As Christians, we should have a heart for Jesus … which means to have a longing for Him, His purpose and His will.
As Christians, we should have a heart for people … which means to live our lives as a witness so others can also see Jesus.
As Christians, we should have a heart to share the faith that changed our lives and the hope that changed our eternity.
Let’s Pray for that heart…
Heavenly Father, we thank you for this day and for the transforming presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Let your grace and your peace penetrate the hearts of those gathered here together this day. Guide us that we may be all that you have called us to be. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Our Gospel message today talks about being prepared – and most believe it specifically addresses being prepared for the end of days, the end of time, the Second Coming of Christ.
As Jesus was ascending into heaven, the angels very clearly said, “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” But it’s been over 2,000 years since Jesus ascended into heaven. After the first 100 years came and went, many people were disappointed that he had not come back yet. Some wondered, if he would ever come back.
So, how about each of you today? Do you believe Jesus is still coming or not? And if he is coming, when will he come? Is it sooner or later?
The Day is Drawing Near
The Apostle Peter wrote this over 2,000 years ago, “The end of all things is near.” 1 Peter 4:7
Peter certainly thought Christ’s Second Coming was drawing near.
So, how close is it? A recent published article cited that 17% of Americans believe the end of the world will occur within their lifetime. They are looking for clues from God’s Word to know when. Well, I agree it is good to be looking in God’s word, but I think we will NEVER discern God’s timing for bringing in the new heaven and earth. He tells in Scripture to not waste ANY of our time in researching that question of “When will the end times occur?”
God was trying to tell us that is the wrong question entirely. We should NOT concern ourselves with the when, but concern ourselves with BEING prepared.
But I have always thought it rather strange to see how some are going about trying to answer this “wrong question”.
There are some people who try to use “Biblical proof” the end is near. For instance, some point to Daniel 12:4, which says, “Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.” They say, “this is a prediction of cars and planes – showing that the end is near.”
Others say that the “mark of the beast” is the Social Security we all have. Or, others look to the New World Order and the forming of the United Nations – claiming the Antichrist will rise through those organizations.
Others point to the forming of Israel in 1948 as proof that the end is near – and once all the Jews are converted to Christianity the end will come.
There’s all kinds of strange stuff out there – and all kinds of passages being used. People are on edge because of them, thinking that the end is just around the corner.
Of course, there have been groups out there predicting the end times throughout history, as well. Masses of people became convinced the end was near when Rome was ransacked in 410 AD, when the plague killed one-third of the entire population of 14th century Europe. In 1755 there was a massive earthquake near Lisbon, Spain, whose aftershocks caused church bells to ring as far away as England. Then, of course there is 1945 when for the first time human beings harnessed the power to bring about their own total destruction with the nuclear bomb.
This is what Mark wrote quoting Isaiah in Mark 13…
“…in those days …‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken’ … He will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds.”
Mark 13: 24-27
No matter what people say or think – make no mistake – Jesus IS coming. And he WILL gather his flock. There will be NO second chances, but the Good News is that NONE of his believers will be left behind.
But is it really as close as people think? We don’t know for sure. But as far as we know, it COULD be today! How do we know how close we are?
Jesus intentionally did not reveal the timing of His Second Coming. If He had, what would most people do? We would just keep sinning until just before His second coming, and then suddenly have a change of heart so we could be with Him for eternity.
But Jesus did leave us with some general signs and indications of His Second Coming.
Listen to what Jesus said to his disciples…
Signs of the End Times (Matthew 24:4-13)
• Many false prophets will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah
• You will hear of wars and rumors of wars
• Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom
• Famines and earthquakes will occur in various places.
• You will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me
• Many will turn away from the faith, and betray and hate each other
• Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold
It is interesting to note that every one of these predictions has come true. False Christs have come. The war in Afghanistan and Iraq is just another reminder that Jesus is coming soon.
Way back in Paul’s time he said to the Colossians this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, and the same has been true in every generation since. This means that Jesus could come any day. His day is surely drawing near.
The question is – “Are we ready – Are we prepared?”
How do we know we are ready and prepared?
What do you usually do when you hear a tornado siren? If you have never experienced one, your first inclination might be to go out and look since you have never seen one before.”
It’s one thing to look for and recognize the signs of a coming disaster. But it seems that people are getting so wrapped up in looking for the signs that they aren’t that worried about WHAT to do to prepare for the actual event.
There’s a website called “raptureready.com” that is dedicated solely to looking at the signs to determine how close we are to the day of Jesus’ return. But if you don’t realize that this is not going to just be another spectacular light show … but that your eternity is involved … you’ll be more caught up in the events, in the signs than what happens after the events.
Maybe that’s why Jesus never provided us a road map to the end of the world. Perhaps He did not want us to get distracted with the signs, but to focus on the goal of the end of times.
What is that Goal?
