FACTS
THE LOST
MUST FACE
Text: Rev.20: 12-15
Intro: A fact may be defined as, “the state of things as they are; reality; actuality; truth [fact as distinct from fancy]” (Victoria Neufeldt, Editor in Chief, and David B. Guralnik, Editor in Chief Emeritus, Webster’s New World Dictionary Of American English, Third College Edition, Deluxe Color Edition; published by Webster’s New World, Cleveland & New York, pg. 485). To boil it all down, a fact is something as it really is, not as one would like it to be. We can fantasize about being a millionaire; but if we only have fifty cents in the bank, that doesn’t change the fact that we are practically broke. Why? Because the fact is, we only have fifty cents. That’s reality.
All of us at some time or another have had to face the facts about something. For instance, when some personal difficulty or tragedy takes place, we tend to think the situation isn’t as bad as it seems, or that it hasn’t really happened at all. But sooner or later, it sinks in that what we fear to acknowledge is reality just the same. Denying what is obvious will change nothing.
Many people carry on fanciful thinking about eternity. They somehow, in spite of clear-cut evidence to the contrary, found in God’s Word, believe that God is going to let bygones be bygones, and welcome them with open arms into heaven, even though they have never repented of their sins and received Christ as their personal Savior. However, no amount of wishful thinking will ever change God’s Word, which says, “…except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13: 3). If there is one thing that can be counted on, it is this: When the lost sinner stands before God, He will deal with them according to the facts, not according to their fancy.
With these thoughts in mind, I want us to think about some facts that every lost person must face sooner or later.
Theme: One day the lost must face the fact of:
I. THE GLORIFIED SAVIOR
A. Jesus Will Be Glorious In His Person.
Rev.1: 12 “And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters,
16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”
B. Jesus Will Be Glorious In His Power.
Rev.1: 8 “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”
Phil.2: 9 “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
NOTE: Man may resist the Savior now, but one day the lost man will stand before the omnipotent King of Kings.
Jesus As King
My king was born king. The Bible says He is the seven-way king. He is the king of the Jews. That’s a racial king. He is king of Israel. That’s a national king. He’s a king of righteousness. He’s a king of the ages. He’s the king of heaven. He is the king of glory. He’s the King of kings and Lord of lords. Now that’s my king.
Well, I wonder if you know Him. Do you know Him? Don’t try to mislead me. Do you know my king? David said, “The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth His handiwork.” No far-seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shoreless supply. No barriers can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing.
He’s enduringly strong, He’s entirely sincere, He’s eternally steadfast. He’s immortally graceful. He’s imperially powerful. He’s impartially merciful. That’s my king. He’s God’s Son. He’s a sinner’s savior. He’s the centerpiece of civilization. He stands alone in Himself. He’s august. He’s unique. He’s unparalleled. He’s unprecedented. He’s supreme. He’s preeminent. He’s the loftiest idea in literature. He’s the highest idea in philosophy. He’s the fundamental truth in theology. He’s the cardinal necessity of spiritual religion. That’s my king.
He’s the miracle of the age. He’s the only one able to supply all of our needs simultaneously. He supplies strength for the weak. He’s available for the tempted and the tried. He sympathizes and He saves. He guards and He guides. He heals the sick. He cleans the lepers. He forgives sinners. He discharges debtors. He delivers captives. He defends the feeble. He blesses the young. He serves the unfortunate. He regards the aged. He rewards the diligent. He beautifies the meek. Do you know Him?
Well, my king is the king of knowledge. He’s the wellspring of wisdom. He’s the doorway of deliverance. He’s the pathway of peace. He’s the roadway of righteousness. He’s the highway of holiness. He’s the gateway of glory. He’s the master of the mighty. He’s the captain of the conquerors. He’s the head of the heroes. He’s the leader of the legislators. He’s the overseer of the overcomers. He’s the governor of governors. He’s the prince of princes; He’s the King of kings and the Lord of lords. That’s my king. Yeah! That’s my king.
