Radio Transcript

There’s A Great Day Coming

Broadcast Date – December 30, 2001 on KCXY (Y95) - 95.3 FM

Just two more days and another year will be over. By now, many people have bought their calendars for the coming year. Most likely some have already marked the days of coming events. There’s one day in particular we all should be anticipating. But this day is different from the others. We can’t mark this day on the calendar because no one knows when it will be. Some men have foolishly tried to predict when that day will come.

I’m speaking of course, of the day when Christ will come again. The apostle Paul wrote, "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed (I Corinthians 15:52). Also notice Peter’s words in II Peter 3:10: "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with a fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up."

We sometimes sing a song titled, "There’s A Great Day Coming." Consider the words to the first verse of this song. "There’s a great day coming, a great day coming; There’s a great day coming by and by. When the saints and the sinners shall be parted right and left, Are you ready for that day to come?" This reminds us that the day Christ comes again will be a great day. But, what is it about this day that will make it great?

First, it will be great because of who will appear on that day. The angels have provided assurance that Christ will come again. "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in lie manner as ye have seen him go into heaven" (Acts 1:9-11).

Peter has provided us with assurance that Christ will come again. "Knowing this first, that there shall come n the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and n the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up" (II Peter 3:3-10).

Paul has provided us with an assurance that Christ will come again. "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come" (I Corinthians 11:26).

The day Christ comes again will be a great day because of why he will appear. Christ is not coming to offer himself as a sacrifice for our sins. That has already been done (Hebrews 10:12). He is not coming to preach the gospel. We are to preach the gospel now (Matthew 28:18-20). Contrary to what some people believe, Jesus is not coming in order to give the impenitent a second chance (Luke 16:25). His is not coming to establish an earthly kingdom. Christ’s kingdom, the church, is already in existence (John 18:36). He is not coming to begin a one thousand year reign (Revelation 20:3).

He is coming to deliver his spiritual kingdom to God, his father (I Corinthians 15:24). He is coming to judge the world and punish the evil (II Corinthians 5:10).

The day Christ comes again will be great because of what will take place on that day. The Lord will descend with a shout (I Thessalonians 4:16). All those who are in the graves will be raised (John 5:28-29). Those who are alive will be changed (I Corinthians 15:50-54). The heavens will pass with a great noise, the elements shall melt with a fervent heat, and the earth and all the works that are therein shall be burned up (II Peter 3:10). A great separation will take place (Matthew 25:32-33).

The second verse of the song reminds us that there is a bright day coming. "There’s a bright day coming, a bright day coming; There’s a bright day coming by and by. But its brightness shall only come to them that love the Lord, Are you ready for that day to come?"

It will be a bright day because of the words that will be spoken. "Then shall the king say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 25:34).

It will be bright because of the reunion that will take place. The apostle Paul wrote, "Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (I Thessalonians 4:17).

The day Christ comes again will be bright because of the home that awaits God’s people. It will be an eternal home (II Corinthians 5:10). It will be a home where there is fellowship with God and Christ (Revelation 21:3, also Revelation 21:22-27). It will be a home where there is no death, no sorrow, and no pain. Listen to the words of John, recorded in Revelation 21:4: "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."

The third verse of the song reminds us that the day Christ comes again will be a sad day for many. "There’s a sad day coming, a sad day coming; There’s a sad day coming by and by. When the sinner shall hear his doom: Depart, I know ye not! Are you ready for that day to come?" This day will be a sad day for many because of the words that will be spoken. The day Christ comes again, many will hear him say, "Depart form me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41).

The day Christ comes again will be a sad day because of the separation that will take place. All nations shall be separated, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats (Matthew 25:32-33). For the majority who have ever lived, it will be a day of eternal separation from God. Notice Paul’s words in II Thessalonians 1:78-9: "And to you who are troubled 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."

The day Christ comes again will be a sad day for many because of the eternal home that awaits the unrighteous. The home of the unrighteous will be a place described as an eternal fire, prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41). In stark contrast to a place where there is no pain, the unrighteous will inhabit an eternal home where there is wailing and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:42, also verse 50). It will be a place of everlasting punishment (Matthew 25:46). It will be a place where the fire is not quenched, and the worm dieth not (Mark 9:46).

The words to the chorus of this song remind us of the need to get ready for the day when Christ will come again. "Are you ready? Are you ready? Are you ready for the judgment day? Are you ready? Are you ready? For the judgment day?

Friends, are you ready? "Oh yes", you say. "I’m ready! Why, I believe in God. I believe in Jesus. I believe Jesus died for my sins." That’s commendable, friends. For the writer of the book of Hebrews wrote, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarded of them that diligently seek him" (Hebrews 11:6). But have you repented of your sins? "Oh yes," you say. "I’ve repented of my sins." If so, you are to be commended, for all men everywhere are commanded to repent (Acts 17:30). But have you confessed your faith in Jesus to others? "Why, of course," you say. "Of course I have." If so, that’s good, for must confess our faith before men. Jesus said, "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 10:32-33). But have you been baptized in order to receive the forgiveness of your sins? "Oh no," you say. "Why, I haven’t been baptized. Why, I was forgiven of my sins without being baptized!" Friends, that’s not what your Bible teaches. Jesus said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16). I plead with those of you who believe baptism is not necessary to be saved to quit arguing with God and take Jesus at his word.

Perhaps some of you have been baptized in order to be forgiven of your sins. Have you been faithful in your obedience? Paul wrote, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:1-2).

A person who has become a Christian but later has gone back into the world can still be forgiven, provided of course; he repents and asks God for forgiveness. James wrote, "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 5:16).

Friends, there’s a great day coming. Are you ready?

I thank you for your attention and hope you can be back next week.

Rod Halliburton