God Is Trying To Tell Us Something

PROPOSITION: To teach the things God is trying

to tell us in tragedy.
OBJECTIVE:To inform the hearer of God’s message
to be found in tragedy.
INTRODUCTION:
1. Many things about this world make it a place
in which tragedy can happen.
1) Human selfishness. Freedom of choice.
2) Natural law.
2. Far too much tragedy has been in the news
lately for comfort.
1) Lives have been cut short.
2) The lives of travelers.
3) The lives of school children.
4) The lives of some of the best and brightest
our state has to offer.
3. God expects us to learn from tragedy. He is
trying to tell us something.
1) There is a warning in tragedy.
2) There is motivation in tragedy.
3) There is remembrance in tragedy.
DISCUSSION:
I. LIFE IS FRAGILE.
1. Life is likened to a vapor. James 4:14
2. All flesh is as grass. 1 Peter 1:24
3. We have no idea what tomorrow may
bring. Proverbs 27:1
4. We cannot control the length of our days. Luke
12:19 , 20
 [With this firmly in our minds let us further
note:]
II. OUR TIME FOR SERVICE TO GOD IS LIMITED.
1. Consider the Parable of the Talents. Matthew
25:14ff
2. All of us have been given talents and
opportunities.
3. The reckoning will come all too soon. v. 19
4. Have you dealt faithfully with what the Lord
has entrusted with you? Note the reward of the
five talent man. vv. 20, 21
5. Will you find yourself trying to make excuses
when he comes. 24-31
1) Have you taught that neighbor?
2) Have you uplifted that brother?
3) Have you supported that good brother in a
faraway land?
4) Have you relieved that widow or orphan?
5) Have you visited the sick and shut-in?
6) Do your children remain untaught?
7) Have you studied that Bible?
8) Did you attend that service?
9) Or will you simply have to say, “Well, I was
going to!”
10)What are you doing with your time instead?
6. When your time comes to an end there is no
better way to be found by God than in the
course of doing your duty.
7. Life is fragile. Be found doing your duty.
[Another thing God teaches us by the fragile
nature of this life is that…]
III. OUR TIME TO DEAL WITH SIN IS LIMITED.
1. We must deal with sin.
1) All have sinned. Romans 3:23
2) Sin separates us from God. Isaiah 59:2
3) There are terrible consequences for failing to
deal with sin. Rev. 20:11-15
4) A plan has been given for dealing with sin.
a. Matthew 28:18-20 ; Mark 16:16 ; Luke 24:46-47

b. Acts 2:38 ; 3:19 ; 22:16

c. It must be acted on now!!!
2. The present time is stressed in scripture. 2
Corinthians 6:2
3. It’s too late after we die.
1) After death is the judgment. Hebrews 9:27
2) There is a great gulf fixed. Luke 16:26
4. The saddest thing about a life cut short is
that there are no more opportunities to obey
the gospel.
5. I have heard of:
1) Children who were prevented by their parents
because they were too young. They never had the
chance again.
2) Those who said “next Sunday.” It never came.
6. I wonder how many have said,
“I’ll repenttomorrow.” And the Lord says, “Thou
fool, this day thy life is required of thee.”
[God is trying to tell us something in tragedy.
His lessons of motivation and warning have been
given. Yet, there is another message. A message
of great abiding comfort. This message is
that…]
IV. THERE IS A LIFE TO COME IN WHICH THERE IS NO
TRAGEDY. THERE IS VICTORY.
1. 1 Corinthians 15:51-57
2. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
3. John 14:1-3
4. Rev. 21:1-7
CONCLUSION:
1. How we are affected by tragedy depends on
us. Job 1:20 , 21
2. Are we hearing the message of God in tragedy?
1) Do you realize that life is fragile?
2) Do you know that your time for doing God’s
will is limited?
3) Do you know that your time for dealing with
sin is limited?
4) Have you been reminded of the life of victory
to come?