THE STUBBORNNESS OF SINFULNESS

Trumpets of terror will sound in the future time of tribulation coming on the earth. When the Lamb opens the seventh seal, seven trumpet judgments are unleashed. The first four are described in Revelation 8. The fifth and sixth are presented in chapter 9. The final three are so terrible as to be called, “woe.” Indeed, when the angel sounds the seventh trumpet, seven bowls of wrath will be poured out on the earth as that final woe, (Rev. 16). 

Of all the horrors pictured here, I don’t know that anything is worse than what we are told in Revelation 9:20-21, “But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.”

This is the stubbornness of sinfulness!  Despite the torment and terror that generation of rebels against God will experience, they will still not bow to Christ. The pain of the plagues will lead them to curse God in fury and not to call upon Him for forgiveness. They had rather remain in their sin, than repent and be saved. Such is the utter depravity of the human heart. 

Recently, I was in the hospital after surgery and in such intense pain—unlike any I have experienced—so that I was screaming. I was unashamedly calling on the Lord to deliver me, and thankfully He did!  But, that is the inclination of a regenerate heart—a repentant and contrite one. But, for the wicked, they seethe with rage and are fixed in rebellion.

Certainly, to die without Christ is to die without hope. The heart-breaking tragedy, however, is that some—as those described in Revelation 9–have already fixed their fate. They are sinners today, they will be sinners tomorrow, and even when cast into Hell, they will seethe with stubborn sinfulness and rage against God. For Hell is defined as not only a place of sorrow, where there is weeping, but a place of anger, where there is gnashing of teeth.

There is urgency to our evangelism. The longer sinners rebel and reject the Gospel, they may come to the place where it is not that God would not save them, but their hearts are so hardened that they will not repent.

I think of Paul’s witness to the Roman governor, Felix and his wife, Drusilla, as the Apostle was on trial. “And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, ‘Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.’ ” (‭‭Acts‬ ‭24‬:‭24‬-‭25‬‬).  Though under conviction for his sin, Felix refused to repent, and so far as we know his procrastination would bring him to perdition!

Let us call people to decision!  I realize it is not our task to emotionally manipulate someone to mouth a prayer they do not mean from a heart that has not surrendered to Christ. But, neither is it right that we should not call people to salvation today, for tomorrow may never come, and even if it does, the conviction they feel tomorrow may not be as intense as what is known today. 

The Word of God that is preached this Lord’s Day will have an effect. Its power will either draw sinners who will receive it, or drive them farther away, if they reject it.

Later, when Paul would appear before King Agrippa, and a new governor, Festus, we have this account of Paul’s urgency and the king’s intransigency. “But he said, ‘I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason. For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.’ Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘You almost persuade me to become a Christian.’ And Paul said, ‘I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.’ ” (Acts‬ ‭26‬:‭25‬-‭29‬‬)

To be almost saved is to be altogether lost!

PREACHING PROPHETIC PASSAGES: ITS NECESSITY AND URGENCY

Preachers may tend to avoid preaching about prophecy due to its difficulty and potential for controversy. Yet, Scripture itself calls us to preaching prophetic passages as a necessity and with urgency. 

Concerning the coming of Christ and the consummation of the age there are often three major views: 

1) Premillennialism—that says Christ will return and then set up a thousand year reign on earth;

2) Postmillennialism—that says the church will win the world to Christ and then He will return and receive His kingdom;

3) Amillennialism—that says the prophetic passages are symbolic and Christ will return with a general resurrection and judgment bringing the eternal state. 

Someone has suggested a fourth—panmillennialism: it will all “pan” out in the end!  I would say that is the worst of the views. It is a wish-washy approach to the significant number of prophetic passages that demand to be preached. Peter would have forcefully confronted such thinking. One third of his second epistle is devoted to the subject, and brings the climax of all the Apostle wanted to say to us. 

Preaching prophetic passages is A CALL TO REMEMBRANCE, (2 Pet. 3:1-7). The old fisherman speaks to this purpose when he says, “Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,” (v. 1‬-‭2‬‬).  We dare not forget that Christ is coming!  That fact will compel us to live for eternity and with urgency. Sure, there will be “scoffers,” (v. 3-4) who “willfully forget” how God judged the world in Noah’s day, (v. 5-7). Jesus said that the end of the age would be marked by a return to such corruption and chaos with condemnation to come. “But, as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be,” (Matt. 24:37). Our Lord warned against the complacency where people go on their lives as though there is not a day of reckoning.  

“For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Matt.‬ ‭24‬:‭38‬-‭44‬‬).

God forbid that preachers fail to call people to remembrance! That is spiritual malpractice!

Further, preaching prophetic passages is A CALL TO REPENTANCE, (2 Pet. 3:8-9). The certainty and gravity of judgment on this world should compel us to preach with urgency and fervency. It is not for us to try to set dates. Jesus said that none would know the day or hour of His return—a time appointed by His Sovereign Father. As an eternal Being, God’s calendar is not the same as mortal man’s. We think a thousand years is a long span of time, whereas God considers it as a mere fleeting day. We do not know the precise time Christ will return, but we do know that time is imminent, and could be today. Every man of God must realize that his next sermon could be his final one!  It could also be the last one the congregation will hear. The clarion call to come to Christ in repentance must be issued.

I think of Ezekiel—appointed as a watchman on the wall—to sound a warning of judgment to come. The sobering words to the spiritual sentry is that failure to do so means that judgment falls, but to the man who does not alert the people, God says, “his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand,” (Ezek. 33:6b). We cannot make people repent, but we must call them to repentance!

Then, we preach prophetic passages as A CALL TO RIGHTEOUSNESS, (1 Pet. 3:10-18). Prophetic preaching is a call to sinners to repent, but also a call to saints for righteousness.  

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” (2 Pet.‬ ‭3‬:‭10‬-‭13‬‬).

Since God is going to purge the earth of sin and establish an eternal kingdom where “righteousness dwells,” then we, as His people, are to begin to prepare for it, “Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,” (v. 11). Indeed, in a proper response to that day of destiny, by looking forward to it, we can be “hastening the coming of the day of God,” (v. 12). Now, we do not speed things up from God’s perspective, but from man’s. How? In this sense—God knows who the final soul is that will be won to faith to complete the Bride of Christ. When that one is won then the Bridegroom will return to claim His Bride who has made herself ready for Him!  Is it not amazing that the next person you lead to Christ could be that one? This should spur us on in soul-winning!

Perhaps you have heard the expression, “they are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good.”  The truth is that those who are most properly heavenly minded do the most earthy good!  Peter ends his writing by calling us to be “looking forward to these things,” that we may “be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.”  

Preaching prophetic passages is immensely practical:

“and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.” (2 Pet.‬ ‭3‬:‭15‬-‭18‬‬)

TO THE GLORY OF GOD

God is most glorious and He is above all things to receive glory. In 1 Peter 4:7-11, the Apostle focuses on how can do all things to the glory of God. 

There is to be intentional URGENCY. “But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.”  (1 Pet. 4:7)

I am reminded of the words of missionary C. T. Studd, 

Only one life, ‘twill soon be past; 

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Writing as a man in his seventies, who has been active in church work for nearly half a century, I can attest to the rapidity with which life races by. There is no rewind button. Every precious second that ticks by, with a significant amount spent in sleep and basic necessities, will never be reclaimed. Time is too precious to waste or as we say, “killing time.” Instead our days are to be devoted to the glory of God, as those who must stand before Christ and give account. 

Human history is linear and not circular. There was a starting point in creation and there will be a finishing point of consummation. Those who glorify God best live as though Christ might return today—for He may! 

This leads us to seriousness—“therefore be serious.”  It doesn’t mean we shuffle along with a long face as in a funeral, but rather that we run purposefully with joyful anticipation of a wedding with Christ our Bridegroom.  That is important. If you have ever been around a woman preparing for marriage, you know they take the wedding seriously!

This further inspires supplication—“watchful in your prayers.”  Those who glorify God most are those who spend time in His presence. As we gaze into His glorious face, we reflect that glory when we leave the private place of Divine communion and journey to the public place of human connection.  

There is to be loving FERVENCY, “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins.’ Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.” (1 Pet. 4:8-9)

While we ought to say to others, “I love you,” it is imperative that we show others we love them. True love is a fire exhibited fervently. As God is nauseated by lukewarmness, He desires that we “have fervent love for one another.”  

Such love is marked by humility. “Love will cover a multitude of sins.” We are to humbly forgive and not assert our own rights. We are not about exposing the flaws of others, instead humbly confessing our own failings. As Jesus said, 

And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do  not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to  your brother, “Let me remove the speck from your eye”; and look,  a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank  from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the  speck from your brother’s eye. (Matt. ‭7‬:‭3‬-‭5‬‬)

Peter tells us such love is also exhibited by hospitality. “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.”  An open heart and open arms lead to an open door. How we entertain one another in our home ought to be with gladness and not a grumbling.  It is something we want to do and not just we have to do—a delight and not a duty.  

