Moving Toward Christ

So, if we go back over to Romans, chapter 14, it is interesting how much meaning can be found in a small word.

If we begin again at verse 7:

“For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.”

When you really begin to think about that, consider it this way: if we live, we live to the Lord. If we die, we die to the Lord. Whether we are living or dying, whether we are saved or unsaved, our lives are moving toward the Lord.

Each one of us is on a journey from birth to the Lord. Whether we believe in Him or do not believe in Him, we are all moving toward Him. That is what He is saying.

In that journey, we all arrive at the same place. Whether we are alive or dead, we will stand before Jesus. There will come a time when Jesus recognizes those who knew Him and those who did not know Him; those who were washed in His blood and those who were not.

There is one final moment when we all stand before Jesus. At that moment, the only thing that will matter through the whole life we have lived is this: Has our name been written in the Lamb’s Book of Life? Or will Jesus say, “I never knew you”?

What will it be?

“For if we live, we live unto the Lord. If we die, we die unto the Lord. So whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.”

Someone may ask, “Preacher, where do you get the idea that we all belong to the Lord? That we will all wind up before Him, and He gets to decide what He will do with us?”

Let us turn to Colossians, chapter 1. These are foundational Scriptures—things that help us understand the things of God.

And let me say again, especially because we have visitors with us: if you do not own a copy of the Scriptures, the Word of God, there are some on the back table where James is. They are free, and you are welcome to take one.

In Colossians 1, beginning at verse 15, we find an answer to the question: Do we really belong to God? Are people who love Jesus and people who do not love Jesus all His to do with as He will in the end?

Beginning in verse 15:

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him.

And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent.

For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross.”

Everything that has been created was created by Jesus and for Jesus. We were created through Him and for Him.

You may ask, “Preacher, how does that show that all things created belong to Him to do with as He will?”

Think about it in terms we understand. Those of you who have worked and gathered possessions through your lives: do you consider those possessions yours? You worked for them. You possess them. You can do with them what you want.

You can take the money you have earned and buy a truck. You can keep that truck for a while. You can sell it, or you can let it sit out back and rust if you want to. It is your possession, and you may do with it what you please.

Jesus’ work made all of us and all of this. Therefore, in that sense, we are His possession. Whether we believe in Him or not, we are the work of His hands and, by default, His possession.

So whether we live unto the Lord or are spiritually dead, we are still moving toward the Lord. Believe or do not believe, we move toward the Lord. Every moment and every day, we are getting closer to the encounter we will have, in person, with Jesus.

Now, if we return to Romans 14, beginning again at verse 7:

“For none of us lives to himself.”

None of us lives merely for ourselves. My life’s work and my life’s movement are not just about me. They are toward the Lord.

What is this movement toward the Lord? We pick up in verse 9:

“For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.”

Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.

There is that truth again: the spiritually alive in Jesus and the spiritually dead are all moving toward that encounter before Christ.

“For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written:

‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me,
and every tongue shall confess to God.’

So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.”

Those are sobering words.

You may ask, “Preacher, why are you emphasizing that no matter where we are in the spectrum of belief, we are still marching toward the Lord, and when we get there, there is judgment?”

Because Jesus is the only way to have life, to truly live, and to stand before Almighty God and hear Him say, “Welcome home. Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Master.”

It is the difference between an eternity in all that is good and an eternity separated from the goodness of God.

Why is it that so many people will not hear the good news—that Jesus loves them, died for them, wants to be their Savior, and will forgive anything they have ever done? All they must do is call upon Him and be saved.

Why do people not hear that in today’s world?

Perhaps it is for some of the same reasons Paul was writing about in Romans. There were great debates: “You cannot be saved because you eat meat,” or, “The Old Testament says you cannot eat that.” Many times, there was not the forgiveness and grace that should have been present.

Sometimes people come to church, perhaps for the first time. They have not yet come to Jesus. They have not yet grasped the message. The Spirit has not moved them to that point. Then suddenly, they experience what we call “church hurt.”

Has anyone here ever been hurt by the church? Someone may have said something to you, snarled at you, or talked behind your back. Then you think, “So that is what Christianity is about? Is that what forgiveness is? Is that what the love of Jesus is about? I do not want any part of it.”

Sometimes we who are saved can inflict real damage. We can make it harder for people to see that they need Jesus, even though they are moving toward Him anyway. There is no way to avoid Jesus. You cannot block Him out of your mind or say He does not exist and avoid standing before Him for judgment. It is coming.

But many times, people are turned away because of the way those who profess Jesus conduct themselves.

Sometimes it is as simple as saying, “That church is too stuffy. They sing the doxology every time they take up the offering. I would not go there.” It can be comments like that between congregations.

