Most professing ‘believers’ today will tell you they are convinced that we are living in the ‘last days’; which really is not that surprising since even the writers of the NT, long ago... often spoke/wrote as if they too believed the same thing. John even wrote: ‘beloved...it is the last hour’ (1 John 2:18).

And take a look at the verbiage Paul used when he cited the somber and serious manner in which God had dealt with that first generation of folks who came out of Egypt under the leadership of Moses. He tell us those things were “examples (or warnings) and were written down for our admonition upon whom...the ‘end of the ages have come’” (1 Cor. 10:8-11).

Something that dawned on me a few years ago was the fact that every generation who passes through on this earth will have, face, and most likely experience...their own ‘last days’, or ‘end of the age’. Would you not agree? And I’m not trying to toy around with any ‘timelines’ that God may have established, but we humans are more easily entangled and caught up with timelines than God ever is; especially since He operates and exists outside of any boundaries of time.

Now please don’t think I’m trying to ‘split hairs’ here or argue over semantics, but when Jesus said: “Assuredly, I say to you...all these things will come upon this generation...” (Matt. 23:36), are we absolutely convinced He was speaking of only ‘one generation’ in one ‘sliver in time’...that was still 2000+ years away...when He shared the things He did in that chapter? That’s the one which follows where He spoke of ‘the end of the age’? (Matt. 24:3-4). But let’s just assume that maybe He was...and since most are of the opinion we are indeed...’that generation’ ...did He not say that these days would be just like the ‘days of Noah’ (Matt. 24:37-39)?

So what was the chilling reminder that He referred to when He made this comparison; was it not about a coming ‘flood’ that would ‘carry people away to destruction’? (Luke 17:27). Did Jesus not admonish us to “be ready...for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do NOT expect’? (Luke 12:40). Did Jesus not also admonish us to “watch therefore”...and how if only the ‘master of the house had known what hour the ‘thief’ would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into...”? (Matt. 24:43-45). What does it mean to ‘be ready’?

That is also an interesting word picture He uses there, about a ‘thief’ coming, given what we know what a thief comes to do- ‘steal, kill, and destroy’ (John 10:10). So then consider Paul’s reminder as to what the ‘day of the Lord’ will be likened to... assuming we ‘ourselves know perfectly well’ that it comes ...”as a thief in the night” (1 Thess. 5:1-3). Now go back and look at Matt. 7:24-27 where Jesus wraps up one of His most significant sermons with the illustration of two different men who built two homes on different foundations. Do you remember how He distinguished the difference between the ‘wise and the foolish’ builder? And what came to test both foundations of both homes...was it not a ‘flood’? So when Isaiah reminds us how the ‘enemy comes in like a flood’ (Isa. 59:19)...it seems to fit in nicely with this narrative I’ve been addressing for the past week...how God uses our ‘enemies’ to carry out His wrath, judgements, and yes...even our ‘corrections/discipline’, or tests.(Heb. 12:5-12; 1 Cor. 5:5; 11:27-32; John 5:14; James 1:2-4; 1 Pet. 4:12)

I’ll be honest with you here... I find myself regularly...going to the Lord after writing out some of these messages/lessons...and asking Him...’Lord...are people not going to grow tired of hearing this repetition of warnings and ‘take heeds’ and cries of impending storms and floods’? Care to guess what He reminds me of? The people back in Noah’s day grew tired of it as well, to the point they made light of it as their hearts grew continually hardened towards the word of God. (Matt. 24:12; 22:3-5; 2 Pet. 3:1-9; Heb. 3:12-13; 10:24-31)

The reason this all matters...is because Peter also spoke of ‘judgment’, making it a point to tell us where it ‘begins first’...with the ‘household of God’ (1 Pet. 4:17). He was not speaking in ‘future’ tense either. And what will the Lord be looking for when He comes? Seems like the scriptures are pretty clear...He is going to be looking for ‘good fruit’. (Matt. 3:7-12; 7:15-21; 13:36-43; Luke 13:6-9; John 15:1-8). Yep...I’d say it’s safe to assume that ‘fruit matters’. Which takes me back to the passage I left with you yesterday to read ahead in Isaiah 5.

There is quite the word picture drawn out here in this chapter, likening God’s people to a ‘vineyard’ where the owner comes looking for ‘good fruit’. And what did He find? (5:1-4). Seems I remember reading often how Jesus likened His church/people to a ‘vineyard’ as well. Matt. 20:1 and 21:33 would be a good place to read quickly, and please make note of what was built around that vineyard, in 21:33. Does your Bible say that a ‘hedge’ was built around it? Do you know what hedges are built for? To keep ‘critters’ out as a means of protecting the vineyard. Do you recall what Satan’s complaint was as to why he could not ‘touch Job’? (Job 1:9-10). Seems that protective hedge had something to do with Job being ‘blameless, upright, and one who feared God’ (1:1-2)

What is necessary in order for good fruit to be produced in our lives? Did Jesus not say we needed to ‘abide in Him’ because fruit could not be produced any other way? (John 15:1-6) And what do we know about those who ‘abide in Jesus’, according to 1 John 2:6; 3:6,9? And what promise is made to those who do abide in Him, according to 1 John 5:18?

So let’s dive back in to the OT to see how God brings judgement on His people when they fail to produce this ‘good fruit’. We already know the order that was given in Luke 13:7. So when God found only bad or ‘wild’ fruit that was ‘evident’ (Gal. 5:19-21)... what did He say He was about to do in Isa. 5:5? “I will take away its hedge, and it shall be burned; and break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down.” 

What really stands out to me in this passage is the question God poses...”What more could I have done?” (4)

Friends...God is asking the same question of us today. He came to set us free of all sin; so when we continue to sin, which those who abide in Him no longer do, should we expect anything different in which the way God will deal with us? When did God change? (John 8:34-36; Mal. 3:6; Rom. 6; Heb. 10:26-31; Matt. 7:21-23)

He tells us there in Isaiah 5:7 who the ‘vineyard’ represents: God’s people. Now read vs. 25-30, but first ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any ‘spiritual’ layer or truth that might be hidden in that text that is relevant to us today. Then meet me back here tomorrow.