CONCLUSION
As you read this account someone might notice that the Lord did not mention the sins listed in the Old Testament. His comment on the conditions of the last days regarded some things that don't appear wrong at all. He mentioned such things as eating and drinking. He spoke of marrying and
giving in marriage. Then again how about what He said about buying, selling, planting, and building. What is wrong with any of those things? They are all necessary. What's wrong with marrying? There are a few people left today who actually go to the trouble of getting a license and having a marriage
ceremony. Now what's wrong with that? What's wrong with giving in marriage? Who gives this woman to be married to this man? I do! And he can have her. What's wrong with that? What's wrong with planting? If the farmers don't plant this year we all are in real trouble. What's wrong with that?
What is wrong with buying and selling? I would hate to think that if I went to the super market I would find the place pad locked and they could not sell and I could not buy. What is wrong with buying a house or a car or selling such things? Nothing? Then why did Jesus bring it up? There are at least two reasons. The first reason: Jesus went back to the days before the flood thousands of years ago to show us that the nature of people has not changed. They ate, drank, planted, bought, sold, married, were given in marriage, and then they committed the same sins that people do today. We are more polished. We have invented things for our life style that would have boggled the minds of the ancients, but we are no better, nothing has changed about our human nature. They ate, drank, married, gave in marriage, planted, built, bought, sold, and were on a collision course with destruction and so are we.
The second reason Jesus mentioned these things that are alright in themselves was to point out the fact that these ancients were just like us also, because to them all these good things was a way of life. They thought let the good times roll. They will never end. They go on forever. Nothing
can stop it. My house, my car, my family, my money, my sports team, my television programs, my movies, my job--this is the sum total of life. It goes on and on and on endlessly. And then one day surprise, surprise, the flood came in Noah's day and the fire fell on Sodom. The biggest sin of all
in both cases was greater than all their violence, perversion, and corruption. The greatest sin of all is that they, like us, lived with no preparation for eternity. There is one statement that Jesus made regarding Lot's wife that needs emphasis. He said it six times-twice in Matthew, once in Mark, twice
in Luke, and once in John. He repeated it more than any other statement that He made while on earth. Whosoever shall seek to gain his life shall lose it: but whosoever shall lose his life for My sake shall find it. Jesus concluded His message on His Second Coming with these words: "I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the
field; the one shall be taken, and the other left." And they answered and said unto him, "Where, Lord? And he said unto them, "Where so ever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together." Eagles seem to be a generic term for buzzards since the eagle does not eat dead meat. Wherever you find a dead body you will see the buzzards gather. Before a battle begins it is reported that the soldiers see buzzards roosting in the trees waiting for the feast to begin. The lesson of Jesus on the buzzards is clear. When ever this world becomes as morally rotten, putrefied, and stinking, as it was in the days of Noah, Lot, and Lot's wife, that condition will draw the Judgement of God.
In Revelation we read: "And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great." Where so ever the carcass is. Just look up, and by the eye of faith you can see the buzzards making lazy circles over the rotting carcass of humanity. How long will God endure the stench, the foul odor, of a drug infested, sports crazed, sexually perverted, shacked up, violent, pleasure mad, world? It is in regards to days such as these that Jesus promised, "I come
again."
Get right with God if you are not. God Bless until our next time.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
"WHAT JESUS SAID" Part #5
And now for the third person that Jesus mentioned regarding His return, Lot's wife.
LOT'S WIFE AND THE DAYS OF THE SON OF MAN
The Lord said, "Remember Lot's wife." What can we remember about this woman? We remember her because she is lost for all eternity in spite of the fact that she was a member of the saved community. She no doubt was personally acquainted with Uncle Abraham, yet she was lost. Remember Lot's Wife!
Remember her in spite of the fact that she was married to a very pious Husband. Years later, as we read the New Testament, it is the Apostle Peter who would call him righteous Lot. Despite what many think today, she could not Ride To Heaven on the coat tails of her husband.
Remember Lot's wife! Remember her also because she entertained heavenly visitors in her home. Two angels have spent the night with her family and yet she was lost. We also have entertained a heavenly visitor. Many a person who has Received the Gift of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit have fallen away.
