Introduction:
Today is the 1st Sunday of Advent and also the day we celebrate senior citizens. Advent means the coming of Christ and refers to both His first coming and to His second coming. The first coming of Christ, His birth, was prophesied long before the appointed time and every prophetic detail was accurately fulfilled. In the same way the prophecy about His second coming will be fulfilled at the appointed time. The promise of His coming has led to many false prophecies by false prophets about the time of His coming. Many people have been misled and their lives destroyed by prophecies that totally contradict the revelation of Scripture that only the Father knows the time. The only way to avoid such deception is to be always ready for the Lord’s return. It is not our duty to determine the time of His coming but our duty to awake and keep watch for His coming.
Step One: The certainty of prophecy
a) The birth of Christ
The Scriptures have demonstrated beyond all doubt the certainty that all prophecy will be fulfilled. The birth of Christ fulfilled prophecy to the minutest detail. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He was born without a sin nature to meet God’s requirements for a perfect sacrifice. He was born in Bethlehem, the house of bread, as the bread of life. He was born in a manger as the Lamb of God and the sacrifice for sin. The first people to visit Him were shepherds who could testify that He was a Lamb without blemish.
b) The death of Christ
The prophecy concerning the death of Christ has also been fully fulfilled. The shadow of the way Christ would shed His blood was demonstrated on the day of Atonement when the High Priest “sprinkled the blood of the bull with his finger on the front of the mercy seat on the east side, and in front of the mercy seat sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times”. (Lev. 16:14) Jesus Christ, our High Priest, sprinkled His blood seven times. It began in the Garden of Gethsemane and ended when a soldier pierced His side with a spear. His death fulfilled all the messianic prophecies made concerning His death.
c) The resurrection of Christ
The prophecy concerning the resurrection of Christ has also been fulfilled. He rose from the dead the third day according to the Scriptures. One description of the empty tomb was of two angels, one sitting at the head and a second at the feet where the body of Christ had laid presenting the picture of the Ark of the Covenant that housed the presence of God.
Illustration:
Prophecies concerning the birth, death, burial and resurrection of Christ have been fulfilled exactly as prophesied. The fulfilment of these prophecies confirms that every other prophecy about Christ that has not yet been fulfilled will also be fulfilled. This is a clear confirmation that His promised return is a certainty. Why are people more concerned about the time of Christ’s return than about the certainty of it? It is for the same reason why workers want to know when the master will be returning? It is also for the same reason why children left at home alone want to know when their parents will be returning? When they know the time of their return, then they also know for how long they can do what they please and still be ready for their return. As in the days of Noah people today are doing what they please and not heeding the warning that Christ can return at any time. Just as in Noah’s day the people laughed at him when he warned of the coming judgment, so today people are not taking the Christian message of salvation and the Second Coming of Christ seriously. And just as the flood brought sudden judgment to the world, so the return of Christ will do the same and unbelievers will once again face death and judgment. And just as God saved Noah and those with him who believed, even so Jesus Christ will save all those who have put their trust in Him.
Application:
When Christ returns will He find us ready and waiting to welcome Him or will He find us busy pursuing worldly desires and interests? Will He find us serving Him or serving ourselves through our pursuit of wealth and power?
