Full Transcript for Facing the Future

the future we know that nothing is certain, 32 00:05:13,565 --> 00:05:21,456 consider these comments on the future in 1926 Lee DeForest the inventor of the 33 00:05:21,456 --> 00:05:26,670 Audion vacuum tube said this theoretically, 34 00:05:27,239 --> 00:05:29,608 television may be feasible, 35 00:05:30,339 --> 00:05:36,597 but I consider it an impossibility, a development that we should waste little time dreaming about. 36 00:05:36,974 --> 00:05:42,820 He said that about a year before the television was successfully demonstrated in San Francisco. 37 00:05:45,275 --> 00:05:48,636 In 1943, Thomas J. Watson, 38 00:05:49,886 --> 00:05:54,598 then the chairman of the board at IBM Corporation, said this, 39 00:05:55,556 --> 00:06:00,949 I think there is a world market for only about five computers. 40 00:06:02,905 --> 00:06:08,196 A recording company expert in 1962 said, we don't think the Beatles will do 41 00:06:08,196 --> 00:06:09,552 anything in their market. 42 00:06:10,335 --> 00:06:12,007 Guitar groups are on their way out. 43 00:06:13,401 --> 00:06:20,465 Obviously, each one of these comments proves the future does not always turn out like we expect it to. 44 00:06:21,161 --> 00:06:25,262 James chapter 4, verses 13 to 18 says. 45 00:06:26,972 --> 00:06:31,935 Come now, you who say, today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, 46 00:06:32,133 --> 00:06:37,762 spend a year there, buy and sell and make a profit, whereas you do not know 47 00:06:37,762 --> 00:06:39,215 what will happen tomorrow. 48 00:06:39,836 --> 00:06:45,002 For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and 49 00:06:45,002 --> 00:06:48,042 then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, if the Lord wills, 50 00:06:49,182 --> 00:06:50,819 we shall live and do this or that. 51 00:06:51,069 --> 00:06:55,724 Proverbs chapter 27, verse 1 says, Do not boast about tomorrow, 52 00:06:56,038 --> 00:06:59,869 for you do not know what a day may bring forth. 53 00:07:00,775 --> 00:07:06,249 Four years ago, we thought we knew the future. 54 00:07:06,899 --> 00:07:12,750 We thought that I would be your interim pastor for about six months to a year. 55 00:07:14,177 --> 00:07:17,732 And then the conference would find a new pastor who would lead you into the 56 00:07:17,732 --> 00:07:20,923 future of ministry here in Richland County. 57 00:07:21,439 --> 00:07:26,646 We only thought we knew the future, but God really does know the future. 58 00:07:27,651 --> 00:07:32,412 Four years ago, we moved away from our family in a retirement home in Greenville, 59 00:07:32,412 --> 00:07:35,325 Illinois, to create a new family here in Richland Center. 60 00:07:35,778 --> 00:07:39,032 It has been a rich time of getting to know the Richland County community, 61 00:07:39,032 --> 00:07:40,996 the school districts, and you. 62 00:07:41,989 --> 00:07:46,872 We've added so many new friends to our church and also have laid some old friends 63 00:07:46,872 --> 00:07:48,618 to their final resting place. 64 00:07:49,321 --> 00:07:52,662 But God has been faithful in building his kingdom in our midst. 65 00:07:52,662 --> 00:07:56,861 I think we can all testify that some have found new faith in Christ, 66 00:07:57,169 --> 00:08:00,882 and we've all grown in our faith in Christ during these four years. 67 00:08:00,882 --> 00:08:06,683 And over the past four years, new leadership has been raised up in your church, in our church. 68 00:08:07,252 --> 00:08:11,582 And while we never complete everything we intend to, I believe that God is moving 69 00:08:11,582 --> 00:08:15,744 us forward and has a huge blessing waiting for this church. 70 00:08:17,444 --> 00:08:23,691 Yet even though we will be moving, we continue to hold this community deep in our hearts as family. 