Remember Lot's Wife! Remember her, because she looked back from behind. She was leaving Sodom, but Sodom was still in her. Many a person has come into the Fellowship of the Church of Christ and still has the world in them. They Look back from behind. They fall behind in Bible reading, they fall behind in prayer, they fall behind in attendance on the Lord's Day and in the observance of The Lord's Supper weekly. Remember Lot's wife!
We will conclude this study next time. God bless as you continue to serve Him!!!
LOT'S WIFE AND THE DAYS OF THE SON OF MAN
The Lord said, "Remember Lot's wife." What can we remember about this woman? We remember her because she is lost for all eternity in spite of the fact that she was a member of the saved community. She no doubt was personally acquainted with Uncle Abraham, yet she was lost. Remember Lot's Wife!
Remember her in spite of the fact that she was married to a very pious Husband. Years later, as we read the New Testament, it is the Apostle Peter who would call him righteous Lot. Despite what many think today, she could not Ride To Heaven on the coat tails of her husband.
Remember Lot's wife! Remember her also because she entertained heavenly visitors in her home. Two angels have spent the night with her family and yet she was lost. We also have entertained a heavenly visitor. Many a person who has Received the Gift of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit have fallen away.
Remember Lot's Wife! Remember her, because she looked back from behind. She was leaving Sodom, but Sodom was still in her. Many a person has come into the Fellowship of the Church of Christ and still has the world in them. They Look back from behind. They fall behind in Bible reading, they fall behind in prayer, they fall behind in attendance on the Lord's Day and in the observance of The Lord's Supper weekly. Remember Lot's wife!
We will conclude this study next time. God bless as you continue to serve Him!!!
Monday, June 1, 2009
"WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT HIS RETURN". Part 4
Good day everyone and we continue our study thoughts on "WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT HIS RETURN".
4. Another thing the people of Noah's day had in common with today is their lack of faith. In 2009 it seems that fewer and fewer people believe anything anymore when it comes to God's Word. I heard of a young lady one time that had some Christian principles and a man who did not believe anything was in the process of courting her. This man had a good job and would be a good catch, so the mother of the girl pressured her to marry him. The daughter said, "But Mama, he doesn't believe anything, why he doesn't even believe in hell." The mother said, "That's all right honey, you go ahead and marry him and he'll change his mind."
As it was in the days of Noah so shall it be in the days of the Son of man. People claim to have a belief in God but often times do not put much action behind that belief. We may talk the talk, but fail to walk the walk when it comes right down to it.
The second person the Lord mentioned was Lot.
THE DAYS OF LOT AND THE DAYS OF THE SON OF MAN
5. As it was in the days of Lot so shall it be in the days of the Son of man. What then was it like in the days of Lot? Both Jude and Peter give us some insight. First Jude says, "Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and
going after strange flesh (homosexuality), are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." Then Peter says, "Lot was vexed with the filthy life style of the wicked: For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds..." I saw an advertisement of a movie about thirty years ago that was called Sodom. The ad said Sodom was the city that gave its name to sin. This statement would not be politically correct today. But think about it. Suppose there was a city in Kentucky famous for whiskey and they called it Booze, Kentucky. Suppose there was a city in Indiana that was famous for being a wide-open town with legalized gambling and prostitution and they called it Corruption, Indiana. Suppose there was a city in Virginia that had more drunk drivers than any other place and they called it Drunk, Virginia.
And suppose there was a city in Ohio that was famous for murder and they called it Murder, Ohio. And suppose there was a city in Texas that was famous for Grand Larceny and they called it Grand Larceny, Texas. Whenever you read of the city of Sodom in the Bible everybody knows what made
them famous or infamous, whichever may be the case. And remember Jesus said, "But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all." This is the way it was in the days of Lot and the way it will be in the day that the Son of man will be revealed. The very moral fiber of people in both cases had been shredded and had disintegrated. Even though the soul of righteous Lot was vexed by the life style of the Sodomites he did not seem to be in any hurry to leave. Moses tells us while Lot lingered the angels took him, his wife and two daughters by the hand to lead them out of the city and said, "Escape for thy life." Perhaps he lingered because he was loath to leave that nice house he lived in, the new television, the new car, and all of the CDs in the bank. Think of that nice boat that was going to go up in flames, what a waste! The angels said,
"Escape for thy life!" Perhaps he was loath to leave so many in his family behind and no doubt they used his lingering for what they thought was hypocrisy. Look at that Ole fool. He says this place will burn down, but he doesn't believe it himself, he is still hanging around. Escape for thy life! Sometimes the Church seems to linger in evangelism when they should be crying out to the world, Escape for thy life! There needs to be a sense of urgency in the invitation as the terms of pardon are laid out, Escape for thy life! In most congregations the emphasis is on making the assembly "feel" comfortable and full of self-esteem instead of being troubled with their spiritual life. Escape for thy life! On this blog we will continue to sound forth the fire alarm, Escape for thy life! We remind you of the terms of pardon laid down by Peter on the day of Pentecost, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." The message should come through loud and clear, Escape for thy life.
