The most important Place, Choice, Moment

Trust that the Lord will visit us at this time in his grace. I want to read first of all please from the gospel of Luke chapter 23. I don't know about you but it seems like I was just here.

But we're glad you're here and trust that God will bless his message and bring glory to his son. Luke 23 and let's read please together in this chapter at verse 33. Luke 23 verse 33.

And when they were come to the place, the place which is called Calvary, there they crucified him and the malefactors, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father forgive them. A most important place, Calvary.

Over pleased to Matthew's gospel chapter 27. Matthew's gospel chapter 27. And let's read there please at verse 22.

Matthew 27 verse 22. Pilate saith unto them, what shall I do? Then with Jesus, which is called Christ, a most important choice. What shall I do then with Jesus, which is called Christ? One last passage please in the book of 2nd Corinthians and chapter 6. 2nd Corinthians chapter 6 and verse 2. 2nd Corinthians chapter 6 verse 2. I have heard thee in a time accepted or in an acceptable time.

Verse 2 says, behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation. Just go back to verse 1. We then as workers together with him beseech you, urge you that you receive not the grace of God in vain.

Now is the acceptable time. Now is the day of salvation. A most important moment.

Trust that the Lord will give help. Some people have trouble with priorities. I remember a young woman who came to my Sunday school class.

I had a class between 15 and 25 years old, and she came to my Sunday school class for the very first time. Her name was Barb Lasso. I'd never seen her in my life before.

She had been invited by another student, and she came in. I had a message planned. I mean, it was the message of the year.

And I was ready to give it, and I just couldn't wait. And I hardly got my mouth open, and she asked a question. And it was one of those questions that's a real zinger.

You know, all of a sudden there was electricity in the air, and I kind of stammered a bit. I knew I still had time to get to my lesson, and I answered her question. And I was just going to get to it, and she asked another question.

And there was no problem with class attention, because these questions obviously meant something to her, although I wasn't sure at the time. And I answered her question, and I thought, I've still got time. And she asked another one.

And I'm a man of some patience, but I was anxious to get at this lesson. I had prepared it well, and I was ready to go with it. And I all of a sudden realized I needed to clear things here.

And so I said, Barb, if you're just asking questions to cause trouble, I'm not interested. But I said, if you really need answers, and that's a different thing. And I'll never forget the look that came over her face, almost crumpled as she said, I really need answers.

Well, I forgot about the lesson. It would keep. And I answered her questions.

I am so glad I did. You know, that night she came over to the gospel meeting too. Now, she had never even been to Sunday school before.

As you go to the gospel meeting, by the grace of God, she trusted the Savior. And it was a marvel just to behold how God dealt with that girl already prepared of God and saved her. Let me tell you why I'm glad I did.

Two weeks later, Easter Sunday morning, she with her family were driving to Toronto. And there was an accident that hurled that young lady, 21 years old, right out into eternity. Some people have trouble with priorities.

And I don't know if you might be one of those, but it almost seemed as if Barb had some sense that life could end so quickly and she really needed answers. And I hope today that you're ready to listen to some things that are most important to you and to me and to all. I want you to think first of all, about a most important place, Calvary, Calvary.

Oh, Calvary, mercy's vast, unfathomable love, eternal love to me, Savior. We adore Thee. I wonder if in spite of all that you may have heard about Calvary, somehow or other, you've missed it.

You know, the Lord Jesus in this passage, we're told that He says some words that obviously He knew were important to them and He longed for in their lives. And we find that those people, He had looked upon them. He saw and He knew the sorrows that were coming to the city of Jerusalem.

And perhaps the very people He was speaking to at that moment, and He said, forgive them. Forgive them. Would that not get your attention today, that the Savior was interested in men and women knowing the wonder, the blessing, the joy of forgiveness.

Look at Him today. Look at Him there upon the cross. He endured the stripes, the lash.

He experienced the wounds, the gall, the spittle. Look at Him. Look at Him bleeding in anguish and agony.

Look at Him who suffered for us unmistakable judgment. On Him, almighty vengeance fell, and it was enough to sink a world to hell. And He bore it for a sinful race that He might be your hiding place.

He wants you to know the joy, the blessing of forgiveness. And He wanted it so much that He was willing to endure the cross and the shame, the suffering and the woe. Ah, this is the most important place in all the world.

It's Calvary. You ever been to Calvary? You ever stopped and considered what took place there? Look at the colossal load that was laid on Him. Look at the tremendous burden that He bore, the immensity of it, the load, the sufferings, the woe, so that He could say, as no other on earth could say, I am the man that has borne affliction by the rod of His wrath.

