Anticipation
It’s hard to believe that we are in the year 2020. There’s a lot of anticipation for the new year. Some people are planning on getting into better physical shape, eating better, or maybe they have prospects of a new job. Others may be getting a driver’s license or going to college this year. Still others are planning on getting married or having babies. It’s a brand-new year and the best word I can use to describe it is anticipation.
But there’s one thing that I’m anticipating; one thing that I have the most anticipation for in this life and that is the return of my Lord and Savior – Jesus Christ. He’s coming back! I have great anticipation for the second coming of Jesus. He is the only Savior and He’s coming back for His true followers.
Before I talk some more about the second coming of Jesus, I really should take a minute to talk about the first time Jesus came to this earth. We just celebrated Christmas – it’s a time that we reflect on the birth of Jesus. The King of kings and Lord of lords, left His throne in Heaven 2,000 years ago and He was born of the virgin Mary and the Holy Spirit. The great Creator, the Word that was spoken for all creation, inserted Himself into His own creation.
Jesus did what none of us can do. He never sinned. Not one time. The Lord perfectly obeyed the will of God the Father. Jesus never lied, stole anything, lusted or coveted. He sure didn’t blaspheme God’s Holy name. But none of us can claim this. We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). There is none righteous, no not one (Romans 3:10). We have all broken the 10 Commandments many times over.
What’s The Big Deal?
Now you may say, what’s the big deal? You just admitted that none of us are righteous, so we are all in the same boat. That is exactly the problem. God is perfect. He is Holy, righteous and just. God’s standard is perfection and none of us come even remotely close to God’s lofty standard.
That’s why Jesus came to this earth the first time. We’ve all fallen woefully short of God’s perfection and because of this, we all deserve eternal damnation. Those who die without Jesus as their Lord and Savior will receive this just punishment. They will suffer God’s righteous wrath for all eternity (Revelation 21:8).
It was out of God’s love that He sent Jesus to this earth. It was out of the love of Jesus that He willingly came to this earth. He lived a perfect, sinless life. Yet, He still went to the cross for guilty sinners like us. Jesus paid a sin debt that He did not owe. We did the crime and Jesus paid our fine. He was beaten beyond recognition. The Lord was bruised for our iniquities. By His stripes we are healed.
Jesus was beaten so badly that you couldn’t recognize who He was. The Roman soldiers scourged Him with 39 lashes across His back. Then He was nailed to the cruel cross where He endured unimaginable pain for six long hours. As bad as all this physical pain was, that wasn’t even the worst part. No, the worst part was that God poured His wrath, His hatred over sin out upon His own precious Son. That shows you how much God hates sin!
The Lord Jesus Died On The Cross And Was Buried
Jesus suffered, bled and died on the cross. He was buried and rose from the grave three days later (just like the Scriptures prophesied that He would). Jesus defeated sin, death, Hell and Satan. The good news is that God offers eternal life to each and every person who repents of their sins and puts their faith in Jesus. For those who trust in the finished work of Christ Jesus on the cross for their salvation.
Jesus is your Lord and Savior or the guilt of your sins remains upon you. Which is it tonight? Are you saved by the shed blood of Jesus Christ or are you still a guilty sinner headed for Hell? There is no third option. You are either Heaven bound or Hell bound and Jesus is the only way to Heaven. There is no other savior. You are eternally saved or you are still under God’s judgment, under His condemnation. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him (John 3:36).
Either you believe in Jesus, trust in Him for your salvation or you are still a rebel, condemned in your sins. If you are still a rebel, it’s because you love your sins. You don’t fear God; rather, you love your sins. You want to continue doing what you want to do, when you want to do it. John 3:16-20 explains this very well. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Repent And Trust Jesus
So I’m pleading with you tonight to recognize that you are sinner. That you have offended a Holy, and righteous God and there is nothing that you can do to save yourself. Cry out for God to have mercy upon you. Repent of your sins and surrender your life to King Jesus. Trust Jesus for your salvation. Submit your life to the Lord of all.
Jesus is Lord of all and He’s coming back! He came the first time as a lamb, the Lamb of God (John 1:29). But the next time He’s coming back as the Lion of Judah (Revelation 5:5). For those who die in their sins, everlasting torments awaiting them. And to you who are troubled (believers that are persecuted) rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10).
Jesus is coming back and with flaming fire He’s going to take vengeance on those who do not know God and who do not obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Lord. The punishment will be everlasting! The torments of the lake of fire will never end. If you die in your sins, you will suffer God’s righteous judgment for all eternity.
Please listen to some of Jesus’ words concerning eternal punishment. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41). And these (unrepentant sinners) shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal (Matthew 25:46).
The Fire Is Never Quenched In Hell
And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched (Mark 9:43-48).
Many people wrongly believe Jesus is all love. He is love but He’s also a just Judge, a good Judge. Because He is a good Judge, He does punish sin. Jesus is so good that He punishes unrepentant sinners for all eternity. The Lord warned people about the flames of Hell. He said that it’s a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth. It’s a place where the torments last forever. The fire never goes out.
Names Not Written In The Book Of Life
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15). But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death (Revelation 21:8).
Should you fear God, you better believe it! The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Job 28:28). You need to recognize that your sins are an abomination to God. Cry out for God to have mercy upon you. Repent and believe in the Lord Jesus. Trust Jesus for your salvation. Repent from your sins and surrender your life full and completely to Jesus Christ the Lord. He is Lord of all. Bow your knee in this lifetime to Him.
Don’t wait until Judgment Day. Then it will be too late. You will bow your knee; you will confess with your tongue that Jesus Christ is Lord. But then He will have His servants cast you into the lake of fire and brimstone. Do not die in your sins and suffer eternal damnation. Instead, be saved. Be saved today. Repent and believe the Gospel.
For those of us who have repented and trusted Jesus for our salvation, we have eternal life. We have passed from spiritual death to spiritual life. We have been born again (spiritually). God no longer sees us as the wretched sinners that we are. He now sees us through the righteousness of Jesus Christ – our Lord and Savior. God casts our sins as far as the East is from the West. He no longer holds them against us. This doesn’t mean that we sin at will. No, God says be holy because I am Holy (Leviticus 11:44).
No Longer The Same
When you truly repent and surrender your life to Jesus, you are no longer the same. The old has passed away. Behold, all things become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). Obviously, we reverence and respect God. But we no longer fear the Lord. Perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). We are no longer in danger of the judgment. That’s why I anticipate the return of Jesus Christ my Lord.
I don’t have judgment and eternal damnation facing me. No, I have everlasting life. To eternally be with Jesus my Lord and Savior. Jesus told His disciples: Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. 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 unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also (John 14:1-3).
Jesus is coming back and in great anticipation, I’m looking forward to His return. Can you say the same? Are you prepared to meet your Maker (Amos 4:12)? Do you have eternal life through being born again or do you have eternal damnation waiting for you after you die? Don’t die and go to Hell. Receive life; everlasting life. Repent and believe the Gospel. Don’t trust in yourself or anyone else to save you. Trust in Jesus Christ alone. Then join me in anticipating the Lord’s return.
(This message was lifted up in downtown Springfield, MO on January 3, 2020)
Amen!