John 9:4 As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.

 

2 Corinthians 6:2 For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.

 

Romans 13:11 And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is  nearer nowthan when we first believed.

 

Revelation 3:2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.

 

1 Peter 4:7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.

 

Sermon 11/18/07

Your Redemption is Drawing Near!

Luke 21:5-28

 

[The setting:  Jesus speaks to his disciples about the destruction of Jerusalem (70 AD: Romans)   The disciples want to know more—when will these things happen?  What signs will help us identify them?  Jesus responds by talking about two events---the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD—within one generation from the time they speak and two ---his final return and the end of this world.  He warns them not to confuse the two. 

 

Signs of the END.  Wars.  Famines. Earthquakes.  These signs have been around for a long time.  The signs are clear.  The end could come at any time

 

Luke 21:25-28 "And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

 

The signs are clear.  The end IS drawing near.  Wars, disease, cataclysms on the earth—all of these are signs of the end.  Jesus says that when these things begin to take place—to lift up your heads because Your redemption is drawing near.

 

There has been a criticism of people of faith—at times justified---that (to use the cliché) They can be so heavenly minded that they’re no earthly good.  That is, that people can get so preoccupied with the future that today is ignored  So focused on the needs of eternity that the needs are today are not only neglected, they are not even noticed.  It’s been a problem since the earliest times .  Paul writes in his letter to the Thessalonians warning those who have stopped working because they believed the end to be immanent—to get back to work and make the most of today.  Believing that—yes, even as the bible says—the end was just around the corner, these folks stopped what they were doing to wait and watch for the final coming.  Their attention to the present entirely slipped away.

 

But I don’t see us havning that problem.  If anything, our challenge is the opposite.  How often DO we think about heaven?  How often DO we consider the return of Christ—and how that can happen at any time; that our lives could end at any moment.  The immanent return of Christ should have the exact opposite affect on us, no?  Think on that for a moment.  The bible would have us acknowledge that the return of Jesus is so near—it could happen this afternoon.  Tomorrow.  Next Week. 

 

How does the teaching of the end times, the reality that one day (and it could be soon!) Jesus will return with all his angels to usher in the new heaven and the new earth—how does this understanding affect how we live TODAY?  [NOTE: many of the following shared by congregation during sermon on Sunday]

 

  • Urgency to the actions of the day; to the mission of the church.
  • Expectancy.  We look forward to seeing God; to our final comfort.
  • Makes each moment more precious because time will come to an end.  Not a moment is to be wasted, squandered.  (Atheists and Agnostics sometimes charge that the teaching about eternity devalues today—the opposite is true.  The fact that time will end, that it has a limit makes today—THIS moment—precious, holy.)
  • Need For sharing the Gospel with as many as possible—before the final day when they have no more opportunity to hear and believe that good news.
  • NOW is the time to be at peace with God. We may not have time later.  NOW is the time to confess our sins and receive the forgiveness that Christ won for us on the cross.
  • NOW is the time to be at peace with one another; to enjoy our relationships.  They are gifts for TODAY and we need to value them TODAY.

 

“Straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

 

Near is the day of our comfort.

Near is the day of our healing.

Near is the day of our reunion with loved ones who are with the Lord.

Near is the ending of warfare and all earthly strife and conflict.

Near is the day when death will be overturned.

Near is the day when sorrow and tears will be wiped away forever and joy will remain for all times.

Near is the day when we will see the beautiful face of Jesus; Jesus who loves us.  Jesus who loved us enough to become one of us and to bear the weight of our sins on the cross, suffering out punishment in our place.   I can’t WAIT to see the face of Jesus.  To look into those eyes of love.

 

So be encouraged!  Do not lose heart, the long struggle will have an end.

Be vigilant and persevere! Don’t give up now!  Fix your eyes on Jesus as a runner sets her gaze on the finish line.

Do not be anxious! About all the upheavals and trials in this world:  These were long ago predicted by our Lord and they will soon meet their end.

Do not be dismayed at the seeming slowness of His return.  We’ve been talking a lot lately about this—God’s time is different than our own.  He is not slow as some understand slowness.  Why does he delay his return?  Out of mercy!  He does not one anyone to perish.  But there will come an end.  (see 2 Peter 3:8-10)

 

God knows your needs.  He knows you completely and He has promised never to leave nor forsake you. (see Hebrews 13:5-6)   Jesus’ own last words to his followers in the Gospel of Matthew remind us:  Surely I am with you ALWAYS to the very end of the age.  (see Matthew 28:20)

Amen.