JUDGMENT DAY

2 Peter 2:9, “Then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment.”

A few weeks ago Hurricane Sandy brought massive destruction to the northeast coast of the United States.  Over 100 people died.  Damage estimates exceed $50 billion dollars (damage plus costs due to lost business).  Its fierce winds led to massive power outages and coastline destruction.  Some incredible stories have come out of the storm.  During the storm, in the middle of the night, over 100 homes in Queens, NY burned to the ground.  Amazingly courageous rescue workers were able to evacuate every single person from those homes.

A much greater storm is brewing.  The storm clouds are on the horizon.  No human power will stand in its way or avoid its destructive path.  Most are living their lives unaware of its approach, making no preparations for its landfall.  It will come “as a thief” and lead to widespread and eternal loss of life.  Peter had much to say regarding this pending “storm” in his second epistle:

• God has judged sin before and He will do so again (2 Pet. 2:4-9; 3:7).
• God’s judgment will assuredly come, though there be those who think and behave as if it won’t (2 Pet. 3:3-7).
•  God is patiently delaying His judgment “not wishing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9).
• But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief (2 Pet. 3:10).
• The earth and its works will be burned up (2 Pet. 3:10; Cf. 1 John 2:17).
• We, as believers, are to “fix (our) hope completely on the grace to brought to (us) at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 1:13; Cf. Tit. 2:13; 2 Tim. 4:8; Phil. 3:19-10).
• The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment (2 Pet. 2:9; the church will be “raptured” into His presence before the tribulation; Cf. 1 Thess. 5:9; 2 Thess. 4:13-18).
• We are “looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells” (2 Pet. 3:13).
•  Eagerly anticipating His return, we are to be people characterized “by holy conduct and godliness” (2 Pet. 3:11).
• We are to do our part in making the gospel known to others (2 Pet. 3:9; Cf. 2 Tim. 2:1-4).

Our hope (confident expectation) does not ultimately lie in a better world or improved political environment.  God has not promised us such things, but God has promised other things of infinitely greater value.  2 Thess. 1:8-10 summarizes what will be the ultimate destiny of each and every person.  There are only two possibilities:

1.       Those who “do not know God (who have refused to obey the gospel) will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (2 Thess. 1:8-9).

2.       “He will be glorified in His saints (those who have believed) on that day” (2 Thess. 1:10a).  We will marvel (be amazed, filled with wonder, be astonished) at Him (2 Thess. 1:10b).

Most survived Hurricane Sandy, few perished.  In the coming judgment it will be the other way around.  1 John 5:11-12, “And the witness is this, that God has given us, eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.”  Do you have the Son?  Are you born again?    Make no mistake, a Judgment Day is coming!  Have you trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation (Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9; Ephesians 2:8-9)?  If so, are you eagerly anticipating and living for Christ’s return (Phil. 3:20)!

Pastor Jerry