For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in His day. But first must He suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation. And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 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. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. (Luke 17:24-30)
Jesus will return in power and glory to consummate the redemption of all who are His and to judge all who have rejected Him. When He comes most of the world will not be looking for Him nor expecting His judgment upon them. They are doing all the normal things of life and going about their business with no thought for eternal things, especially their destination under the judgment of a Holy and righteous God. God judged Noah’s world and it was destroyed leaving "billions of dead things, buried under rock layers, laid down by water, all over the earth" (Billions of dead things, Buddy Davis, 2003), because of sin. God judged Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, allowing Lot and his family to escape, first to Zoar and then to the mountains. Lot’s wife looked back and was judged for her desire for the things of this world and not for those eternal and the command of God to flee from the wrath to come. The final wrath is coming, Jesus will judge His people for what they have done in and for Him and judge this world for their sin and rejection of Him who is Creator, Redeemer, and King.
Our Lord is returning and bringing judgment upon all. He will judge His own for their faithfulness, not their sin for that has been forgiven, but for their works to reach the lost, teach the nations, and preach the Word. He will judge those who remain in their trespasses and sins and have rejected Him when He returns in the final battle. We should be looking for His return, ready and watchful, continuing in the work He has for us to do, and being about our Father’s business. Those who are not born again by faith through grace still have time to repent and surrender to Him on His terms as long as they are here, but judgment is coming and all should be warned. We must tell all who will hear that just as sure as the judgment of the flood of Noah’s day and the destruction of Sodom and the surrounding cities, so is the judgment at the consummation of all things by the Lord who is the righteous Judge.
Until His return, God sends those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet