Sermon: The Day of the Lord Will Come
Luke 17:26-37 “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat, and the flood came and destroyed them all. “And the world will be as it was in the days of Lot. People went about their daily business—eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building— until the morning Lot left Sodom. Then fire and burning sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. Yes, it will be ‘business as usual’ right up to the day when the Son of Man is revealed. On that day a person out on the deck of a roof must not go down into the house to pack. A person out in the field must not return home. Remember what happened to Lot’s wife! If you cling to your life, you will lose it, and if you let your life go, you will save it. That night two people will be asleep in one bed; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour together at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.” “Where will this happen, Lord?” the disciples asked. Jesus replied, “Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near.”
Introduction: The bible tells of the coming of the Lord over and over again. The prophets in the Old Testament, the Psalmist and John the Revelator tell the story of the day of the Lord. The day of the Lord will be the time Christ return to judge the world and consummate all things. In Luke 17, Jesus responds to two questions. The first concern the kingdom of God. The pharisees and teachers were looking for a physical kingdom that who come with pomp and circumstance. Jesus said, God’s kingdom is within you. At the same time, Jesus tells his disciples about His return, his second coming or the day of the Lord. Jesus mentions a series of signs, then concludes by saying these signs will be like vultures gathering. To see one vulture circling does not mean much, but when a horde of vultures gather, the end is near.
Jesus gives a caution the disciples to remember what happened to Lot’s wife. The story is recounted in Genesis 19. Lot, his wife and two daughters were visited by two angels who urged them to flee the city of Sodom before its imminent destruction by God. As they fled, Lot's wife disobeyed the angels' command to not look back and was turned into a pillar of salt.
Lot had accompanied Abram as he moved out in faith. Their relationship was a great benefit to Abraham and to Lot. After years of working together, both men were extremely prosperous. Their herds and flocks were so massive, the land was unable to bear them. Abraham allowed Lot to choose any direction he wanted, and Abraham would go in the opposite direction. Abraham's nephew Lot had been attracted to Sodom by the fertile pastureland surrounding the city’
Genesis 13:10–13 “Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley in the direction of Zoar. The whole area was well watered everywhere, like the garden of the Lord or the beautiful land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) Lot chose for himself the whole Jordan Valley to the east of them. He went there with his flocks and servants and parted company with his uncle Abram. So Abram settled in the land of Canaan, and Lot moved his tents to a place near Sodom and settled among the cities of the plain. But the people of this area were extremely wicked and constantly sinned against the Lord.”
Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns were urban sites with a sordid history of excesses, unrestrained passions, and sexual perversion. Lot pitched his tents towards Sodom. Soon he found him a wife, moved to the city and raised a family. The city lights and neon signs can be powerful attractions. It is easy to fall into the same trap in the present culture. Lot was influence by the culture and his wife, who was used to the city environment. Lot's wife valued the creature comforts, indulging in a little sin, while offering limited obedience to Lot’s God. Ultimately, devaluing the things of God leads to disobedience. Jesus in His closing warning to the disciples and us, used her life to warn us about the power of culture, about focusing too much on this world, and not enough on the things of God, especially, the day of the Lord.
Why does Jesus want us to remember Lot's wife? He cries out to us, "Remember Lot's wife." It is a solemn warning, when we consider the subject Jesus is addressing. He is speaking of his own second coming to judge the world: he is describing the awful state of the world, the unpreparedness of the people and the suddenness of Judgment. Judgment is on his mind when he says, "Remember Lot's wife!”
In the Bible, Lot's wife is a figure first mentioned in Genesis 19. The story describes more than just how she became a pillar of salt after she looked back at Sodom. It is a story of how she misused and abused the mercy and grace of God. When the angel of God entered Sodom, we find Lot sitting in the Gate, a place of authority and influence. Although that evil city vexed him continually, He remained in the city. It shows us what people are willing to put up with for a little authority and influence. Positions and power are powerful attractions. Lot has become a part of this city, he has children, sons-in-law, houses and stuff. He is living the life.
Due to the wickedness of the cities, God had determine that they were to be destroyed. Because Abraham had interceded for the city, the angel of the Lord visited Lot’s home to rescue his family. Sometimes the mercy and grace we are experiencing is because somebody prayed for us. Lot and his family were warned to flee the city and not look back. His sons-in-law refused to believe him and chose to remain in the city. Lot’s wife witnessed the angel’s testimony all night long, she witnessed a miracle as the angels blinded the home invaders who tried to assault their guest. Then when morning came, the angel of the Lord took her by the hand and led her out of the city. She was commanded to run for her life and not look back. She disobeyed and looked back. Instantly, she was turned into a pillar of salt.
Of all the Old Testament prophecies and examples Jesus could have used, he said, we should be mindful and consider Lot's wife. She had been selected to marry Abraham’s nephew, a wealthy righteous man who knew God. A witness for God in his home and community. A man who maintained his standards amid a perverse generation. Lot’s wife had every advantage but chose to ignore God’s command and looked back in disobedience. She turned back towards the baseness and vileness of Sodom in unbelief. She was disobedient to God’s command and clung to material things and her own perceptions rather than God's spoken word. Her life literally became worthless because of her heart's desire, because it was misplaced. Jesus said. "Remember Lot's Wife."
1. The Day of the Lord is Sure. “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat, and the flood came and destroyed them all. “And the world will be as it was in the days of Lot. People went about their daily business—eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building— until the morning Lot left Sodom.”
The day of the Lord will come. Jesus, speaking of his own second coming said, I will come again! He will come to judge the world: he is describing the awful state of unpreparedness in which many will be found. Judgment is on his mind when he says, "Remember Lot's wife."
