Luke
21:25-36 NIV
25 “There will be signs in
the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity
at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of
what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27 At that time they will see the Son of
Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up
and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
29 He
told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for
yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you
know that the kingdom of God is near.
32 “Truly I tell you, this
generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have
happened. 33 Heaven
and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
34 “Be careful, or your
hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of
life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face
of the whole earth. 36 Be
always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is
about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
Look!
Hey you! Yea,
You! Turn your attention to God!
Isaiah
13:9-10 NIV
9 See, the day of the Lord is coming
—a
cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger—
to make the land desolate
and
destroy the sinners within it.
10 The stars of heaven and their constellations
will
not show their light.
The rising sun will be darkened
and
the moon will not give its light.
A crisis is near and a crisis is far off. Both
can’t be separated. Both are one.
In the face of my own sinfulness, I face a
crisis near and a crisis far off. In the face of my sinfulness, I must face the
reality of my sin near, and the reality of my sin far off. For, I am at the end
of myself.
Remember how Nathan approached David with David’s
sin of adultery with Bathsheba, and the killing of Uriah? David had a crisis,
near and far. I likewise, face a crisis of my own sin, both near and far. I can’t
fix my sin by anything I can say or do now or in the future. I have a crisis on
my hand that is beyond my control.
In the reality of my sinfulness, God comes to
me, in His own way and in my own time. Here in my sin now, is terror. Yet with
God, as He removes the mask of my human selfish pride and my thinking that I
can rescue myself, in my own way; God leaves me with a promise. As I stand
naked in the presence of my sin, before God, aware and ashamed, and sorry for
my actions; God repents me. God takes the action of showing me my sin and
repents me when I’m at the end of myself. And God then leaves me with a
promise.
At this moment look! Look up! God is closer than
I ever thought or imagined! In the midst of my despair, God comes to me with
the everlasting hope of a Cross in the midst of a cloud.
In the despair and the nakedness of my sin, God
cuts right through my pride of self, to save me from myself, sin and death. Yes,
God saves me in my sin. That’s amazing!
Yet, there exists, in this world, unbelievers
who fall in fear, and turn and run away from God.
Daniel
7:13 NIV
13 “In
my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of
man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient
of Days and was led into his presence.
But
there exists a difference between Disciples of Jesus, and the unbelievers.
Sure, both fear the consequences. But, Christians look to the “Last Days” with
hope and confidence. The use of this word “redemption” is the only time in the
Gospels associated with Jesus coming to us.
This
is the Second Advent of Jesus.
We
have now entered into the season of Advent. Advent is a special time in the
church year that we celebrate the coming of Jesus. Jesus came into this world
in flesh and blood as the sinless Lamb of God to rescue all mankind from sin
and death. In Advent, we look to Jesus coming.
Last week, in the reading from Mark, was the fig
tree. In Luke we hear “all the trees.” This coming of Jesus, both now and far
off, are a sign for ALL mankind.
And the “things” that Jesus speaks of, possibly
has a double meaning. Jesus came then in time… his coming into this world in
flesh and blood, AND Jesus comes to us now, in the midst of our sinful lives,
AND, Jesus will come again in the glory of The End.
Martin Luther touched on this in his Small
Catechism, in teaching the Lord’s Prayer.
Thy
kingdom come.
What
does this mean?
The
kingdom of God comes indeed by itself, without our prayer, but we pray in this
petition that it may also come to us.
How
is this done?
God’s
kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by
grace we believe His holy Word and live a godly life now and in eternity.
So, you see, Jesus came into this world in flesh
and blood, Jesus comes to us through Word and Spirit, and Jesus will return to
take all of those who believe to be with Him forever.
When? Well, then and now and then…
The “then” of the when,” doesn’t really matter.
The real “when” that matters the most is NOW!
Every day IS the LAST day. Every day is when
nothing is left. Now what? Well, the “Now what?” is God.
Well, now all of this is so confusing. But hang
in there.
Jesus mentions “this generation.” Who is this?
This generation is mankind or Jesus faithful disciples. Seems like double speak
in some way, doesn’t it? And then Jesus goes on to talk about “that day.” That
day impacts the whole earth and all people.
To be sure, Christians are and will be part of
the “Last Day.” But, Christians, will endure through prayer, trust, faith, and
hope, to stand through the grace of God in Jesus.
Disciples, don’t escape out of life, rather,
with God in and through Jesus, Christians escape into life. AND with Jesus and
ALL He has done, yes through Jesus, we will stand.
Jesus sees you as you are, AND, you matter to
Him.
Your life has purpose. Your life as Jesus
disciple, fits into God’s wonderful plan, piece by piece. God makes life and
makes life in you. You are part of an eternal song of ALL life. God’s life in
and through you, includes you.
What are we to do?
Look in the here and now and “Point to Jesus!”
Yes, point to Jesus then as Jesus came in flesh and blood, point to Jesus in
all the Words of the Old Testament, point to Jesus in your life now, and point
to Jesus when He comes again in glory.
Love stands in Jesus, the center of it all.
Throughout ALL creation, throughout ALL times.
Yes! Come, Lord Jesus, come! --- Today… tomorrow…
and forever!
Oh, Righteous Brand, my Jesus; teach me. May God
make my love and the love of all Disciples increase, the Advent Season, as
Jesus comes. --- Amen
I leave you with this Advent Song by Chris
Tomlin… enjoy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH7asSGxAxA
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