FIRED OR FIRED UP!
2 Peter 3:3-14
INTRODUCTION:
A. I have had several people tell me that they get concerned when I walk to the edge of the stage as they are afraid I’m going to fall off.
1. I am thankful that that has not happened yet
ILL> I did hear a story about a preacher who was speaking to a packed out church. He was stirred up and speaking with a fever pitch as he spoke concerning the 2nd coming.
Quoting Jesus’ promise, he shouted out "I am coming soon!"
He preached some more and said even more loudly, "I am coming soon!"
He preached a little longer and threw his arms up in the air and cried out, "I am coming soon!"
At this point, he lost his balance and tumbled off the stage into the lap of a gentleman in the first row. The preacher got up and apologized to the man, but the man replied: "Oh, that’s ok, you warned me three times–I should have been ready."
2. Jesus Christ is coming soon–Are You Ready?
a. Peter reminds us that the Day of the Lord is coming–Jesus Christ is going to come back to take His people home for all eternity
b. Whether or not you choose to belief that has absolutely no bearing on the certainty of that fact
c. God promised that someday He would send His Son back into the world and He hasn’t reneged on a promise yet so I have no reason to belief that He will try to back out of this one.
3. So, it is essential that we have committed ourselves to Jesus–that we have been obedient to His Word
a. Because ready or not, Jesus Christ is coming!
B. READ: 2 Peter 3:3-10
ILL> We live in the age of the reality TV show. It began with the success of "Survivor" and has appeared in various forms such as "The Bachelor," "The Amazing Race," and "American Idol."
Another such show features Donald Trump as contestants try to become the next Apprentice in his company. Each week they are given tasks perform and at the end of the show Donald and his executives decide who should leave. The contestants are called into room and Donald calls one of them out by name and says, "You’re Fired!"
1. I suppose that it would be intimidating to sit in a boardroom with Donald Trump knowing that he holds you’re life in his hands
a. But I think it will be even more intimidating to stand before God on Judgment knowing that He holds the key to our eternity
b. We don’t want to be told that we didn’t measure up, that we didn’t do what was expected
c. We don’t want to be let go–fired from eternity
2. As Christians, it ought to get us fired up thinking about Christ return
a. Revelation 21:4 (NIV)
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
3. I am sure that a lot of people are going to be scared to death–and rightly so as many will not have committed their lives to Christ
a. The question is, "Will you be ready?"
C. No one knows when Christ is coming back, but I do know that we are one day closer today that we were yesterday
1. I believe that we are living in the end times
I> SCOFFERS, A SIGN OF THE TIMES
A. We know that we are living in the end times or the last days because that attacks on the church have increased
1. Jesus was under attack throughout His ministry and apostles faced many dangers because they preached about a resurrected Christ
a. Usually when we think about persecution we think of Diocletian who put made many Christians face lions in the coliseum
b. However, more Christians were put to death around the world last year because of their faith than at any other time in history?
B. VS 3-4
1. Some doubt Christ’s return
a. "Hey, it’s been 2000 years and I haven’t seen Him yet. Where is he?"
2. Some discredit God’s Word
ILL> While channel surfing recently I came across a documentary that was trying to explain the flood. I didn’t watch much, but basically it said that the flood in Noah’s day didn’t cover the entire earth and that Noah’s boat didn’t come to rest of Mt. Ararat, but rather someplace in the Persian Gulf. When Noah did get off the ark, those that survived the flood were angry and so Noah was in fear of his life.
ILL> The DaVinci Code strives to discredit Christ.
ILL> Before that, "The Last Temptation of Christ."
3. Some are out to destroy
ILL> Suit brought by Thomas van Orden who seeks to remove a Ten Commandments monument from Capital grounds in Austin, Texas.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court will consider whether that 6-foot granite monument — bearing the words "I am the Lord thy God" — and two similar displays at Kentucky courthouses constitute unconstitutional government establishment of religion.