2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
In His love-driven patience, God is willing to give more time for more people to come to repentance. This is God's plan to allow more people opportunity to place their trust in Christ in order to enter into eternal relationship with Him. God doesn't want anyone to perish or die. Even though God is merciful, patient, and kind, His judgment is sure! His day is promised, yours and mine are not. Today, when hear my voice harden not your heart.
2. Preparedness is Personal. “On that day a person out on the deck of a roof must not go down into the house to pack. A person out in the field must not return home. Remember what happened to Lot’s wife! If you cling to your life, you will lose it, and if you let your life go, you will save it. That night two people will be asleep in one bed; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour together at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.”
Acts 2:40, says, “Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”
We have a responsibility to save ourselves from this crooked generation. It is a solemn warning, when we think of the person who gave it. Lot’s wife is infamous — immediately we see an odd pillar of salt in the desert in our mind’s eye. But Jesus’ comment about her. Her husband was saved, her daughters were saved, but she was lost. Preparedness is Personal. She was loved, appreciated and understood, yet she was lost. She was in the perfect situation, but her consequences were the result of her faith-choice. All of us should remember Judgment is sure, and preparedness is personal. If Jesus directly leads His followers to her story in the context of the end times and His Second Coming, it is critically important that we become acquainted with her full story this day in age (Luke 17:30).
Lot’s wife is the one woman in all of Old Testament history whom Jesus chose to directly contrast to His Bride, the Church, whom the Holy Spirit calls, “the Lamb’s wife,” for all Eternity (Revelation 21:9). Christ’s Bride overcomes every situation on earth, every change of plan, every intimate and colossal surprise of a lifelong spiritual war, whereas Lot’s wife failed to have faith in God for her future. Lot’s wife is Jesus’ warning sign to the modern-day Church. She was not only married to Lot, but she was also “married to the world” rather than to God, her Maker. We must be careful as we interact with this crooked world system. It will infect and affect us without care. When Lot saw the decision made by his sons-in-law and his wife turned into a pillar of salt, he recognized the danger of associating too close to the world. Hearing the warning is not enough. Making a good start is not enough. Being in the crowd is not enough. Salvation is personal. A personal responsibility, a personal walk with God. A personal commitment to God. Preparedness is personal.
3. The Signs of His Coming are Intensifying. “Where will this happen, Lord?” the disciples asked. Jesus replied, “Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near.”
The analogy Jesus used is the gatherings of vultures over a carcass. If you see one or two vultures, that’s not too important, but when you see a flock of vultures gathering, you know a carcass is nearby. When the signs intensify, you know the end is near.
Jesus said, “let no man deceive you.” Deception is one of the first signs, entertainment and business are additional signs. People will be about their daily business—eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building. The political and natural world order will be filled with disruptions, wars, earthquakes, floods and fires will intensify. The gospel will be proclaimed throughout the whole world, then shall the end come.
It is part of the fallen nature of mankind to provide God with partial obedience. The problem with this double-minded approach is that living on our past faith weakens the faith we need for today. What we are seeing and what we know about God’s word should draw us closer to God, prepare for His return and stay obedient to Him. We need fresh faith to keep going, a fresh anointing! We need ever-living hope to maintain our decision to accept and follow Christ!
Lot’s wife was in the Old Testament started out with God but failed to continue on with Him. Why would she be so important that Jesus would mention her to His followers?
As His Followers, we do not want to begin well and die spiritually because we gave up the faith someplace in the middle of “working out our own Salvation.” Rather, we must believe in Christ all the way throughout our journey regardless of where He leads. Remember, we already died with Him and are raised with Him in the very moment we accepted Him as our Lord and Savior (Colossians 3:1–3). We are presently seated with Him in Heavenly places! It isn’t we who live, but Christ in us, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). We know, The Day of the Lord is Sure. Preparedness is Personal. The Signs of His Coming are Intensifying.
Remember, everything needed for our salvation has been finished through Christ’s work on the cross and His resurrection power (John 19:30)! The enemy uses distractions, lust, fear, bad news, rumors of wars, constant threats to shake our faith and cause us to give up. Jesus Christ encouraged us: “Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” Therefore, by faith we must boldly keep moving forward with God. We will not stop or turn back. We are mindful that anything not of faith, is sin (which grieves us and the Holy Spirit of God within us. (Romans 14:23).
No one knows the day or the hour of His return. Matthew 24:36 says, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father”. These are some principles things we know for sure, The Day of the Lord is Sure; Preparedness is Personal; and The Signs of His Coming are Intensifying. God’s word will stand even if the whole world crumbles down around us. As Christians, we prepare for His return; we must remain steadfast and keep moving forward no matter what happens in the world around us. We must warn the world to flee from the wrath to come. We must tell them that there is safety and security in Jesus, if you only believe and it is available to whosoever will!
Lot was the only good man of righteous character in a city of very wicked and vile people. God extended his gracious care towards Lot and his family, even though Lot lingered and trifled before leaving the city. Today, many are under convictions about their spiritual state, and the need for change, but they defer that needful work. Salvation is by God’s grace and mercy, not by our own merit. We are saved by grace. It is God’s power that bringing souls out of a sinful state. If God had not been merciful to us, our lingering could have been our ruin. Lot’s wife lingered and looked back too long. We must flee for our lives. We must run to Jesus. It is the only way by His grace, to be delivered out of our sinful state and condition. Then we must not return to sin or obey Satan’s call. We must not rest on a good start but keep reaching toward Christ and heaven. We must escape to the mountain. Remember Lot’s wife is a warning against the coming destruction. The Promise of God will come revealing the wrath of God against sin and sinners of all ages. Let us learn the evilness of sin, and its hurtful nature that leads to ruin. Let us follow Jesus which leads to life everlasting. Amen.
