This is Your Day!

“If you had known, even you, especially in this your day. . .  – Luke 19:42

 

The last week of Jesus ministry began with a triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Jesus was met with shouts of rejoicing, “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ Hosanna in the highest!” (Mat. 21:9). But the scriptural account goes on to state, “Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, . . .” (Luke 19:41). Jesus wept because He knew the fickleness of humanity and their dullness to the ways of God. He wept because He knew the sad truth that humanity misses out on God’s blessings because they are unready for them. Humanity misses out on God’s best because of disregard, spiritual dullness, and a degenerate set of priorities.

The nation of Israel missed her Messiah because she was not ready for Him. God had given them signs to watch for through the prophets Isaiah and Micah eight hundred years before (e.g., Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; 53; Micah 5:2), and five hundred years before through Daniel (Daniel 9:24-27). They had plenty of time to prepare and plenty of evidence to know who Messiah would be when He came. Unfortunately, to this day many Jews sadly still look for the first coming of their Messiah when He has come and is due to come again. Despite hundreds of prophetic identifiers Israel wasn’t ready for her Messiah. God had made it crystal clear how Messiah should be identified. But they were either inattentive, willfully ignorant, or simply rejecting of Messiah. This was and continues to be a source of sorrow for Jesus.

We need to learn from history. Otherwise as George Santayana said, “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Just as Israel missed the first coming of their Messiah, we can miss our first coming of Messiah Jesus. What do I mean? Well, what about you? No one is here by accident. God is looking for you. Oh, He knows where you are, but He is reaching out to you, inviting you to know Him and spend eternity with Him. He has a great day planned for you. Right now, this is your day! What will you do with it? Is this your day, your day of salvation?

Don’t Let Anything Keep You from the Salvation Jesus Offers

Luke 19:1–10 (NKJV) – Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. ² Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. ³ And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. ⁴ So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. ⁵ And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” ⁶ So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. ⁷ But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”

⁸ Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”

⁹ And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; ¹⁰ for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

I hope these inspired inerrant words speak to your heart, especially if you’ve yet to trust in Jesus as your Savior. What should we hear loud and clear from these verses?

First, don’t let anything keep you from the salvation Jesus offers (19:1-10). On His way to Jerusalem Jesus passed through Jericho (19:1). Jericho was known for its palm trees. It was a rich and flourishing town. It was at this point we are introduced to Zacchaeus, a rich chief tax collector (19:2). Tax collectors were despised and because his wealth came from collecting taxes he was likely resented by those around him. He was wealthy and had position in society and yet when he heard of Jesus nearby he sought Him out (19:3).

Zacchaeus was short. Even though he didn’t measure up physically, he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree so that he could see Jesus (19:3-4). For a wealthy man of status to run and even climb a tree was an act of humiliation. Zacchaeus made seeking Jesus a priority by humbling himself to a position where he could see Him. When we come to the Lord we do so humbly, on His terms, not our own. Zacchaeus didn’t proudly push through the crowd for an audience with Jesus. He humbly and in a childlike way scampered up a tree to see Jesus. Jesus said to enter his kingdom you had to enter it as a child, humbly and open to learn (Luke 18:16-17).

Jesus has His eye on us because He loves us. The story is told of a young elementary school boy who was quite a handful in his Sunday School class. As he was disrupting the class his teacher turned to him and said, “Johnny, the LORD has His eye on you.” The comment was meant as a fearful deterrent. After church that Sunday, when John and his Dad were spending some quality time together, his Dad could see that something was on Johnny’s mind. “Johnny is something bothering you?” the father asked. After a quite pause, Johnny said, “The teacher told me God was watching me when I was acting out today in Sunday School. It Jesus always watching me? Am I in trouble.” The father thought and then said, “Johnny, its true God’s eyes are on us always, but not only to see if we’re doing something wrong. Jesus has His eyes on us because He loves us so much He can’t take His eyes off us.” Johnny went from sullen and concerned to bright and wide eyed. “God loves me?” “Yes He does Johnny” the father affirmed. Johnny thought, “Well Dad, if Jesus loves me that much, I think I’m going to try to behave better and listen more so I can know Him better.” “I think that’s a good idea son. Let’s start now. Get my Bible” the father said. And they proceeded to have a great time together getting to know Jesus better and how much He loved them.

Jesus knows our name because He loves us. Jesus has His eyes on us. He loves us so much He can’t take His eyes off us. As Jesus passed by, He looked up and saw Zacchaeus and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house” (19:5). Jesus knew Zacchaeus’ name. You know the name of those you love. Jesus looked at Zacchaeus and knew His name because He cared for His soul. Jesus knows your name too, because He loves you and wants you to spend eternity with Him.

Jesus invites Himself into our lives. Zacchaeus was seeking Jesus, but Jesus knew of and was maybe looking for the short tax collector too. Jesus invited Himself to Zacchaeus’ house. What right did He have to do this? A King can invite Himself anywhere He wants. The host Zacchaeus then became the guest of King Jesus. Jesus takes control of the salvation process. He comes our way and is ready when we respond or show evidence of receiving the word He offers.

Receive Jesus when He comes to dine with you. At Jesus’ invitation, Zacchaeus immediately scampered down the tree and, “received Him joyfully” (19:6). Zacchaeus accepted the invitation of Jesus. He did so joyfully. Something in the rich tax collector responded to the invitation of Jesus. He may have had all he needed materially, but he was missing something more important. He knew that too. Otherwise he wouldn’t have climbed that tree. When Jesus said He would stay at his house, Zacchaeus heart leaped for joy. He sensed his emptiness was about to end.

