Don’t Miss the Bus
2 Peter 3:3-4 & 8-15a
December 27, 2009
When I lived in Kansas City attending seminary, I worked as a school bus driver. Now I’ve got to tell you, if the Discovery channel wanted to do a real Reality Show, the producers should have ridden around on my bus with me. Some of the stuff that went on was made for reality t.v.
For example, my bus route wound through the inner city of Kansas City. Most of the children had designated bus stops at the corner of their street. But every year the bus company would designate a few stops that were at a child’s house. Nevertheless, whether the stop was on a street corner or at the child’s house the child was to be ready at least five minutes before the bus arrived.
Well, I had a stop at the home of one child who, for the life of her was never, and I mean never ready on time. So I’d pull up to the stop, flashers on, blocking the narrow inner city street and I’d wait. When the mother realized I was stopped in front of their house, she’d generally appear in the open doorway in just her underwear, wave and shout, “Here she comes.” No foolin’ in her underwear–that’s all–shouting, “Here she comes.”
So I’d wait. Wait for the little girl to be ready for the bus. And there was always a different reason that I had to wait. Wait for her to get her shoes on. Wait for her to brush her teeth. Wait for her to put her coat on. Wait for her to finish her breakfast. Wait for her mother to get dressed–just kidding–I knew that wasn’t going to happen.
Each day she was later and later being ready. So I realized that by waiting I was only enabling her to not be ready, because she knew I’d wait. So I radioed my dispatcher and explained the situation. He said, “Okay tomorrow, when you make that stop, if the child is not ready when you arrive, wait one minute. If she doesn’t come out during that minute, go onto to your next stop.”
I protested, but what if her mom shouts out the door that’s she’s almost ready? He said, “It doesn’t matter you leave and go to your next stop.” “But she’ll call in.” I said. He said, “We’ll handle it.” “Okay.” Confident now that I had the full support of Ryder Student Transportation Services, I embarked the next morning to what I was sure would be a rather “revealing” encounter.
Of course when I arrived, the little girl wasn’t ready. In customary fashion, the mother appeared at the door in–yup, you guessed it–her underwear exclaiming, “Here she comes.” To which I thought, “yeah right.” I looked at my watch and waited exactly one minute, then closed the door to the bus and proceeded to drive away. As I looked in the sideview mirror I heard and saw the mother–and I’m not making this up–running down the sidewalk, in her underwear, waving her arms and shouting, “Here she comes! Here she comes!” To which I replied, “Here I go!”
Well, can I tell you, from that time forward, that little girl was always ready and waiting at the door when I arrived. And there was one more really good thing that came out of it: I didn’t have to see her mom on her underwear any more! Yay me!
Which got me wondering have you ever missed anything because you weren’t ready? You know missed out on something because you weren’t prepared?
Take for example Christmas. I’m sure none of us missed Christmas but did you feel like you were really prepared for it? Doesn’t Christmas seem to come around more quickly every year?
And even though we KNOW it’s coming (I mean it’s always on the same date every year) we still scramble to get everything done, to make sure we’re ready. I suppose it’s a good thing that we know the exact date of Christmas because if Christmas was just some random day in the future we might well never be ready for it. Hello procrastination.
I must confess, I didn’t feel totally prepared for Christmas this year. For all intents and purposes I was prepared. The Christmas shopping got done. The packages were mailed. The house was decorated. But for some reason, I just wasn’t prepared for Christmas internally.
I don’t know why really. There were lots of things we did as a congregation to help us get ready for it. For example, in each worship service following Thanksgiving, we listened to Advent readings, we lit the Advent candles. Pastor Steve preached excellent, thought-provoking, encouraging Advent sermons . . . (please tell him I said that, staff evaluations are coming up again and well, . . . you know–job security.)
But now, all our Advent and Christmas celebrations are past. Which begs the question, Is that all there is? Do we just wait until next year when we do all that advent stuff and look forward to Christmas in 2010? Or is there something more that we as believers have to look forward to?
Well, as a matter of fact, there is something more. It’s called the second advent. The second advent refers to the time Jesus will come again. It is when Jesus will return in all his power and glory. The first Advent: Jesus’ birth, saw the Messiah come into the world as a new born baby.
But the second advent will be much different. He will return but not as a helpless, little infant; Jesus will return as King of kings and Lord of lords in all his glory, majesty and power. And this arrival will be one no person, living or dead will miss. It is will be as when Paul says, “Every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”
For the time being, however, we find ourselves in a rather strange place–and I don’t mean sitting here listening to this sermon. No, what I mean is that as we wait for the second advent we are in an in between place. Here we are after the first advent but before the second advent. We are in between the two: Jesus’ birth and Jesus’ return.
