Introduction:
Recently I looked up September 11 in reference book that highlighted important dates. The book, written in 1970, had many events and notes of interest for almost every day in the calendar. I was surprised to find that September 11 had no special significance recorded in that particular reference book! The attack on America that took place on 9-11-2001 changed all that. Now High School history books refer to 9-11-01 as the date that changed the world.
I was living in Walla Walla, and soon would be moving to Torrington. I had been up since about 5:30. I had my devotions, had my shower and then I went down to the basement around 7:10 PST to check the morning news on the Internet. The e-mail headlines from 4 different sources screamed, "Attack on America!" Quickly I turned on the TV and was horrified by the images coming out of New York City. I called my wife down , and soon our entire family shared the tragedy of the nation. When I arrived to work at Inland Counseling center, all the mental health professionals with whom I worked were standing around a TV that had been rigged in the waiting room. The normal hustle and bustle of the day was replaced by an eerie silence, a look of shock, and a numbness of disbelief. This was just like any other day. There was no warning. We were not expecting such a tragedy.
As we reflect upon the events of 9-11-2001, it is important that we learn one very important lesson. You must live every moment like it was your last, because death, judgment, and the return of Christ will all come when you least expect it. Now, do not misunderstand the point of this message. I am in no way implying that the victims of this attack deserved it. I am saying that they went to work in New York, in Washington D.C., or flew across Pennsylvania, in a routine manner. They did not expect to face eternity before they reached home that night. Tonight we will examine lessons learned when you least expect it.
I. Life goes on, even if tragedy is near.
Turn to Matthew 24:37-38 and let us see what was happening in Noah’s generation before the great flood came and took them all away.
Matthew 24:37-38
37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
This passage is not referring to the great sin that existed in the old world. Do you know what the people were doing just before 3 billion people were wiped out by the fierce judgment of God? They were doing what they always did. They met the immediate physical needs and desires of the body. They ate, and they drank. It was just like any other day. They had great plans for the future. They were marrying. They were giving their sons and their daughters to be married. They had no concept that all of these hopes and dreams of the future would meet a sudden end. The flood came when they least expected it.
Turn to Luke 17:28-29, and see what Jesus says about what the people were doing during Lots time in the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah just before the fire of God burned those cities to the ground.
Luke 17:28-29
28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
Here we find some similarities to Noah’s generation. They were meeting their immediate physical needs and wants. They were eating and drinking. It is interesting to note that even in Sodom and Gomorrah, where homosexuality was openly practiced and accepted, they were not engaging in same sex marriage. Their plans for the future revolved around money, not love. They bought, sold, planted, and built; all with a view toward the future. The sudden end came when it was least expected.
Our generation finds us doing essentially the same things as did the people before the flood, and before the fire fell. We got up this morning, ate, drank, dressed, and went to work or school. We have made plans and investments for the future. Even after the attack, life seems for most of us, to just march right on. Alfred Lord Tennyson made this same observation in his poem entitled "Break Break Break"
Break, break, break,
On thy cold gray stones, O Sea!
And I would that my tongue could utter
The thoughts that arise in me.
O well for the fisherman’s boy,
That he shouts with his sister at play!
O well for the sailor lad,
That he sings in his boat on the bay!
And the stately ships go on
To their haven under the hill;
But O for the touch of a vanish’d hand,
And the sound of a voice that is still!
Break, break, break
At the foot of thy crags, O Sea!
But the tender grace of a day that is dead
Will never come back to me.
Life goes on, and we continue often oblivious to the coming end, whether that end will be through death, divine judgment, or Christ’s return.
II. Warnings often go unheeded.
Proverbs 29:1
He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
Noah’s generation had the opportunity to repent escape the coming flood. God say that they were corrupt and full of violence.
Genesis 6:11-12
11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
Noah had been preaching all during the 100 plus years that he and his sons built the arc.
2 Peter 2:5
5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
Hebrews 11:7
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Noah was spared the same fate that the rest of the world suffered because of his faith. God said that Noah had to build an arc to escape from a flood. Noah obeyed even though it had never rained before because Noah took God at His word. This is faith, Noah’s only way of escape.
Lot’s generation also had some warning. The people of Sodom were involved in great perversion, lust and homosexuality. This strong sin got the Lord’s attention.
Genesis 18:20; 19:4-5
20 And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;
4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: 5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.
Lot was a carnal believer, but a believer nonetheless. God would not destroy one of His own with the rest of the wicked. The angels came and warned him and told him to collect his loved ones. When Lot warned his sons in law, they mocked him. They did not heed his warning and they were destroyed when they least expected it.
Genesis 19:13-14
13 For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it. 14 And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.
Our generation right here in America finds us in the same condition that existed in the days of old. Violence mires our streets, our daily news, and even our entertainment. Not only do we see criminals and outlaws perpetrate crime against our citizens, but also doctors murder babies for a fee.
Bible believing fundamentalists have clearly sounded the Biblical warnings only to be mocked by most of the mainstream establishment. Janet Reno profiled a terrorist as anyone who takes the Bible literally, distrusts the public school systems, embraces the second amendment, and believes that the rapture is imminent.
The day of reckoning is very near. Whether it is by the undertaker or by the upper taker, soon we will all meet God and that meeting will take place when we least expect it!
III. The end will come suddenly.
Luke 17:27,29
27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
Noah went into the arc and that very same day the windows of heaven were opened and the water burst forth from under the ground. The day of reckoning came suddenly. The very instant that Lot and his family was a safe distance away from the city, the fire of God fell! Last week I buried a lady that died suddenly. In the morning she had devotions and prayer with her husband. In the evening when he came home from work, she was already in heaven. Death comes without an appointment. According to scripture, Christ will come back as a thief in the night, without warning. Are you ready?
IV. Get ready for the unexpected!
Matthew 24:42-44
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
You do not have to go on unaware and unwarned! At any time Jesus Could come back! There are two different things to consider. First of all, have you taken God’s escape plan from judgment? We are all sinners and deserve judgment.
Romans 3:23; 6:23
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The only escape from that judgment is through the fact that Jesus took our place on the cross. We must come to the place where we stop trusting in our own works, and place all our faith in Jesus Christ alone. We must ask Him to save us.
Romans 5:8
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 3:19-25
19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Romans 10:13
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
The next question that we must answer in order to be ready for the unexpected is, " What will Jesus find me doing when I meet up with Him suddenly?"
Matthew 24:45-47
45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
Will Jesus find you, as a born again believer, faithful? If Jesus came at 4:30 this afternoon, what would He have found you doing? What were you thinking? What were you saying to your friends? The events of September 11, 2001 taught us to number our dys and our hours on this earth. Are you ready for the unexpected?
