Not Wanting Christ's Return

MATTHEW 25:1-13

Introduction: Jesus Christ is coming again, that is certain. The midnight call may be heard at any moment. And when that call takes place we will be going home. But sadly very few Christians are thrilled about the imminence of his return. Why aren’t more believers excited about the second coming of Jesus Christ? Why do so many Christians not want Christ to come back just yet? Let me give you several reasons why.

I. They are at completely comfortable in this world.

A. Amos 6:1 “Woe to you who are at ease in Zion…”

B. We Americans are blessed to live at this time and in this place. We have such incredible luxuries and wealth, and we often take for granted all that we have.

C. We’ve become too comfortable in our materialism. All of our toys make us happy.

D. We’re not excited about heaven itself because too many of us are so at ease in this life that heaven sounds like a boring place.

E. Matthew 24:44 “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

F. 1 Peter 2:11 “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul”

G. Consider Lot – Genesis 19:1 tells us that Lot had become so complacent in Sodom that he sat in its gates and when destruction was coming had to forced to leave the city.

H. Genesis 19:15-16 “When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, "Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city." And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city.”

I. Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

II. They are not ready to give an account to Christ

A. Romans 14:10 – 12 “But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.”

B. I once read a good illustration about how we need to set priorities. A college professor set a large jar on his desk in front his class. He took handfuls of big rocks and began filling the jar. When they reached the very top, he asked the class if the jar was full. The class responded “yes.” The professor then took some smaller pebbles and started pouring the pebbles into the jar. The pebbles fell in between the much larger rocks. When the jar was filled to the top with the pebbles, he again asked the class if the jar was full. The class caught on quickly. “No,” they said. And the professor then began to take some sand and pour it into the jar, filling the jar to the top. He then asked the class, “What do you think I was teaching you by this demonstration?” The class replied, “That there is always room for more.” “No,” the professor responded. “What I am trying to teach you is that you have to put your biggest things in first or there won’t be room for them later on. You can squeeze your smaller things around your bigger things, but you can’t squeeze your bigger things around your smaller things. There’s always room for the smaller things in life, but not always room for the bigger things if you’ve already put the smaller things in first.” Because we have a limited amount of time to accomplish things in this life, we need to make sure we have our priorities set on doing what we can for the Kingdom of God. Instead of being focused on the rock of Jesus Christ, most people are concerned with the sand of earthly desires.

C. 1 Corinthians 3:10, 12-15, ""For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad... If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames."