"On That Day!"
Pastor Albert Almore
Last week we took a look at the beginning of Romans chapter 2 where Paul opened up by saying in Romans 2:1:
“Do you, my friend, pass judgment on others? You have no excuse at all, whoever you are. For when you judge others and then do the same things which they do, you condemn yourself.”
Romans 2:1 GNT
We read it last week, and maybe you noticed it as well, but tucked away in verse 5, Paul makes mention of something that demands our attention. In Romans 2:5, Paul says:
“Since you are stubborn and don't want to change the way you think and act, you are adding to the anger that God will have against you ON THAT DAY when God vents his anger. At that time God will reveal that his decisions are fair.”
Romans 2:5
Paul said…
ON THAT DAY….
What day is Paul talking about???
Paul is talking about the day WHEN ALL THINGS COME TO AN END. Paul said, “ON THAT DAY.” I want to borrow those words from Paul for our sermon title…
ON THAT DAY
Jesus says something in Matthew 24:14 that always shakes me to my core when I read it. He says in Matthew 24:14:
“And THE GOOD NEWS about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; AND THEN THE END WILL COME.”
Matthew 24:14 NLT
Jesus said…AND THEN THE END WILL COME.
One day, this world as we know it will come to an end.
Mommies and daddies will tuck their children in, bed time preparations will go on as usual, clothes will be laid out the night before for work, not knowing that’ll be the last night ever in human history as we know it.
Most mornings I wake up to a little hand on my arm around 5:30/6:00 in the morning, asking me, "Daddy is it time to get up?” With sleep still in my voice, I respond with two words…"NOT YET.”
📝 • As it relates to all things coming to an end, we’re in the NOT YET.
The same way that my son looks to me and asks is it time to get up, and I respond with, "Not Yet.” is the same way I imagine the Son of God looking to the Father and saying, "Is it time for my 2nd Coming? Is it time to gather our people?” In similar fashion, Father God, looks at His Son Jesus Christ and responds with, "NOT YET.” 2 Peter 3 tells us the why behind this all. 2 Peter 3:3-4 says:
“Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, ‘WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PROMISE THAT JESUS IS COMING AGAIN? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.’”
2 Peter 3:3-4 NLT
“They deliberately forget that God made the heavens long ago by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water. Then he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood.”
2 Peter 3:5-6 NLT
“And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for THE DAY OF JUDGMENT, when ungodly people will be destroyed.”
2 Peter 3:7 NLT
“BUT YOU MUST NOT FORGET THIS ONE THING, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day.”
2 Peter 3:8 NLT
“The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, HE IS BEING PATIENT FOR YOUR SAKE…”
2 Peter 3:9 NLT
Let that marinate for a moment. HE IS BEING PATIENT FOR YOUR SAKE. Patient for what? Peter goes on to tell us in verse 9…..
“…No, He is being patient for your sake. HE DOES NOT WANT ANYONE TO BE DESTROYED, BUT WANTS EVERYONE TO REPENT.”
2 Peter 3:9 NLT
THIS IS WHY THE FATHER IS SAYING, "NOT YET!” He’s saying, "There’s another lost soul, and another, and another! I hear the prayers of the saints for their family members, co workers, nieces, nephews—NOT YET!”
The Lord isn’t slack concerning His promise.
📝 It’s LOVE that’s holding Him back. It’s PATIENCE that’s keeping Him back.
“BUT THE DAY OF THE LORD WILL COME as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.”
2 Peter 3:10 NLT
BUT THE DAY OF THE LORD WILL COME as unexpectedly as a thief. The One who is being patient waiting for everyone to repent, isn’t trying sneak into the world trying to catch everyone living in sin to destroy them.
But there is one who is trying to distract everyone from the word, "REPENTANCE!” But there is one who is trying to distract everyone from His second coming as if this day isn’t going to happen, so just live it up! Peter says, "No!” BUT THE DAY OF THE LORD WILL COME….
📝 • There will come a time, when God will say, “ENOUGH!”
Enough of the pain! Enough of the tears! Enough of the senseless murders! Enough of the sickness, and disease. Enough of seeing my people suffer, thinking that I don’t see. Enough of seeing my people suffer, thinking that I don’t hear. Enough of seeing my people suffer, thinking that I don’t know and that I don’t care. ENOUGH!
THERE WILL COME A TIME WHERE IT WILL GO FROM, "NOT YET,” to "IT’S TIME!”
Jesus Himself said how bad it’s going to get first though. Jesus says in Matthew 24:19:
“How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days.”