And there's not another man who ever experienced what He experienced there. And no matter what you may have passed through in life, and no matter what sorrows may have come your way, you have never, never experienced the rod of His wrath, the sufferings, that the Savior experienced. And the great purpose of God was that you might be brought to His side to know forgiveness of sins and peace with God and blessing unnumbered.

And oh, the joy that God's salvation brings, the most important place on earth, Calvary. Calvary, oh, Calvary, mercy's vast, unfathomed sea, love eternal, love to me, Savior, we adore Thee. We read in Matthew 27, most important choice, here's the question asked by Pilate, what shall I do then with Jesus, which is called Christ? And the people that heard that question raised, they responded, crucify Him.

They had no time, no room, no place for Him, all His claims they disregarded, all the proof of His coming, they had set aside. And we see them crying out for His death, that the sinless one would suffer. You know, today we're still faced with that most important choice.

What shall I do then with Jesus, which is called Christ? It's not what I'm going to do about religion. It's not what I'm going to do about the kind of life I live in this world. But it's all about Him.

It's all about Christ. It's what you do with Him that matters. It's what you do with Him that counts.

It's what you do with Him that will settle your doom or your delight forever. What shall I do then with Jesus, which is called Christ? You and I, we have a free choice because God gave it to you in grace and in kindness. And God not only gave you a choice, but He gave you the power to choose badly, tragically, sadly to your own loss.

And it's what you do with Christ that will make all the difference between heaven and hell. What shall I do then with Jesus, which is called Christ? Here we find Pilate, and he was amidst the challenges and the opinions of the world that was gathered at his feet. The swirling emotions of the day, the cry, the anxious cry of the people who were anxious to condemn the Savior.

He still knew what he needed to do. And he still knew what he should do. What shall I do? It's my choice.

What shall I do with Jesus, who is called Christ? Christ, the answer of God for the sin of the world. Christ, the one that was designated and proved to be the very one He claimed to be. And here He is before Him, and the choice comes down to this.

What shall I do with Jesus, which is called Christ? The most important choice of all. What have you done until now? What are you doing today? What will you do with Jesus? The choice. The choice is yours.

We have the power and the intelligence to think it through. Thanks be to God, who gave us all the faculties that we enjoy. We have the chance to evaluate the outcome, to look ahead.

You can see it, can't you? A person who rejects Him perishes. A person who accepts His work on their behalf enjoys a relationship with God. It's so precious and wondrous, and an eternity before them to praise His lovely name.

I think about Agrippa, and as Agrippa faces the preaching of the gospel, and is faced with the choice himself. Here's a man, and he's able to understand the issues, just as you are tonight. The preacher says, you know this is true, and I dare say today that in this audience, you are well aware that this is true.

It was a place called Calvary, where Jesus suffered, bled, and died. Where the sinless one answered for the guilt of the guiltiest. Where the one who came from heaven took the place of his very own creatures.

And even though Agrippa knew and understood the issue, depended upon his choice, he says, almost, almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. I can remember when there were times when my soul was stirred as the gospel was proclaimed. I can remember times when I knew the issue was true and real, and yet I lingered.

I guess we always think there'll be another time for the choice that's set before us. But I want you to know that whether you take Christ today as your Savior or not, this is the most important choice you will ever make in all time. What shall I do then with Jesus, which is called Christ? We read in 2 Corinthians chapter 6 about the importance of this moment.

This moment, this hour, this day, right now. Oh, thank God. Behold, take a look, understand, now is the accepted time.

Now is the day of salvation. Now is the opportunity to grasp it. And in this very moment, you could take it for yourself.

You could trust him and avail yourself of all the work that he's done at the cross. This moment, a most important moment. I read in my Bible these words in Matthew chapter 6 and verse 33.

Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. I read in Isaiah 55, seek ye the Lord. Tell me, what have you done about your condition and your position? Seek ye the Lord while he may be found.

Now, why does he say while he may be found? It's simply because he won't always be found. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found. Call ye upon him while he is near.

Why, oh, why does Isaiah say those words while he is near? He won't always be near. This is the moment. Call upon him while he's near.

Let the wicked forsake his way. You say, I don't like that word, wicked. Could I just say, it's not up to us whether we like the word or not.

The fact is, that's how God sees us. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord. He will have mercy upon him.

He will abundantly pardon. Oh, the importance of this moment, of this time. And our concern tonight is expressed in 2 Corinthians chapter 6 and verse 1, where we read, we then, as workers together with God.

I don't know if you give us credit for that or not, but I want you to know, my friend, that's exactly why I'm here. Because I have sensed what God in his mercy has as a plan for God's salvation for the many. And I want to work with him.

