[this is an emergency]
I remember watching an episode of The Way of the Master (www.wayofthemaster.com) a while back, which is an evangelistic outreach program, headed by Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron. During the particular episode I was watching, Ray was taking a survey, asking people (including believers) if they could name each of the Ten Commandments.
What Ray discovered through this questionnaire was that most people could not provide an answer to his question. Truth be told, there are alarming statistics which reveal Biblical illiteracy among evangelical Christians here is the U.S today. The Barna Group (www.barna.org) researches and provides polls concerning the spiritual state of our nation. Much of what has been uncovered through this research is that while people remain spiritually active (attending and being involved with church), their faith is inactive outside of the church.
In his book, Revolution, George made the following observations. First, typical churched believers will die without leading a single person to a lifesaving knowledge and relationship with Jesus. Second, the majority of believers do not have a specific person in mind that they are praying for hoping that individual is saved. Third, only around 9 percent of born-again Christians hold to a Biblical worldview. Fourth, less than one out of every six churched believer has a relationship with another believer outside of the local church for spiritual accountability.
The reality we face in our nation is that believers have accepted a lifestyle that does not reflect what Christ has spoken of in the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5-7. Many believers live their lives through the local church and not through Christ. Without accountability, discipleship and evangelism, believers have allowed the culture around them to dictate aspects of their faith which has polluted the practice of biblical Christianity. No longer is doctrine upheld for the sake of absolute truth but is disregarded on grounds of tolerance.
These realities speak of the evangelical community. Outside of the community of faith lies the fate of the lost who face STD’s, teenage pregnancy, abortion, suicide and drug abuse. Without truth to be their guide, life is no longer considered sacred and a woman’s right to choose negates the right of a unborn child to be born. This is an emergency. We live in a world where we simply cannot abandon God’s call for the sake of tolerance.
One of Christ’s themes which grew more paramount as his death was imminent was his eventual departure and return to the world. He began to discuss this truth that he would be returning to the world to take those who followed him and believed in him to a place he was preparing. To validate his return, Christ himself pointed to the signs of the times. These signs were indicators that the end was in fact coming. The signs themselves covered a variety of circumstances and issues such as the immorality and lawlessness of the people, intentional disobedience, wars and rumors of wars, and natural disasters of all kinds.
The return of Jesus was a hot topic in church when I first became a believer back in the early 90’s. I remember a number of church leaders driving this point home. I would hear it again and again that Christ could return at any moment so we need to be ready. Without really saying this, the idea behind the “Jesus is returning” really soon was this-you better obey him!
I’ll be honest with you, those conversations always made me a bit worried about my faith and walk with God. It made me feel like I had to get my life in order and that I needed to ensure I wasn’t living in any sin or else something bad might happen. Well those conversations occurred back in the early 90’s and here we are still. We have discussing the return of Christ since he left and he hasn’t shown up yet. The reality is that the signs of the times have always been present.
With that in mind, let’s dig in a little deeper into Christ’s return. There are ten truths concerning the return of Christ which I’d like to share with you all. These truths should help us to examine what it means to live in light of eternity. Bear in mind that Jesus informed the disciples in Mark 13:32 that only the Father knows the time of Jesus’ return.
First, we need to “be ready.” In Matthew 24:44 Jesus is claiming that being ready is the proper response because he will come when least expected. The call to “be ready” is not a call to ““make sure you’ve got your act together” but rather it is a call for us to be mindful of his return.
Secondly, we are called to “pay attention.” In Matthew 24:6-7, Jesus claimed there would be signs which would accompany his return. These signs were like birth pains in child birth and would become much more frequent as his return became more imminent. The more these birth pains increased, the closer the time is of his return. It is clear that the signs have been increasing over the years too.
Third, we are called to “follow him.” In Luke 17:22-35, Jesus is informing the disciples that his coming would occur just like the flood came in the days of Noah and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorra in the day of Lot. In essence, life would appear normal as people would be going on about their lives; people would continue to go to their day jobs, relationships would occur, marriage and divorce would happen and so on. While life appeared normal, the Son of Man would come.
Fourth, we are called to, “live transformed.” In Luke 21:36, Jesus indicates that we should pray that we escape the impending horrors and judgments that are to come. These judgments fall upon those who have ignored Christ and his work and face the fate of God’s wrath being outpoured. We know from the Scriptures that there is no judgement for those already “in Christ.” (Rom 8:1) As such, Christ is revealing to his listeners that the wrath of God is coming and our prayers should be that Christ would save us from God’s wrath by placing our faith in him.
Fifth, we are called to “be holy.” According to Matthew 25:31-33 and Revelation 22:12, Jesus will judge the nations of men as they give an account for what they have done. Our actions will either reflect that we trusted in the person and work of Christ or we rejected him as Savior. Those who have placed their trust in Christ have his own righteousness imputed on their behalf. Being declared holy is not based upon anything we can do or achieve; rather it is the declaration that we are holy because Jesus is holy and he alone makes us holy as we place our faith in him.