Matthew 24:19 NLT
“And pray that your flight will not be in winter or on the Sabbath. For there will be greater anguish THAN AT ANY TIME SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN. And it will never be so great again.”
Matthew 24:20-21 NLT
“In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, not a single person will survive. BUT IT WILL BE SHORTENED FOR THE SAKE OF GOD’S CHOSEN ONES.”
Matthew 24:22 NLT
“Immediately after the anguish of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.”
Matthew 24:29 NLT
THE STAGE IS NOW SET…
“And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”
Matthew 24:30 NLT
“And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, AND THEY WILL GATHER HIS CHOSEN ONES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.”
Matthew 24:31 NLT
Paul talks about this day in I Thessalonians 4:15 as well. He says:
“For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.”
I Thessalonians 4:15 NKJV
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And THE DEAD IN CHRIST WILL RISE FIRST.”
I Thessalonians 4:16 NKJV
“Then we who are alive and remain shall be CAUGHT UP TOGETHER WITH THEM IN THE CLOUDS to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”
I Thessalonians 4:17 NKJV
📝 • On that day, at last, the Saints will experience the REUNION.
On that day, what death thought it separated, on that day what pain thought it eternally finished, WILL BE REUNITED, CAUGHT BACK UP TOGETHER FOREVER!
📝 • On that day, the Saints will take the JOURNEY.
📝 On that day, when all things come to and END here, it will just be the eternal BEGINNING there.
Deuteronomy 29:29 says:
“THE SECRET THINGS BELONG UNTO THE LORD OUR GOD: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.”
Deuteronomy 29:29 KJV
📝 There are some things that took place on EARTH that only HEAVEN can explain.
📝 There are some things that happened in TIME that only ETERNITY can redeem.
“But why should I fast when he is dead? Can I bring him back again? I WILL GO TO HIM ONE DAY, but he cannot return to me.”
2 Samuel 12:23 NLT
David was saying one day I’m going to take the journey. And what happened in time, eternity will redeem.
I’m reminded of the words that John wrote in 2 John 1:12 when he said:
“I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that OUR JOY MAY BE COMPLETE.”
2 John 1:12 NIV
In similar fashion, I believe there are many things that the Lord wants to share with you but He’s waiting to speak to you face to face about them in heaven. I believe, "THE WHY” behind things will be revealed. Then our joy will be complete.
📝 • On that day, at last, the saints will be granted their REWARDS.
As Paul was staring death in the face, he had his mind on his eternal reward. Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:6-7…
“As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.”
2 Timothy 4:6-7 NLT
“AND NOW THE PRIZE AWAITS ME—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.”
2 Timothy 4:8 NLT
📝 • On that day, RECOMPENSE will be given.
On that day, God is going to take care of it all. Everyone that thought they were getting over. Everyone that thought they were getting away with it. RECOMPENSE IS COMING. 2 Thessalonians 1:6
“Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to RECOMPENSE tribulation to them that trouble you…”
2 Thessalonians 1:6 KJV
Another translation says it like this..
“God is just: HE WILL PAY BACK trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heave in blazing fire with his powerful angels.”
2 Thessalonians 1:6-7 NIV
“HE WILL PUNISH THOSE who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. THEY WILL BE PUNISHED WITH EVERLASTING DESTRUCTION AND SHUT OUT FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD and from the glory of his might…”
2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 NIV
But let’s not forget.
📝 • Before we get to that day, God is still giving time and space to REPENT.
“The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. NO, He is being patient for your sake. HE DOES NOT WANT ANYONE TO BE DESTROYED, BUT WANTS EVERYONE TO REPENT.”
2 Peter 3:9 NLT
Here’s The Good News to today’s message…
📝 He still desires REPENTANCE over RECOMPENSE.
“Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I HAVE NO PLEASURE IN THE DEATH OF THE WICKED, but that the wicked TURN FROM HIS WAY and live. TURN, TURN from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’”
Ezekiel 33:11 NKJV
HAVE YOU TAKEN TIME TO REPENT?
“Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, ‘WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PROMISE THAT JESUS IS COMING AGAIN?…’”
2 Peter 3:3-4 NLT
📝 Don’t allow time, this world, or the enemy to tell you anything different—JESUS IS COMING AGAIN!
“Immediately after the anguish of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.”
Matthew 24:29 NLT
“AND THEN AT LAST, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. AND THEY WILL SEE the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”
Matthew 24:30 NLT
On that day they will see. On that day all will see….
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