worldly
kind of Christianity in this day, which many have, and think
they have enough. A cheap Christianity which offends
nobody, and requires no sacrifice, which costs nothing, and it's
worth nothing. God, God don't allow me to embrace
such a lie as that. That is why the following words
are such a needful exhortation because what Mr. Rouse said is
true. We see it on every hand. We see
multitudes making professions of faith and then go out and
live no differently than they ever did. Is that all it means
to be a believer? Does God's grace do no more for
a man or a woman than that? Yes, it does. If any man's truly
in Christ, he's a new creation. He's not what he used to be,
and he never will be. How dishonoring to God Almighty
to teach anything less than that. Hebrews chapter 10, let us hold
fast, verse 23. Let us hold fast the profession
of our faith without wavering, for he is faithful that promised.
Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good
works. not forsaking the assembling
of ourselves together, as the manner of some is. This could
have been written this morning too, but exhorting one another. Some seem to think that it should
read, and so much the less, but it doesn't. It says, so much
the more, not less, but more, as you see the day approaching. And remember our Lord's words
again, in Matthew chapter six, Verses 19 through 21, in his
Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes, let this be your attitude. He
said in verse 19, and he's talking to his disciples, and he says,
lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust
doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. Well
then what should a believer do? Look up. Lay up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and
where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure
is, there will your heart be also. And in verse 33 it says,
Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and
all these things shall be added unto you. Now before we come
to Galatians 3, let me read someone's comments. on the verses we just
read from Matthew 6, 19 through 21. Someone we highly respect
has some weight with you. Brother Don, this is from his
commentary on the Gospel of Matthew. And Don says, the passage before
us begins with a warning against worldliness. One of the greatest
dangers we face is worldliness. I heard him say that from his
pulpit countless times. It is one of Satan's most cleverly
disguised snares. It seems an innocent thing to
pay close attention to business and seek happiness and prosperity
in this world so long as we avoid open sins of immorality. Yet,
our Lord warns us that worldliness is the rock on which many a man
has made shipwreck of his soul. Worldliness is the love of this
world. 1 John 2 and 15, if any man loved
the world, the love of God is not in him. He can profess as
loud as he wants to, but if he loves this world, if his heart's
in this world, he doesn't know God. I mean, that's just the
fact. Larry's not saying that. God's Word says that. Don went
on to say, the only way to lay up treasure in heaven is to trust
Christ. He is our treasure. Where your
treasure is, that's where your heart will be. Learn, ask God
to teach you. to look upon everything constantly
in the light of eternity. What's it going to be worth in
the light of eternity? What will it matter a hundred
years from now? What difference will it make
when we stand before God? And Don also quoted Mr. Rao with
this, Open transgression of God's law slays its thousands, but
worldliness its tens of thousands. Joseph Alleyne wrote this, There
is no sure evidence of an unconverted state than to have the things
of the world uppermost in our aim, in our love, in our estimation. One old writer said, it's not
the ship in the water, but the water in the ship that causes
the problem. In the world, yes. Yes, believers
are in the world, but it's the world in the believer that causes
the trouble. Horatio Varner put it this way,
this world or the world to come. That's the alternative. Not this
world and the world to come. No, no, God won't allow that. Brothers and sisters, this is
what it boils down to. It matters. It matters how we
live in this world. It matters to the honor of God,
our own comfort, and to the glory of our Redeemer. It matters how
we conduct ourselves in this world. Remember Lot? Remember Lot? He found out the
hard way it matters how we live. We're responsible for the choices
we make. Lot in Sodom is a glaring example
of what a believer should never do. In Hebrews 11, we read it
a moment ago. By faith, Abraham went out, not
knowing exactly where he was going, but all he needed to know
was God had promised him a place, a city, whose builder and maker
was God himself. And he went out, simply trusting
God to fulfill his word. By faith, we read, he sojourned
in the land of promise, as in a strange country. And you know
what? Lot considered that an honor.
He considered that an honor. Don't you know he was glad all
his life that God called him out of that heathen country where
he was, where most of his family stayed, Ur of the Chaldees? Oh my soul, he was glad. God
said, come away from that adultery. Abraham, come follow me. And Abraham considered it an
honor, a blessing to do so. He looked for a city which had
foundations, whose builder and maker is God. But you remember
how that story began? When Abraham left his home, his
nephew Lot was with him. Remember? Lot went with him. Lot started out on the journey
with Abraham. Then we read in Genesis that
Lot looked towards Sodom. He looked at Sodom, and it was
more than just a casual look. It was a longing look. It was
an envious look. Oh, look at Sodom. Ah, so what
a great city. What a man could do there. What
prospects there are for someone like me there. Then we read,
Lot cast his tent toward Sodom. See the downward steps in his
fall. The next thing we read, Lot moves
into Sodom. And then we find Lot, afterwards,
apparently occupying a place of prestige, a position of prestige
in Sodom. Oh yeah, man's gonna have it
made in Sodom. But look at Lot, look at Lot,
when God tells him, this is enough. The stink of their depravity
has been in my nostrils long enough. I'm destroying that wicked
place. Sodom, you better get out. Get your family out of Sodom. I'm going to destroy it. You
know the story. God sent angels there to do it with the message
to Lot. What a tragic picture we find
in Genesis chapter 19. Listen to this, Genesis 19 verse
12. And the men said unto Lot, these
angels that God sent, Has thou here any besides son-in-law and
thy sons or thy daughters? And whatsoever thou hast in this
city, bring them out of this place. God's going to destroy. For we will destroy this place,
because the cry of them is waxing great before the face of the
Lord. And the Lord has sent us to destroy it. Isn't that what
Peter said concerning this present world? It'll be burned up. It's
all gonna be burned up. Verse 14. And Lot went out, oh
how sad, Lot went out and spake unto his sons-in-law, which married
his daughters, and said, Get up, or rather up, get you out
of this place, for the Lord will destroy this city. But he seemed
as one that mocked unto his sons-in-law. They didn't believe him. They
didn't pay no mind. You know why? You know what they
thought? Lot, what are you talking about? You've been here just
like us. You've made your lot, you've
made your bed in Sodom just like us. Now, you're telling us it's
time to get out? Why did you come here in the
first place? It was so bad. Lot had lost all of his influence. Oh, my soul, don't you know how
many times, I wonder, how many times Lot looked back and wished
he had never, never went to Sodom. Oh, how often he wished that
he would have stayed out on the plains living in tents with his
uncle Abraham, looking for that city that God Almighty had promised. He cursed the day that he ever
went to Sodom. Again, brothers and sisters in
Christ, it matters how we live our lives. Another man we highly
respect. This is by Brother Henry Mayhem. Our portion and inheritance.
One who is born of God has the Lord as his portion and inheritance. He is thankful for who he is
and what he has. For in Christ he has all things
that are worth having. Having food and clothing and
believing friends, he's content. What more do you need? I mean,
what more do you really need? He brought nothing into this
world and will carry nothing out. Earthly possessions, honors,
property have no value after death. But to be forgiven of
sin and alive to Christ is the highest prize in glory. This
craving for the world's wealth and approval has caused many
to depart from the faith and pierce themselves through with
many sorrows. Oh, blessed are his saints indeed,
the hymn writer said. Christ Jesus is their Savior,
and everything that they can need is theirs in Him forever. John Newton said that for him
and his experience, he found that to keep his eyes simply
upon Christ was the hardest part of the Christian's life. Does that surprise you? No, no,
I agree with him. That's the hardest part of the
Christian's life. Because that's the very thing
that Satan is continually trying to tempt us not to do. Take your
eyes off Christ. Look at this. Grab that. There's no harm in it. Get all
that you can. You only live once. That's the
world's philosophy. God's called us out of that. And do any of these things in
this world, as we asked a moment ago, Do any of them have eternal
consequence? Now, you, no, I, the last few
weeks spent far too much time, far too much time, concerned
about who's in the White House than who's on the throne. That
one on the throne has eternal consequences. Those in the White
House, they come and they go. God puts them in and God takes
them out. Now don't misunderstand me. I'm
not saying that believers ought to live like the proverbial ostrich. He thinks because he buries his
head in the sand that there's no trouble around because he's
not aware of it. No, no, no. Believers ought to live in this
life as responsible, good citizens. We ought to vote, and thank God
for the privilege of doing so. But don't ever get so depressed. If your man don't get into office,
God is still on the throne. Now, here's the antidote. You
thought I would never come to Galatians 3, did you? Here's
the antidote for the problem, the cure for this ailment, the
safeguard against this real danger for a child of God. Remember
this, look up, look up. Let's read Colossians 3, the
first four verses. Look up. If ye then be risen
with Christ, seek those things which are above. That's where
Christ is. Where Christ said it's on the right hand of God.
