Place: Lurgan Baptist 31:8:2003

Readings: John 1:1-14 3:16

THE WONDROUS STORY

3. WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THE WORLD ?

Katherine Arabella Hankey was the daughter of a prosperous banker. She belonged to a group of people who sought to apply the ethic’s of Christ to personal, social, political, and national affairs, and like her father showed great interest in people who were less fortunate than herself. She devoted much time to Bible teaching, especially among the factory girls of that day, and her efforts were rewarded in that many of her students became leaders in Christian work. In 1866 Katherine suffered a serious illness which required a lengthy convalescence. As she lay thinking of the story of redemption she longed for someone to come and tell her “ the old, old story.” As a result of this experience she wrote a two part fifty verse poem on the life and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Part one contained the words of this hymn, “ Tell me the old, old story.” Speaking of the purpose behind the hymn she said, “ God’s remedy for sin is something I want to hear often, lest I forget it.

As weak as I am, I cannot think too well or too fast. I need to have the story explained to me as a little child.”

“ Tell me the old, old story of unseen things above

Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love

Tell me the story simply, as to a little child

For I am weak and weary, and helpless and defiled.”

My …. the old, old story needs to be taken in and told often. The story of God’s wonderful redemption and remedy for sin should never be forgotten and should always be real in our hearts. May we never get over it, and God forbid that we should ever forget it. Now nowhere in all the Bible, is the old, old story better told than in ( 3:16 ) Condensed to 25 words, the Wondrous Story is marvellously told in this the world’s greatest text. It is no wonder that this verse is the most familiar of the Bible. This …. I want us to consider two more words in the text. “ For God so loved the world ….,”

Just what do we mean when we talk about the world ?

Well, the word “ world,” ( kosmos ) is used in several different senses in Scripture. Sometimes it means,

“ the created universe,” for when said of Christ in that

“ He was in the world,” ( 1:10 ) he was referring to this planet earth.

Often the word “ world,” is used for the spiritual system that is opposed to God and Christ. When Our Lord prayed in ( Jn 17:14 ) “ I am not of the world,” He was using the word “ world,” in this sense. Sometimes the word “ world,” simply means “ people, humanity.” So in answer to the question, “ What in the world is the

World ?” I want to say three things.

(1) THERE IS A PLACE CALLED THE WORLD

Do you recall the words of the Risen Lord to His disciples ? “ And He said unto them, go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

( Mk 16:15 ) Do you see what John says here ? Speaking of the Lord he says, “ He was in the world and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.” ( 1:10 ) The “ world,” that is spoken of here speaks of planet earth, the world around us, a world in which and on which we live. (1) And this world:

(a) WAS CREATED BY GOD:

John says, “ All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.” ( 1:3 ) But you say, “ Why only God can create, creation is a prerogative that belongs solely to God.” Do you know something ? That’s right, but then Jesus Christ was, is, and ever shall be God and my …. from Genesis 1 to John 1, to Colossians 1 to Hebrews 1, the Lord Jesus is said to be the layer of the foundations of the earth. My …. Jesus Christ was the Executor of the Godhead,

( One who carried out the plans ) “ God created all things by Jesus Christ.” ( Eph 3:9 ) He is the Creator of this Universe. Have you ever considered the vastness of this Universe ? Let me give you some facts that will blow your mind. If you could bore a hole in the sun and somehow put in 1.2 million earths, you would still have room for 4.3 million moons. The sun is 865,000 miles in diameter and 93 million miles away from earth. Our next nearest star is Alpha Centauri, and it is five times larger than our sun. The Moon, is only 211,453 miles away and you could walk to it in 27 years. A ray of light travels at 186,000 miles per second, so a beam of light would reach the Moon in only one-and- a half seconds.

If we could travel that speed we would reach Venus in 2 minutes 18 seconds, because its only 26 million miles away. After 4 and a half minutes, we would have passed Mercury, which is 50 million miles away. We could travel to Mars in 4 minutes and 21 seconds because its only 34 million miles away. The next stop would be Jupiter 367 million miles away and it would take us 35 minutes. Saturn is twice as far as Jupiter …. 790 million miles and it would take 1 hour and 11 seconds. Eventually, we would pass Uranus, Neptune, and finally Pluto …. 2.7 billion miles away. Having gotten that far, we still have not left our solar system which moves in a

multi-million mile orbit through endless space.

The nearest star is ten times further than the boundaries of our solar system …. 20 billion miles away. The North Star is 400 billion miles away, but that still isn’t very far compared with known space. The star called Betelgeuse is 880 quadrillion miles away from us and has a diameter of 250 million miles which is greater than the earth’s orbit. My …. where did it all come from ? Who made it ? It can’t be an accident ! My …. wonderful Saviour made it all. My …. is your heart broken ? Is your soul weary with the bondage of sin ? Does your life need mending ? Some years ago a man was driving his car down the road when the car stalled. Try as he could the driver could not get the car started again. Finally, he stood glaring at it, and in frustration kicked the tyre. Just then a long, sleek, black limousine pulled up beside him. The chauffeur hastily jumped out and opened the back door from which stepped an elegantly dressed man. The gentleman asked the driver what the problem seemed to be. The frustrated man had no idea, the car just stopped. The gentleman asked to have a look for himself under the bonnet of the car. The driver sceptically accepted the assistance and threw open the bonnet. The gentleman leaned over, twisted a few wires, tapped a few cables, then he told the driver to start the car now. This time, the engine responded immediately.

As he closed the bonnet of the car, the driver turned to the gentleman and thanked him. Then he inquired, “ by the way, what’s your name ?” The gentleman replied simply, “ Henry Ford.” Henry Ford knew the car, he knew exactly what was wrong with it and how to fix it.

My …. the Lord Jesus made you, and He know ’s exactly what is wrong in your life and how to fix it. (a)

(b) IS CONTROLLED BY GOD:

For the same Saviour who Created it, Sustains it,

“ upholding all things by the word of His power.”

( Heb 1:3 ) The word “ upholding,” means “ supporting or maintaining,” its used in the present tense implying continuous action. Everything in the Universe at this moment is sustained by Jesus Christ. “ By Him all things consist.” ( Col 1:17 ) I heard about a bird called the Manx Shearwater. A female bird taken from her nest in Great Britain was released some 3000 miles away in Boston, in the U.S.A. My …. that bird crossed the Atlantic in 12 and a half days and arrived home before the airmail letter that gave the details of her release. Can you tell me how a bird released in Boston can find her way back, some 3000 miles away from home. I tell you that there is a God who is in control of all things. I mean the sun has a surface temperature of twelve thousand degrees Fahrenheit. If it were any closer to earth we would burn, and if it were any further we would freeze.

Our planet tilts exactly 23 degrees on its axis, giving us four seasons a year. If it tilted at any other angle, we would have massive continents of ice. The moon is the exact distance from earth to give us two ocean tides a day. If it were any greater or lesser distance, the earth would be flooded. Tell me, Who keeps all this in perfect order ? Who keeps planets from spinning out of

control ? Who keeps stars from falling from the sky ?

My …. wonderful Saviour sustains it all. Are you doubting the ability of Christ to save you ? To cleanse you from your sin ? To make you a child of God ? To keep you day by day ? To bring you at last to Glory ! How can you doubt when He is the Creator of all things, and the Controller of all things ? (1)

(2) THERE IS A PROGRAMME CALLED THE WORLD

The Bible uses the word “ world,” in this sense to mean “ society organised without God and against God.” Do you recall what the Lord Jesus said to His disciples ?

“ If ye were of the world, the world would love his own, but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”

( Jn 15:19 ) So there is an invisible system that is opposed to God and Christ, and it is this world’s system.

Do we not use this word “ world,” to mean system ? When we speak of the world of sports, the world of politics, or the world of medicine we are talking about a system, and the activities of people who are involved in these things. In just the same way when John says,

“ Love not the world,” (1 Jn 2:15 ) he is speaking about a system that is opposed to God. Now this world system

(a) IS DESCRIBED:

1. We know something about ITS PRINCE:

John says, “ We know that we ( Christians ) are of God and the whole world lieth in wickedness,” or “ lies in the power of the evil one.” The Lord Jesus called Satan “ the prince of this world,” ( Jn 12:31 ) My …. the devil has an organisation of evil spirits ( Eph 6:11-12 ) working with him and influencing the affairs of “ this world.” There is a programme in this world, under the management of Satan, that seeks to keep you from God and the things of God. 1.

2. We know something about ITS PEOPLE:

The Lord Jesus spoke about “ the children of this world,” ( Lk 16:8 ) My …. without realising it this …. every unsaved soul is part of Satan’s evil system. If you are a Christian then you are pro-Christ, but if you are a child of “ this world,” then you are against Christ. We believers are in this world physically, but we do not belong to this world spiritually. Like a diver on the ocean floor we are out of our element, but we are able to survive because we have outside help. (a)

(b) IS DENOUNCED:

John says, “ Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” ( 1 Jn 2:15-16 ) You say, what is worldliness ? Its anything that keeps you from loving God as you ought to love Him, and from the doing the will of God as you ought to do it. My Christian …. The world wants us all to have the same standards its standards, to accept the same beliefs its beliefs, to visit the same places its places, to do the same things its things, to dress the same way its way. My …. have you allowed the “ world,” to squeeze you into its mould ? Like Demas has love for the Saviour been replaced by love for “ this present world.” ( 2 Tim 4:10 ) Do you recall when you really lived for the Lord ? Close to the Lord ? On fire for the Lord ? Then you began climbing the ladder of success, the things of the world began to creep into your life. You started neglecting the Word, the place of prayer, you became unfaithful to the services. My …. is that you ? I tell you, many a man would give everything he possesses to have that joy and closeness with the Saviour that he once had. Do you know something ? The things you are living for are transient.

