“THE LAST CALL”
(A message of hope and redemption)
Revelation 3:20 says,
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me."
Rachel and I took a cruise to Mexico. While we were there, we went out to see all the shops and take pictures. The captain and all the crew made it very clear that everyone had to be back on board the ship, as they would be departing at that specific time. NO EXCEPTIONS!!. As we were enjoying our short time at port, we heard the warnings of the imminent departure, but we were working our way towards that direction and figured we had plenty of time to make it back before the final call. It only seemed like minutes ... but then …the dreadful sound of the final call was heard, and we were nowhere close to where we needed to be.
As we stood on the dock, we watched in panic as our boat was almost about to pull away from the shore.
We sprinted down the dock, our hearts racing, and we managed to get onto the boat right before it almost left us there
BOY…..THAT WAS CLOSE!!!
We had been so caught up in taking in the sights and sounds of the busy port that we almost missed our departure.
Breathless and shaken, we realized how close we had come to missing the boat.
But as we looked out at the receding shore, I couldn't shake the thought:
●What if we had missed it?
●What if we had been too distracted?
●What if we had been too complacent and had let our chance slip away?
Life is like that, isn't it? …Most of us know that our imminent departure is certain. We know what it is we need to do to make it safe on the boat. We know we are only here for a limited time, and we have to be blind not to recognize the warning that departure is near.
Today, I want to talk about the “last call”
Not just a call to boarding but a call to repentance
A call to turn our hearts and lives towards God.
Because the truth is……..
● We don't know when…..our last hour will be.
● We don't know when …..our time on this earth will come to an end.
Just like the boat's departure, our time can slip away from us, and we can find ourselves…. left standing…. on the shore as we watch our only chance for redemption disappear
But here's the thing: ….
We are not in control!!
NOT IN THE SLIGHTEST!!....and
We can't dictate when and how our lives will end.
All we can control is whether or not we respond to …THE CALL …and We enter the safety of the Captain's ship.
●Will we be like the rich young ruler who was unwilling to give up his life and turn back to God?
Or …….
●Will we be like the wise virgins who kept their lamps trimmed and ready, awaiting the bridegroom's arrival?
The” last call “is a reminder that our time is short, and we must seize this opportunity to experience God's grace while it is still available. We must turn away from sin and toward God, seeking Forgiveness and a new life.
Dear brothers and sisters….
God's message… throughout the scriptures Is of Him sending out the warnings that departure is near.
THE TIME TO COME ABOARD IS NOW!!!
DO NOT WAIT!!!
Satan has filled this world With so many tantalizing distractions and temptations. This purpose is to make it easy to ignore the gentle whisper of God's voice.
But we must remember that God is patient, kind, and longing… to have a personal relationship with each and every one of us.
EXODUS 34:6 says,
“And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,”
ISAIAH 30:18 says,
“Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!”
●Are you stuck in the mindset of “I have enough time”?
Or……
● Is your schedule packed with so many things that build your own life but leaves little to no room for God and the things He desires from you?
●What can you clear out to make space for acts of kindness and opportunities to share Jesus?
What will it look like for you….. to embrace a life of selfless serving?
Let's read of the disciple's shock…. of Jesus …washing feet in John 13:1-17.
John 13: 1-17 says,
It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
We have a choice….right now !!!
How are you going to live your life?
A “ call to repentance " urges individuals to reflect on their actions, seek forgiveness, and align themselves with their spiritual values.
●How can we, as individuals, make a positive impact and inspire others to answer "the last call" to repentance?
Like the prophet Noah, who preached for 120 years before the flood, we too have a limited time to respond to God's call. Let us not harden our hearts but rather turn to Him with humility and repentance.
Luke 13:3
"I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."
Acts 2:38
"Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'"
Here are some Bible characters who were called to repent :
King David :
He was called to repent by the prophet Nathan for his affair with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, Uriah the Hittite. He repented in Psalm 51, and God continued to use him for His purposes.
The Apostle Paul:
Jesus called him to repent on the road to Damascus. Paul, formerly known as Saul, was a zealous persecutor of Christians who transformed into a devoted follower of Christ.
The Prodigal Son:
He was the son in Jesus's parable in Luke 15. The son asked for his inheritance, squandered it on wild living, and returned home to his father, confessing his sin and asking for forgiveness. The father welcomed him back with open arms, signifying God’s forgiveness.
Peter:
He denied Jesus three times but repented and expressed remorse later on. Jesus restored their relationship, and Peter went on to spread the Gospel.
Zacchaeus:
He was a tax collector known for taking more money than he should have. When Jesus called him, Zacchaeus repented of his sins, gave half of his possessions to the poor, and paid back four times the amount he had cheated people.
The “Last Call” is a Call to Faith
Hebrews 11:6 says,
"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."
( Hebrews 11:6 ) emphasizes the importance of faith in our relationship with God, highlighting that faith is a necessary condition for pleasing God and receiving His rewards.