Set your affection, your love, your heart on things above, not
on things on the earth. For you're dead, and your life
is here with Christ in God. Oh, when Christ, who is our life,
shall appear, then shall ye appear also with Him in glory. Would you honor God, believer?
I know you want to. So do I. Would you glorify your
Redeemer? Would you bear a good witness
to your friends and your family? Would you be made hopeful, encouraged,
and believing? Here's how to do it. Look up.
Remember what our Lord told his disciples in Luke 21 concerning
the last days, the end of the world? He said, when these things
begin to come to pass, then look up. Look up. Everybody else has
been looking around. They never look up. They're going
to perish. Oh, but you look up, because
your redemption draweth nigh. I need encouragement, don't you?
Don't you? There's so much in this world.
Is there anything that doesn't discourage? What's the cure for
a pilgrim? Well, then, to look up. If we
don't, we'll remain discouraged. If our focus is too much in this
world, it's no surprise that we're always downcast. Why wouldn't
we be? Always depressed. Always beat
down. No, but look up. Seek those things
which are above. Set your affection, as we just
read, on things above. That's where Christ is. You look
up to Christ and you won't be discouraged. Billy, you won't
find anything to be discouraged about. Look up. Where is it? By faith, what is that I see?
Who is that I see? That's the King of Kings there.
That's the mighty God. That's the everlasting Father.
Oh my soul, why wouldn't I look up? Nothing but hope, nothing
but blessing, nothing but promise. Look up. You won't see anything
that will not be reason to be hopeful and to cause you to be
at ease, just relax, to look forward to the time when Christ
will say to you, come up hither, come up hither. Billy, you got
tears in your eyes just thinking about that doctrine. Come up
hither, that's what he said to John. John, come up hither. And John was caught up to heaven,
and the first thing he saw was a throne, and one sat upon the
throne. How encouraging that must have
been for the exiled apostle. Come up hither. I love, as I
told you before, that passage in Revelation 7. John sees a
multitude before the throne, verses 13 and 14. Oh, just no, man. Forget about
it. That's the redeemed of the Lord. That's the thruval of his soul.
They're all before the throne. The elder said, John, look at
these. Look at these. Who are these,
John? Where did they come from? John
said, I don't know. You tell me. And the elder answered,
these are they which came out of great tribulation. Oh Lord,
I love that. These are they which came out
of great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them
white in the blood of the Lamb. The elder was saying this to
John and to you and me. John, these were once where you
are right now. These you see before the throne
were once making their way as you are as pilgrims through this
world. They were not some super-race
of super-spiritual believers. They're the same sort as you
are, John. They weren't exempt from trials.
They endured tribulation, even great tribulation. That's exactly
what our Lord told us to expect, isn't it? That's a promise we
don't think about a whole lot, do we? In the world, you'll have
tribulation. Our Lord says, I'm promising
you that. You can count on that. Don't think otherwise, or you'll
be caught off guard. Oh, but look up. Be of good cheer,
he said. I have overcome the world. See
that multitude before the throne of God. In Revelation 7, we're
told, besides being clothed in the perfect white robe of Christ's
righteousness, what's that in their hand? What are they all
waving before the throne as they sing, worthy is the lamb? What
is that? It's a palm leaf. Why do they all have a palm leaf?
That's a sign of victory. That's an emblem of victory.
That's why they all wave it. Thanks be unto God that giveth
us the victory through the Lord Jesus Christ. These are they
which came out of great tribulation. Not one of them perished. Not
one of them was plucked from the great shepherd's hands. Not
one, and neither will you or I be. If we're in his hand, there's
nothing No power on earth or hell that can ever pluck us out. No wonder they're waving the
palm leaf and crying, worthy is the lamb. I looked, Revelation
14 and one, I looked and lo, a lamb stood on the Mount Zion
and with him, with him, this number representing all God's
elect, 140 and 4,000 having his father's name written in their
foreheads, Their bride will always be with her bridegroom. Isn't
that what John the Baptist said? Are you the Christ, he was asked,
and he said, no, I don't have the bride. The bride doesn't
belong to me. The bridegroom's got the bride.