His life is matchless. His goodness is limitless. His mercy is everlasting. His love never changes. His word is enough. His grace is sufficient. His reign is righteous. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Well. I wish I could describe Him to you. But He’s indescribable. He’s indescribable. Yes. He’s incomprehensible. He’s invincible. He’s irresistible. I’m trying to tell you, the Heavens cannot contain Him, let alone a man explain Him. You can’t get Him out of your mind. You can’t get Him off of your hands. You can’t outlive Him, and you can’t live without Him. Well. The Pharisees couldn’t stand Him, but they found out they couldn’t stop Him. Pilate couldn’t find any fault in Him. The witnesses [at his trial] couldn’t get their testimonies to agree. Herod couldn’t kill Him. Death couldn’t handle Him, and the grave couldn’t hold Him. That’s my king. Yeah!
He always has been, and He always will be. I’m talking about He [who] had no predecessor and He [who] has no successor. There was nobody before Him, and there will be nobody after Him. You can’t impeach Him, and He’s not going to resign. Praise the Lord! That’s my king. Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory. Well. All the power belongs to my king. We around here talk about black power and white power and green power, but it’s God’s power. Thine is the power. Yeah! And the glory. We try to get prestige and honor and glory to ourselves, but the glory is all His. Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, and ever, and ever, and ever. How long is that? And ever, and ever, and ever, and ever, and when you get through with all of the forevers, then “Amen.”
Dr. S. M. Lockridge, Dallas, Texas, quoted by Max Anders in Jesus, Knowing Our Savior, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publ., 1995), pp. 33-35.
C. Jesus Will Be Glorious In His Perspective.
1. He will not show favoritism.
Acts 10: 34b “…God is no respecter of persons:”
Rom.2: 11 “For there is no respect of persons with God.”
2. One’s good works will gain them no favor.
Matt.7: 21 “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
3. Christ’s judgment of the lost will be based on God’s facts.
Rev.20: 12 “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”
NOTE: There is but one way to miss the judgment just described: Turn to Jesus for salvation now.
Salvation
· The author of salvation, the Lord Jesus - Heb. 5: 9
· The way of salvation, through faith - Acts 14: 17
· The knowledge of salvation, by the Word - Luke 1: 77
· The day of salvation, now - 2 Cor.6: 2
George W. Noble, Book of 750 Bible and Gospel Studies, 1909, Chicago.
II. THE GROSSNESS OF THEIR SIN
A. As Seen By What It Does To The Sinner.
1. It defiles the sinner.
Gal.6: 7 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8a For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption…”
2. It deceives the sinner.
Eph.4: 17b “…walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
II Cor.4: 3 “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”
3. It destroys the sinner.
James 1: 15 “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”
Rom.6: 23a “The wages of sin is death…”
B. As Seen By What It Did To God’s Son.
Isa.53: 5 “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
I Pet.2: 24 “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
III. THE GRAVITY OF THEIR SENTENCE
A. God’s Judgment Of The Lost Will Be Equitable.
Jer.17: 10 “I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”
II Tim.4: 8a “…the Lord, the righteous judge…”
B. God’s Judgment Of The Lost Will Be Excruciating.
Rev.20: 15 “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
Luke 16: 23a “And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments…”
NOTE: Some seem to think they can figure out a way around God’s judgment. But dear friend, it doesn’t work like that.
Looking For Loopholes
Just before the death of actor W. C. Fields, a friend visited Fields’ hospital room and was surprised to find him thumbing through a Bible. Asked what he was doing with a Bible, Fields replied, “I’m looking for loopholes.”
Source Unknown.
C. God’s Judgment Of The Lost Will Be Eternal.
Luke 16: 26 “And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.”
II Thess.1: 8 “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;”
Theme: One day the lost must face the fact of:
I. THE GLORIFIED SAVIOR
II. THE GROSSNESS OF THEIR SIN
III. THE GRAVITY OF THEIR SENTENCE
