A FATHER’S DAY CHALLENGE Deuteronomy 34 Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah across from Jericho. There the Lord showed him the whole land — from Gilead to Dan, 2 all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar. 4 Then the Lord said to him, "This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, 'I will give it to your descendants.' I have let you see it with your eyes,

but you will not cross over into it." 5 And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said. 6 He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is. 7 Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. 8 The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over. 9 Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses.

10 Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, 11 who did all those miraculous signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt — to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. 12 For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel. Moses spent the last 40 yrs. of his life leading the Israelites to this Promised Land, yet died without actually reaching his goal of nearly half a century. What a sense of accomplishment mixed with dis- appointment must have been in Moses' heart as he looked over the land that God had promised to Israel!

Egyptian bondage as well as the 40 long years in the wilderness were behind him. The Promised Land lay before him, but Moses would not enter. Like us, Moses had to learn to deal with Some Unfinished Business. When we think of unfinished business... We think of 9-11... and the thousands of lives snuffed out in a matter of minutes in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania. One moment, it was life--business as usual. Then, all of a sudden everything changed. How much unfinished business? How many loose ends were left dangling?

This tragedy reminds us that in the twinkling of an eye, anybody's business, yours and mine, can become unfinished business.   Think of those who’ve passed from this church in recent months. One day they are here, worship- ing with us, the next they’re gone. What a fragile string by which our lives are held in this world!! How quickly our business can become unfinished business. We don't like loose ends. We are taught from early childhood to finish what we start: ***

Even Christianity is a religion of perseverance. Of fighting the fight Even Christianity is a religion of perseverance... Of fighting the fight... Finishing the course... Running the race... Keeping the faith. Fathers is there anything we need to say or do, today to someone so that if something happened to us, or them, that we don't leave loose ends? Let's challenge one another with some things that we ought to begin working on today... 1. WE NEED TO WORK ON LOOSE ENDS IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS. If we died today, is there somebody who would have desperately needed to hear something we desperately needed to say, but haven't said yet?

God made us for relationships, not for making money or climbing social or corporate ladders... or accumulating THINGS... But for relationships... Right relationship with Him and one another. *** Is there someone we need to FORGIVE? Matthew 6:12; 14-15 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Mark 11:25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.

Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Maybe, there’s somebody we need to speak a word of ENCOURAGEMENT to. Or to just say, I love you... I appreciate you and what you are doing or have done. Write that note, place that call, make that visit, that you've been putting off so long. If today is the end for you, or something should happen to them, you'll be glad you did. How about the loose end of mentioning Jesus to someone we want to SAVE?

This is business that can be finished, should be finished, MUST be finished TODAY! Fathers... Are all our children safe and saved in the Kingdom of God? How sad to stand beside a casket or grave and hear someone say: I wish I’d said, forgive me, - I wish I’d said, I forgive you, - I love you, - Or, let's talk about Jesus. 2. We Need To Do Some Of The Things We’ve Intended To Do For Our own PERSONAL ENRICHMENT. All of us have some unfilled personal goals... Some things we've always wanted to do, but just haven't done yet.

Do them today while your health still permits. Do them today while you still have with you whom ever it is you’d like to share the experience with: A spouse, a child, Grandchildren, a close friend, a brother or sister in Christ… Maybe we just need to slow down some and smell the roses God created this planet purposely for us to enjoy. Get up early enough in the morning to watch the sunrise... Take time to watch the sunset... When God gives us time and opportunity to enrich our lives, realize our dreams, fulfill our goals, we need to seize the moment...

We need to finish our unfinished business We need to finish our unfinished business. Don't wait until it is too late!! 3. WE NEED TO OBEY GOD. Why didn’t God just zap us up to heaven as soon as we were born again? Why are we here instead of in heaven? The answer is simple. God created us to do some things He wants us to do. God created us for GOOD WORKS... He PREDESTINED those works for just us. Ephesians 2:8-10 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from your-

selves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's work- manship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. God has a set plan for each of us. He created us to do some specific good things... Good works!! Have we completed the good works that God placed us here to accomplish? Jesus’ last words before He died on the cross: “It is finished!” It is done...Completed. Jesus accomplished all that He came to do. There was not one OT prophecy that He didn’t fulfill completely.

There was not one more sermon that He needed to preach There was not one more sermon that He needed to preach. Not one more person that God wanted Him to touch... If today were our last day, could we say like Jesus; It is finished? Can we say that we’ve accomplished all God has placed us here to accomplish up to this moment? Have we been obedient to Him in every area of our life? Or, is there something we desperately need to do to complete our obedience?