Sixth, we are called “to believe.” In John 6:22-29, a crowd of people who had come to Jesus received food. The next day when they discovered he and the disciples had departed to the opposite side of the lake, the crowd went to search for him. Jesus told the crowd why they had come; not because he had performed signs and wonders but because they were given something to eat.
We are willing to search for Jesus when he provides what we want him to. We are willing to search for Jesus when he provides for us what we think we need. Jesus performing miracles isn’t always what draws us to him but sometimes, as in the case of this crowd, personal satisfaction was the catalyst for their search.
Jesus told the crowd their searching for not be for food that can spoil but rather food that leads to eternal life. Jesus shared the truth with them that our searching should not be for that which is temporary but rather for the eternal.
The crowd asks Jesus what kind of work they must do. It is the logical response of the human heart to seek what it cannot lose. Our deepest desire is not simply to be loved but to be secure in love. Jesus’ response is rather shocking. The work God call us to is simply to believe in Jesus.
True faith rests on the work of Christ. True faith seeks after Christ. True faith produces obedience. True faith leads us to live a life worthy of the calling we have received. (Eph. 4:1)
Seventh, we are called to “stay strong.” In Matthew 24:9-10 where Jesus claims a great persecution will cause many who were following after Christ, will turn away. The harsh reality is that those who fall are the ones who received the gospel with great joy but did not have deep roots. Their decision to walk away from Christ is grounded in the truth that they did not count the cost of following after the Son.
Eight, we are called to “imitate Christ.” Jesus plainly speaks in Matthew 7:21-23 that there are those who claim he is Lord with their lips but their hearts are not surrendered to his will. Christ looks beyond the surface level (our actions) and judges our motives (our hearts).
Ninth, we are called to “be stewards.” In the gospel accounts, Jesus provided a number of parables to share what the Kingdom of God is like. In Matthew 25:14-30 Jesus delivers the Parable of the Three Servants. While there are more parables that highlight the subject of stewardship, we can focus on this particular one.
In this parable, a man (God) goes on a trip. Before departing, he provides his three servants with silver (money). One servant is given five bags who invests it and turns in a total of ten bags of silver upon the masters return. Another servant is given two bags and invests it and turns it into a total of four bags upon the masters return. The third servant is given one bag who simply buries the bag and returns what he was given to the master upon his return.
When the man does return, he praises the two servants who invested their money and gives them even more responsibilities. However, the master called the servant who did nothing with the money a, “wicked and lazy servant.” (Matt. 25:26) This servant is then thrown out into the darkness.
To better grasp what Jesus is saying, as it concerns his return, is to understand the points he is making with this parable. The first point is the master takes a long trip. This is a reflection of the ascension into heaven. Jesus is describing his journey back to the Father and he clearly explains this is a long trip. As such, there is a time gap to be expected.
Secondly, each servant is given a talent in accordance with their gifts. For some, that can be troubling. It can cause division and jealousy when another is given more money and or more gifts than you do. God has his own reasons for distributing his gifts to people. There are times he provides five bags of silver to one follower and only one bag of silver to another. God does not play favorites though. The focus should always be gratitude for the gift(s) you are given.
Third, God not only expects but demands that we use the gifts he has given to us. The first two servants use their gifts and invest them for the sake of the Master. When we invest the gifts God provides to us, it brings him glory and in turn, he praises us and gives us even more responsibility to advance his kingdom. The focus here is to use what God has given you. That could mean serving at your church or community. Even if your service is a role to which you don’t enjoy or even if it is a role you are not called to. Serve, until the Lord opens the doors for you to step into your calling.
Fourth, we must maintain the right perspective about God. Why would the master call the third servant, “wicked and lazy?” It almost seems that Jesus is saving people, giving them gifts and if they don’t use them properly, he will throw them out of his kingdom. However, this is all about perspective!
The servant didn’t use the gifts because he believed the master was not only harsh but the master was gathering crops he didn’t plant. The perspective the servant had was the master was cruel and doesn’t deserve to have his gifts used in the world. In other words, the servant was willing to take what the master was willing to give (the one bag of silver) but the master didn’t deserve to be worshipped.
This parable further illustrates those Jesus speaks of when he says there are those who will call him, “Lord” but will not do as he says. (Luke 6:46) As imitators of Christ, we are exhorted to seek God’s kingdom first, love others and remain faithful.
Tenth, we are called to “remember Christ.” There are four times in the book of Revelation where Jesus said, “I am coming soon!” (Rev. 16:15, 22:7, 22:12, 22:20) Jesus spoke these words to encourage his followers who are facing persecution, imprisonment and even death for living out their faith. One common thread of all followers of Christ is that we overcome by the blood of the Lamb (Jesus’ finished work on the cross) and the word of our testimony (Jesus work in our lives).
Living like Jesus is evidence of the Gospel’s power to transform lives for the glory of God.
