Ashamed at His Coming

Tonight either we will love His appearing—or dread it. The choice is ours. Let's look at the finish line. Paul had a distinct impression that life was a daily race with an end of life prize, and the only way to get the prize was to finish the race.  

2 Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. (NKJV)

John the Apostle was also convinced that we would either welcome Christ's coming or wither in shame before Him.

1 John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Himat His coming. (NKJV)

In fact, as John records the closing words of the Bible, they point to that very truth.

Revelation 22:12 And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. (NKJV)

I have spent this week sifting through all the debris at the crash site of King Saul's life. Much like the NTSB goes to airplane crash sites and examines every twisted piece of metal and scrap of plastic in order to piece together the cause of the crash—so God's Word records every scrap of Saul's life that is important for us to know about why he crashed and wasted his life. Today in this morning's and again this evening's messages I want to share with you the conclusion of all my sifting.

I have sorted through and found no less than twenty-five recorded reasons that Saul's life crashed and burned; reasons why God rejected his life's work and said that his minist