Which leads me to ask, How do in between times effect you? Think about a few of the in between times in your life. What’s it like to be there? What feelings do in between times create in you? Fear. Hope. Anxiety. Uncertainty. Anticipation.
Often being in an in between time can elicit a variety of feelings. For some people it may create a sense of exhilaration as one waits with expectancy for something good or exciting to happen. Like the birth of a child.
An in between time may leave us feeling anxious or scared, especially if we don’t know what the outcome might be. Like waiting for an answer to medical tests when our health is in question.
We might respond to in between times with impatience. “Let’s just get this over with. I’m tired of waiting.” Or we may feel like we wish we weren’t in this place at all. If it goes on too long we may feel like it’s never going to end. Like nothing’s going to change. That it’ll be this way from now on so what difference does it make?
You know the disciples experienced some of these feelings. Between Jesus’ death and resurrection they felt hopeless and helpless. The One in whom they had placed their confidence and trust, the One whom they acknowledged as God’s Son was dead. For the three days, between Jesus’ death and resurrection, the disciples felt the weight of their grief and despair.
It’s the same for us. We are in an in between time. Except it’s not just a three day wait. Our wait has been centuries, literally centuries. I’m referring to the in between of the first advent and the second advent.
So what does it mean to live between Jesus resurrection and his second coming? Does it give you a sense of hope and anticipation. Does it create in you feelings of concern and fear. Or perhaps because we’ve waited so long for his return we begin to think that he’s not coming at all.
I remember when I was in my teens, I always thought Jesus would return before I was 25. But 25 came and went. Okay, he’ll be back before I turn 30. 30 slipped by. All right, certainly, he will show up before I turn 35, nothing. Here I am in my 50’s and I sometimes wonder if he’ll return during my lifetime. I guess you could say my sense of expectancy has diminished. Nevertheless, I still need to be ready. I don’t want to be unprepared when Jesus arrives.
But I’m not the first and I probably won’t be the last to feel this way. In fact, Peter addressed this very thing in his second letter. Let’s see what he has to say. I invite you to take you Bibles if you will, following along, and listen to the words of 2 Peter 3:3-4 and 8-15
First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”
. . . But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day. The 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.
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.
Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 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. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lords’ patience means salvation . . .
You see in these verses Peter addresses an issue that was infiltrating the church, one that had the potential to undermine the faith of believers. There were people who chided Christians for their belief that Christ would return one day. Essentially they said, “Why do you hold onto the belief that this Christ you talk about will return? Can’t you see that nothing has changed? Everything is the same as it’s always been.”
But the problem for these folks was they were more focused on the observable world and what it had to offer than the condition of their spiritual lives. In fact, these skeptics weren’t trying to understand God at all, they were more interested in pursuing their own selfish interests. Peter addresses this issue because he does not want these cynics planting seeds of doubt in new believers.
Did you know that early Christians were often persecuted for their belief in and commitment to Jesus Christ. One of the things they held onto tightly was the belief in Jesus’ imminent return. This gave them hope. For persecuted Christians Jesus’ return meant two things: 1. an end to their suffering; and, 2. God’s judgment on those who were persecuting them.
But Peter counters the scoffer’s criticism that “everything is the way it’s always been” with a reminder from the Old Testament. He paraphrases Psalm 90:4, “Don’t forget, With the Lord a day is like a thousand years and thousand years is like a day.” Essentially, Peter is saying, Don’t assume God’s asleep at the wheel because it seems as though everything is business as usual.
Now honestly, I don’t know how much that would diminish my concerns–especially if I’m being persecuted. I would probably want to say to Peter, “you know that doesn’t really offer me much hope. Do you mean there’s a possibility I’m going to have endure this suffering my whole life?”
Have you ever had to endure something that seemed like more than you could handle? Perhaps you’ve even asked the question: God how much longer do I have to deal with this? If you’ve had that experience, or are in it now, how would you like to hear, Oh don’t worry this won’t go on forever, only a few thousand more years.
Yes, I’m being a bit facetious. But Peter isn’t. His intent is to keep hope alive. Essentially, he is saying, Don’t give up, hang in there. God knows you situation and he is faithful. And can I tell you that same truth is for us today. It’s just hard to believe when we’re having a tough go of it.
