## What Do We Do Now?

## Hebrews 11:13-16

This morning we are celebrating the anniversary of Grace Baptist Temple. The church began in August of 1960 and was organized in January of 1961 with seven charter members. We are now in our 35th year of ministry! It is good for us to pause to reflect on the goodness and blessings of God in the past, and it is good for us to look forward to what we will be able to do for the cause of Christ in the future. This morning, I would like to tell you a story I recently heard about a mountain traveler who thought he had lost his way on his journey. He was thrilled when he found a cabin located in the remote mountain area. He approached the cabin and asked the old gentleman within for some advice. He told him where he had come from and where he was going. The old man thought for a moment and replied, "It’s too far to go back...the side roads are dangerous...you can’t stop here...so there is nothing to do but go on." I think that we can apply the old man’s advice to ourselves when we consider where we are and what we should do now.

I. It’s Too Far To Go Back.

A. Nostalgia.

1. The dictionary defines ‘nostalgia’ as an excessively sentimental sometimes abnormal yearning for return to some past period or irrecoverable condition.

2. In other words, "the good old days".

3. However, I have found that often the good old days were not really as good as we remember them.

4. Vance Havner said, "The present is never as good as it used to be."

5. Pat and I used to visit with an elderly lady who put it a proper perspective for me.

B. The Scriptures speak of the problem of ‘looking back’.

1. Israel looked back at Egypt, where they had been enslaved, and wanted to return.

2. Numbers 11:18b, "...for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the LORD will give you flesh, and ye shall eat."

3. Jesus rebuked those who made excuses for not following Him in Luke 9:62, "And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

C. By Faith we look forward.

1. Note: Hebrews 11:13-16

2. A great future beats a great past every time!

3. What shall we do?

4. It’s too far to go back, even if we wanted to we couldn’t!

II. The Side Roads Are Dangerous.

A. The detour is always rougher than the main road.

1. Not only are they rougher, but they often have twists and turns that can take a long time to maneuver through.

2. This is true naturally and it is also true spiritually.

B. Biblical Examples.

1. Abram went down into Egypt and it nearly cost him his wife.

Genesis 12:10, "And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land."

2. David took a side road and it led to adultery, deceit, and murder.

2 Sam. 11:1, "And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem."

3. Jonah tried to bypass God’s will and wound up in the belly of the whale.

Jonah 1:3, "But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD."

4. Peter got sidetracked and wound up cursing and denying the Lord.

C. We must not get sidetracked from what God would have us to do.

1. We have been commissioned to take the Gospel to the world.

2. We are not to be a voice for social change, but a voice calling men and women to repent and turn to Christ.

3. We are to be a lighthouse in the darkness pointing the way so that others might see. 4. We cannot allow ourselves to become sidetracked...the cost is too great!

III. We Can’t Stop Here.

A. We can’t stop proclaiming the Word of God.

1. There are still millions who have never heard the message.

2. There are millions who need to hear it again!

3. God is not willing that any should perish, but that all might come to repentance. (2Pe. 3:9)

B. We can’t stop giving to missions.

1. The population of this world is on the rise.

2. New opportunities are opening at nearly every turn.

3. Who would have thought that we would be able to send missionaries to places like Russia and Red China.

4. Who would have thought that seven people, who came together some 35 years ago, could have an impact on the entire world?

Mark 10:27, "And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible."

C. The Christian life is one of progress, we cannot stop here!

IV. There Is Nothing To Do But Go On.

A. Paul wrote in Ph. 3:14, "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

1. Even while others about us are giving up we must press on.

2. Though some may think us foolish we must not be swayed, but simply press on.

3. It’s too far to go back, the side roads are dangerous, we cannot stop here, we must go on for the Lord.

B. Hebrews 12:1-2

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

C. Jesus said, "Continue..."

1. Continue in my word. cf Jn 8:31

2. Continue in my love. cf Jn. 15:9

3. Continue in the grace of God. cf Acts 13:43

4. Continue in the faith. cf Col. 1:23

5. Continue...witnessing. cf Ac. 26:22

6. Continue in prayer. cf Col. 4:2

7. Continue in doctrine. cf 1Tim. 4:16

It’s too far to go back, the side roads are dangerous, we can’t stop here, so there is nothing left to do but go on.

If you are here without Christ today, your journey can begin right now. Come and trust in the shed blood of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.

Christians, will you determine to continue with the Lord? I know the way may get weary, but do not give up. Don’t quit. Determine today that you will keep on pressing toward the mark. For the glory of God!