There is to be gracious MINISTRY. 

As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as  good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks,  let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him  do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God  may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory  and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭10-‭11‬‬)

Every church member is to be a minister. All the Father’s children are gifted children. Being born again of the Spirit, each of us has at least one spiritual gift. These are not for show, but for service. 

Every church pastor is to be teacher  “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God.”  The preacher has a particular ministry of speaking the Word of God—not his opinions, but God’s oracles.

There is a sacred stewardship. “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”  As mentioned previously, a day of accounting is coming. Paul put it this way, 

Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious  stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for  the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the  fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work  which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If  anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be  saved, yet so as through fire.  (1 Cor. ‭3‬:‭12‬-‭15‬‬)

There is a supernatural supply. “If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies.” Christian ministry is a human impossibility. If we do it, then we can claim credit for it. If God does it through us, then He gets the glory. That is the way it works. The secret is to abide in Christ. Read John 15 where our Lord reminds us that He is the Vine and we are the branches. If a branch is not connected to the vine it cannot bear fruit. Now, we may think our service is something, but Christ says it is nothing—that is, of no eternal significance unless done in supernatural reliance.

When there is intentional urgency, loving fervency, and gracious ministry, here is the result: “that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

IS THERE EMPTY RITUAL OR EXCITING REALITY?

“Now in the fourth year of King Darius it came to pass that the word of the LORD came to Zechariah, on the fourth day of the ninth month, Chislev, when the people sent Sherezer, with Regem-Melech and his men, to the house of God, to pray before the LORD, and to ask the priests who were in the house of the LORD of hosts, and the prophets, saying, ‘Should I weep in the fifth month and fast as I have done for so many years?’” (‭‭Zechariah‬ ‭7:1-3‬‬)

Since the fall of Jerusalem and destruction of the Temple 70 years before, the people had a time of weeping and fasting for the judgment they had experienced.  Now, God in His grace, had returned them to the land.  The pressure was off and they wanted to focus their attention elsewhere.

How often we have been guilty of the same!  Difficulties drove us to God, but when they eased, our hearts turned from God.  Remember that sunny September 11, 2001, when the skies turned black from the smoke of jet fuel and ash as the twin towers were brought down by terrorists? Remember that first weekend as churches were filled?  How quickly we have forgotten!

Think about the implications of their questions: they were going through the motions of worship but were bored with it all.  It is like a mother waking a kid on Sunday morning and telling them it’s time to get ready for church.  “Aw, Mom, do I have to?”

Has the fire gone out of your relationship with God?  If it has, should you weep and fast—seeking the Lord—and the rekindling of that flame you once had?  Yes—and urgently!

HOLY FIRE

“For our God is a consuming fire.” (‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:29‬‬)

Seven simple words—and yet they have such profound implications.  Fire is to be respected. It is a powerful force that can create comfort or cause catastrophe.  Thus, it serves as a graphic image of the holiness of God.

Several years ago we had devastating fires in several areas of these western North Carolina mountains I live in. Yet, the amazing thing is that when the fire passes, it leads to the regenerating of the forest.  New green shoots push up through the gray ash and past the blackened embers. God will do that someday as He brings the final judgment on this old world order, and from that establish the eternal one.  Peter speaks of it:

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter‬ ‭3:10-13‬)

The holy fire of God should have a refining effect on us—consuming the dross from our life, so that only the purest gold of faith remains. It ought to compel us with urgency to seek to reach those threatened by the flames of wrath to come.

God appeared in the fire of burning bush, a pillar of fire in the wilderness, in the fire that glowed between the cherubim in the ark of the covenant, and in the fire that fell at Pentecost. In each case that fire conveyed the holy comfort of God’s presence among His people. As fire warms the home in winter, so the heart-warming presence of God abides with us.

But, there is also the fire that fell on Sodom, destroying that wicked city and its perverse populace. Consider, also, the holy fire that consumed Nadab and Abihu.  They put an unholy fire in the censers as they ministered as priests—rebelling against God’s clear direction and profaning His worship.  You can read of it in Leviticus 10. Most horrible of all is the Lake of Fire—the final state of the wicked.

Have you repented of your sins and received Christ by faith?  If you have not, there is no more urgent matter.  If you have, then you know others who have not—reach out to them in love!

TOMORROW MAY NEVER COME

 

Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.”  (Acts 24:25)

Many will miss heaven and be consigned to hell for one reason—procrastination!  They will have heard the Gospel, know they need Jesus, intend to be saved, but wait too late.  I beg you, don’t be one of them!