71 00:08:24,828 --> 00:08:27,261 I was talking to somebody, I think it was Darla, beforehand, 72 00:08:27,719 --> 00:08:31,748 that, you know, we have two homes. When we're driving down to Greenville, 73 00:08:31,748 --> 00:08:34,616 we're going home. When we're driving back to Richmond Center, we're going home. 74 00:08:35,341 --> 00:08:41,328 And it's kind of weird, but we called that our vacation home for four years. 75 00:08:41,328 --> 00:08:43,584 Now we'll call this our vacation home, maybe. 76 00:08:43,997 --> 00:08:47,619 A time like this could cause us to look on the dark side of things, 77 00:08:47,961 --> 00:08:50,918 or we could choose to trust in God for a new future. 78 00:08:50,918 --> 00:08:55,068 This morning I want us to look at a passage of Scripture that tells the story 79 00:08:55,068 --> 00:09:00,285 of Moses' departure as the chosen leader of the Israelites. 80 00:09:00,616 --> 00:09:06,308 Moses has been told by God that he will soon pass away, and he is giving encouragement 81 00:09:06,308 --> 00:09:11,801 to the Israelites, while at the same time showing his trust in the Lord to provide, 82 00:09:12,527 --> 00:09:15,358 and protect and prosper them. 83 00:09:15,358 --> 00:09:20,528 And while he is getting ready to pass away at the age of 120, 84 00:09:20,528 --> 00:09:26,563 I'm not there yet, so I don't intend to be passing away very soon, not until 120. 85 00:09:27,167 --> 00:09:30,638 But in the meantime, this is kind of a passing for us. 86 00:09:30,975 --> 00:09:35,323 So if you would look at Deuteronomy 31, verses 1 through 8. 87 00:09:37,094 --> 00:09:40,867 Then Moses went out and spoke these words to all Israel. 88 00:09:41,349 --> 00:09:45,691 I am now 120 years old. I am no longer able to lead you. 89 00:09:46,202 --> 00:09:51,498 The Lord has said to me, you shall not cross the Jordan. The Lord your God himself 90 00:09:51,498 --> 00:09:53,034 will cross over ahead of you. 91 00:09:53,841 --> 00:09:58,270 He will destroy these nations before you, and you will take possession of their land. 92 00:09:58,804 --> 00:10:02,856 Joshua also will cross over ahead of you, as the Lord has said. 93 00:10:04,220 --> 00:10:09,791 And the

Lord will do to them what he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, 94 00:10:10,017 --> 00:10:12,438 whom he destroyed along with their land. 95 00:10:12,728 --> 00:10:17,331 The Lord will deliver them to you, and you must do to them all that I have commanded you. 96 00:10:17,720 --> 00:10:23,124 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them. 97 00:10:23,124 --> 00:10:25,569 For the Lord your God goes with you. 98 00:10:26,016 --> 00:10:28,860 He will never leave you nor forsake you. 99 00:10:29,325 --> 00:10:34,596 Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, Be strong, 100 00:10:35,199 --> 00:10:40,524 and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land the Lord swore 101 00:10:40,524 --> 00:10:46,043 to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. 102 00:10:46,676 --> 00:10:51,714 The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you. He will never leave you 103 00:10:51,714 --> 00:10:54,292 nor forsake you. Do not be afraid. 104 00:10:54,785 --> 00:10:56,428 Do not be discouraged. 105 00:10:57,543 --> 00:11:01,211 Facing the future is always difficult. 106 00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:05,368 The fear of the unknown is one of the worst fears we face. 107 00:11:05,739 --> 00:11:11,784 Not knowing the future makes us imagine things that may never happen. 108 00:11:11,784 --> 00:11:17,586 It is said that worry is the interest we pay on tomorrow's debts. 109 00:11:18,915 --> 00:11:22,424 Today in this passage from Deuteronomy chapter 31, I want, 110 00:11:23,044 --> 00:11:29,244 to help each of us to be able to face the future with the attitude of an optimist, 111 00:11:29,244 --> 00:11:34,026 to face the future with an attitude of one who is called by God to lead his people, 112 00:11:34,943 --> 00:11:36,028 and that is you. 113 00:11:36,713 --> 00:11:43,224 So first, we must face the future being prepared. Moses was preparing them for a change. 