And it’s understandable that we wonder, but God promises us that he is right there in the between place with us. No matter what you’re experiencing, no matter how difficult life may be right now, God knows your situation and his is with you.
But let’s be honest; the hard part is the waiting. We may ask, God why are you taking so long? And Peter explains why God tarries: it is because of God’s great love. God doesn’t want anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance. God’s love for humanity is so great that he waits with the hope and anticipation that more people will embrace Jesus as their Savior.
Now can I tell you this puts an entirely different spin on what the critics are saying. Their underlining premise is that God does not care about his children and that’s why he’s slow in keeping his promise. Peter says, No! God does care, in fact he cares so much that he waits so that others can come to know him too.
Have you ever really considered that idea? God chooses not to send Jesus just yet because he loves us so much that he wants more people to come to a place of repentance in their lives.
Earlier we talked about being caught in the in between place of Jesus’s birth and his second coming and what being in an in between place feels like. It can be a difficult place especially if we aren’t sure how things will turn out, especially if we feel someone or some thing else controls the outcome.
But you know what? God is in the same in between place we are–because of free will. Along with us, he waits. Expectantly, hopefully, perhaps even a bit of uncertain. Have you ever thought about that? God in the in between place, not entirely sure of the outcome. I wonder how being in the in between affects the Father?
His desire, of course, is that all people will come to a place of repentance but he waits with great anticipation about what choice they will make. He waits to see what choice we will make.
But it certainly feels like we are the one’s waiting on God. And let’s be honest, waiting can be difficult if not intolerable. We want God to do something and we want him to do it now. God’s patience becomes our impatience.
Peter reminds us that God has a bigger picture in mind and that picture is God’s plan of salvation for all humanity. God’s patience is motivated by his love for us, indeed for all people.
Now can I tell you that is an entirely different picture than was painted for me when I was growing up. You see I was raised in the church. And from the time I was little, I remember being in church every Sunday morning and Sunday evening. I heard lots of hell fire and brimstone messages about God’s judgement and what would happen to a person if that person didn’t get his/her life right with God.
I went to the altar many times to confess and repent my sins–mostly because I was scared out of my wits about going to hell, or terrified that Jesus would come back and I wouldn’t be ready.
I also heard a lot of sermons based on Peter’s next sentence: “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.” Again, it seemed to me, those sermons were intended to create a sense of dread, or even panic, in order to elicit a response.
I know these sermons had their place. But sermons about Jesus coming like thief in the night were generally preached in way that implied that he was waiting for the most number of people who weren’t ready and then return so the greatest number of people were sent to hell.
My friends, this is NOT what Peter is saying.
God waits because God loves. God wants everyone to come to repentance. What Peter means by Jesus coming like a thief is that we are to be ready for his return no matter when he comes. It is not that God is waiting to send Jesus when the most people are not ready. No, he waits because he wants more people to be ready.
What Peter is telling his original audience and us, is that no knows when Jesus will return. It could be today, or tomorrow, next year or a thousand years from now. We don’t know; not even Jesus knows. He may return at anytime; therefore, we need to be prepared, we need to be ready whenever he may return.
But we should not think that God’s seemingly infinite patience is an opportunity to put off making sure our life is right with the Lord. Too many people adopt the mind set that since Jesus hasn’t come yet, he’s not coming for a long time, if at all. That’s what the folks of Peter’s day thought. Problem is, just because he hasn’t returned yet, doesn’t mean he’s not going to. God is not willing that any should perish, but he will return. Whether we are not we’re prepared for that day is up to us.
Have you read or heard these verses before? They come from Matthew 29:30-31. “At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.”
Now can I tell you, before I committed my life to Christ, I used to have dreams about Jesus coming back and I wasn’t ready. One of my more frequent dreams went like this.
I was in my car driving to work at UPS. All of the sudden over the blare of Aerosmith coming from my 8 track–yes, I said 8 track–I heard an incredibly loud trumpet blast. Startled I would pull over, get out of my car and look around to figure out where it was coming from.
Just then the sky would take on strange kinds of movement, become as bright as the sun and split in two. Then I would see Jesus descending through the clouds, returning to earth. In that moment I knew I had missed my opportunity. I’d fall to my knees to repent but it was too late. Jesus had returned and I wasn’t ready.
I think that was the Lord’s way of telling me I needed to get my heart right with God. And you know what, since I committed my life to Christ, I have not had another one of those dreams. There is a deep sense of peace in knowing that you are ready to meet the Lord.
