"What Will Be Left Standing?"

Matthew 24:1, 2 served as Ronny's text on Wednesday night. "Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down."

In AD70 Jerusalem fell and this prophecy of Christ came to pass. The temple was completely and utterly destroyed within 40 years of this prophecy. In the destruction of Jerusalem history doesn't record the death of a single Christian. They fled. However, it's doubtful any of them could have imagined the temple falling. It was a magnificient structure held in the highest regard by the Jews. What Christ foretold would happen was unfathomable...but it happened exactly as Jesus said it would. Some of the gold within the temple melted as a result of the fire set to burn the temple. It ran between the stones, according to history, resulting in the conquering soldiers turning over every stone in order to recover it. Indeed, not a single stone was left standing on another stone.

The tragic events of September 11th prove that few things are permanent. People have confidence in things that appear invincible (as the Twin Towers, or the temple of Jerusalem), but they're able to fall.

What will remain standing once this world is no more?

1. The kingdom of Christ will remain.

Empires and kingdoms come and go. The Roman Empire was powerful, but it doesn't exist today. The USSR was a powerful force for decades, but it's power has been greatly diminished. The Church is God's eternal kingdom (Matt. 16:18). It cannot be shaken according to Hebrews 12:28.

The organizations of men won't last. Only one organization, established by God through Jesus Christ, will remain - the Church you read about in the Bible.

2. The Word of God will be left standing.

John 8:32 proves two things: a) there is truth and b) we can know what it is. Some men claim that we cannot know truth. Others claim there is no truth. However, this verse proves otherwise. God's Word is Truth.

According to Matthew 24:35 God's Word shall never pass away. If our entire country were destroyed and left desolate for 100 years, then people stepped onto our shores and found a old Bible - the Word would be as powerful then as it is now. Men's words will fade and fail, but not God's.

We'll be judged according to the Bible so we'd better devote ourselves to becoming well acquainted with it. (John 12:48 and Rev. 20:12).

3. The assurance of pardon will remain after this world is gone.

Romans 8:2 and 2 Timothy 1:12. Are you saved? How do you know? Do you rely on a feeling?

Suppose a convicted felon in prison summoned you to his cell and told you to go notify the warden that he needed to be freed because he felt he had been pardoned - would he be released? It's equally silly to rely on our feelings for eternal salvation.

Romans 8:16 talks about The Spirit bearing witness with Our Spirit. What does that mean?

It means our life can be held up to the standards of God's Word and we can easily see if we're in compliance with God's command - and therefore know if we're pardoned.

The Word of God tells us that we must believe and have faith. That's the Spirit telling us what is required by God. So, we're able to look at our life and know if we believe. If we can say, "Yes" then our Spirit is in agreement (through obedience) with the Spirit.

The Word of God tells us that we must repent or perish (Luke 13:3). If we've turned away from sin and made up our mind to serve God, then we can say, "Yes" to that, too. Again, our Spirit and the Holy Spirit agree.

The Gospel tells us that we must confess Christ before men. If we deny Him before men, He'll deny us before God in Heaven. Acts 8:37 demonstrates the confession required, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." Have we done that? If we say "Yes" then we're living in agreement with the Gospel.

The Bible commands us to be baptized for the remission of our sins. If we've complied with the demands of the Gospel by being baptized for the remission of our sins in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost then we can say, "Yes."

So when we examine what God demans and realize we've done what He demands, then we know we have pardon. If we know we've failed to do what He demands, then we know we're not yet pardoned.

God's plan of pardon and the assurance we can have in our own pardon will be left standing.

4. The love of God will be left standing.

Romans 8 tells us that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Things can separate our love for God, but God stays true. Our love is affected by all sorts of things. The love of men can change. That's not true with God's love. His love will remain.

5. A heavenly home will remain once this world is gone.

2 Cor. 5:1, 2 The home Christ has gone to prepare will remain even though this world and all that's in it will be burned up.

6. Only the obedient will be left standing.

1 John 2:15 tells us that the people who do the will of God will abide forever. Today, some may scoff at obedience, but God's Word has always revealed how God views obedience.

1 Samuel 15:22, 23 teaches us that obedience is better than sacrifice. God cares about obedience. He wants us to obey Him. He rewards that obedience with eternal salvation. According to Matthew 25:32-41 only the rigthteous obedient will be saved.

Every person should be diligent to make sure they're investing in things that will remain.