114 00:11:43,224 --> 00:11:46,257 It says, then Moses went out and spoke these words to Israel, 115 00:11:46,611 --> 00:11:51,014 I am now 120 years old, and I am no longer able to lead you. 116 00:11:51,014 --> 00:11:55,243 You remember that Moses had led the Israelites out of their slavery in Egypt, 117 00:11:56,056 --> 00:11:59,574 and had been leading them through the wilderness to the edge of Canaan, 118 00:12:00,020 --> 00:12:06,033 the land flowing with milk and honey, which had been promised to the descendants of Abraham. 119 00:12:07,444 --> 00:12:12,436 Moses' call from God out of the burning bush to be the leader of the Israelites 120 00:12:12,732 --> 00:12:18,195 took place when Moses was 80 years old, and now he's 120. 121 00:12:18,926 --> 00:12:22,957 He had led them through the wilderness for 40 years. Someone once said, 122 00:12:22,957 --> 00:12:24,527 why did it take them 40 years? 123 00:12:24,527 --> 00:12:31,511 Because men don't stop and ask directions. Anyway, Moses now said

to the Israelites, 124 00:12:31,842 --> 00:12:35,035 I am no longer able to lead you, and the Lord has said to you, 125 00:12:35,285 --> 00:12:37,160 you shall not cross the Jordan. 126 00:12:38,460 --> 00:12:42,397 The Israelites had wandered around for 40 years until the original generation 127 00:12:42,397 --> 00:12:48,462 of those who had left Egypt had passed away, and now Moses was going to die as well. 128 00:12:49,188 --> 00:12:52,897 So Moses was preparing the people for the change that was coming. 129 00:12:53,663 --> 00:12:58,627 While he did not know what that future would be, God had allowed him to view 130 00:12:58,627 --> 00:13:02,075 the promised land from the other side of the Jordan River. 131 00:13:03,118 --> 00:13:07,594 A change is taking place in the kingdom of God in Richland County, 132 00:13:08,337 --> 00:13:12,104 and I'm convinced that God has the future in his hands. 133 00:13:12,656 --> 00:13:16,777 I believe that God is wanting to bring about a great work of revival here, 134 00:13:16,777 --> 00:13:23,727 and he's already preparing a new pastor, just as God already had prepared Israel's 135 00:13:23,727 --> 00:13:26,872 new leader before Moses had passed away. 136 00:13:27,749 --> 00:13:33,077 With the strong, godly lay member leadership that has been elected and a new 137 00:13:33,077 --> 00:13:38,897 pastor whom only God knows at this time, the future for the kingdom of God in 138 00:13:38,897 --> 00:13:40,160 Richland Center is bright, 139 00:13:41,013 --> 00:13:46,725 and is already in God's plan as long as we are faithful to obey. 140 00:13:48,071 --> 00:13:51,474 Then also Moses prepared them for their new leader. 141 00:13:51,994 --> 00:13:55,565 It says, the Lord your God himself will cross over ahead of you. 142 00:13:56,001 --> 00:14:00,864 He will destroy these nations before you, and you will take possession of their 143 00:14:00,864 --> 00:14:05,314 land. Joshua also will cross over ahead of you, as the Lord said, 144 00:14:05,314 --> 00:14:09,623 and the Lord will do to them what he did to Sihon and Og. 145 00:14:10,209 --> 00:14:14,674 The Lord will deliver them to you, and you must do to them all that I have commanded you. 146 00:14:14,674 --> 00:14:20,494 Joshua, in accordance with what God had spoken, would take over the leadership after Moses died. 147 00:14:20,494 --> 00:14:25,134 Numbers chapter 21, verses 18 through 20 says, And the Lord said to Moses, 148 00:14:25,134 --> 00:14:32,761 Take Joshua, the son of Nun, with you, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him. 149 00:14:33,018 --> 00:14:38,984 So Moses prepared them for a new leader, and we must also be prepared. 