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Tragedies In Life Introduction: Dictionary.com gives the following definition for tragedies: a. A drama or literary work in which the main character is brought to ruin or suffers extreme sorrow, especially as a consequence of a tragic flaw, moral weakness, or inability to cope with unfavorable circumstances. b. A lamentable, dreadful, or fatal event or affair; calamity; disaster (Webster Dictionary) You may think of some story like Romeo and Juliet or of some real life tragedies. We think of some disaster or calamity in which there is an unhappy ending. They are common in life. We could look at Exodus 21.28-32 as how to deal with some unfortunate event. Some are "big" where many people are killed or affected. Some are small in which only one or two people are directly affected. For instance, a bus accident in Arkansas in which a number of people are killed; a single car accident in which your child is killed. Some are unavoidable; a child born brain dead or some other serious condition. Some are avoidable, a child who what normal until it fell off the boat and suffered serious brain damage. It is those that are avoidable we should do something about. Here are some "common flaws, or moral weaknesses" if left unchecked will result in unhappy endings. I) Wasted Time A) Most of us have a problem with this but this does not mean we should not think about how we spend our time. 1. How we spend our time: a. Average American over 2 years of age spends 4 and half hours watching TV per day. b. http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0%2C8599%2C1549394%2C00.html
2. How much time do we spend in services per week? About 4 hours. 3. How much time do we spend reading Bible, prayer, what could be termed "Christian obligations?" 4. Time cannot be recovered, James 4.14. 5. Time is limited, Psalm 39.4 B) Wasted time is sinful when... 1. It stops or prevents me from doing things God expects me to do. 2. When I am doing things that God condemns, involved in things that are sinful, Ephesians 5.15-16. C) What can I do 1. Think about how you are using your time and ask, "What good did I accomplish?" or, "Would God be pleased with what I was doing?" Colossians 4.5. a. Spending time working, with your children, relaxing. b. Spending time gossiping, neglecting family, etc. 2. We can make too many plans but we can also not make enough. II) Wasted Talent A) Not using what you have 1. Parable of the talents come to mind, Matthew 25.29-30 a. Each person received some amount of talents. b. We all have some amount of talent: talking, singing, teaching, etc. 2. As a general rule we are better educated and have more ability than earlier generations of Christians. B) The church is as strong as its members, Ephesians 4.16 1. Different talents are needed. 2. Do whatever you can and you will grow but so will the church. III) People In Sin & Know Better A) Some people sin due to ignorance but most sin is committed willingly 1. Prodigal son knew better and he knew how to get out of sin a. Some people just don't care, James 4.17 b. Hypocrites know they are sinning but pretend it is OK. c. The passing pleasures of sin B) People in the church 1. Young people in the church learn from the older members. (Losing temper, language, quitting when things happen we don't like, etc) 2. Think of all the warnings in the New Testament directed at Christians, Hebrews 10.26 C) We need to repent and get out of sin IV) Brethren That Can't Get Along A) This happens in denominations and in the Lord's church 1. We have all seen splits in local congregations over various issues; some are doctrinal in nature and others non-doctrinal. 2. Jesus prayed for unity among His people, John17.20-21. 3. Division among the Lord's people gives skeptics a reason to doubt and rejoice. B) We should hate division 1. When a division occurs we should make sure it is over a doctrinal issue and we are doing what the Bible says, 2 Corinthians 6.17; Ephesians 5.11 2. When it occurs over "personalities" we should make sure it is not our or my "personality" that is the problem. Psalm 133.1-3 V) Anyone Who Goes To Hell A) Thousands die each day. 1. According to the U.S. Population clock
2. Most are lost, Matthew 7.13 3. There is no comfort in hell, a place of total torment, total despair. This is due to sin in their lives. B) Those in hell will suffer for eternity 1. Jesus died so we can go to heaven. John 3.16-17 2. His blood was shed for your sins and my sins, Romans 4.25. 3. He was killed for me and you. It will be an tragedy because it could have been avoided. We hope everyone will do what God says and enjoy the bliss of heaven for eternity.
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