Luke 3:7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
Opening your message to the congregation by addressing them
as a group of snakes is not the "way to win friends and influence
people." It might even get you a heart-to-heart talk with the deacon board
about softening up your message. Inquiring why they are there anyway is not the
customary introduction to a sermon. However, John did not intend to soften up
his message to the world because he had the most important news that the world
had ever heard. John the Baptist was somewhat unique. He attired himself in
some pretty strange clothes and lived as a hermit in the wilderness. God called
John to introduce the long-awaited promised Messiah to the world.
The Jewish people were eagerly awaiting the one promised
from the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:15) to take away the sins of the world. Many years before this introduction of Christ
Jesus, there were prophecies from Isaiah of John heralding the world's Savior.
John knew that the Children of Israel must turn away from
their sins and turn back to God before they could meet their promised Messiah. Many
did turn their backs on the world and repent of their sins, but still, many
that did not and would not accept the truth that Christ Jesus was the true
Promised Messiah and the one that had come to take away the sins of the world.
The ones that believed the truth of the Word of God and placed their faith and
trust in the promised Messiah would not be condemned. However, many people
would not believe in Christ Jesus as the Messiah and stood condemned.
Not much has changed over the past two millennia; some are
willing to accept Christ Jesus as their Lord and Savior and will be saved from
the condemnation to come. However, as in John's day, there are still many that
refuse to accept the fact that Jesus was and is the Savior of the world. Those
that refuse to accept Christ Jesus as their Savior, the only way to salvation,
will meet the same condemnation that those in John's day will meet. There will
come a day, promised in God's Holy Word, that the Messiah will come back to
this world and take His faithful children home to be with Him for
eternity.
Jesus came the first time as the Lamb of God; this time, he
is coming as the Lion of Judah. When he arrived, the first time, the people had
some time to change their minds and believe in Him. When He comes, all of those
who have rejected Him will have to stand the Great White Throne judgment. This
judgment will be the sentencing phase; those that have not accepted Christ
Jesus as their Lord and Savior will go to everlasting punishment in the Lake of
Fire, with Satan and His evil followers.
The only unresolved question is: when is He coming back? No
one knows the answer to that dilemma, not even the angels in heaven; The Son
does not know, only the Father knows (Matthew 24:35-37). If we knew that a
giant hurricane was coming, would we not get ready so that we might save our
lives? We can be prepared for the second coming of Jesus and spend eternity
with Him in glory, or we can put it off until a time more suitable for us.
However, I do not think any of us want to gamble that tomorrow might be the
day.
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