150 00:14:39,745 --> 00:14:44,034 As we look to the future, we have a great choice, either to face the future 151 00:14:44,034 --> 00:14:49,244 trusting in God or trying to take control of our own lives and wrestle back 152 00:14:49,244 --> 00:14:53,224 control of this church from the direction God is moving her. 153 00:14:53,961 --> 00:14:59,364 There are many things for which we need to prepare. Most of us have prepared 154 00:14:59,364 --> 00:15:03,875 for our deaths by securing life insurance to help our families deal with the 155 00:15:04,159 --> 00:15:07,004 financial loss they will face when we pass away. 156 00:15:07,329 --> 00:15:11,424 Many of us have prepared for our deaths by writing a last will and testament. 157 00:15:11,424 --> 00:15:17,094 Some of us have prepared for our deaths by raising our children as good citizens. 158 00:15:18,637 --> 00:15:25,371 But how many have prepared for their own deaths by securing their place in heaven, 159 00:15:26,096 --> 00:15:31,658 by securing the gift of God's grace, accepting the gift of God's grace through Jesus Christ? 160 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:40,092 Hebrews 9.27 says this, It is appointed to men once to die, then the judgment. 161 00:15:40,777 --> 00:15:45,642 And while I'm not leaving you in death, like Moses was, at least I don't think—. 162 00:15:46,971 --> 00:15:52,776 I'm trusting that my years as your pastor for these last four years has helped 163 00:15:52,776 --> 00:15:55,243 to prepare you for your own futures, 164 00:15:56,166 --> 00:15:59,526 by your growth and grace in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and that 165 00:15:59,526 --> 00:16:02,458 you have secured your place in God's home. 166 00:16:03,166 --> 00:16:06,086 If you're going to face the future with a positive attitude, 167 00:16:06,086 --> 00:16:10,306 with a God attitude, then you will not only have to have God on your side, 168 00:16:10,840 --> 00:16:15,298 but you will most definitely have to be on God's side. 169 00:16:16,517 --> 00:16:20,746 And this can only happen by allowing Jesus Christ to become Lord of your life 170 00:16:20,746 --> 00:16:24,877 and to not just be your fire insurance from hell. 171 00:16:25,840 --> 00:16:30,809 An interesting map is on display in the British Museum in London. 172 00:16:32,115 --> 00:16:41,746 It's an old mariner's chart drawn in 1525, outlining the North American coastland and adjacent waters. 173 00:16:42,193 --> 00:16:48,046 Their cartographer made some intriguing notation on areas of the map that represented 174 00:16:48,046 --> 00:16:50,396 regions that had not yet been explored. 175 00:16:50,396 --> 00:16:58,576 He wrote this, Here be giants, here be fiery scorpions, and here be dragons. 176 00:16:58,916 --> 00:17:02,446 Eventually, the map came into the possession of Sir John Franklin, 177 00:17:02,446 --> 00:17:07,408 a British explorer in the early 1800s. Scratching out those fearful inscriptions, 178 00:17:07,734 --> 00:17:13,434 he wrote these words across the top, Here is God. 179 00:17:15,071 --> 00:17:22,647 God is here for us, his children, and we are to be here for him. 180 00:17:23,790 --> 00:17:27,781 The second thing we see in this is we are to face the future with courage. 181 00:17:27,781 --> 00:17:32,971 And Moses was an optimist. It says, and the Lord will

do to them as he did to 182 00:17:32,971 --> 00:17:37,687 Sion and Og, the kings of the Amorites and their land, when he destroyed them. 183 00:17:37,983 --> 00:17:43,691 The Lord will give them over to you that you may do to them according to every 184 00:17:43,691 --> 00:17:48,721 commandment which I have commanded you, but be strong and of good courage. 185 00:17:48,721 --> 00:17:56,101 Do not fear, nor be afraid of them. The Israelites would need courage because, 186 00:17:57,101 --> 00:18:00,261 Moses, who had been leading them for 40 years, was soon to die, 187 00:18:00,261 --> 00:18:03,263 and a new leader was going to take control. 188 00:18:04,435 --> 00:18:08,905 Courage means to be fearless in the face of danger. 189 00:18:10,862 --> 00:18:17,008 It doesn't mean the absence of fear. It just means the encouragement to go forward 190 00:18:17,008 --> 00:18:23,708 in the face of fear, the impetus, the power, the guts, whatever it takes to go forward in that. 191 00:18:25,107 --> 00:18:28,608 How are they to gain courage? Well, the Lord is our protector. 