Or it can be someone saying, “Tim, did you see that fellow who came in? He is tattooed all the way up to his neck and has an earring. I am going to tell my children not to be around him. He is probably some kind of—”

And we cast judgment.

We do not know the heart, but we cast judgment.

Sometimes it is even something petty: “I cannot believe Ethel made pineapple pound cake for the fellowship when she knew I was making pineapple pound cake. She stole the show, and I am not talking to her again.”

What?

And sometimes it sounds like this: “I forgive you. I forgive you. But I sure am not ever going to forget.”

If you are not willing to let it go, have you really forgiven?

That is where Jesus is taking us in the Gospel lesson. Jesus tells the story of a man—a banker, using modern terms—who had extended loans to many people. The time came for collection, and he decided to forgive their debts.

“I forgive your debt. You owe it no more.”

One of the men whose debt had been freely forgiven went out and found someone who owed him money. The man said, “I am not in a position to pay you right now. Please give me time. Forgive me.”

But the forgiven man said, “No.”

He became angry, grabbed the man by the throat, threatened him, and had him thrown into debtor’s prison.

When the banker who had forgiven him heard about it, what was his response?

“Bring that man back to my office.”

Now, what about us? What about the debts that we have been forgiven?

For those of us who love Jesus, proclaim Jesus, and have been saved by Jesus, how do we treat those around us? Do we treat them with grace? Do we treat them with forgiveness? Do we believe that they can come away from their misfortunes, their mistakes, and their old way of life?

Or do we put up a guard because we do not want to be hurt? Do we judge people based on what we see? Do we judge their appearance? Do we give people grace for mistakes, or do we hold them to the fire?

Jesus said, “As I have loved you, so love one another.”

I want you to do for them exactly as I have done for you: forgive, love, and lift up.

It makes all the difference in the world, because everybody in this world is on the same track. Every one of us is moving toward that final place before Jesus.

The difference will be whether I have heard the good news, seen the good news, been drawn to the good news, and accepted Jesus—or whether something has happened that caused me to block out the good news and the people who carry it.

So I encourage you, church, this morning to consider this: Are there people in your life who may be tuning out every semblance of the good news because of the way we have treated them?

Or are there people you have not approached with the good news because you made a quick judgment and decided who they were for yourself?

Do not forget what Jesus has done for you and His call: “As I have loved you, so love one another.”

And do not forget what He says about judgment either:

“Judge not, lest you be judged.”

Do not judge unless you are willing to be judged by the same measure with which you judge.

Jesus wants none to die. He wants none to perish. He calls us all to Himself.

When we are in relationship with Him, He calls us to love Him with all our heart, all our soul, and all our strength. Then He calls us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

And who is our neighbor? Is it only the man or woman next door, in front of us, or behind us?

No. It is everybody living on this globe with us.

So remember, as you go through this week, that everyone is on the same journey. All of us are heading toward Jesus. All of us will meet Jesus. All of us will stand before Jesus. And Jesus has the ultimate say in what happens with our eternity.

Remember also that many people have been hurt by the church. Some have been hurt by family members and friends who follow Christ because we have not loved them in the same way that Jesus loved us.

So love them.

Love them to Jesus.

Let them see and experience Jesus in you—the Jesus who gave Himself on the cross.

Perhaps you are here today and have never fully heard the message: whether you have accepted Christ or remain spiritually dead toward Him, there is no escaping the day when you will stand before Christ. Ultimately, it does not matter whether you have said yes or no; you will stand before Jesus and give an account.

Is that enough today for you to say, “I need to surrender my life to Jesus. I need to know Him. I need my life to change”?

If the Holy Spirit is speaking in your heart, I invite you to come when we sing the hymn. Let us talk about it. Let us pray about it.

Closing Prayer

Father, today we are thankful for Your Word. We are thankful even for the little words that carry so much meaning.

Father, help us understand the Scriptures—Your Word. We thank You that You have placed that Word before us so that we may know You, know who You are, and know Your plan and will for all things.

Father, we can know that You have made a way for us. Even though we all fall short of the glory of God and we all sin, You have made a way for us to be forgiven and made new. You have made a way for us to become rightly Your sons and daughters.

Father, have Your will in us as individuals and as a church. Lead us to reflect the goodness, grace, and love of Jesus Christ everywhere we go.

Help us serve You rightly and bear witness to Your loving grace rightly. May we not cause anyone’s heart to harden toward the Gospel. Instead, may our lives cause people to think about what You have done and to ponder Your goodness, so that they may come to You.

Thank You. Have Your way in us this day.

For we ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen.