The Day That Changed America!
Reading 2 Peter 3v1-13.

Introduction:

Sitting at breakfast in Louisville, Kentucky, United States of America on the 11th September 2001 is a morning I will never forget should I live to be one hundred years of age. "Have you heard the news?" The young lady, looking after our table, tears streaming down her lovely fresh young face, cried out! "What News!" Came my puzzled response. "There has been a terrible explosion in one of the twin towers in New York City." Hurriedly, leaving our table we went to our room and immediately switched on the television just in time to see United Airlines Flight 175, a Boeing 767 crash into and plough through the second of those Twin Towers, plunging many dear souls to instant death, sending flames and debris showering down on Church Street New York.

How could two such magnificent machines with such competent pilots make such a mistake? One, maybe! Two? Never, this has to be the work of a terrorist mind I thought. Coming from Northern Ireland, as I do, at once, set my mind racing to home and the evil mind set of the terrorist’s that have stalked our beautiful country for over thirty years. Killing, maiming, bombing, continual destruction and mayhem, without a second thought for those who would in the deepest of agonies suffer with loss of limbs, loved ones, businesses, properties, and the indignity of being terrorised by sick minds who could care less about the personal feelings of people but whose only desire was to fulfil their own twisted mind-set agenda!

The dear people of New York were shocked beyond any shocking event in the past, the American nation was stunned into an amazing contemplative silence, the Democratic World at large was shattered into complete numbness, TV and radio commentators were speechless, searching franticly for words to convey the horror. In those amazing, horrible, unbelievable, never-to-be-forgotten time slots, 8-45am, 9-03am and 9-04am, the unthinkable, the unspeakable had happened and our television pictures told the whole heart-breaking story.

New York, Washington, the American Nation, the Democratic world, would change forever. Yes, this was the day that changed America forever, it was also the day that changed the world forever. In what ways, exactly, remains yet to be seen but great change there will be. Can I say folks, this awful tragedy should also bring about protracted and powerful change in the evangelical world, Christians, those Born Again of the Spirit of God should, from this amazing day onward, never be the same again! Why? Because in the tragic circumstances of life God, is calling us to attention. Our world at large, more specifically, our western world, that has had such a privilege of being natured on the gospel of the grace of God, is at full throttle, racing car like rebellion against a holy God. We are, as fast as our hardened hearts will allow, and as fast as our new age governments will accommodate, dumping our Christian heritage. To court and gain popularity many Christian leaders are jettisoning our precious Christian heritage. In the words of Judge Robert H. Bork, "ever since the mid-20th Century, we have been slouching towards Gomorrah."

Judge I get the distinct feeling we are moving rather more rapidly to that same destination these days.

So can I therefore ask a question as we come to this wonderful passage of Scripture, "What world are you living for?" Right now you might well be asking the question, what in the world is he talking about. Well, we live in a day when many dear people live looking back to a world that is already past and with rose tinted glasses wish longingly to be back in those good old days that weren't so good at all. Then there are others who are always looking forward with a deep sigh, wishing and hoping for a better world to come, dreaming of days when they have more money, a better job, a more stable relationship, a bigger and better home and many other things. The reality is though, we live in the present and we should make the best of where we are in what we are doing through a series of decisions. You see, life is made up of a series of decisions and the kind of decisions we make show in what kind of world we are now living in and what kind of world we are hoping for in the years to come. This in fact is Peter's theme in this chapter of the Bible. He reminds us of:

The World That Is Past! 2 Peter 3v6.
"By which the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished."

Peter talks firstly about a world that is passed and how it perished. What world was he talking about? Well, we get a vivid description of that world in Genesis chapter 6v3-8.

A. These were days when God made Decrees: Gen. 6v3.

One of those decrees said, "My Spirit shall not always strive with man."

Or as the NKJV says, "My spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; and his days shall be one hundred and twenty years."