192 00:18:30,708 --> 00:18:34,208 The answer was, for the Lord your God is he is the one who goes with you. 193 00:18:34,208 --> 00:18:37,733 He will neither leave you nor forsake you. 194 00:18:39,277 --> 00:18:43,168 This is a promise that was made to God's chosen people in the Old Testament 195 00:18:43,168 --> 00:18:45,134 but it's also for us in the New Testament, 196 00:18:45,825 --> 00:18:50,778 Hebrews chapter 13 5 and 6 says for he himself has said I will never leave you 197 00:18:50,778 --> 00:18:56,468 nor forsake you so we may boldly say the Lord is my helper I will not fear, 198 00:18:57,228 --> 00:19:03,838 what can man do to me because God is my rock when you're a Christian it doesn't 199 00:19:03,838 --> 00:19:07,158 matter what people may try to do to you it doesn't matter what the world might 200 00:19:07,158 --> 00:19:11,963 try to do to you it doesn't matter what the devil might try to do to you 201 00:19:12,369 --> 00:19:14,267 when the storms are severe 202 00:19:14,697 --> 00:19:18,948 when the nights are long when it seems like you're by yourself. 203 00:19:20,531 --> 00:19:27,265 With god we are overcomers psalm 18 2 says the lord is my rock, 204 00:19:27,822 --> 00:19:31,858 and my fortress and we sang about that a little bit ago, and my deliverer, 205 00:19:31,858 --> 00:19:35,722 my God, my strength in whom I will trust. 206 00:19:36,989 --> 00:19:41,093 Now, I'm going back years and years and years in the past, but you guys, 207 00:19:41,573 --> 00:19:43,525 many of you know a guy named Paul Harvey, right? 208 00:19:44,785 --> 00:19:52,168 Paul Harvey told the story that one summer morning as Ray Blankenship was preparing his breakfast, 209 00:19:52,609 --> 00:19:58,383 he gazed out the window and saw a small girl being swept along in a rain-flooded 210 00:19:58,383 --> 00:20:01,984 drainage ditch beside his Andover, Ohio home. 211 00:20:02,901 --> 00:20:07,843

Blankenship knew that farther downstream, the ditch disappeared with a roar 212 00:20:07,843 --> 00:20:10,988 underneath a road and then emptied into a main culver. 213 00:20:11,911 --> 00:20:16,063 And so he dashed out the door and raced along the ditch, trying to get ahead 214 00:20:16,063 --> 00:20:20,223 of the struggling girl. Then he hurled himself into the deep churning water. 215 00:20:20,699 --> 00:20:26,013 Blankenship surfaced and was able to grab the child's arm. Then they tumbled 216 00:20:26,013 --> 00:20:27,805 end for end, over and over. 217 00:20:28,437 --> 00:20:35,229 Within about three feet of the yawning culvert, Ray's free hand felt something, 218 00:20:35,357 --> 00:20:38,633 possibly a rock, protruding from one bank. 219 00:20:38,633 --> 00:20:45,748 He clung desperately, but the tremendous force of the water tried to tear him and the child away. 220 00:20:45,899 --> 00:20:52,196 He thought, if I could only hang on until help comes. Well, he did better than that. 221 00:20:53,218 --> 00:20:57,263 By the time fire department rescuers arrived, Blankenship had pulled the girl 222 00:20:57,263 --> 00:21:00,613 to safety. Both were treated for shock. 223 00:21:01,890 --> 00:21:09,814 On April 12th, 1989, Ray Blankenship was awarded the Coast Guard's Silver Lifesaving Medal. 224 00:21:10,261 --> 00:21:17,384 The award was fitting for this reckless person was at even greater risk to himself 225 00:21:17,726 --> 00:21:23,792 than most people would ever know. You see, Ray Blankenship didn't know how to swim. 226 00:21:25,841 --> 00:21:31,901 And now you know the rest of the story. When looking to the future, 227 00:21:32,098 --> 00:21:37,451 when it seems the waters are rough, that is when we need to take a dive and go deep, 228 00:21:38,136 --> 00:21:41,628 in the fellowship of God. 229 00:21:41,628 --> 00:21:43,807 Stephen Curtis Chapman sings a song. 230 00:21:45,988 --> 00:21:50,278 About going deep into God's faithfulness and God's love and God's protection. 