Text: Proverb 8:17-18, Matthew 24:36-39, Revelation 22:12
> “I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me. Riches and honor are with me, Enduring riches and righteousness.” – Proverb 8:17-18 (NKJV)
> “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” – Revelation 22:12 (NKJV)
1. INTRODUCTION: THE WORLD HAS FORGOTTEN
My brothers and sisters, let me tell you the truth today: The world has forgotten that Jesus Christ is coming back. People are busy. They are building, buying, marrying, travelling, chasing money, chasing fame, chasing pleasure. Nobody is talking about eternity again.
But I have come to remind you today: *Jesus is coming soon.*
He did not say He _might_ come. He said He _will_ come. In John 14:3, He said:
> “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
This is not a story. This is a promise. And the promise of God never fails.
The problem of this generation is not that they do not know God. The problem is that they have forgotten Him.
2. AS IT WAS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH
Jesus Himself warned us in Matthew 24:37-39:
> “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.”
Look at Noah’s time. Genesis 6:5 says the wickedness of man was great, and every intent of his heart was only evil continually.
Noah was preaching for 120 years. He was building the ark. People were laughing at him. They said, “Noah, where is the rain? We have never seen rain.”
They were doing their own thing. They were eating, drinking, enjoying life. They forgot that judgment was coming.
Then one day, the rain came. The door of the ark was shut. And it was too late.
I am telling you today, history is repeating itself. People are laughing at the Church again. They say, “Where is this Jesus you are talking about? We have heard it since we were children.”
But let me tell you, just as the rain came in Noah’s day, Jesus will come in our day. And on that day, it will be too late to repent.
Are you inside the Ark? The Ark today is Jesus Christ.
3. AS IT WAS IN SODOM AND GOMORRAH
Jesus also said in Luke 17:28-30:
> “Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.”
Sodom and Gomorrah were rich cities. They had everything. But they forgot God. Genesis 19 tells us their sin became so great that God could no longer look away.
But hear this: Even in that wicked city, *mercy spoke.*
Genesis 18:23-32 – Abraham stood before God and prayed. He said, “Lord, will You destroy the righteous with the wicked?”
And because of the prayer of Abraham, because of mercy, God sent angels to bring Lot out before destruction fell.
Church, hear me: Mercy can still speak for anybody today.
You may be in Sodom. Your family may be in Sodom. Your business may be in Sodom. Your life may be surrounded by sin. But if one man will stand and pray like Abraham, mercy will locate you.
It was not Lot’s righteousness that saved him. It was mercy. It was intercession. It was the prayer of a righteous man.
James 5:16 says, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
Somebody is alive today not because you are good, but because somebody prayed for you. Mercy spoke for you.
4. THE LOVE OF JESUS STILL DELIVERS
Let me take you to the New Testament. In Luke 8:2, the Bible talks about Mary Magdalene:
> “And certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities – Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons.”
Seven demons! Seven spirits! That woman was completely bound. People had written her off. Society had condemned her.
But the love of Jesus Christ delivered her. Jesus did not reject her. He did not stone her. He delivered her, and she became one of the greatest followers of Jesus. She was the first to see the risen Christ in John 20:16.
I am telling somebody today: If Jesus could deliver a woman with seven demons, He can deliver you.
Your case is not too hard. Your sin is not too much. Your past is not too dirty. Mercy is still speaking today.
Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
That is love. That is mercy. And that mercy is still speaking today.
5. JESUS IS COMING SOON – BE READY
So what must we do?
*1. Repent:* Acts 3:19 – “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.”
*2. Seek Him diligently:* Proverb 8:17 says, “Those who seek me diligently will find me.” Don’t seek Him casually. Seek Him diligently.
*3. Watch and Pray:* Matthew 24:42 – “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.”
*4. Live Holy:* Hebrews 12:14 – “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.”
Jesus is not coming for a church building. He is coming for a prepared bride. Revelation 19:7 says, “For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.”
Are you ready?
CLOSING PRAYER
> Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your Word. We thank You because Your mercy has spoken for us again today.
> Lord Jesus, You said You are coming soon. Help us not to forget like the people of Noah’s day. Help us not to be destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah.
> As You showed mercy to Lot through the prayer of Abraham, show mercy to us, to our families, to our children, to this church, and to this nation.
> As You delivered Mary Magdalene from seven demons, deliver everyone reading this from every bondage, from every sin, from every addiction, from every evil spirit, in the name of Jesus.
> Lord, give us a heart to seek You diligently. Prepare us for Your coming. Let Your mercy continue to speak for us.
> We declare today: We are ready. We will watch. We will pray. We will be holy until You come.
> In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Conclusion: Church, don’t be like Noah’s generation that laughed until the flood came. Don’t be like Sodom that enjoyed until fire fell. Be like Noah who entered the Ark. Be like Lot who escaped. Be like Mary Magdalene who was delivered.
Jesus is coming soon. Mercy is still speaking. Will you answer HIM?
Archbishop Prof. Israel Juliet Olufunmiwa is of Efficient Christian Centre, Omi Adio, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.Telephone:+234 806 313 1989
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