The Day After Tomorrow
Zephaniah 1: 14-18
When you start your day, what is some first things you think of? I know that I think of things that need to be done . . . There are always chores around the house to get done. And yes, as you go to your job, what you did not finish the day before or Friday, you must go back to the “Grind stone.” Now there are some things that we do not like to think of and that is facing the IRS for another year, paying our land taxes for another year, even spring cleaning and wonder where we got all that junk . . . And by the way, isn’t it interesting that we call what we bought new even less that a year ago we now call it junk . . .
Anyway, all those things we don’t like to think on. Then there is a time coming when our Lord will appear. The scripture refers to as “The GREAT day of the Lord.” Now anything great is supposed to be exciting right? Well, how would you rate this day? Being a born again Christian, we say things like “boy I really to get home sick for heaven.” or, I cannot wait until I see my loved ones and spend eternity with them.” “WOW” want it be great!” Well, what about that day, that GREAT day? Will you be happy to see the Lord? I want to think I will be so happy to see Him. Because that will be a day when this life as we know it will pass away. That will be a day when all sorrow and pain will all be gone, that will be a day when death will be no more. Nevertheless, that will also be a day when we stand before God Himself and give an account of how we used our time here on earth for the Lord.
Yes, God has forgiven your sins, yes, God has written your name in the Lamb’s book of life. Nevertheless, when YOU stand before Him on that GREAT day, what will He reveal to you? I believe we will think things like: “Boy . . . I hope He don’t remember that time when I didn’t tell that person about the Lord, and God opened the door for me to talk to them but I was afraid I would offend them.”
Well, guess what, He will remember that day. He will remember that night when you went to your unsaved friend’s house and watched a movie, or had supper, or just for a pleasant visit . . . Although they knew you were a child of God, you never once said anything to them about their soul.
Jesus put it like this: If you are ashamed of me I will be ashamed of you before my Father which is in heaven. We think computers are smart . . . children, you’ve not seen anything yet! On that GREAT day, will you be glad to see Him?
Verse fifteen...That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, . . . I do believe that it is talking about a day that God will take vengeance on the sinner. That will be a dreadful day indeed. So looking at it in that light, can you think of someone that is near and dear to your heart that is lost in sin? When is the last time you talked to that loved one about their soul? Oh yeah, by the way, Christ says in essence: If you did not tell them about God, that their blood will be required at your hand.
Eze:3:18: When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Eze:3:20: Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Eze:33:6: But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.
Eze:33:8: When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
I believe, we as Children of the Most High God, will bow down to Him as the Bible says. Nevertheless, I also believe it will be a time when we will be scared out of our mind. I really believe that. The Bible says: It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Heb:10:31. Will you be happy to see Him? The main thing here is,,,,,, will you be READY to MEET him?
So many of us calls ourselves Christians . . . We set in church and sing “Oh how I love Jesus.” Do you really? We sing “Where He leads me I will follow.” Will you really? Folks, listen to me please, Christ did not leave the comforts of heaven to pacify you. He left there so you could be saved from the wrath to come. What if He had laid back on the couch instead of preaching to the lost? What if He had not left His comfort zone? And oh yes, let me add this . . . Now, I know that this is not my call. I realize that God calls a man to preach. Nevertheless, I have a problem where there are men that said God called them to preach and yet refuse to go out and pastor a church that is in a great need for a man of God to pastor them. I know of a church right now that has thirteen preachers that show up every service at the same church. And again, it is not my call . . . but to me there is something wrong with that picture.
You can call our home missions dept. and get a list of churches in need of a pastor and it may be four or five pages long. God help us! And then you can also get a list of preachers looking for a church . . . Now I might be wrong, and I realize that God called some pastors, some Evangelist, some teachers. , but it might just be that these preachers don’t want to leave their little comfort zone. I have heard some preachers say thing like: “Oh, that is just too far for me to go.” Or, It gets too cold there. Boy, Thank God Christ did not say that on the way to the cross!
I may have got off the sermon a little, but that is OK! I am going to mind God . . . I work for Him . . . He don’t work for me. And before I leave this part, If I have stepped on anybody’s toes let me know at the end of this service. I will apologize. My aim is off. I am aiming at your heart; not your toes!
Yes...Christ saved us because He loved us and loves us....But what was the main reason? He went to the cross? To save us from the wrath to come. 1Th:1:10: And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
They are people out in this world who would like to get you to believe they are God. And the sad part is, they are people dumb enough to believe that. Well, let me say this, when God touches down, they will not anybody have to call you on the telephone and tell you He’s here. ABC, NBC, CBS, will not have to break in on your tv program to say He is finely made it. Listen, when the trumpet of the Lord shall sound and time shall be no more, you will know it. And let me add this to those who think you might get to heaven on good merits. It is not going to happen! Eph:2:8: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph:2:9: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Well...the fact is this: How is your heart with God? Are you ready to meet God? You can belong to the best church in this country, and sing the most beautiful gospel songs ever written, pray the most beautiful prayer that has ever been uttered, be baptized in the Pacific ocean until ever fish knows you by your first name, and still die and go to hell.
So again I ask, are you ready to meet God? Well, guess what you will meet Him regardless if you’re ready or not. People live like they are going to live forever . . . Well guess what; you are! It will be Heaven or hell, and today your going to make a chose. If you reject Him you made a chose . . . If you accept Him, you made a chose. The giver of life said in De:30:19: I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.
Sinner, when you stand before God on that day what will you give in exchange for your soul?
Christian, when you stand before God on that day, what will He say about you? Have you tried and tried again for some precious soul to win, have you really been a friend to Him? Where will you be on your DAY AFTER TOMORROW?
Let us pray.