231 00:21:50,778 --> 00:21:54,788 David said in Psalm 23, God leads me beside the still water. 232 00:21:54,788 --> 00:21:59,128 Sometimes the best safety in the water is when we go deep. 233 00:21:59,990 --> 00:22:05,828 Psalm 34 verse 21 says, be of good courage and he will strengthen your heart, 234 00:22:05,828 --> 00:22:07,542 all you who hope in the Lord. 235 00:22:08,425 --> 00:22:15,048 Radio preacher Adrian Rogers once told about the man who begged or who bragged 236 00:22:15,356 --> 00:22:21,666 that he had cut off the tail of a man-eating lion with his pocket knife. 237 00:22:23,233 --> 00:22:26,310 People were amazed at the story of strength and courage. 238 00:22:26,844 --> 00:22:32,301 The people listened with utter amazement. They were astonished, 239 00:22:32,533 --> 00:22:38,738 and yet that is until someone asked him why he hadn't cut off the lion's head first. 240 00:22:40,114 --> 00:22:47,572 The man replied, well, somebody had already done that the line was already dead so I just cut off the tail. 241 00:22:49,784 --> 00:22:57,040 Friends, God has already cut off the head of the lion, and in this case, 242 00:22:57,493 --> 00:23:01,979 the head of the serpent. We have no fear for our future. 243 00:23:03,391 --> 00:23:06,671 And third, we see from this is that we are to face the future with hope. 244 00:23:07,314 --> 00:23:12,765 There is a promise of a better land. Then Moses called Joshua and said to him 245 00:23:12,765 --> 00:23:13,949 in the sight of all Israel, 246 00:23:14,479 --> 00:23:19,495 Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with these people to the land 247 00:23:19,495 --> 00:23:25,287 which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them and you will cause them to inherit it. 248 00:23:25,520 --> 00:23:29,265 And the Lord who is the one who goes before you, he will be with you. 249 00:23:29,265 --> 00:23:31,109 He will not leave you nor forsake you. 250 00:23:31,689 --> 00:23:37,075 Do not fear, do not be dismayed. The Israelites had gone through times when 251 00:23:37,075 --> 00:23:40,415 they did not know where their water and food was coming from. 252 00:23:40,909 --> 00:23:45,504 They had wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. Now Moses is dying. 253 00:23:45,963 --> 00:23:49,922 Moses assures them that God is going to guide them into the promised land. 254 00:23:50,885 --> 00:23:55,515 This promised land was first mentioned to Abraham in Genesis chapter 12, 255 00:23:55,515 --> 00:23:58,884 verse 7. It says, then the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, 256 00:23:59,192 --> 00:24:02,524 to your descendants, I will give this land. 257 00:24:02,960 --> 00:24:07,965 Oftentimes we on the New Testament side of history think that the promised land 258 00:24:07,965 --> 00:24:10,227 refers to heaven, and it does. 259 00:24:10,663 --> 00:24:17,704 But to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and now Moses and Joshua, this promised land was a real place. 260 00:24:20,543 --> 00:24:27,439 We can stand firm in the belief that God wants to provide a promise for us here and now. 261 00:24:28,374 --> 00:24:33,053 In Jeremiah, we read these words, I know the plans I have for you, 262 00:24:33,662 --> 00:24:40,628 plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 263 00:24:41,058 --> 00:24:46,866 Richland County is a promised land for God. He wants this place, 264 00:24:46,866 --> 00:24:51,447 and we are doing everything we can to win it for Jesus. 265 00:24:52,127 --> 00:24:54,826 But we also have a promise of a better land. 266 00:24:55,575 --> 00:25:01,506 I cannot promise you that your tomorrow will be better. I can't tell you your, 267 00:25:01,986 --> 00:25:05,873 year will be better, but with God, it's going to be easier to bear. 268 00:25:07,649 --> 00:25:10,952 I can tell you that even if your life is filled with trouble—. 269 00:25:13,380 --> 00:25:20,003 The rest of the days on this earth, if you remain faithful, there is a hope of a better day.

