1. Grace, mercy, and peace to you from
God our Heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. The
message from God’s Word today comes from the Gospel lesson that was read a
moment ago, from Luke 21:5-28. In this
Gospel lesson Jesus our Lord teaches us that we as His followers can have
comfort in knowing what difficulties to expect in this world (vv. 8–13, 16, 17)
and a comfort in knowing that Jesus will deliver us even now (vv. 14, 15) and
when he comes again (vv. 18, 19). The
message is entitled, “The Comfort We Have
Until Jesus Comes Again,” dear brothers and sister sin Christ.
2. You
can probably remember the movies that have played on your fears of the
impossible actually happening. The technological progress of cinematic special
effects now enables us to visualize what once was limited to our imagination.
The movie Armageddon had us believing that a stray
asteroid really was heading our way and really could instantly wipe out half
the earth. Independence Day and now the recent sequel,
Independence Day: Resurgence, made us fear the possibility of the White
House being laid waste.
3. If
you were to witness the destruction of an “indestructible” national symbol or
landmark, such as the Washington Monument or Mount Rushmore, what kind of
“aftershocks” would strike your emotions? Now you can
relate to how the disciples reacted to Jesus’ prophecy about the temple in
Jerusalem in the opening scene of our text. “Not
one stone will be left on another.” It was unthinkable. Unfathomable.
Unbelievable. It would be, as far as the Jews of Jesus’ time were concerned,
the end of the world. Yet, Jesus tells
us in our Gospel lesson that we can have comfort in Him until He comes again.
4. There
are still moments in life that shake us to the very foundation of our being.
One of them is the fate of this world. The end of the world is still fair game
for authors and filmmakers to give us their impressions of what it will be like. Almost all conjecture about the fate of the
world is negative. Even “utopian” novels (Brave New World; 1984) have a decidedly
sinister element to them. We don’t feel good about the future of the world. And, modern popular culture plays on those
fears by bringing the “unthinkable” to life. There’s a heightened awareness of
“the end” today, although maybe not in the biblical sense. We have an increased
uneasiness about where this world is headed.
5. Jesus
brings out the same reaction in his disciples with his prophecy regarding the
temple (not one stone left on another). The disciples’ reaction is similar to
ours: When? What will be the signs? Make the unknown known to us! “What will be the signs” also has an element
of curiosity: “How will this happen?” Give us the technical info on these
phenomena so we might better manage our fears!
“When?” and “what?” are the wrong questions for us as believers as the
world nears its end. They are essentially
“insider” questions seeking privileged information. Those who ask “when?” and
“what?” are seeking their own advantage.
6. Take
the example of our modern election coverage. So much of what passes for “news”
in an election year is really speculation, which dilutes what will happen into what might
happen. The real result is that everything is now clouded with doubt and
uncertainty. And uncertainty creates worry and fear.
7.
“When?”
and “what?” (or “how?”) get our focus off the true messages of Christ’s return:
judgment and opportunity. Jesus tells us
today in our Gospel lesson from Luke 21 that we can have comfort in Him until
he comes again. The second coming is
also known as the last judgment. The Bible tells us there will be an end, a period of time to avail ourselves of God’s mercies
and forgiveness, offered in the saving work of Christ on the cross. The
destruction of Jerusalem was a model of that finite period, an end that God has set for the world.
8.
For us as believers, the second coming means our
final deliverance from this sinful world, but also our final mission given to
us by our Lord: “Be my witnesses.” Jesus
replaces “when?” and “what?” with “watch out” and “fear not.” Or, “wait without
worry” as we go about his final mission.
9.
“Watch out” for those who are out to deceive. The deceivers are out to hide the finality
and the severity of the final judgment, as well as the fact of Jesus as the
world’s only escape. In a time of
deception, Jesus beings us the truth. Truth
in himself, in what he has done to accomplish the salvation of every person. Truth in his Word, which the Holy Spirit uses
in our mouth to spread the corrective truth of God to a deceived world.
10.
“Fear not” in a time when the foundations of
society are being shaken, and believers will suffer the brunt of the abuse. The lives of Paul and the apostles, recorded
in the Book of Acts, are testimony to the “near” fulfillment of Jesus’ words. We are part of the “far” fulfillment, as we,
too, begin to run into stiff resistance to the Christian message. The Christian
faith is having more and more run-ins with “the authorities.” Examples: prayer before sporting events, Nativity scenes in
public places, the “generification” of our holidays, people getting fired from
their jobs or losing their businesses because of their religious beliefs.
11.
God gives us the tools to have comfort in Him
until Jesus comes again. He gives us the
certainty of his return. He gives us the
birthright of being his baptized children.
He gives us “words and wisdom” in the face of our opponents through the
presence of his Holy Spirit within us.
12.
What will mark our lives as we wait for Jesus’
return? Standing firm in patient endurance and a strong witness. God has given
us unchanging truth in changing times. We are called on to declare the dual
truths of the second coming: his judgment and his mercy. Believers always keep one ear open for signs
of the King’s return while we do the King’s business with all our might. We do
it because we care about those around us so that our Lord might care for them
for eternity. Watch out, but fear not. We can take comfort in Jesus’ promises
to always be with us as we wait for His return.
Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment