“We interrupt this presentation of the NFL for a special message from Billy Graham.” And for the next hour and 12 minutes, Mr Graham gives us the Gospel. How might such a thing be received?
A godless man will hate the living God. A godless man is a tyrant over obedience. He will not allow his heart and mind and soul to do anything for the Living God. He is like a violent and jealous husband. If he suspects that his heart desires what is good, he beats it cruelly, and treats it to all manner of vile behavior. “Back to pleasure with you! You will not do what is right!”
So the godless treat themselves. Pleasure is their king, and they will not obey what is holy.
They are like the young man whose eyes are full of insolence as he works at his job. Though his boss says nothing, it is easily seen the boy does not love his work. Trouble will surely come, for the child hates his place.
But there are some who will die watching football this season. For them the interruption is not a mere hour and 12 minutes. Eternity will break on them in less than a heartbeat. And they will find their pleasure rudely interrupted. They will finally obey God; their soul will remain in hell.
Not only will this happen to some who watch football. It will happen in the sleep of some. It will happen while they do their work. It will happen to a few women as they go out to shop. Death will appear without notice, claiming their soul for God. The shock of death belongs to those who have not prepared their soul.
God is sovereign, he answers to no one. But look how men treat him; as if they are sovereign and have a right to do as they please. But God has already determined the end of a man’s life. Go ahead and make three guesses, who wins, God or man?
You insolent masses to hate the Holy God who gave you life. Pleasure is your god. Rebelion is your worship. As you despise going to work on Monday, for it interrupts your pleasure, so you despise obedience to the Holy Living God. But you are the ones who will suffer.
During times of trouble you call on God. Why should he listen to your words, you have not listened to his. You act like you pray for a touchdown. Expecting God to bless your desires. How utterly void of understanding. How fully insolent and arrogant!
“I am not a religious man.”‘ You say. I am not a Jew, nor a priest, nor a Christian. God does not expect of me the things he expects of you.”
Your heart thinks in foolishness. God has made every man. And will surely call every man to account for the same Holy standards. And you know this! Look how you blame a label instead of taking responsibility for your own life!
You have already rehearsed your excuses. But not a single one will do, when you lose your perceived sovereignty. It will happen faster than you can think. And eternity will be more sure than what you have now.
But do go and fill yourself with pleasure. By every means, fill up the judgment against you. To rebuke a foolish man is to incur wrath. You do not listen to the Sovereign God, why should you listen to me?
When’s the last time you even looked at a Bible? Have you ever spent time on your knees in prayer? Have you used the name of God’s Holy Son in anything other than profanity? Have you even considered the end of your days?
“Prop me up beside the jukebox when I die.” This is the stupidity of the folly of man. You will not be here for your corpse to enjoy. Yet you think there is something to be gained by the life you lead now.
Since before you were born men have been warning of what is to come. And even while you slept this morning, preparing for your hated Monday, the Holy Lord allowed me to write this message to you.
What use is it to say more? I do not expect a single one of you to even find this message, let alone read it and understand. Perhaps the Sovereign God will have mercy on you and show you this place. Perhaps he will have mercy on you and strike you with a holy fear.
Perhaps.
By His Grace