The first year I tutored at Luther Prep School in Wisconsin I taught Grade 10 English. I would, of course, have preferred teaching religion or phys-ed but I’m thankful for the opportunity to have taught English grammar. I came to appreciate the importance of proper punctuation. Take a look at the following sentences for example. The only thing that is distinct about them is a single comma yet their meaning is like chalk and cheese: as different as can be.
“Don’t stop.” / “Don’t, stop.”
In the first sentence you’re asking someone to continue doing whatever they are doing while in the second sentence you’re asking that person to stop what they are doing. The comma makes all the difference in the world. Still not impressed that proper punctuation is a big deal? Tell that to Rogers Communications Inc. In 2007 they were forced to spend an extra $2.13 million to use utility poles in the Maritimes after the placement of a comma in a contract allowed an increase in rates to use those poles (theglobeandmail.com).
Last Sunday we entered into the Advent season. It’s a season of waiting for the Lord’s coming. What’s the proper way to punctuate the Advent message? Some, skeptics, punctuate it like this: “The Lord is coming?” The Bible, however, uses different punctuation. Earlier you heard the Apostle Peter state with finality: “The Lord is coming.” When a believer hears again that certain promise he can but respond with the shout: “The Lord is coming!”
“The Lord is coming?” Scoffers were already asking that question thirty-five years after Jesus’ ascension and his promise to return. No doubt that question has intensified in the minds of many as the last two thousand years have passed without a glimpse of Jesus. Maybe we too wonder if Jesus has forgotten about us here. Peter, however, assures us that we can get rid of the question mark and replace it with a period: “Jesus is coming.” Peter made that declaration when he wrote: “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:8, 9).
When you go out to eat at a fancy restaurant you’re expectation of how quickly the food will be served is different than your expectation at McDonald’s. If your food comes 15 seconds after ordering at a fancy restaurant, as it better at McDonald’s, you would be miffed. There’s no way your expensive meal could be anything but a pre-packaged dinner the chef quickly heated up after receiving your order. No. At a place like that you don’t mind waiting for your food.
In the same way we won’t mind waiting a bit longer for the Lord’s return when we keep in mind what he’s up to. Jesus is not like some minimum-wage-earning fast-food restaurant server who could care less about you and so pokes along as he gathers your fries and burger, stopping here and there to chat with other employees. Jesus is “slow” in coming back, explains Peter, because he is patient. He’s like the father who asked his son to mow the lawn before he gets home from work. Although he usually rushes home after work, this father knows that his son probably hasn’t gotten to the mowing yet so he takes his time. He stops at the bookstore. He grabs a coffee and reads the paper. What he’s doing is buying time for his son to complete the task so that no words of chastisement will have to be spoken when he arrives home. The father’s “tardiness” is a blessing for the son.
In the same way Jesus is “slow” in making his reappearance because he doesn’t want anyone to have to suffer his wrath over their unbelief. Notice how Peter said that God is patient with you (2 Peter 3:9). Can you think of a time in your life when you were glad that Jesus didn’t return because if he had, you would have been lost eternally? Thank God for his patience! Thank him for waiting until the Holy Spirit worked repentance and faith in your heart.
But now that we believe in Jesus why doesn’t he return already? I’ve often had that thought but it’s a selfish one. It’s like being thankful that the last bus home from downtown waited even though I was late for it, but then getting angry when the bus driver insists on waiting a couple more minutes for other stragglers. In the same way when we get upset that God is taking so long in coming we show that we don’t care what happens to others as long as we make it to heaven.
Instead of complaining that Jesus is so long in coming, why not do something to speed his arrival? Really? We can do that? Yes! When God works through us to spread his Word among unbelievers, hearts are changed, and the elect are brought to faith. The sooner all the elect are brought to faith, the sooner Jesus will reappear. That’s something to think about the next time we’re tempted to cut back on our outreach efforts here or withhold money from synod for mission work.
Yes, it’s been a while since Jesus’ promise to return but the Lord is coming, period. Because you can bank on Jesus’ return you better prepare for it says Peter. “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat ” (2 Peter 3:10-12).
The coming of the Lord is going to be an awful or awesome event depending on your relationship with Jesus. Those who have rejected Jesus will be terrified when they see everything they value go up in smoke. Their factories, their dream homes, their university degrees, their millions will all turn to ash. Since Jesus is coming, and with fire, how should we live our lives? Peter says that we ought to live holy and godly lives. Are you doing that, or are you stubbornly holding on to some sin? For example do you look forward to thanking Jesus in person for his forgiveness while refusing to forgive siblings for something they said or did years ago? Do you look forward to giving Jesus a big hug but refuse to extend the hand of love to people here? Do you long to hear Jesus’ voice but refuse now to listen to him speak to you through the pages of Scripture regarding a particular doctrine? If so, you are not ready for his return. You’re like the French admiral who surrendered to the English admiral, Nelson. When the Frenchman approached Nelson he smiled and extended his hand but Nelson replied: “No, your sword first.” And so it is with us who extend the hand of friendship to Jesus while refusing to let go of our vices. The Bible says that it cannot be this way. Extending the hand of friendship to Jesus means first breaking off the handshake with the devil and this world.
But isn’t that impossible to do? Doesn’t Satan have an iron grip on us? Satan used to have an iron grip on us but Jesus freed us from it. Like a negotiator who talks a gunman into taking him captive in exchange for the hostages he holds, Jesus made Satan think that if only he could get his hands on God’s Son and have him put to death, victory would be his. Jesus died and for three days it seemed as if Satan had been victorious. But Jesus came back to life shattering Satan’s hold on us because his paid for our sins. Now Satan can no longer make his accusations stick that we don’t have the righteousness God demands. Through faith in Jesus we are blameless of our sins.
Since Jesus has freed us from Satan’s power and broke our own sinful nature’s control over us we will make every effort to live holy and God-pleasing lives. “The Lord is coming!” we’ll exclaim to one another – not in fear but in joy and encouragement because Jesus is coming to forever free us from this fallen world of sin and to make a new home for us. Peter explains: “13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness” (2 Peter 3:13). This new world will be a place with no more Satan, no more grumbling children, no more unfair parents, no more self-absorbed classmates, no more careless drivers, and no need for G.P.s, grief-counsellors, or grave diggers. Everything and everyone will be forever perfect.
You may have chuckled when I started this sermon by talking about the importance of punctuation. But prudent punctuation is no joke. In Russia a period actually saved a man’s life. The Czar had condemned the man to death and sent this telegram to the jailer: “PARDON IMPOSSIBLE. TO BE EXECUTED.” The Czarina, who felt sympathetic toward the prisoner, intercepted the note and changed the punctuation as follows: “PARDON. IMPOSSIBLE TO BE EXECUTED.” The jailer released the prisoner and he fled the country before the Czar discovered what had happened (mrcoward.com). Likewise the way you punctuate the Advent message will have an eternal bearing on your future. Get rid of the question mark (?) and stand on the solid period (.) of God’s promise: “The Lord is coming.” Since that’s a fact, and since he comes to make everything new, raise your voice in joyful exclamation: “The Lord is coming!” Amen.
