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EZEKIEL 9:8

Intro: Ezekiel's vision of slaughter in Jerusalem - "...and I was left."
       We have all had close brushes with death - another inch, a few more
       seconds.

I. HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHY YOU WERE LEFT?
        A. If you are not a Christian.
                1. Could it be that God in His goodness is giving you
                   another chance?
                        a. How long do you think God will forbear?
                                1. "My Spirit will not always strive with
                                   man."
                                2. "Do you despise the goodness and
                                   forbearance and  long-suffering of God,
                                   not knowing that..."
                        b. How many more chances will He give you to
                           reject Him?
                                1. As of this moment, you can say "I was
                                   left."
                                2. You have no assurance you'll be here
                                   tomorrow.
                        c. God is not obligated to sustain you.
        B. If you are a Christian, you've been left that -
                1. You might accomplish His perfect will.
                        a. Paul had close brush at Lystra.
                        b. Later, Paul wrote Timothy, "I have finished my
                           course."
                2. Since I am left, the paramount question should be - 
                        a. "What would God have me to do?
                        b. How long must He forbear while I pursue my own
                           pleasures?

II. "I WAS LEFT,"  IS OFTEN THE LAST LINE OF A STORY.
        A. Usually said with a sigh of thanksgiving.
                1. It could have been me!
                2. I came so close!
                3. Thank God, I was left.

III. A TIME IS COMING SOON WHEN THAT WILL BE A BITTER WAIL - "JESUS CAME
     FOR HIS CHURCH, AND I WAS LEFT."
        A. Jesus has promised to come again and to remove His own before
           God's judgment upon the earth.
                1. John 14 - "And if I go, I will come again."
                2. Luke 21 - "Pray ye always that you will be accounted
                   worthy to escape all these.
                3. "Because you have kept the words of My patience, I will
                   also..."
        B. The world is on the brink of disaster.
                1. "There shall be a time of trouble..." -Dan. 12.
                2. Matt. 24 - "For then shall be great tribulation such as
                   has not been from the beginning of the world to this
                   time or ever will be." Greater than the great flood in
                   Noah's day.
        C. Imagine waking up some morning and finding that the church is
           gone.
                1. You call the church and only get a recording.
                2. You call your Christian friends and there is no answer.
                3. You turn on the news and hear of the weird and bizarre
                   events around the world. Don't worry, the major
                   networks will still be on.
                4. Jesus kept His word - He came for His own, and I was
                   left.
        D. Why were you left?
                1. It wasn't easy, it was a tough fight.
                        a. You had to resist the call of God.
                        b. You had to deny your reason.
                        c. You had to turn your back on the love of Jesus
                           for you.
                        d. You had to ignore all of God's warnings.
                        e. But you hung in there - tough, rebellious - and
                           now, you are  left.
                2. What awaits you now?
                        a. Hebrews 10:26.