270 00:25:20,822 --> 00:25:25,036 In the first film series, Focus on the Family, they shared a story about a five-year-old 271 00:25:25,361 --> 00:25:29,872 African-American boy who would never be forgotten by those who knew him. 272 00:25:30,789 --> 00:25:36,141 A nurse by the name of Gracie Scheffler took care of this boy in his latter days of his life. 273 00:25:36,675 --> 00:25:40,065 This little boy was dying, five years old, was dying of lung cancer, 274 00:25:40,279 --> 00:25:42,751 which is a terrifying disease in his final days. 275 00:25:42,751 --> 00:25:47,711 If you've ever been with anybody who's been dying of lung cancer or emphysema 276 00:25:47,711 --> 00:25:54,251 or COPD or whatever, it's horrifying. His lungs would fill up with fluid and 277 00:25:54,251 --> 00:25:56,167 he would be unable to breathe. 278 00:25:57,345 --> 00:26:05,321 And when you can't breathe, it's terribly claustrophobic, especially for a small child. 279 00:26:05,937 --> 00:26:09,711 This little boy had a Christian mother who loved him and stayed by his side 280 00:26:09,711 --> 00:26:14,041 through the long ordeal. She cradled him on her lap and talked softly about 281 00:26:14,041 --> 00:26:20,525 the Lord Jesus. Instinctively, the woman was preparing her son for his final days to come. 282 00:26:21,181 --> 00:26:25,771 Gracie said that one day as death approached, she entered the boy's hospital 283 00:26:25,771 --> 00:26:28,745 room as he was talking about hearing bells. 284 00:26:29,290 --> 00:26:32,802 The bells are ringing, Mommy, he said. I can hear them. 285 00:26:38,211 --> 00:26:42,309 Gracie thought he was hallucinating because he was already slipping away. 286 00:26:42,669 --> 00:26:48,422 She left and returned a few minutes later and again heard him talking about hearing bells ringing. 287 00:26:49,380 --> 00:26:54,453 The nurse said to his mother, I'm sure you know your baby is hearing things that aren't there. 288 00:26:54,854 --> 00:26:57,489 He's hallucinating because of the sickness. 289 00:26:58,325 --> 00:27:02,508 The mother pulled her son closer to her chest and smiled and said, 290 00:27:02,508 --> 00:27:05,680 No, Ms. Scheffler, he's not hallucinating. 291 00:27:06,829 --> 00:27:11,212 I told him when he was frightened, when he couldn't breathe, 292 00:27:11,560 --> 00:27:16,303 if he would listen carefully, he could hear the bells of heaven ringing for him. 293 00:27:18,497 --> 00:27:20,222 That they were calling him home. 294 00:27:22,340 --> 00:27:25,208 And that's what he's been talking about all day. 295 00:27:28,488 --> 00:27:33,933 That little boy died on his mother's lap later that evening. 296 00:27:36,015 --> 00:27:40,763 And he was still talking about hearing the bells of heaven, 297 00:27:44,867 --> 00:27:47,015 when the angels came to take him home. 298 00:27:51,015 --> 00:27:51,818 As we close this. 299 00:27:55,398 --> 00:27:57,017 Service, just so you know, I don't hear the bells yet. 300 00:27:59,130 --> 00:28:03,809 As we close this service, as Nancy and I prepare to ride off into the sunset, 301 00:28:07,269 --> 00:28:11,663 this is not the time to be fearful about our future. 302 00:28:12,226 --> 00:28:16,859 We need to ask ourselves, are we prepared for the future? 303 00:28:18,426 --> 00:28:20,858 Do we have the courage to face the future? 304 00:28:22,658 --> 00:28:30,117 Do we have the hope for the future? And do we have unbridled and unashamed trust 305 00:28:30,448 --> 00:28:33,373 in the one who knows the future? 306 00:28:36,555 --> 00:28:44,072 It's my desire and hope that you have and will continue to have an undying faith 307 00:28:44,072 --> 00:28:49,002 in the God who saves when we seem to be at an end. 308 00:28:50,179 --> 00:28:55,512 I know this is not the usual way we close our services, but I'm going to ask 309 00:28:55,512 --> 00:28:59,450 you to stand up if you're able to and join in a circle around here. 310 00:29:01,487 --> 00:29:03,292 And we're going to sing together. 311 00:29:05,998 --> 00:29:12,017 Before the benediction. Come join in a circle around here, kind of like we do on Christmas Eve. 312 00:29:13,840 --> 00:29:16,162 So we're going to sing a song. 313 00:29:19,494 --> 00:29:27,702 And I think you know what it is. I'm so glad we had this time together just 314 00:29:27,702 --> 00:29:30,924 to have a laugh or sing a song. 315 00:29:31,347 --> 00:29:38,858 Seems we just get started And before you know it Comes the time we have to say 316 00:29:39,218 --> 00:29:45,975 So long Let's pray Heavenly Father, as we close this service, 317 00:29:48,175 --> 00:29:50,526 And this season of service, 318 00:29:53,464 --> 00:29:59,302 I thank you for these people I thank you for this community I thank you for 319 00:29:59,302 --> 00:30:06,124 your love that is instilled in us as we sang about this reckless love. 320 00:30:08,301 --> 00:30:14,066 I pray, Father, that you will guide us and this church into the future, 321 00:30:14,455 --> 00:30:19,104 your future of a new revival in this community. 322 00:30:21,368 --> 00:30:29,362 In Jesus' name. And now, go and serve a world that desperately needs Jesus.