This also reminds us that without faith, it is impossible to please God. As we stand at the threshold of eternity, we must exercise faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross. Let us trust in His promises and surrender our lives to His Lordship.
Hebrews 11:1
"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."
Romans 1:17
"For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.'"
● Here are a few Bible characters who were called to faith :
- Abraham:
Known as the father of our faith, Abraham was called to have faith in God’s promises, including having a son despite his age.
Simon Peter:
One of Jesus’ original disciples, Peter, was called to have faith and trust in Jesus even when he was arrested.
John the Baptist:
John was called to have faith in Jesus as the Messiah, even when he was in jail.
Elijah:
Elijah was called to have faith and trust in God even when his life was in danger.
Thomas:
Also known as Doubting Thomas, he was called to have faith in Jesus’ resurrection.
Mary and Martha:
The sisters of Lazarus were called to have faith in Jesus even when their brother had died.
Moses:
Moses was called to have faith and trust in God despite his fears and doubts.
Rahab:
A prostitute, Rahab, was called to have faith in God and the Israelites.
Job:
Job was called to have faith in God even in the midst of his suffering.
The “Last Call” is a Call to Hope
In a world filled with despair and uncertainty, we have a hope that anchors our souls. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, offering us eternal life and a future filled with promise. So….let us hold onto this hope and share it with a world in desperate need.
Romans 15:13
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Jeremiah 29:11
“ For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Here are some Bible characters who were called to hope
Job: Job is a symbol of hope in the Bible. Despite losing his health, wealth, and loved ones, he never lost his faith in God. Eventually, God restored everything Job had lost and blessed him with even more than before.
Mary Magdalene: Mary had a disreputable past before she met Jesus. However, after she met Jesus, he saved her from her troubles and gave her a life of dignity and purpose.
King David: David is one of the most important figures in the Old Testament. He struggled with temptation, fell into sin, committed adultery, and got one of his soldiers' wives pregnant. However, he never lost hope or faith. He repented his sin and turned back to God, ultimately experiencing restoration and redemption.
Peter: Peter, one of Jesus' original disciples, is another notable figure in the Bible who experienced restoration after a significant setback. Although he denied Jesus in the hours leading up to the crucifixion, he soon found the courage to follow Jesus again.
Jonah: The Bible provides a compelling example of restoration. Initially, Jonah was disobedient to God's call. However, after spending three days and three nights in a giant fish, God gave Jonah a second chance. Through this experience, Jonah was humbled and ultimately reoriented his life toward God's purposes and mission.
Finally, let us look at Jesus’s last call….
Revelation 22:16-17
“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
As we reflect on the” last call, “let us examine our hearts and respond to God's gentle knock.
May we hear His Voice and open the door to a deeper relationship with Him. May we share this message of hope with those around us that they, too, may hear the last call and respond in faith.
The Bible's message of faith, repentance, and hope is a recurring theme throughout its pages.
From the stories of Abraham, Moses, and King David and to the teachings of Jesus and to the apostles, God's call to humanity remains the same: put your faith in Him, repent of your sins, and hold onto hope.
This threefold call is not limited to specific individuals or times but is a universal invitation to all people across all different generations.
So……
Trusting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior….. means you can do nothing except trust the work that Christ has done for you….
●HOW DO YOU TRUST IN CHRIST??
You call out to Him. …..believing that He has done everything necessary for us to get to Heaven……
In Acts 22:17, we see Paul, who was then Saul, being told that baptism is how we initially call on the name of the Lord
Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins by calling on His name.’
THE BIBLE CLEARLY LAYS OUT THE PLAN OF SALVATION…..
● We Must first HEAR the Gospel of Jesus ( ROMANS 10:17)
●We must BELIEVE that Jesus is God in the flesh ( JOHN 1:11-12, ACTS 8:36-37, ROMANS 10:9)
●We must REPENT of all our sinfulness. Being willing to turn away from them and live a new life ( LUKE 13:3 , LUKE 13:5 , ACTS 2:38 , ACTS 17:30 , 2 PETER 3:9)
●We must CONFESS Jesus as both Lord and Savior of our lives ( MATHEW 10:32-33, ROMANS 10:9-10, ACTS 8:37)
●We must submit to being BAPTIZED so Christ's sacrifice can wash away our sins ( ACTS 2:38, 1 PETER 3:21, ACTS 22:16, ROMANS 6:3-5)
So, if anyone here today has not done that, you will have the opportunity to do it this morning… I hope that if you have never done that before, you will take advantage of this time to make sure you have a HOME IN HEAVEN…
REMEMBER…..
you can't get there on your own …
Your only hope is in the Lord, Jesus Christ, and trusting in Him as your Lord and Savior….
I am going to lead us in prayer right now… If you have never accepted Jesus, as Lord and Savior of your life…..
●Now….. IS THE TIME!!!
●PLEASE….SEIZE THE MOMENT!!!
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