How to Make the Rest of Your Life the Best of Your Life | Part 1

The best is yet to come. In this Christian life. Listen to Adrian Rogers, ever one of us in the Lord Jesus Christ good rideable about God's goodness and God's mercy God's goodness in the good times in God's mercy times, God's provision for our failure in God's provision for any witness and mercy all the days of our life, but praise God. The best is yet to be. I would tell you how to make the rest of your life. The very best of your life. Welcome to lovely findings featuring the powerful dynamic teaching of Adrian Rogers every day with Jesus and sweeter than the day before so right.

Even still saves the best for last. God has promised a place beyond death and we can anticipated through Christ by looking forward to our dwelling in heaven, we can make the rest of our lives the best of our lives. Turn in your Bible to Psalm 23 and look at verse six. Once again, here's Adrian Rogers, the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures he lead me beside still waters. He restores my soul he leaves me in the paths of righteousness for his namesake yay though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me by rod and my staff they comfort me. Thou prepares the table before me in the presence of mine enemies. Thou anointed my head with oil my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Would you agree with this statement, Satan has no happy old people. I agree with Satan has no happy old people may have some happy young people. The kids, for example, who are living high, white and handsome. Many of them. They have a certain modicum of fun. What we might call happiness. But Satan has no happy old people now tell you why here's a principle I want you to learn it. Satan always gives the best first and the worst last always gives the best first and the worst last. For example, Proverbs chapter 20 in verse 17 says the brand of deceit is sweet but afterward a man's mouth shall be filled with gravel that is with Satan. It always starts sweet but it doesn't end that way. Satan is a counterfeiter.

He is a deceiver and is certainly guilty of false advertising.

I see these problems that been a bass boat. You know they're out there now. I stop the sons and and they just caught the fish are there frying the fascia. They just come in from a great volleyball game at these good buddies are sitting down in a rollicking good time and one of them will hold up a wet one and gives it didn't get any better than this and write it always gets worse to get any better than this.

I mean he doesn't show the drunkard in the gutter, covered with flies. He doesn't show the carnage on the highway. He doesn't show the blasted lives in the roaring home. He always gives the Bears first and the worst last Satan don't have any happy old people. Dr. Jess Moody of California. I wrote these words. I think the tremendous side. I jotted them down.

What do aged atheist have to talk about while they sit around waiting to die.

There they discussed the legacy of morality and decency, integrity and spiritual sensitivity that they bequeathed to the children or the good that atheism is done the world the hospitals the orphanages the elevation of womanhood and the mass distribution of decent literature or perhaps they discussed the great bulwark against communism that atheism has erected. Then when the sun is sinking low. They can joyously contemplate their future there so lots for an aged atheist to look forward to see Satan gives the best first and the worst last Jesus gives the best lass remember at the wedding feast. When Jesus and turn the water to wine and the master of ceremonies came out. He said I don't understand it. He said most people give the best first but you save the best till the last and that's the way Jesus always does with Jesus. It keeps getting better and better every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before and there's more so much more than that first sweet day. Now that doesn't mean that it's not good now, but it means it gets better. What the psalmist is saying is good now.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. The best is yet to be goodness and mercy. Here's the sheet and the sheep is looking over his shoulder and it sees two sheepdogs.

Job: the dogs of my flock to sheepdogs goodness and mercy are just following the flock everywhere. The flock goes. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days my life. I remember an interesting story that took place with Dr. Harry Ironside, Pastor of Moody Memorial Church in Chicago.

He told about it and some of his writings. He said that he had a lady, a poor dear lady who lived by herself and was just haunted by fear. She had a phobia fear that there were two men who followed her everywhere that she went.

She came to see the pastor about it. She was so worried. She said pastor. She said I have a problem very serious and terrible problem. He said what is it she said that these two men everywhere I go. They follow me when I go to the grocery store they follow me when I get on the streetcar they get on the streetcar behind me when I come home.

There they are right behind me. There always behind me constantly following me. He said he told the police she said yes but they say they're not there, but I know they're there. Always, there will be said your most blessed woman you're very fortunate woman.

Don't you know who those two men are. She said no you know all yes he said. David's friends and he turned to Psalm 23 and read it. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and he said those two men. One has a name. Goodness and the other name is mercy and God has sent them to follow you all of the days of your life. She said pastor that's wonderful. And to think all this time I've been afraid of them, and God is sin goodness and mercy follow me. She was so happy every day when she would go get on the streetcar she wait for goodness and mercy to get on she get all point to come home to her apartment. She opened the door let goodness and mercy go aunts and then she went in and the rest of her life until she stepped on over to the other side in perfect happiness and no more fear you say well was the pastor right to tell her that her friend would to God that all of us can understand that in a very real way, goodness and mercy follow us all of the days of our lives and every one of us who know the Lord Jesus Christ could write a book about God's goodness in God's mercy God's goodness in the good times in God's mercy in the bad times, God's provision for our failure and God's provision for need goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our life, but praise God. The best is yet to be, I will tell you how to make the rest of your life the very best of your life.

Now, here the psalmist talks about the house of the Lord. BC surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. I want to tell you three things about the house of the Lord that came to my heart as I contemplated and thought about this and prayed over it may many things we could talk about when we talk about heaven. The very first thing is we think about the house of the Lord that I want to lay on your heart and help you get excited about is what I want to call the certainty of it. The certainty of look at that verse, I will dwell in the house of the Lord, do you see surely I will dwell in the house of the Lord know is aunts and butts about it. It's a sure thing. One of the sweetest passages in all of the Bible is that passage in John chapter 14, where the Lord Jesus Christ reiterated and underscored in ramified what David said when Jesus said in John 14 verse one let not your hearts be troubled you believe in God believe also in me. In my father's house is talk about the same place that David was talking about in my father's house are many mansions if it were not so I would've told you to let me just pause right then say this that Jesus Christ was truth incarnate, he never lie, always told the truth and he said if it were not so, I would have told you Jesus Christ would not let the hope of heaven go beating within the human bosom. If it were simply a lie, a superstition, a fun delusion. He said if it were not so I would've told I go to prepare a place for you if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you and myself, that where I am, there you may be also. So let me say this about the certainty of that this place called heaven is just that it is a real place.

It is not merely a state of mind. It is not a condition it is a place that is so real that Jesus is there, in a literal resurrected body. I mean he is there in a body. There is a body in this place called heaven. It is his resurrected body. Heaven is a place on God's map know we speak of heaven as being and sometimes people who doubt the Bible laugh at us and they say where little little wrong on our cosmology because we talk about heaven is being up in Memphis Tennessee have is that way in Australia. Then Kevin would be that way.

So to say which way is it. It all depends on which side of the globe that you're wrong my friend listen the Bible writers were inspired of the Holy Spirit of God.

And when I said that Jesus came down from heaven that he was taken up into heaven, that we look up to where our possessions lie. Listen, the Bible knows what it's talking about. There is one place on the globe that is always and that's more, it is not by accident that people speak of North and down South wherever we are.

There is that polar star babies that Northern fixed direction that is always there and the compass always finds that North Place night may surprise you to know that the Bible speaks of heaven as being in the north. Let me give you some scripture, you may want to jot these down. Isaiah chapter 14 beginning in verse 13 tells about Lucifer who rebelled against God, and tried to exalt his throne and place his rule were God truly is and listen to what Lucifer said. Isaiah 14 verse 13 for thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend to heaven.

I noticed worries going into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of Godsomewhere above the stars of God.

I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of very clear now when God told Moses how to make a sacrifice way back there in the Levitical system. He said you tell the Levites this in Leviticus chapter 1 in verse 11 when he goes to kill an animal. He shall kill it on the side of the altar North toward the Lord northward toward the Lord, receiving universe Psalm 75 verses six and seven and he says this for promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south, but God is the judge what direction to believe that little and then he mentions God. You see, there is a place in the north somewhere and I believe is heaven guided above the stars of God.