As we well know, there is a time limit on every life that is born of woman. The Holy Spirit, during that time period, works in the heart and mind of ever individual, calling them to repentance and righteousness through the Preaching of the Scriptures, the Power of the Spirit and indeed the Prayers of the Saints (God' s people). The time limit given to the people in Noah's day, the day's we are reading of just now, was 120 years. That would be the cut off point, then God would stop speaking through His Spirit and start judging those who refused God and Rejected his offer of salvation, His judgement coming by way of flood in those days. That amazing truth still stands in God's Word, there is always a cut off point when God may stop speaking by His Spirit. It may be at the end of life, it may be because of a hardened heart such as we read of in Romans Chapter 1. But a cut off point there will be, for that reason every individual should on hearing God speak to them by His convicting Spirit, respond in the positive.

These were days filled with Danger: Gen. 6v4.
In this antediluvian civilisation there were giants on the earth and the end of verse 4 says, they were men of renown. That means they were renown for evil deeds, thus the reason I said theses were days of danger. They were so evil they wanted everyone around them to be of the same evil influence and habits as themselves, so they worked on the minds and hearts of people to make those around them evil. The idea being, its much easier to live in that evil manner if all around you are of the same mind, no conviction makes you to feel easy in your own mind and heart. Black sheep amongst black sheep mix well.

C. These were days when people were Dominated: v5.

The Bible says, "that every imagination of the thoughts of their heart was only evil continually."

Try to imagine if you will living in a world where no one, but no one, thought of nothing at all but evil. What a horrible world that would be. Right from their earliest days even the children would be dominated by the thought of thinking and doing evil.

These then became days of Destruction: v6 & 7.
"It repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart."

Then in v7 he says "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth."

God, as always was as good as His word. Unlike the people of this world, many of us give our word about something or other and then do not keep our word, God keeps true to His word at all times as he did in this amazing story. He sent a great flood! Time was up. He had spoken through the preaching of Noah and the convicting power of His Spirit but no one gave any heed to what was being said, rather they laughed and mocked. Now though, the laughter would stop, the mocking would come to an end, judgement was coming even though it seemed as if it never would. But thank God that was not the end!

These also became days of Deliverance: v8.
"But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord."

Why? Because he believed God repented of his sin and turned to righteousness, he and his family. What was the outcome for that family? They were saved from wrath and judgement. The ark that God told them to build became their salvation. Just as Jesus Christ died to become mans salvation, to become mans place of shelter from the storm of God's wrath and judgement, by believing God, repenting of sin and turning to righteousness in this wicked evil world humankind today can find deliverance from eternal death and hell.

But through this story of Noah and his day, God is reminding us, remember there is a cut off point, it may come sooner that you think.

Jesus said when He was on this earth, "As it was in the days of Noah, so it shall be also in the days of the son of man." Luke 17v26.

2. The World That Is Present! 2 Peter 3v7.

Peter now turns to the world that is present. "But the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgement and perdition of ungodly men."

What is the Apostle Peter saying? He is saying, hey listen folks! Just as our world, in Genesis was judged by God because of sinful ways, so this world we are now living in, God says, is reserved for judgement, by fire this time! What?

You mean there is a day coming when this world in which we now live will be judged by God, and judged by fire? Yes! That is exactly what Peter is saying. But why? I hear some reply.

Dr. Vance Havner said, "The only thing we learn from history is, we never learn." End quote!

What have we learned in this generation from Noah's generation of so many years ago. Is history about to repeat itself? Have we taken notice of what God has been saying all these years in His Holy Book called The Bible?

The Apostle Paul this time, writing to his young friend and pastor, Timothy says, "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." 2 Timothy 3v7. That seems to be the kind of people we are in this age. We know more today than we have known in any other age, yet sadly, with respect to the things concerning God, and eternity we know less than any age that has gone before. Head knowledge is a wonderful thing but unless its sanctified by God it can be the most dangerous weapon known to man. Germany had great knowledge and with it she set about wrecking our world killing millions in the process. Hitler knew his program but not God's. At first this amazing war machine seemed to be succeeding sweeping over Poland, through Norway, France, the Balkans and on into Russia. But Hitler tackled one race, the Jews, of which it had been said by God Himself, "I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curseth thee." Genesis 12v3.