The day is coming soon when HE will return and call His bride away. Will you be ready in accordance with what the scriptures teach? God bless until our next time.
4. Another thing the people of Noah's day had in common with today is their lack of faith. In 2009 it seems that fewer and fewer people believe anything anymore when it comes to God's Word. I heard of a young lady one time that had some Christian principles and a man who did not believe anything was in the process of courting her. This man had a good job and would be a good catch, so the mother of the girl pressured her to marry him. The daughter said, "But Mama, he doesn't believe anything, why he doesn't even believe in hell." The mother said, "That's all right honey, you go ahead and marry him and he'll change his mind."
As it was in the days of Noah so shall it be in the days of the Son of man. People claim to have a belief in God but often times do not put much action behind that belief. We may talk the talk, but fail to walk the walk when it comes right down to it.
The second person the Lord mentioned was Lot.
THE DAYS OF LOT AND THE DAYS OF THE SON OF MAN
5. As it was in the days of Lot so shall it be in the days of the Son of man. What then was it like in the days of Lot? Both Jude and Peter give us some insight. First Jude says, "Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and
going after strange flesh (homosexuality), are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." Then Peter says, "Lot was vexed with the filthy life style of the wicked: For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds..." I saw an advertisement of a movie about thirty years ago that was called Sodom. The ad said Sodom was the city that gave its name to sin. This statement would not be politically correct today. But think about it. Suppose there was a city in Kentucky famous for whiskey and they called it Booze, Kentucky. Suppose there was a city in Indiana that was famous for being a wide-open town with legalized gambling and prostitution and they called it Corruption, Indiana. Suppose there was a city in Virginia that had more drunk drivers than any other place and they called it Drunk, Virginia.
And suppose there was a city in Ohio that was famous for murder and they called it Murder, Ohio. And suppose there was a city in Texas that was famous for Grand Larceny and they called it Grand Larceny, Texas. Whenever you read of the city of Sodom in the Bible everybody knows what made
them famous or infamous, whichever may be the case. And remember Jesus said, "But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all." This is the way it was in the days of Lot and the way it will be in the day that the Son of man will be revealed. The very moral fiber of people in both cases had been shredded and had disintegrated. Even though the soul of righteous Lot was vexed by the life style of the Sodomites he did not seem to be in any hurry to leave. Moses tells us while Lot lingered the angels took him, his wife and two daughters by the hand to lead them out of the city and said, "Escape for thy life." Perhaps he lingered because he was loath to leave that nice house he lived in, the new television, the new car, and all of the CDs in the bank. Think of that nice boat that was going to go up in flames, what a waste! The angels said,
"Escape for thy life!" Perhaps he was loath to leave so many in his family behind and no doubt they used his lingering for what they thought was hypocrisy. Look at that Ole fool. He says this place will burn down, but he doesn't believe it himself, he is still hanging around. Escape for thy life! Sometimes the Church seems to linger in evangelism when they should be crying out to the world, Escape for thy life! There needs to be a sense of urgency in the invitation as the terms of pardon are laid out, Escape for thy life! In most congregations the emphasis is on making the assembly "feel" comfortable and full of self-esteem instead of being troubled with their spiritual life. Escape for thy life! On this blog we will continue to sound forth the fire alarm, Escape for thy life! We remind you of the terms of pardon laid down by Peter on the day of Pentecost, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." The message should come through loud and clear, Escape for thy life.
The day is coming soon when HE will return and call His bride away. Will you be ready in accordance with what the scriptures teach? God bless until our next time.
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