Somewhere there is a place.

The apostle Paul went there. He called the third heaven second Corinthians chapter 12 in verse two he said I know a man in Christ.

About 14 years ago, whether in the body.

I cannot tell or whether out of the body.

I cannot tell God know what I listen to this, such a one caught into the third heaven. Very interesting. He calls it the third heaven, and he says you can go there out of the body, or you can go there in the body. Jesus is there anybody some people there without a body that have a bodily room space if this person was caught up into the third heaven, so the Bible mentions three heavens the first heaven is the atmosphere you know the Bible speaks of the fowls of the heaven, they fly in the air. And so that's the first heaven, the atmosphere, the clouds place the envelope of air that envelops the earth. And then there's the second heaven that is the stellar vast reaches. We call that the starry heavens. That's the second heaven above the stars of God beyond the stars of God. There is a place called heaven. It is the third heaven someone is beautifully said we see the first heaven by day. The second heaven by night and the third heaven by faith. Listen, I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. The apostle Paul knew that heaven was a real place. Jesus knew that heaven was a real place. David knew that heaven is a real place and when a Christian dies, he stepped right own into heaven when the days of his life come to an end, all the days of my life.

Sooner or later the days of your life are going to in and then immediately you going to step into heaven if you know the Lord listen to the Scripture. Second Corinthians chapter 5 verses six and following pulses.

Therefore we are always confident that is no fee. Certain we talk about the certainty of knowing that while we are at home in the body were absent from the Lord, for we walk by faith and not by sight. I'm not seeing God. Neither view but he goes on to say, we are confident not only confident and willing to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Paul said if I had my choice I would cut out and go to be with God but he said I'm confident that the moment I die, I'm going to be with Jesus in acts chapter 7 is the story of the death of one of the greatest Christian men who ever lived. His name was Stephen he was stone for sleep and accept the seven verse 56 just before he died he had a vision of heaven, and he said, behold, I see the heavens open and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God, and he prayed Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

Jesus told a dying thief. This day shalt thou be with me in paradise about listen. Heaven is a present place or something else about it all.

My dear friend it is a perfect place. It is a perfect place.

Revelation 21 verse four.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there should be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain for the former things are passed away. No more sin no more sorrow no more suffering no more death no more disease, no more dying no more doubts no more paying no more grown no more moan. These things are gone they are passed away that sometimes people ask a question about heaven and they say when I don't really want to go to be like we don't have beds or we'll sleep on bed what we call my hair. Will we eat howl that would be what will we do all of these kind of questions, folks, I don't know.

That didn't bother me you don't know and nobody knows. And so don't pretend you do know what the Bible says it does not yet appear what we shall be like you have to know levitate what heaven is going to be like. Are you ready for this.

Fran is going to be the presence of all that is good and the absence of all that is.

He met that didn't satisfy you and give you something else. Heaven is going to be this dear Frank is going to be all that the loving heart of God can conceive and all that the Nettleton hand of God can prepare that my friend is what heaven is going to be poets of present place. It is a perfect place and blessed God. It is a purposeful place. Don't get the idea that when you go to heaven you're going to get a will erode the rusty halo you going to sit around in the fluffy cloud and pluck a heart for all eternity. That's not what heaven is. You don't get that idea from the word of God. The Bible teaches in Revelation chapter 7 in verse 15, his servants shall serve him. Paul how all of us who love the Lord Jesus Christ desire to serve them better than we do. Every time I preach as old God I wish I'd done better. Every time we pray we say Lord God why a normal power in my prayer.

I suppose every singer that ever has. Some would wish that they could sing with more power with more tears and with more functioning with more beauty to give God the glory when we have a soul sin/that holds us down with one of these days we're going to serve him like remember serving before my friend, this house of the Lord is a present place of perfect place purposeful place. Think of the certainty of this is what he says I go and prepare a place for you, I will dwell shortly I will dwell in the house of the Lord. The certainty of think. Secondly, not only of the certainty of it. But think of the company of it.

