TEXT: James 4:14

What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
James 4:14, NIV

INTRO: This sermon outline was based on Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays' powerful poem, "Life Is Just A Minute."

Life Is Just A Minute

Life is just a minute—only sixty seconds in it.
Forced upon you—can't refuse it.
Didn't seek it—didn't choose it.
But it's up to you to use it.
You must suffer if you lose it.
Give an account if you abuse it.
Just a tiny, little minute,
But eternity is in it!

By Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays, Past President of Morehouse College

1. Life is just a precious minute.
   1.1 Life on earth is short in quantity.
   1.2 Life can be one of high quality.

2. Didn't choose it—can't refuse it
   2.1 We can't choose to reject life.
   2.2 We can only choose how we use it.

3. We'll give an account on how we use it.
   3.1 Those who accept Christ as their personal Lord and Savior will go to heaven and receive rewards according to their works. Therefore, we must obey Christ.
   3.2 Those who reject Christ will appear before the Great White Throne Judgment and be forced to spend eternity separated from God. Therefore, receive Christ now. Life is short and uncertain. Don't know how to make peace with God and receive his joy? Click on http://www.jrcministries.org/truth/126-how-to-receive-the-peace-of-god.html

CONCLUSION: What we decide in this life will reverberate throughout eternity. Life is just a tiny, little minute—But eternity is in it!

Dr. John Russell gave a previous version of this sermon, "A Sermon in a Minute," at the graduation exercise of Midwestern Christian Academy, May 6, 2000.

Copyright © John E. Russell 2000, 2016

In Essentials: Unity; In non-essentials: Liberty; In all things: Charity
—Peter Meiderlin 1626

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