Sojourners & Strangers

The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and the other cities of the plain were judged by God and the evidence is there in the valleys surrounding the Dead Sea. It's not a story told as a fabled warning. It isn't fiction. Sodom and Gomorrah were and evidently are real places where the true God judged the unrighteousness of men. And if they are real, God's judgment is real. And if God's judgment is real, there is coming a day when Jesus will return to judge both the living and the dead. You know, if we can tell ourselves, walk away from Genesis 19 and say Sodom and Gomorrah, they're just a story we tell. It's a manner of speaking that we, you know, we talk about the seriousness of sin, but it didn't really happen. God doesn't really judge people for their sin in such severe ways. But, it seems the city is real. And if the city is real, then judgment is real. And God will come to judge the living and the dead through Christ. But the good news is this. This is good news, by the way. And it's our big idea for this morning. God warns and saves the righteous through judgment.

Placing trust in God's promises transforms fear into faith. Our past does not define us. Instead, through Christ, we find redemption and new life. Put your trust in him, knowing that his grace is sufficient for every trial, and walk in confidence, for God's promises are unshakable. For in times of fear and doubt, our faith in God's promises and our obedience to his commands will lead to redemption and new life.

How often has his failure taken the wind out of your sails and left you wondering if there is really anything you can do right or that you can do as a Christian? And so we wait we, we spend our lives awaiting further instructions as we open to John twenty-one. That is this that is a situation that the disciples are in, and so these verses highlight an incident that took place between Easter and ascension and the gift of the Spirit at Pentecost. These verses may have something to say to us this morning.

God has spoken decisively and finally through His Son, Jesus Christ, who reigns supreme over all creation and holds the ultimate place of honor at God's right hand.

Hebrews 2:1-4. Remove everything that distracts us from the gospel, for it is the faithful message of our salvation.