Some things are for us to know and we should apply our hearts to wisdom as the Scripture says. Then some things are not for us to know, blessed is the man who learns early in life which is which. Most of this world's unhappiness is caused by not knowing so well what we should know and by trying to know what is none of our business.

A description of this present world, in which we are now living is given to us by the Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 3v1-5.

In this world we will meet perilous days: 2 Tim. 3v1.
There are going to be wars and rumours of wars, famine, pestilence, earthquakes and a most unstable situation such as Matthew 24v6-7 and Mark 13v 7 refer to. Surely what we hear and see today confirms the Bible was correct. Way back two thousand years ago the Spirit of God revealed to men like Paul, Peter, John and others what would happen way down the years when it was coming near the Lord's return for the church and then eventually his return to this earth. What they have revealed is now coming to pass. Should that not make us sit up and listen, especially those who are not prepared to meet their God!

In this world we will have precarious Days: 2 Tim. 3v2-3.
What does that mean. Very simply put, it means an evil working and warring against God. This free living, free loving society are to turn their backs on all the good council of God with respect to pure and clean living. What's the result? A destructive illness from which, thousands of people die daily.

C. In this world we will have pleasure filled days: 2 Tim. 3v4.

Humanity will come to a point in time the Bible says where they will be lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. That is, people will prefer the pleasures of this world more than they will want to know the pleasure of sins forgiven, the assurance of a home in heaven and the great pleasure of knowing this world is not their final home. Oh the joy of knowing we are not citizens of earth but rather we are citizens of heaven making our way home to that fair land. To arrive in that prepared place we must be a prepared people which, comes only by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

D. In this world we will have pretentious days: 2 Tim. 3v5.

Many will simply pretend they are right with God, they will put on a show of godliness but in actual fact they will all the while be denying the power of God in their living. So if you know someone who looks like and sounds like a hypocrite, just remember they are living proof there is in this world the real thing. You cannot have a fake unless there is first the real thing!

Listen, listen folks, this world we now live in will end in judgement by fire. God is going to purge this world and make everything new, so can I ask the question I asked earlier? What world are you living for? Maybe you are saying, preacher you are painting a grim picture, you don't hold out much hope. Oh just the opposite is true, you see Peter speaks of yet another world:

3. The World That Is Prospective! 2 Peter 3v13.

"Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for a new heavens and a new earth, in which dwelleth righteousness."

And do you know what? A description of this new world is found in Revelation 21 & 22. (Please read these two chapters)

It’s a world with a WARNING sign written upon it: Rev. 21v8.
"But the fearful, and the unbelieving, and the abominable, and murders, 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."

It’s a world with a NO ENTRY sign written upon it: Rev. 21v27.
"And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lambs book of life."

It’s a world with a WELCOME sign upon it: Rev. 22v17.
"And the Spirit and the bride say come. And let him that heareth say come. And let him that is athirst say come. And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely."

The warning sign says, not everyone can enter in, the no entry sign tells us why we cannot enter in, because our names are not written in the Lambs Book of Life. Then the welcome sign reveals to us how we can enter in to this wonderful world, which by the way is an eternal world because its God's World. We enter in by hearing the Word of God, believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour, of whom the Book speaks. Romans 5v19 says,

"For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."

Ted Tinling spent twenty years as master of ceremonies of the prestigious Wimbledon Tennis Championships. Then in 1949, he committed an unpardonable breach of etiquette by allowing Gussie Moran to come on court in lace-trimmed panties (shorts). Fired for his error, he was an outcast for the next thirty-three years. Only in 1982 was he forgiven and received back into the ranks. When people repent of their sins they find God eager to forgive and have them back. The acknowledgement of their sin, and their sorrow for so grievously offending Him, and their request for cleansing will bring complete pardon. God will not place them on probation, but automatically grants his love and acceptance. Our God give to us instant, full, forgiveness, his grace is greater than all our shame.

Hear His voice today saying, come one, come all and come now!

God Bless America and save many dear friends in that great country!

America we love you and our prayers are your constant companion!