Step Two: Living in readiness for His coming
a) Worship Jesus Christ
Worship makes us live in readiness for Christ’s coming. Worship is a sign of holy living. Worship is not only expressed in song, lifting up of hands and words of worship and adoration but also in a life of holiness. We are “to present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, as our spiritual worship”. (Romans 12:1)
b) Cast off the works of darkness
Living in readiness for Christ’s coming is to cast off the works of darkness. It is to love, even as Christ has loved us, and live in peace with all people. The Scriptures testify to the fact that this evil age is coming to an end and the day of Christ’s return is at hand. Let us cast off evil works, orgies and drunkenness, sexual immorality and sensuality, quarrelling and jealousy, and be ready for His return”. (Rom 13:13)
c) Put on the Lord Jesus Christ
There is an urgency today for believers to put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ has promised He will never leave or forsake us and He always keeps His promise. We are the ones who often appear to leave Him when we refuse to walk in His steps? Let us, therefore put on Christ, follow in His steps “and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires”. (Rom 13:14)
Illustration:
The night is far gone and the day is at hand. The time for Christ’s return is closer today than it was yesterday, and it is closer this moment than it was an hour ago, even a minute ago. Every second that passes brings us one second closer to Jesus’ return, and so we must treat every moment as though it is the moment He will appear. Today could be the day Jesus returns. Today could be the end of time and the beginning of eternity. And even if Jesus does not appear, there is no guarantee that you will live to see tomorrow, and so today could very well be the last day of your life. Would you be ready if He came this moment? Would you be ready if this were the last moment you had before facing Jesus? Are you ready for the return of the Lord? If Jesus came back today would you be glad to see Him or would you hide from Him? Would you rejoice or would you be sad? Would you be happy with your life or would you be embarrassed and ashamed of your life?
Application:
We should each take a critical look at ourselves because not everyone who calls himself or herself a Christian is living like Christ. Can we like Paul also say “It is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me”?
Step Three: What to expect at His coming
a) The Christian
The coming of Christ is a certainty and the Scriptures reveal what different people are to expect at His coming. His second coming will be preceded by the rapture of believers. At this time the feet of Christ will not touch the ground and believers will be caught up to be with Him in the sky. They will therefore be spared the tribulation and return to earth with Christ at His second coming.
b) The Jews
The coming of Christ will be the time that God will fulfill the covenant promises He made with His people, the Jews. They will receive a revelation of Christ as their Messiah at His coming and so all Israel will be saved. When Joseph’s brothers visited Egypt the third time Joseph revealed Himself to them by showing them the sign of his circumcision. The Jews have returned to their homeland from captivity the third time and in a similar way, Jesus will reveal Himself as their promised Messiah, by showing them the marks of His crucifixion.
c) The unbeliever
The coming of Christ will be a time of judgement for the unbeliever. God gives unbelievers another chance during the tribulation to repent and trust Him. But this time it will involve much pain, suffering, and death. Those who regret how they had rejected the free gift of the grace of God when they had the opportunity will be saved.
Illustration:
When Christ returns it will not be like His first coming when He was mocked, beaten, spat upon, and crucified on a cross. He is going to return in glory, clothed with power and every knee on earth, in heaven, and under the earth will bow down before Him and every tongue will confess that He is Lord. What would happen to those who had refused to acknowledge His lordship and who had rejected and made fun of Him? They would now have to kneel before Him and face Him as their Judge.
Application:
If we reject God’s gracious offer of salvation now, we will have to meet Him as our Judge at the time of our death or at His coming. You can be ready today by believing and trusting Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.
Conclusion:
David gives us a prophetic picture of the future of Jerusalem. When Jesus visited the city, He found the Temple in a deplorable condition. The court of the Gentiles meant as a place of worship had been turned into a market place and described by Christ as a den of thieves. This is an accurate description of the Church today but will not remain this way. Christ is building His Church and at the appointed time we will see the visible presence of the Lord and filled with His love, serve Him faithfully. The time of Christ’s return is near. He will come like a thief in the night when many are sleeping and not expecting Him. If they knew the time of His return, they would stay awake and keep watch. We know that Christ will return but only the Father knows the time so how can we be sure that we will be ready at His return? We need to be ready before that day because we will have no other opportunity to get ready. Those who are ready are the ones who have believed in Christ “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life”. (John 3:16)
Personal Response:
There is still time to be one of the whosoever believes in Him today. You will have the opportunity as you confess your faith in the words of the Apostles Creed. You must mean and believe every word you say for “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved”. (Romans 10:9) Let us be alert and keep watch for His coming to the praise and glory of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
