The Day Is At Hand (Imminency Part 3)

Thank you for listening to this message from the ministry of Morse Corner Church in Leverett, Massachusetts. Morse Corner is a non-denominational church that is committed to the preaching and teaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Our church was founded in 1896 by two students of the famous evangelist D .L. Moody. We seek to encourage and edify the body of Christ through the proclamation of God's word through the ministries of the local church.

If you'd like more information, visit our website morsecornerchurch .com. We hope you enjoy the message. And Peter reminds his readers that life on earth has already come to an end once. And people forget about that.

This is the flood, the great flood or the flood of Noah. And speaking of scoffers, when we talk about the story of Noah's Ark, there's a lot of scoffers about that story, right? Here's the thing, if you don't believe in Noah's Ark, you're not going to believe in the imminent return of Jesus.

Why? Because it's the same book that tells us about both events. So there are scoffers, we're living in a day and age where there are even churches that scoff at this story of Noah's Ark. And they say, well, I don't believe this ever happened literally.

Or they'll say about Noah's Ark, have you ever heard someone, maybe again, someone who even professes to be a Christian saying, the whole thing with Noah's Ark and the great flood, that's impossible. People say that.

My response is, why is that impossible? No, really tell me what's impossible about that? Oh, but the universe creating itself is completely possible to you, right? Life on earth just popping into existence out of nowhere for no reason.

The complexity of DNA just happening. Nobody times nothing equals everything. That's possible, but Noah's Ark is impossible. Really? Really? Well, that's what the science, no, that's what scientists tell you.

The science doesn't tell you that scientists tell you. And I would just add, if there's anything we've learned over the past couple years, is that sometimes scientists lie. Sometimes they make honest mistakes, but sometimes they lie because what?

They're men. What does the Bible say? Let God be true in every man, a liar. And I'm not asking you to believe me that Christ's return is imminent. I ask you to go to the scripture and to draw your conclusion from the scripture.

You know, as time goes on, the one thing that I am more and more certain of, more and more day by day, the only thing, the only thing that I can trust 100 is the word of God. Everything else is just shifting sand under our feet.

But Jesus, he is the solid rock. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And if we are faithful, if we remain faithful, 1 John 2, 28 says that when he appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

I don't want to be ashamed when Jesus returns. I don't want Jesus to return and find me doing something that I shouldn't be doing. So this idea of the imminent return of Christ should cause us to live a more godly life.

Amen.

Well, I'll clean myself up five years from now. I'll have my fun and do that later. You might not have that chance. Look at verse eight. But beloved, Peter says, going back to the whole subject of the flood and God's timing, he says, do not forget this one thing that with the Lord, one day is as what?

A thousand years. In a thousand years as one day. And the Lord is not slack concerning his promise as some count slackness, but is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Why hasn't Jesus come back yet? And he may have many reasons. He's patient. He's long suffering. But one of the main reasons there's still people being saved. You realize God has his sheep right now. He knows they are going to believe.

Maybe they're going to believe next week. Maybe they're going to believe in six months from now, whatever it is, people are still being saved. That's why the Lord hasn't returned. People are still being saved.

The work of the church is not finished. When it's finished, he'll come back. But until then, he's long suffering. He's patient. So in the meantime, be busy. Be busy sharing the gospel, supporting the church, helping in the work of the ministry, trying to bring back the backslider, trying to save souls, trying to encourage people to remain steadfast.

That is all of our job, as we were reminded of earlier. Matthew 24 verse 44 says, Therefore, you also be ready, this is Jesus, be ready for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. All right, let's turn to Titus chapter 2.

Titus 2. As you're turning there, I want to challenge you a little bit to think of meeting the Lord this way. Yes, the sermon is about the Lord's return. But even if Jesus doesn't return in one's lifetime, there's still going to be a day where you and I meet the Lord, if you know what I mean.

Now, for some people, similar to Christ's return, it happens suddenly. There are people, and we've all known people, they're going about their daily life, and all of a sudden, they're gone, and it happens that fast.

There's tragic car accidents. You never know. It may not be the rapture, but you never know. You could meet Jesus today, and we should be ready. Other people, it's not sudden, and it happens slow, and they see it coming.

People get sick, and they have that time to maybe prepare. But either way, that's the thing. We need to be prepared. And if a person does not know Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they are not prepared.

