• Scripture: Matt. 24:42
• Broadcast Date: 02/29/2016

Jesus has warned the whole, wide world that He would come again, the second time.  This time, not as the Lamb of God but as the Lion of the tribe of Judah.  We had better be prepared for that day by making things right with God.

A story that has always intrigued me is the story of Pompeii. I was in grade school in 1928 and was amazed to hear the story and now, almost 90 years later, it stands out, indelibly stamped in my mind.
In Pompeii the day began just as any other day, August 24, AD 79. There was nothing special about it; it was just another day. So the folks went their merry way to the markets, to work, to school, and what not.  It was a pretty day for the prosperous seaport Roman city of around 20,000 people. Yes, just like us, it was just another day.
Then someone noticed some small emissions coming from a nearby mount, Mount Vesuvius.  But Mt. Vesuvius had been there long before the town and no one paid any attention to the event. That is, they paid no attention to it until that afternoon when Mt. Vesuvius had a violent eruption that spewed lava for 24 hours. As a result, the entire city was covered with red, hot lava.  An entire city decimated and covered! Who on earth would have expected such a thing!
It makes one think, does it not?  It makes me think of the words of our Lord when He warns about His second coming. Listen to His words and the somber warning He gives.  But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; one shall be taken and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
(Matthew 24:36-42).

Friend, I tell you, the story of Pompeii reminds me of the story of the USA and all the rest of the world! Everybody is so busy doing their own thing, taking care of themselves, living high, wide and handsome that we don't pay any attention to the fact that Jesus Christ is going to come back to earth, and it could be at any moment. Pompeii had a warning, the spews of emissions from Vesuvius, but no one cared, they were all too busy just living. Then, in less time than it takes to tell the story, it is all over and done with.  So it was that Jesus warned the whole, wide world that He would come again, the second time. This time, not as the Lamb of God but as the Lion of the tribe of Judah.  We had better be prepared for that day by making things right with God.  But Jesus compares the world to the days of Noah. That is, they just would not take note of the signs of the coming of the flood and, consequently, all perished, just as they did in Pompeii. But they had their warning. They had it in the preaching of Noah, who warned them over and over for 120 years.  Even Godly old Enoch, a man who walked with God and, like Elijah, was received into the presence of God without dying, could not get their attention. (Genesis 5:24).  And then there was that monstrosity of an ark that Noah built. It was so huge and different that the whole world could see it! But that did not impress anybody on their way to the market, or school, or business, or God knows what. The sun would always come up in the east so why worry. But the biggest miracle of all that ought to have turned every head and changed every heart was the wild animals coming two by two and seven by seven into the ark. I didn't know animals could count, but they sure did in Noah's day, just 2 of each or 7 of each. Those who came in sevens were clean animals so that there would always be a supply for sacrifices. But for all of that, there were no takers, and Jesus tells us they were all taken away.

So there you have it. Pompeii, Noah's Day, today. Get right with God before it is too late!