4. Some downplay what Christ’s coming means
a. During the Christmas season last year, Christians were accused of trying to take over Christmas
5. Some deny godly morality
a. The promotion of sexual freedom in the world denies godly morality and is a smack in the face of God
b. Yeah, we know what the Bible says, but we’re going to do what we want anyway
6. Some dabble in the occult putting their trust in palm readers, psychics, and ouija boards which deny the need for God
7. Some defend Darwin’s theories and promote them as fact
a. Evolution continues to be taught in our schools and promoted by science
ILL> Discover Magazine, "Testing Darwin: Scientists at Michigan State Prove Evolution Works"
ILL> A young woman taking a college science class was discussing the evolution of man. As they considered how each part of the human anatomy must have evolved, they came upon the eye. The is so complex that they were having trouble explaining in simple terms how the eye might have evolved. Even though the girl was not a Christian she said that it seemed that perhaps evolution was not the best way of explaining this phenomenon. The teacher became irritated as he responded: "Young lady, we’re not here to talk about God!"
8. And we haven’t even mentioned the continued push for the acceptance of homosexuality
a. Billions of dollars of pornographic material are sold each year
b. Drug and alcohol problems continue to plague us
C. We shouldn’t be surprised by all of this
1. People tried to discredit Jesus throughout His earthly ministry
a. He told His disciples that people would try to do the same to them
2. Scoffers will continue
a. People will find new ways and new ideas to discredit God, try to deny His existence, and to explain away His Word
b. –that is, until God says, NO MORE!
c. Romans 14:10b-12 (NIV)
For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: "’As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ’every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.’" So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
II> SURPRISED BY CHRIST’S COMING
A. Someday God is going to bring His judgment on the world
ILL> You’ve probably never heard of Port Royal in Jamaica, but you have probably heard of the Pirates of the Carribean. Port Royal is where the actual pirates of the Carribean hung out. Of course, being full of pirates, the city had quite a reputation. In the 1660’s it was called the Sodom of the New World where most of its inhabitants were pirates, cutthroats, prostitutes, and some of the vilest people in the world. At one point in its history it had 1 tavern for every 10 residents.
An interesting thing happened to Port Royal. On June 7, 1692 just before noon, this city on the south side of Jamaica was hit with 3 earthquakes and a tsunami. Two-thirds of the city literally sank into the ocean as 2000 people lost their lives. Another 3000 died in the aftermath due to disease and injuries.
"As news of the devastation spread, so did the belief that this was God’s punishment for the wickedness and sinning that had made Port Royal infamous." (www.cindyvallar.com/havens4.html, Pirates and Privateers)
B. VS 10 - like a thief
1. We tend to live as though we have a lifetime ahead of us
a. Plenty of time to get our lives squared around
b. Plenty of time to be committed to God later
c. Luke 17:26-29 (NIV)
"Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. "It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.
C. Today there is not much difference in people
1. We lives our lives many times as if Christ’s return really will not happen
a. We may think about committing our lives to Christ, but then we put it off another day, another week, another month
2. However, Jesus Himself has warned us–I will come like a thief
a. Matthew 24:44 (NIV)
...the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
3. Christ is coming again! Will you be ready when you must stand before the Almighty Judge?
a. Each of us will give an account of himself to God
III> SURE ABOUT ETERNITY
A. VS 13 - we are looking forward
1. VS 11 - What kind of people ought you to be?
2. VS 14 - Make every effort to be spotless, blameless and at peace with him
IV> CONCLUSION:
A. Jesus Christ is coming back! Will you be ready?
ILL> While traveling through Wonderland, Alice came to a fork in the road. As Alice began to ponder the choice in front of her she looked up into the sky almost as if she was looking for God. However, it wasn’t God that she saw, but rather the Cheshire Cat. He could tell she was quite confused so he asked her about her dilemma. She told him that she was unsure of which road to take. He asked her, "Well, where is it that you want to go?" She said, "I’m not sure." So the Cheshire Cat replied, "Well, then, I suppose that since you don’t know where you’re going that it doesn’t matter which road you take. One road is as good as the other."
1. A lot of people in the world are depending upon their own goodness to get them to heaven
a. They figure that they are bad enough to end up in hell so they will have to go to heaven
b. However, the Bible reminds us that none of us are good enough on our own
c. Only when we have put trust in Jesus Christ and had our sins forgiven by Him can we truly be ready
2. Someday you and I will stand before the almighty Judge
a. What will you say?
b. Will you be let go, or will you be invited to join the King of Kings for eternity
Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV)
"Not everyone who says to me, ’Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ’Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ’I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