And if that describes anyone right now, I plead with you, I implore you, be reconciled to God. This is what the Bible says about that. God now commands all men everywhere to repent, because he has appointed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained, and he has given assurance of this to all by raising him from the dead.

That's the evidence. That's the proof.

How do we know Jesus is the only way? Because he's the only man that was raised from the dead. God has proved it. All right, let's look at Titus Chapter 2. And that's our message, and that's what we proclaim.

And I've said this before a few weeks ago. This church is not about condemnation. The ministry is not about condemnation. The ministry is about salvation. We don't need to preach condemnation, because why?

Everybody's already condemned. The world is already condemned. Everybody dies. That's the proof that the world is already under judgment. Our message is to save people, to snatch them out of the fire.

Titus Chapter 2, starting in Verse 11, he says,. For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It's available to everybody. Verse 12, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age.

Verse 13, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for himself his own special people, zealous for good works.

And this is very similar to what we read in 1 Corinthians Chapter 15. In light of Christ's coming and knowing that, it should cause us to be steadfast and abound in the works of God and zealous for good works.

We are to be immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. Why? Because your labor is not in vain. You know what happens when Jesus returns? Let's say it did happen this afternoon, and you're going about your business, doing whatever you're doing, and next thing you know, you're standing in front of the Lord.

That quick, twinkling of an eye. What's going to happen? That's the time period or the event called the bema seat, or the judgment seat of Christ. Now, our sins have been dealt with on the cross. A believer, a born-again believer in Christ is never going to be judged on their sin.

But once we stand before God at the judgment seat, we are judged according to our works and what we have done for God. And how many people we've told, people we've talked to about the gospel, things that we have done in helping one another.

Even your own siblings, even your own spouse, even your parents and your things you have done for them. Good deeds. These are things that God is going to look and evaluate our works, and we are going to be judged based on our works.

That's you're going to get a reward or you're not going to get a reward. So if the Lord were to return, and again, it's imminent. That's the next thing that happens. You are judged based on what you have been doing.

So what does that mean? With that knowledge, we should be busy, right?

Okay.

Let's turn back to where we started, and that's where we will close. 1 Thessalonians 5. So this knowledge of the imminent return of Christ should cause every believer to want to live a more godly life.

It should cause every believer to want to do more good works and good deeds for others. Because the day is impending. Here's some other words for imminence. Impending. It's inevitable. It's looming. It's right there.

It's looming, and it could fall or Jesus could come at any time. Look at 1 Thessalonians 5. I just want to read John 14. Jesus said to his disciples, I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

When Jesus returns, where does he take us? To be where he is. And where is he? He's in heaven, seated at the right hand of God. So Jesus is coming back. Until then, until the Lord intervenes in the affairs of men, we should be ready.

We should watch. Keep your eyes on Christ. It's easy to come to church and hear a little bit, and then drive home and kind of forget what was said, and this afternoon it's totally out of your mind. This afternoon, think about the imminent return of Christ.

Tomorrow, think about the imminent return of Christ. Next week, think about the imminent return of Christ. Next month, if the Lord tarries, you get the point. 1 Thessalonians 5, verse 2. Now, when is this going to happen?

No man knows the day or the hour.

Paul says,.

You yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, that is when the unbelievers or when the scoffers say, Peace and safety, because that's what they're trying to do.

They're trying to usher in world peace through man and through man's methods. That is never going to work. Peace is coming when the prince of peace returns to earth and not before then. But when the unbelievers say, peace and safety, then what happens?

Sudden destruction comes upon them as labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they shall not escape. But you, brethren, you are not in darkness, so that this day should overtake you as a thief. Why? Because you know these things.

And if you didn't, you do now. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of night nor of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep as others do, but let us watch and be sober. Keep your eyes on Jesus because his return is imminent.

It is at hand. Let's close in prayer. Heavenly Father, I just pray that you would be glorified in your word. I pray if there's anyone listening who has never committed their heart to you, that they would do it now, knowing that they could be standing before you before the day is over.

There is no more important decision than this. So, Father, may your word and your spirit do its perfect work. And we pray the prayer that says, Lord, come. Lord, come quickly. But even so, Lord Jesus, come.

We pray it all in his name.

Amen.

Thanks for listening. I'm Pastor Michael Grant from Morris Cornick Church. If you'd like to listen to the complete message, or if you'd like more information about the ministry, visit our website, morriscornickchurch .com.

And we'd love to have you join us some Sunday morning here in Leverett. Until next time, may the grace of God be with you.