A long time ago a couple of young men were engagedto marry Lot's daughters. One night their future father-in-law showedup unexpectantly at their home with a story that seemed so incredibleto them they thought it was a joke. Lot recunted how he had invitedtwo visitors to stay at his house. When a riotous crowd had begun totry to break down his front door, these men had caused the crowd tobe blinded. Furthermore, they announced that the LORD had sent themto destroy Sodom. Therefore they had to flee the city that verynight!
One can imagine how this message sounded to theseyoung men. Everyday the sun had risen and then set. Why shouldtomorrow be any different? To these young men, their futurefather-in-law's message sounded like a joke. Genesis 19:14 There wasno way that they were going to leave the comfort of their homes toridiculously run out of Sodom during the night! They would be thelaughing stock of their friends for months to come.
Unfortunately, the following day must have beenespecially horrific for them as suddenly flaming balls of sulfurbegan pelting the city turning Sodom into one giant incinerator. Wedon't know how quickly they died, but the thought must have racedthrough their minds ... "I was warned! This didn't have to happen tome!"
Is not today much like that night in Sodom? Thepreacher had been emphasizing the seriousness of being faithful toGod's Word and how our hearts must be dedicated to God and not to thethings of this world. Then he began to speak about the finaljudgment. That's when the young couple turned to each other andsmiled that "I know better" and "you can't fool me" smile. With justa smile they simply shrugged off the message as being "you can'treally be serious", or "you're not with it" or "this does not reallyapply to me."
God has announced through both Jesus and hisapostles that a day of judgment is coming. And yet, some have notmade any preparations; their hearts are not turned to the Lord.Instead, they continue to go about living their life assuming that"there will always be a tomorrow" and "if there really is a finaljudgment, I'm OK because I'm basically good enough." Such a viewpointis ignorant of what the scriptures teach about our sin.
"Know this first, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, walking according to their desires, and saying,'Where is his promised coming? Since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.'... the heavens which now are and the earth by the same pronouncement are laid up for fire, being reserved for the day of judgment and destruction of godless men." 2 Peter 3:3-4, 7 McCord's Translation
Barry Newton, Copyright © 1999, Revised2005
Other Articles Which Might Be ofInterest
Should We Forget This Part of the Gospel? (God's final judgment)To Be Known; Yet Loved (There is Someone who loves you even though he knows everything about you)
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