I Thessalonians 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
Years ago when I started preaching, I said certain things would have to come to pass. They have. We’ve all seen them. We’re sort of in a pause. When we see ominous clouds off in the distance, we’ll notice that right before the storm breaks it gets quiet–the calm before the storm. That’s the pause we’re in. There has been a great falling away. People don’t believe the Lord is coming soon. At a time when we need to be most ready, many are not. Personal lives slip. People aren’t conducting themselves as they should, not keeping a readiness discipline. People are not as careful as they used to be.
Never has the world been further from God than now. I don’t know exactly what the days of Noah were like but it was so corrupt that there was no turning the people around. All God saw was wickedness. Godliness is a reflection of God and he didn’t see it. Our witness to others is a reflection of God. The world in Noah’s day had plunged into a wickedness and evil that had no thought of God. That’s the way it is now. BUT Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. His reflection shone through. Moses asked to see God and was allowed to see only the back of him. God put him in the cleft of a rock and passed by. Moses’ face shone so bright from just seeing the back of God that he had to wear a veil. You may feel like your bulb is about gone but keep it energized and glow for the Lord.
Noah built and prayed for 120 years as he obeyed God. Are we obeying? It’s important to be ready so the day doesn’t come unaware. As the day comes, the glorious sunrise will be seen. Lot went to Sodom and got into trouble. Be careful where you plant yourself. Don’t take time for granted. God has shown mercy and more mercy. He sent his only begotten son to be Savior for the world. It took a mighty dose of God’s grace. Jesus went all the way and gave his life on Calvary. He allowed the sin of our hearts and souls to be laid on him. Our sins put an end to the life of Jesus. By the time the sun set Jesus was dead and sealed in a tomb. Three days later, before the sun began to rise, the SON arose and came out. The light of the world came out of the tomb. It was the dawning of a new day.
By the end of the first century churches were in trouble. In Revelation we find that Ephesus had left its first love. Laodicea was lukewarm about to be spewed out of God’s mouth. Other churches mixed Christianity with another religion. It’s a wonder that Christianity still exists, but God’s grace has endured. Satan used Hitler to kill many. He burned Bibles. The book he wrote has fallen by the wayside but look whose book is still here. The BIBLE.
There is a payday coming. Satan is just a little over seven years from being cast into hell. No doubt the AntiChrist is already walking the earth. Look at the explosion of knowledge. Has it really made life better? Man has used that knowledge to the point it has become a trap. Everything you put on line is tracked and mapped somewhere. Cars have GPS and can be tracked. We’re controlled and don’t realize it. It’s all in place for the AntiChrist to take over. Nations are dependent on each other. I don’t care what political beliefs are, we’re won’t escape it. There is a big brainwashing going into people getting them to act a certain way, believe a certain way, accept politically correct thoughts. We’re so used to it that we’ve let down our guard.
God told Noah to wait–pause–7 days. We’re there. It is the last day. The generation that sees all these things come to pass will see the coming of the Lord. We’ve seen it. It’s our generation. We’re at the door of the ark. The animals had more sense than the people. They got on board. The last day became the last hours and then the last seconds. Noah watched as no one dare come into the ark except his family. Noah then stepped back and God shut the door. It’s just like the 10 virgins. Five ran off to get oil and the bridegroom came. They were shut out. I want to be ready.
Look at these verses again. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
Let’s shine up our breastplate. Shine up our faith. Embrace God and share his love. Put the breastplate on and then comes the helmet. That’s the rescue. We want to be inside when the force of God’s wrath comes. It’s just around the corner. I don’t want to be here when judgment comes. Be ready. When the sun goes down here, we’ll see the Son rise with healing in his wings. Do you need to pray? Move up a little closer? Pray today.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 