Keep in mind, being in the in between time can also be a good thing. For us, it’s definitely a good thing. During this in between time, we have the opportunity, because of God’s great love and patience, to choose for Christ. It’s not too late for us.
We are in a great place because we have the time available to us to get ready and stay ready. But just because time is available to us, we should not put it off making the decision. Unfortunately, far too many people put off getting ready.
We tend to live our lives as though we have a guarantee about how long we’re going to live. So we put off making our heart right with God, thinking, “I’ve got plenty of time.” But the reality is none of is guaranteed how long we have. That’s why there’s no time like the present to make ourselves ready for the Lord.
But two questions remain: First, how do we get ready, and second, how do we stay ready. Well the good news is, Peter has answered both of these questions for us in these verses.
First, we get ready by coming to the place of repentance. By faith we embrace Jesus Christ as the Son of God and we commit our lives to living for him. Second, Peter outlines for us how to stay ready. Peter instructs us to live “holy and godly lives.” But what does it mean to live “holy, godly lives”?
Some people think living a holy, godly life means doing all the right things all the time. Obeying the Ten Commandments and following all the rules. True, being holy and godly means obedience and responsible living. But being holy and godly means so much more than rule keeping.
The reality is, living a holy, godly life is first and foremost about relationship. A relationship with God through Christ. That relationship informs and transforms all our other relationships.
Jesus said the two greatest commands are to love God and love one another. Because of our relationship with God we can love others the way he does. And when you love others like God loves them, you are living a holy life. When you love the way God loves you are being godly.
But does Peter expect too much when he tells us to “live holy, godly lives” and to “make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him”? Is that really doable?
We may think Peter’s instruction improbable if not down right impossible. I’m sure there are a lot of us who realize that it is no small challenge to live a godly life in the midst of such a secular culture. With that in mind, is there any hope of being found spotless when Jesus returns?
The good news is YES! And, here is where it all ties together. Remember the first advent how the people had waited for Messiah to come? That first Christmas night in Bethlehem the Savior was born. God intersected human history in the form of a baby to once an for all make a way for our salvation, for us to be in right relationship with God.
Jesus life, death and resurrection forever released us from the power of sin in our lives. We are no longer victims to sin, as if it happens to us against our will. No the power of sin has been forever dismantled by God through Jesus Christ.
Not only does God release us from the power of sin; he empowers us to have victory over it.
Believe me God knows the power of sin. He knows how sin cripples his children, how destructive it can be in people’s lives. But for those who choose to follow Jesus, God gives them an even greater Power, the power of his Holy Spirit who, when invited, comes in and lives in our heart.
Think of it: the same exact Spirit that was in Jesus, is the very same Spirit that will live in you! Can you believe that? If you invite Jesus into your life, the same Spirit of God that lived in Jesus, will now live in you!
My friends, since the same Holy Spirit that lived in Jesus now lives in us, we can live the life Peter is calling us to live: a holy, godly life, spotless, and blameless! That kind of life is not an impossibility, it is a God-empowered reality! As we walk in relationship with God, God enables us to live the life he’s called us to live. Get this! If God calls you to it; he will empower you to do it.
Wow! That’s good news! In fact that’s great news!
Yes, there is a part we play in it. We commit our life to the Lord and each day we make a decision to walk with him in faithful obedience. As we do that God himself empowers / enables / equips us to live the kind of life that is holy, godly, spotless and blameless.
And can I tell you, that kind of a life results in peace. A deep abiding sense that we stand in right relationship before God at all times. It’s the kind of peace that assures us that we are ready, whenever Jesus arrives.
My friends, NOW is the time to decide; there are no guarantees concerning our earthly life. Physical death or Christ’s second coming may occur at anytime. And NOW is the time to make yourself ready.
The question before us is this: If Christ were to return today, how would he find your life?
Are you ready? You can be . . . And wouldn’t that be a great way to start the new year?
Perhaps you’re here this morning and you’re kind of like the little girl who wasn’t ready for the bus. Maybe you know, for whatever reason, you’re not ready for Jesus to arrive. I’d like to pray a short prayer, and if you’d like to make yourself ready to meet Jesus I’d just invite you to pray these words with me.
Dear God, I want to invite Jesus into my life. I know he will return and I want to be ready to meet him. Will you please come into my heart. Forgive my sins and help me to the live the life you want me to live and be the person you want me to be. Amen.
Benediction: And now may you walk with God as you prepare and make yourself ready for his arrival. To him be glory and honor both now and forever! Amen.
You are dismissed.