I want to take his message to the people. I want to urge mankind to trust his son. I want them to understand the importance of Calvary.

Oh, that place of such sorrow and woe. And I want them to understand that this moment is a crucial moment, as you hear the gospel, to come and trust the Savior. We're not trying to catch you with some kind of skillful argument.

We're not trying to appeal to you in just an emotional way. But my friend, very, very seriously tonight and solemnly, this is your moment. And what you do with it will determine wherever you will be for eternity.

Oh, what a privilege to think that the gospel is preached and that the Savior's come near. And that his arms were open wide as he says, him that cometh to me, I will never, never cast out. Oh, to hear him say, come to me.

All you that labor and are heavy laden, I will give you rest. It's a privilege. It's an opportunity.

All has been provided. But I want you to notice that this moment, this now, does not mean forever. It doesn't even mean tomorrow.

But what it means is when God is speaking to you, and when you are hearing his call in the gospel, and you're turned away to a place called Calvary, where Christ died for our sins, where the just one suffered in the place of the unjust, that he might bring us to God as the gospel is presented. And you're made aware that this moment counts. You could miss out on it forever.

You could lose your soul. You know, I think about Zacchaeus. Here was a man who knew his opportunity.

Here was a man who recognized it was now or never. The Lord Jesus, along with a number of people, were coming to Jericho, and Zacchaeus wanted to see him. I don't know how deep and sincere his interest was, but the Lord knew that this man had some interest and concern.

And as Jesus is passing by, and he was passing by, he was never to come back that way again. Zacchaeus ran ahead of the crowd, climbed up into the tree, and to his amazement, Jesus came right where he was. And Jesus spoke.

And I am certain that in that moment, as Zacchaeus looked down into those eyes, he thought, whatever he sees, he sees it all. And whatever he knows, he knows exactly what I am and who I am and what I've done. And if ever anybody loved me, it's him.

And the Lord Jesus looked at him and said, Zacchaeus, hurry up. Come down. Today, I want to be part of your life.

And Zacchaeus had a choice to make in that moment, and he made haste. And he came down, and he received him. Oh, the wonder of it all.

Man's destiny changed in a moment of time. And this moment is your moment. Oh, the importance of Calvary.

If there hadn't been Calvary, then there would be no hope. Oh, the tremendous importance of knowing that God has given you the choice to make about his son and that this moment, you could make him yours for all eternity. I'm reminded of a man I was told of in this area some years ago who was a pilot.

He was an airlines pilot. He liked to fly the little planes, too. And one day, he saw an advertisement for a system that would bring a small plane down safely, a kind of a parachute that would bring safety to the world of flying.

He heard the sales pitch. He believed it. And he bought one.

He made it his own. But of course, life is busy. And he loved to fly.

And one day, when he had time to put, to install that system, it was so nice out that he just went his way, took his flight. Something went mechanically wrong with his plane that day. And he came crashing down and died, even though sitting in his garage was the very means of safety he could have availed himself of.

He didn't put it on. He didn't really make it his. And he died when safety was offered.

He missed it. Tonight, in the gospel, God's salvation is offered so graciously. Its high price was already paid by another.

The Savior endured all the wrath of God and cries out today to you and to me that we would hear his voice and obey him in the gospel. The wonder of truth is this, that he that believeth on the Son has everlasting life. And you could avail yourself of him today.

At last, that sad story I just told become magnified in the greatest way for a sinner to know there's salvation for them to receive in the sad story that they missed it. Most important place is Calvary. The most important choice is yours.

What shall I do with Jesus? The most important moment, the most important time is now. And this is the accepted time. Now, today, this moment is the day of salvation.

Friend, don't delay. Don't put it off. Don't turn away.

Oh, please, we beseech you that you not receive the grace of God to no purpose, to no end, to no salvation, to eternal loss. We beseech you as workers together with God that you accept what God has provided in such grace and trust Christ today. Let's pray.

Father, we bow. We are so thankful to know one who is willing to die in our stead that souls so unworthy might live. And the path to the cross, he was willing to tread all the sins of our life to forgive.

What a story. What a place called Calvary where Christ suffered and bled and died. What a wonder that God offers to man a choice about his son and this moment.

To be wise, we ask in the Savior's name. Amen. Perhaps we could just sing two verses of 322.

322. When I survey the wondrous cross on which the prince of glory died, my richest gain, I count but loss and poor contempt on all my pride. See from his head, his hands, his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down.

Did e'er such love and sorrow meet or thorns compose so rich a crown? Verses 1, 3, and 4, please, of 322.