236. Mercy In The Day Of Judgment.

The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day. - 2 Timothy 1:18.

THE best method of showing our gratitude to some men for their kindness would be to pray for them. Even the best of men will be the better for our prayers.

Paul had already prayed for the household of Onesiphorus, and now he concludes by a specially hearty prayer for the good man himself. The repetition of the word "Lord" makes the prayer peculiarly solemn.

Onesiphorus had remembered Paul in his day of peril, and Paul begs the Lord to give him a gracious return in the day of judgment.

Yet the utmost he can ask even for so excellent a man is mercy. Even the merciful need mercy; and it is their benediction from the Lord himself that "they shall obtain mercy."

Let us consider this prayer under three heads—

I. "THAT DAY."

"That day": It is not specifically described, because well-known and much thought of among Christians. Do we sufficiently think of that day? If so, we shall feel our great need to find mercy of the Lord when it comes.

· Its date is not given. It would but gratify curiosity.

· Its length is not specified. Will it be a common day? It will be long enough for the deliberate judgment of all men.

· Its coming will be solemnly proclaimed. We shall know it. Ushered in with pomp of angels and sound of trumpet, none will be ignorant of it.

· Its glory: the revelation of Jesus from heaven upon the throne of judgment. This will make it most memorable.

· Its event: the assembly of quick and dead and the last assize.

· Its character: excitement of joy or terror. It will be the day of days, for which all other days were made.

· Its personal interest to each one of us will be paramount.

· Its revealings of secrets of thought, word, deed for good or for evil will be most astounding.

· Its decisions will be strictly just, indisputable, unchangeable.

· It will be the last day, and henceforth the state of men will be fixed for joy or woe.

How much we shall need mercy in the judgment! Every thought connected with it makes us feel this. Let us pray about it.

II. THE MERCY.

All will need it. Assuredly we shall need it ourselves.

To arouse us, let us think of those who will find no mercy of the Lord in that day—

· Those who had no mercy on others.

· Those who lived and died impenitent.

· Those who neglected salvation. How shall they escape?

· Those who said they needed no mercy: the self-righteous.

· Those who sought no mercy: procrastinators and the indifferent.

· Those who scoffed at Christ and refused the gospel.

· Those who sold their Lord, and apostatized from him.

· Those who made a false and hypocritical profession.

III. TO-DAY.

Our address at this moment is to those for whom we would specially breathe the prayer of the text.

The prospect of judgment for preacher and hearers leads us at once to pray for you and at the same time to urge you to seek the Lord while he may be found.

We would not have you despair as to the future but hope to find mercy in the present that you may find it in "that day."

· Remember that now is the accepted time, for—

· You are not yet standing at the judgment bar.

· You are yet where prayer is heard.

· You are where faith will save all who exercise it towards Christ.

· You are where the Spirit strives.

· You are where sin may be forgiven at once and forever.

· You are where grace reigns, even though sin abounds.

Today is the day of grace; tomorrow may be a day of another sort, for you at least and possibly for all mankind. The Judge is at the door.

Seek mercy immediately, that mercy may be yours forever.