The company you notice what he says I will dwell in the house of the Lord. Now when it means house of the Lord. He doesn't mean the building of God. There is a building of God, eternal in the heavens.

That's not what is talking about. He means the household of God. That's what Jesus meant when he said in my father's house in my father's household are many dwelling places. Many mansions that is he saying that we all of us together all of the saints of all of the ages are going to be there to gather all of our brothers and sisters in Christ all of those in the household of faith. The company of heaven, what a grand company it's going to be people say will we know our loved ones and have an old yes as a matter fact that's the only place we were ever really truly know them. Remember the story of David who had a little son who died an infant who died and David fasted and prayed and cried and wept and asked God to spare the life of the child while the child was sick and in the child died and David got up and washed his face anointed his body and took food I'm reading here in second Samuel 12 in the service out of the him one thing is this that was done, thou didst fast and wait for the child while he was alive but when the child was dead about his rise and eat bread and he said, listen to this now and he said while the child was yet alive, I fasted and went. Fry said who can tell whether God will be gracious to me that the child may live, but now he is dead, wherefore should I fast can I bring him back again. I shall go in that wonderful, I shall go to him have a little baby in heaven. Joyce and I have a little baby in heaven and I'm going to see Philip, I am you call that sentimentality I: Bible truth different. You got a mom and dad stepped over on the other side we're going over there to see.

I think of every time a little baby goes to heaven so many times I think the story I heard years ago about a shepherd who brought his flock to a turbulent stream and wanted to lead the flock across the flowing stream and they were afraid of the water and wise shepherd took a little lamb out of the flock.

Put that lamb in his bosom and waited across that chilly stream and set the lamb down on the other side over here was that mama sheep and that pop machine that mama sheep saw that little lamb on the other side of that publishing saw that lamb on the other side and the old mother. You started through the water to get to her little lambs and here came the father sheep and here came the flock following behind and I think so many times God in his infinite wisdom sometimes takes a little lamb out of the flock and sets it on the other side like you did David's little lamb and we don't understand all the mysteries of God.

But we know one thing different. On the other side of those chilly waters of death is a place that has been prepared and we can go and meet our loved ones.

There is no great comfort to take with us today and will hear the conclusion of this insightful message coming up tomorrow but maybe you have a prayer request you'd like to share with us.

In the meantime, you can go to our website@lwf.org and scroll down to find our prayer wall. You'll find the option to either submit a prayer request or pray for others. This resource is one of our favorite ways to keep the ministry in the community praying continually for one another's needs. Let us hear from you today again go to LWF.org/radio and scroll down to our prayer wall. If you'd like a copy of today's message. You can order one by calling 1877 love God mentioned the title how to make the rest of your life the best of your life.

This message is also part of the insightful the secretive satisfaction series for the complete collection: 1877 love God will go online to order@lwf.org/radio or you can write us at loved worth finding box 38, 600 Memphis, TN 38183 thanks for standing in God's word with us today as you continue with your day. Remember these words of promise from Psalm 23. Six surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life I will dwell in the house of the Lord. We hope will tune in next time for part two of how to make the rest of your life the best of your life right on the way you received this encouragement from a farmer in Pennsylvania who writes I've been a listener of loved worth finding since the 1990s. Listen, every morning is to milk the cows.

Adrian delivers the words so simply, but profoundly we love hearing how these timeless messages have become a part of your daily routine and are helping you mature in Christ. And we want to thank you for the prayers and donations that help sustain this ministry so they were able to provide these daily resources as way to say thank you for your gift right now we want to send in the book, the passion of Christ and the purpose of life as we near Easter explore some of the deepest questions about God's work through Christ in the book Adrian Rogers delivers a masterful presentation of the saving sacrifice of Jesus and what it means for you request a copy of the passion of Christ and the purpose of life when you call with the gift of 1877 love God