Don’t let naysayers deter you from Jesus. The bystanders complained about this. They resented Jesus going to stay with a “sinner” (19:7). But public opinion didn’t prevent Zacchaeus from receiving Jesus. Even though these were the people he had to work with and live amongst, Zacchaeus didn’t let their opinion and peer pressure deter him. Nothing could keep him from opening his home and heart to the Savior.

When salvation is genuine it has a real measurable effect on the one saved. We don’t know what the entire conversation was between Jesus and Zacchaeus but what we do know is that it had an impact on the rich tax collector. He stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold” (19:8). These words indicate a life change based on an inward heart transformation. Zacchaeus was convicted of his sin. He wanted to make things right. What Jesus brought Him, he received. We know this because Jesus responded, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham” (19:9). A “son of Abraham” is another way of saying Zacchaeus had put his faith in God (see Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4). Zacchaeus was not saved by his works; his works were a product of being saved by the faith he put in Jesus.

Jesus’ priority is that you would be saved from your sins. The account of Zacchaeus salvation is an example of Jesus’ priority. Jesus said, “for the Son of Man has come to seek and save that which was lost” (19:10). That was Jesus’ priority and that should be our priority. If we are going to be ready for His coming we have to be saved ourselves. We have to receive Jesus into our hearts. Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Rev. 3:20). That’s the first order of business, be saved yourself. Then once your salvation is secure, make evangelism a priority like Jesus did. This is the first step in getting ready for Jesus.

Like Zaccheus, today He is in your neighborhood. Today Jesus has come, and He knows your name. He knows your name and He wants to dine with you. Today is your day! Come down from the tree and invite Jesus into your heart. Confess your sins to Him. Ask His forgiveness. Receive His forgiveness by faith. Walk with Him as your Lord. Do this by faith as the Spirit speaks to you, and you will never be the same. I pray this Resurrection Week is life changing for you.

Below is a description of the gospel. This is the path to eternal life mapped out in the gospel and New Testament. I pray you pray it into your soul. God guide and change your life.

How Can This Be My Day of Salvation?

Realize you can know you have eternal life –

• • 1 John 5:13 – ¹³ These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

Realize eternal life is not a matter of religion, but involves personally knowing God –

• • John 17:3 – “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

Realize sin separates people from Holy God –

• • Psalm 66:18 – “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.”
  • Isaiah 59:2 – “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you.”
  • Habakkuk 1:13 – “You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on wickedness.”

Realize you are a sinner –

• • Exodus 20:1-17 – Examine and assess yourself by the Ten Commandments
  • 2 Corinthians 13:5 – “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?”
  • Romans 3:10 – “As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one.”
  • Romans 3:23 – “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
  • James 2:10 – “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.” (also Gal. 3:10)

Realize there is a penalty for sin –

• • Matthew 25:46 – “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
  • Romans 2:8–9 – ⁸ but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, ⁹ tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek.
  • Romans 6:23a – “For the wages of sin is death,”
  • Galatians 6:7-8 – ⁷ Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. ⁸ For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

Realize you are lost and need to be saved from your sins –

• • Luke 9:25 – For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?
  • Luke 13:3 – ³ I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.
  • Luke 18:11 –¹¹ The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.
  • Luke 19:10 – ¹⁰ for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
  • John 3:18–20 – ¹⁸ “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. ¹⁹ And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
  • John 8:24 – ²⁴ Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

Realize Jesus paid the penalty for you –

• • 2 Corinthians 5:21 – “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
  • 1 Peter 1:18–19 – ¹⁸ knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
  • 1 Peter 3:18 – ¹⁸ For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,

Realize your salvation is a free gift from God.

• • Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
  • Ephesians 2:8–9 – For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast.
  • Titus 3:5 – ⁵ not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

Realize God did this because He loves you –

• John 3:16 – ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
• Romans 5:8 – “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
• 1 John 4:9–10 – ⁹ In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. ¹⁰ In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Realize salvation requires a repentant-heart-faith decision from you to receive it – To “repent” means to confess to God and forsake your sin. To “believe” or have “faith” unto salvation means Forsaking All (others or other means of salvation) I Trust Him.

• • Acts 3:19-20 – “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you.”
  • Acts 16:31 – “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.”
  • John 1:12 – “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”

Realize salvation is a matter of the heart –

• • Acts 8:36–38 – Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” ³⁷ Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” ³⁸ So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.
  • Romans 10:10 – “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Realize now is the time to call on God to be saved from your sins –

• • Romans 10:13 – For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
  • 2 Corinthians 6:2 – “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

A SALVATION PRAYER:

If you believe the above Gospel and are willing to trust in Jesus with all your heart as Savior, if you want the forgiveness of sins and eternal life God in this Gospel freely offers to you, with all your heart, pray this prayer:

“Dear God, I have sinned and disobeyed Your Laws. I admit I deserve eternal punishment. But I repent; I confess my sins to You and forsake them. I ask that You please forgive me, not because of any good works I have done, but because I believe Jesus paid the just penalty for my sins by dying for me on the cross. I believe He rose from the dead. I believe that with all my heart. I receive it by faith, as a gift of Your grace. Help me to live for You. Please Holy Spirit fill me, give me spiritual life, eternal life. Please help me to know you Father, Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit. Help me grow in a relationship with You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Now, begin praying and reading your Bible daily, regularly. Find a church that believes in and teaches the Bible as the word of God. Find a church where the Gospel is preached, and people believe in being born again. Find such a church and become a part of your new eternal family. And tell someone else about what God has done for you. Don’t go by feelings, live by faith in Jesus. He is faithful. He will help you. Remember this:

2 Corinthians 5:17 – ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

1 Corinthians 10:13 – ¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

2 Timothy 2:15 – ¹⁵ Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 – ¹⁶ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

 Acts 2:42 – ⁴² And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.