Our ultimate goal is to simply join Jesus in heaven for eternity. But how do we do that exactly? Some believe that the only way you will be able to survive the coming of Christ is if you don’t get a social security number – which they believe is the mark of the beast.
Others say that you have to move to Jerusalem – or hunker down at Petra, a rocky fortress 75 miles south of Jerusalem – to be able to survive Jesus’ Second Coming.
You may remember the cult – Heaven’s Gate. They thought that Christ was riding in on the Hale-Bopp Comet, so they drank poison mixed with apple sauce in hopes that their souls would be teleported to the comet somehow. Some people actually think, if they do these strange things, they will be ready for the Lord to return.
Doesn’t it seem like a strange way to prepare for the Lord to come a second time? What does getting a social security number have to do with the Gospel message? Or, why would you need to be in Jerusalem to go to heaven?
Throughout the Scriptures, God has laid one message of salvation out to all people. And I can tell you emphatically that it has nothing to do with a social security number, a bar code, what race you are, or where you live.
Jesus very clearly stated in no uncertain terms, “I (Jesus) am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Peter said, “salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
Paul said, ”It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this gift – is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”
Salvation has consistently been through faith alone in the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made – once for all. What does faith have to do with a bar code? What does righteousness have to do with where I live? Absolutely nothing. We can have faith in Christ in jail. We can have faith in Christ and still have a social security number.
We need the righteousness of Christ through faith in him – and we can have it at any age. When we believe in Christ, when we have faith in Christ, we are prepared for His Second Coming. Period!
There is nothing else we can do to prepare. That’s what the Bible says. So, that being the case, what should we do now?
What should we do now?
So, we profess complete faith in Christ as Lord and savior, what should we do now?
Jesus and the Apostles offer you encouragement after encouragement in the Bible to just remain in your faith in Christ. In fact, there is nothing else to do!
Jesus also said that things would go from bad to worse. Antichrists would come. Families would turn against one another. False Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect … so be on your guard.
This is what has many worried – that things are supposed to become worse. But most of us realize that things are already bad – right? Our children are being bombarded with anti-Christian messages on TV and at school, sometimes even within their own families. Messages like it’s cool to have sex when they want to – that they should make their own decisions – that their parents don’t know what they’re talking about.
Our personal freedoms of religion and speech are being hindered every day by new legislation proposing that it is a hate crime to speak against sin. So how are we supposed to prepare for that? How can we keep the faith when things are only getting worse? What should we do now?
I believe Jesus gave us a clear answer to all of this.
For example, He DIDNOT tell us to move to Jerusalem. He DIDNOT tell us to fight and rebel against the government. Instead, think about what Jesus tells us in our Gospel reading today.
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps, but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.”
Jesus is simply saying “keep oil in your jars”.
Keep Oil in Your Jars!
The explanation is simple – as God says, “faith comes from hearing His Word.” Just stay in the Word. Keep taking the Lord’s Supper.
It’s in God’s Word that He assures us that he still loves us.
It’s in His Word that God assures us that everything is under HIS control – even when the world seems to be falling apart.
So, stick with what got you here in the first place, and you will be fine … Jesus PROMISES you that
The Galatians were being told to jump ship, to go and get circumcised like the Jews, if they really wanted to be saved and follow in the footsteps of Abraham … and they were actually thinking about doing it!
What was Paul’s message to them? You foolish Galatians. Who has bewitched you?
Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified and resurrected. Consider Abraham: “He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
Understand, then, that ALL those who believe are children of Abraham … not just the circumcised.
If you want to be prepared for the trials and tribulations of the last days – to be ready for the coming of Christ – then stay in God’s Word … the Bible. It’s plain and simple … that’s the oil that keeps your lamp burning on the darkest of nights.
Just recently many of our children experienced their first day in school since early last Spring. Like with any big day – they were nervous, particularly since the COVID-19 Pandemic hit.
So, how did they prepare for it? I suspect they tried to be as normal as possible … perhaps they bought new clothes, and ensured they had a backpack full of supplies. They enrolled in classes, and they went.
Were all these things necessary? Not really. But since it was a big day – they wanted to make sure they were prepared.
When Jesus comes again – it is going to be a big day for us, especially since there will be no second chances. That will be it – life or death – for all eternally, and that is a promise of God.
But before he comes, things will go from bad to worse. However, if you already believe in Jesus, you don’t need to go out and buy new clothing, for you already have a robe of righteousness, washed in the very blood of the Lamb.
But like preparing for any big day, it’s good to review and make sure you are prepared for the day is drawing near.
Do you have complete faith in Christ?
Do you believe he died for you?
Are you staying in God’s Word?
Are you participating in Holy Communion often?
Review the facts. If you need more courage, or a strengthened spirit, get more into His Word. If you need more strength, attend the Lord’s Supper more often.
Keep yourself fully prepared, for Jesus’ Second Coming IS surely drawing near. Amen.