“The Choice Is Yours”
When Time Runs Out Series
AV First
Pastor Ed Carlson
10/15/23

Hebrews 9:27 (ESV)
27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment

“One minute after you slip behind the parted curtain, you will either be enjoying a personal welcome from Christ, or be catching your first glimpse of gloom as you have never known it. Either way, your future will be irrevocably fixed and eternally unchangeable.” Erwin Lutzer (author/pastor)

What Happens When Time Runs Out?

1. We All Have An Appointment With Death.

1 Corinthians 15:21-22 (CSB)
21 For since death came through a man,the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. 22 For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

1) Sin produced

.

1 Corinthians 15:56 (CSB)
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

2) Sin and death passed from Adam and Eve to all

.

Romans 5:12 (CSB)
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned.

Change it
Delay it
Hasten it
Escape it

2. There Is A Transition of

With Death.

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 (CSB)
6 So we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 In fact, we are confident, and we would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

3. There Is A

In Death.

4. There Is A

After Death.

Philippians 1:21-23
21 For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful work for me; and I don’t know which one I should choose. 23 I am torn between the two. I long to depart and be with Christ—which is far better.

Luke 16:19–24 (CSB)
19 “There was a rich man who would dress in purple and fine linen,feasting lavishly every day. 20 But a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, was lying at his gate. 21 He longed to be filled with what fell from the rich man’s table, but instead the dogs would come and lick his sores. 22 One day the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.23 And being in torment in Hades, he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off, with Lazarus at his side. 24 ‘Father Abraham!’ he called out, ‘Have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this flame!’

Your eternal destiny is fixed at death…it cannot be

. Your decision will have been made while here on earth and your eternity fixed.

Revelation 20:11–15 (CSB)
11 Then I saw a great white throne and one seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. 12 I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books. 13 Then the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them; each one was judged according to their works. 14 Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

Although many in our culture either deny or ignore the reality of hell and the eternal state, it is real and a terrible place that no one needs to experience.

And no one needs to experience hell because of this one final truth…

5. There Is

Over Death.

1 Corinthians 15:50-57 (CSB)
50 What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor can corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Listen, I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. 53 For this corruptible body must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body must be clothed with immortality. 54 When this corruptible body is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: Death has been swallowed up in victory. 55 Where, death, is your victory? Where, death, is your sting? 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

1) Death is our

.

But…

2) Jesus is our

.

The Choice is Yours!

John 11:25-26 (CSB)
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live. 26 Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

What you believe about eternity determines how you live today.

What you believe and decide about Jesus determines how you live today and where you will spend eternity .