His church, the father put the church, committed the church,
his bride into his hands. And so shall the bridegroom ever
be with their glorious husband. the Lord Jesus Christ. Revelation
chapter 17, verse 14. Listen to this sweet word. These
shall make war with the Lamb, whoever they are, religious powers,
political powers, it doesn't matter. These shall make war
with the Lamb, this will always be the outcome, and the Lamb
shall overcome them. Why wouldn't He? For He is Lord
of Lords and King of Kings. Well, that pretty much settles
that. And they that are with Him, They that are with him are
called and chosen and faithful. Therefore, my beloved, be ye
steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the
Lord. For as much as you know, O Lord, increase my faith in
this. For as much as you know that
your labor is not in vain in the Lord. Look up. Look up. Brother Scott Richardson, He
used to say, as a matter of fact, I think it wasn't long before
he died. Brother Marvin jotted these things down. But Brother
Scott said in service one night, we understand something about
what heaven will be by what will not be there. And he listed all
12 or so things that will not be there. Brothers and sisters,
look up and be encouraged. at what you don't see there,
that you don't see there. Listen. I heard a great voice
out of heaven. This is Revelation 21. This is
the Lord Jesus Christ speaking. Behold, the tabernacle of God
is with men, and he will dwell with them. Remember what John
tells us in John's Gospel, chapter 1, concerning the Lord Jesus
Christ? The word was made flesh and dwelt. That word dwelt is
tabernacled. He tabernacled. in a tin of flesh
for a little while, or in glory, he will dwell with us forever.
He won't come and go, but he will abide with us forever. And
he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and
God himself shall be with them, and be their God. Imagine that. Imagine that. Verse 4 of Revelation 21. And
God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. These are the
things we look up and don't see. And there shall be no more death,
neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain,
for the former things are passed away. For the former things are
passed away. Oh, my soul, look up. And he that sat upon the throne
said, behold, I make all things new. That's the King of Kings. And he said unto me, write, for
these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, verse 6
of Revelation 21, it is done. I was thinking as I looked over
them scriptures. In heaven, there'll be no cemeteries. How about that? Look up. No cemeteries. There's
no need for them. There'll never be a funeral in
heaven because nobody there will ever die. We just read. No more
death. There'll be no sorrow in the
father's house because none of his children will ever be sorry
about anything ever again. No more. So there will be no
reason to cry. We read. No more tears. No more
weeping. We weep now. I do. You do. Often, often, weeping endures
through the night. How long's the night? Oh, but
joy, joy is coming in the morning. No more tears. You will be in
heaven with multitude of redeemed sinners. And as the ages roll
on, you will never find one ever shedding a tear about anything. Oh, my soul, is that not encouraging? Look up. Never be a reason to
cry. in heaven. Neither, our Lord
said, will there be any more pain of any kind. As you know, Brother Kenny not
only suffered in his body, he suffered in his mind. Last time
I saw him, just a day or two before he died, we talked about
that. I said, Kenny, I think it's going
to please the Lord to put a stop to that pretty soon. No more
pain, not in mind, not in body, not physical pain, not emotional
pain. It's all going to be gone. I've
told you often, it seems like more often than not lately, I'll
call Sandy and just check with her, is Mike up to a visit. Not
today, Larry. He's having a bad day. He just
doesn't feel like it. I tell you what, I will never
see any of my dear brothers and sisters in heaven ever suffering
again. We'll visit forever. Look up. I'll bring this to a
close. Not only is it a blessing to
consider looking up and what we don't see there, oh, but what
we're told we will most assuredly see there. Galatians 3, when
Christ, who is our life, here's the icing on the cake. When Christ, who is our life,
shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. When,
not if, but when. There's no question about this.
When Christ shall appear. Because he must see it through
the veil of his soul and be satisfied. Because he's justified many.
Because he bore their iniquities. the redeemed are to prevail of
his soul. If Christ doesn't see this, if
he doesn't realize this, if all his redeemed are not with him
in glory, that means that the purpose of God was defeated.
That means that Jesus Christ died for absolutely nothing.
Do you see how impossible that is? That can never ever be. Oh, and listen to this. Father,
this is our elder brother praying. to His Father and our Father,
His God and our God. Father, I will also that those
whom thou hast given me be with me where I am. Now, could you
find a better definition of heaven, of glory than that? Be with me
where I am that they may behold my glory. He deserves that, doesn't
He? He earned that. He bought them
with His own blood. They belonged to Him, and they
each will be with Him in glory. He appeared once to put away
sin, and He will appear again to take those whose sins He put
away to be with Him forever. 2 Thessalonians 1 and 10 When
He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired
in all them that believe, because our testimony among you was believed
in that day. Then she also appeared with him
in glory." Look up. Look up. Soon, soon we are going
to see the King. Wow! Now is there anything down
here, I mean is there anything down here that deserves your
attention more than that? To see Him as He is. What did
old suffering Job say? For I know that my Redeemer liveth.
Nothing I'm going through has changed that, and that he shall
stand at the latter day upon the earth. And though after my
skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God,
whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and
not another, though my reins be consumed within me. Brother
Job, that's good preaching. That's good preaching. That's
dogmatism, isn't it? I like that dogmatism. He wasn't
talking, if, maybe, hope so, perhaps, I will, maybe I'll be
there, maybe I won't. I know that my Redeemer liveth. He gave glory to God. Let us
pray that the Lord will give us grace to do so. Let me close
by telling you a story that I heard two weeks ago. You may have heard
it, I never have. Brother Paul Mahan, when he preached
the last message out at Darwin's two weeks ago today. His message
was from John 14 and 9. Jesus said unto him, Have I been
so long a time with you, and yet thou hast not known me, Philip?
He that hath seen me hath seen the Father. And how sayest thou
then, Show us the Father? I encourage you to listen to
that message. It's on Free Grace. Our Little Known Lord was the
title of it. Paul said, if we knew the Lord
better, we would trust Him more. Oh, if we just knew Him better,
drew nearer to Him, sought Him, focused on Him, look up, the
better we know Him, the better we'll trust Him. Not only during
our earthly journey here, but when the time comes for us to
cross over, hmm, better be trusting Him then. Cross over to the other
side, and Paul used this illustration, and I think most of y'all will
identify with this, about his old dog, Admiral, is that his
name? He had it since it was a pup,
Paul told us. Had it for years, faithful, Admiral
was a faithful, faithful dog. Always by Paul's side, y'all
know how it is with Possum and Hot Rod, 50 cats, always at Paul's side. He said he had that dog, I think
he said ever since it was a pup. Oh, Paul loved that dog. But
one day, Paul noticed that his dog just wasn't doing much running
anymore, wasn't playing anymore like it used to. It had grown
old, done got old. Someone told him, Buddy, it's
time for you to put that poor dog down. He's suffering. And Paul told him, no, not yet,
not yet. He said, I'll know when the time
comes. He said, one day, he left the
house, and old Admiral was with him, walking behind him rather
slowly. They went out to a place out
in the woods. And Paul told him, said, Admiral,
Lay down. That dog laid right down. And
Paul measured. You know why? That's where he
was going to bury him. That's where he was soon going
to bury him. And he measured at the place
so he would know the length of the grave that he was about to
dig. Would soon dig. Because it was time. It was time. Children of God. God'll know
when it's time. He'll know. And He'll say, you've dwelt in
that land long enough. It's time. That's His promises. Hearken unto Me, O house of Jacob,
and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are born by
Me from the belly, and which are carried from the womb. And
even to your old age I am He. That's about most of us. And
even to whore hares will I carry you, I have made and I will bear.
Even I will carry and will deliver you." God gives his word on that. That's his promise to you. He
knows when it's time, when this time comes, that I'll walk through
the valley of the shadow of death. He's gonna be with me, brother.
He's promised that. I'm looking forward to that. I'll be with you. And when life's journey is over,
and I, the dear Savior, shall see, I'll praise Him forever
and ever for saving a sinner like me. Until that day comes,
brothers and sisters in Christ, look up, look up, because When
Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then should ye appear
also with Him in glory. God bless you.