Some of my best friends are dead—drug overdoses, fiery car crashes, suicides.  I can flip through the pages of my high school yearbook and on page after page see the faces of the dead staring at me.  Worst of all, many of them are in hell.  They did not have to go there.  Some teetered on the edge of receiving God’s gift of eternal life.  They heard the Gospel, were moved by its message, wrestled with the decision, and decided to wait—to wait for tomorrow—a tomorrow that would never come.

In Acts 24, we read of a man named Felix—a Roman governor—who heard the great missionary, Paul, share his faith.  His heart was stirred.  Conviction of sin fell like a hammer upon him.  He felt the fear of an eternity without hope.  He concluded, “Not now.  Not today.  I will.  Later, Paul, I will send for you.  We will talk more of this when it is more convenient.”  So far as the Biblical record is concerned that day never came.  It is likely that Felix is in torment in the flames.  He will suffer for his sin forever.  There was no tomorrow of salvation.  Scripture warns, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”  (2 Cor.6:2b)  There are many excuses people make to justify their delay, but none are acceptable.

Some will want to see lightning flash or hear angels sing—to feel an overpowering encounter with God that drives them to their knees.  Paul had an experience like that.  It was not the emotional experience that saved him, however, it was submission to Christ.  We are saved by faith and not feelings. We may or may not have such an emotional encounter, but no matter how you feel, you must receive Christ!  Felix had a dramatic feeling, but it did him no good.

Others think they need to straighten up first.  They have some sins they won’t surrender.  They are afraid they won’t keep their commitment, and so do not make it.  Yet, you cannot change your life any more than a leopard can change its spots!  Repentance is necessary; surrender to Christ is a must, but it begins with a change of mind—literally that’s what the word means—and then the Spirit of God will change your behavior.  You would fail, but Christ cannot!

You may say, “I’m thinking about it.  I want to investigate this some more.”  How much do you need to know?  Do you know you are a sinner?  Do you know that Jesus died on a cross for you and that He rose from the dead to offer you eternal life?  That’s enough to know!  You don’t have to be a Bible scholar to be saved.

Some argue, “I will wait until I am older.”  None of us are promised another day!  Old people die, but so do the young!  We may so harden our heart as to become callused to our sin, and never receive Christ. 

Today, if you will hear His voice,

Do not harden your hearts….  (Heb.3:15)

Today!  Tomorrow may never come!

 

DRIVEN

 

How long will you slumber, O sluggard?

When will you rise from your sleep?  

A little sleep, a little slumber,

A little folding of the hands to sleep—

So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler,

And your need like an armed man.  (Proverbs 6:9-11)

TODAY—that is all we have.  Yesterday has passed and so we call it the past, and there is no replay button.  Tomorrow has not arrived, and may never come, for there are no guarantees of tomorrow.  All I can assure you about tomorrow is that if it is to be a fruitful time to enjoy then it requires faithful toil be exerted today.  Today wears the overalls of opportunity.

We cannot keep hitting the snooze button in life, trying to stay in the warm covers of a dream world—fantasizing about what might be—later.  The only way to make dreams come true is to get up, get out, and get with it!  Laziness is a recipe for poverty.  While the sloth is sleeping, the thief of procrastination slips in and steals the precious commodity of time—never to be reclaimed.  We only have a certain amount, and when it is gone, it is gone forever.

A car can’t go anywhere until the engine is fired up and the transmission engaged.  It is meant for the highway as transportation, not sitting in the garage as decoration.  Now, the child of God knows that the Roadmap—the Bible— must be read before he or she can reach the right destination.  There must be fuel in the tank—and that comes through prayer—before we can go anywhere.  But, then we must go!  We are to be driven!  My life needs to be washed from sin, and polished to reflect the image of the Owner, but I dare not think of myself as just something to admire sitting in the driveway.  My life is to be a vehicle for God to move out into the world to get His work done—driven for His glory!

There will be some days when we go slow and don’t travel far—the road is rocky, there is an unexpected detour, we encounter sharp turns and steep inclines—yet, this is the road God has chosen for that part of our journey and so we don’t complain.  We just go as far as we can, as quickly as we can.  There will be days of speeding down the interstate of life—pedal to the metal—fast and far.  Always stay alert.  The rules of the road must be obeyed, we must keep an eye out for potholes, and know there are unexpected dangers lurking around the next bend of the road—that can be disastrous.  The Holy Spirit will guide us—He is our Divine GPS system—and will bring us safely to our destination if we heed him.

We have to go to get anywhere.  God has a purpose for you today—the only day you have.  Be driven!