(c) IS DOOMED:

For John says, “ The world passeth away and the lust thereof, but he that doeth the will of God abideth for-ever.” ( 1 Jn 2:17 ) Do you see these massive buildings that cost fortunes to erect ? One of these days they’re going to come crashing to the ground. Look at the amusement centres that people go to try and dull their senses and keep them away from God. One of these days they are coming down. My …. that is why the world cannot satisfy you this …. ! It is not lasting. Do you know why the drink will not satisfy you ? Drugs will not satisfy you ! The world’s pleasures will not satisfy you, cause they are fading. They are passing away. “ Now none but Christ can satisfy ….,” (1) (2)

(3) THERE IS A PEOPLE CALLED THE WORLD

For John says, “ For God so loved the world,”

( 3:16, 1:9-10 ) fallen mankind in its international aspect. ( Ps 145:9 ) “ For God so loved,” what ? The home ? The city ? The country ? The nation ? No ! The world. My …. have you grasp that ? “ For God so loved,” what ? White men. Yes, and every other colour also. “ For God so loved,” what ? The civilised ! Yes, and the savage too. “ For God so loved the world,” do you see it ? All colours, conditions, climes, castes, classes, characters, companies …. the world ! Can you comprehend it ? A world of angels ! No ! A world of saints ? No ! A world of sinners ? Yes ! Oh, the wonder of it all, just to think that God loves me ! Here are:

(a) A PEOPLE LOST WITHOUT GOD:

Do you see what John says in ( 3:17 ) ? John describes a people that needs to be saved, a people that is condemned. My …. the Bible classifies all people into one of two categories …. Saved or Lost ! My …. where do you stand this …. ? Are you saved or lost ? Without Christ you are lost. We don’t have to stand before God to hear our doom, we hear it already …. Lost ! Lost to the God who created us, lost to the God who sustains us,

Is that you ? Are you a person lost without God ? Well, then the Gospel is good news for you this …. ! For here are not only a people (a) here:

(b) A PEOPLE LOVED BY GOD:

“ For God so loved the world,” ( 3:16 ) You know, the Jews of Christ’s day thought God only loved them, they thought that they had some kind of a monopoly on God.

Not so, for this love is for everyone. As the chorus says

“ Red or yellow, black or white

All are precious in His sight.”

God loves the smallest, the lowest, the meanest, the grandest, the noblest, and the highest. My …. you may be lost without God but you don’t have to say that way, for you are loved by God. The Bible says, “ But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” ( Rom 5:8 ) You say

“ preacher, how do I know that God loves me ?” Look at the cross, for at Calvary Christ did something wonderful. He took the penalty for your sin, he paid the price for sin with drops of ruby blood and now He says

“ Come.” Years ago a young man quarrelled with his father and left home. He continued to keep in touch with his mother and wanted very badly to come home for Christmas, but he was afraid his father would not allow him. His mother wrote to him and urged to come home but he did not feel he could until his father had forgiven him. Finally, there was no time for any more letters. His mother wrote and said she would talk with the father and he had forgiven him, she would tie a white rag on the tree, which grew right alongside the railroad tracks near their home, which he could see before the train reached the station. If there was no white rag it would be better if he went on. So the young man started home. As the train drew near his home, he was so nervous that he said to his friend who was travelling with him, “ I can’t bear to look, sit in my place and look out the window, and I will tell you what the tree looks like, and you tell me whether the white rag is on it or not.”

So the friend changed places and looked out the window. After a bit the friend said, “ Oh, yes I see the tree.” The son asked, “ Is there a white rag tied to it ?”

For a moment the friend did not say anything and then he turned and in a gentle voice said, “ There is a white rag tied to every branch of that tree.” My …. that is what God is saying in ( Jn 3:16 ) God has removed the condemnation and made it possible for sinners to come freely to Him. At the cross, at the place called Calvary,

“ The wrath of God …. paid.” My …. there’s a white rag, as it were hanging from Calvary tonight and its saying, “ Sinner come home.” Will you come ? Will you come to Christ ? Will you come to Christ now ?