I don't use a lot of sports illustrations, but I came across this one that leads right into the message today. The clock said 13:19 in the third quarter, and the Houston oilers were so far ahead of the Buffalo bills (35-3) that the fans begin streaming out of the stadium. It was January 3rd, 1993, in Buffalo, New York, so why stick around and watch your team get demolished, especially when the weather was chilly and rainy?
But the game wasn’t over . Had those Bills fans stuck it out, they would have seen something quite amazing. In less than 7 minutes, the Bills had scored 27 points, coming within 4 points of the Oilers. But the game was still not over. A tie put them in overtime, and the Buffalo Bills ended the game winning 41-38.
It was Yogi Berra that said, “It ain't over till it's over.” On that cold day in January, a lot of Bills fans had given up on their team, but had they remained faithful and stuck it out, they would have seen one of the greatest comebacks in football.
Semper Fi is a phrase that has been adopted by the United States Marine Corps. Semper Fi means “always faithful”, or “always loyal.” For followers of Christ, “it ain't over till it's over” applies to the return of Christ. We are called to serve Him and continue serving Him until He calls us home. Semper Fi, fellow Christians. Always be faithful to the end. Prayer
Jesus wants us to know that he will one day return for us. In Matthew 24:42, we find the central turning point in Jesus's teaching. People living prior to Christ's return must be ready for His coming. He says, “Be alert!” From the original Greek, the word for be alert means to continually be alert. It's a call for the ongoing expectancy of Jesus's return.
Matthew 24:42 – “Therefore be alert, since you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.”
Jesus has already told us in verse 36 to be alert. We have to remember what we learned last week that as we wait and watch, we shouldn't be stricken with fear and nervousness. Our alert watching should be a joyous expectation for the coming of the One that we love and serve.
Jesus referred to Himself as your Lord. That should draw attention to the fact that we don't belong to ourselves. Jesus is our master and creator. When we follow Him, we are acknowledging that Jesus is Lord. We are His. He is in charge. He is our boss 24/7.
Why should we continually be alert? Because Jesus said you don't know what day your Lord is coming. Jesus repeats the truth again of the uncertain timing of the Lord's coming.
Last week we looked at two of the three parables that Jesus used to explain His coming. Today we look at the third parable. Jesus compared His return to a thief in the night. Think about it. A thief doesn't send a letter saying when he is stopping by to rob a house. His principal weapon is surprise. So, a homeowner who has valuables in his house has to maintain a constant vigil.
Jesus was referring to that surprise element when He compared His return to a thief's arrival. Just like the burglar, Jesus won't advertise the time of His arrival. Of course, that would be the extent of Christ's similarity to a thief. A thief steals what is not his. Jesus will return to claim that which is His own.
Matthew 24:43-44 – “But know this: If the homeowner had known what time the thief was coming, he would have stayed alert and not let his house be broken into. 44 This is why you are also to be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
This is a way of saying that not only will Christ return at a time that is concealed from us, but it will also be at a time that seems least likely. It's like the old adage, “when you least expect it, expect it.”
Christmas is only 12 weeks away from today. The kids sing the Christmas song “Santa Claus is coming to town.” You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, I'm telling you why. Santa Claus is coming to Town. Santa Claus doesn't have anything on Jesus. Jesus not only sees what we say and do, he knows what we think. And one day Jesus is coming to town.
Have you ever been robbed? Many of us have. Didn't your whole attitude change after the robbery? If you've had your vehicle broken into, now you make sure everything is locked and secure and no valuables are left in it. Our whole attitude changes because of what happened.
We are a lot more vigilant when we leave our car parked somewhere. But just like your experience with a robbery, all of us must practice vigilance in our spiritual lives. If we are taken by surprise, it's not because God has not warned us; it's because of our own negligence. Believers have less excuse for carelessness than the homeowner Jesus described in this parable, who had not been forewarned that a thief was coming. We know Christ is coming; we just don't know when.
Have you ever asked yourself, what if Jesus came right now and caught me doing what I'm doing? Did it change your attitude? What I'm asking is, “Is there a part of your spiritual life you've been neglecting lately? If you've been less faithful to pray or spend time in God's word, for example, now's the time to commit yourself to a new discipline. We have been warned.
Matthew 24:45 – “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give them food at the proper time?”
The servant that Jesus speaks of in this verse is no ordinary one. Many times, a well to do household had a servant who was like a manager, overseeing the Masters estate and his servants. Such a high-level servant could oversee giving rations to other servants if the master wasn't present. Since the master can return at any time, a wise servant maintains the character of readiness and faithfulness to the task in front of him. As a result, the master will entrust his faithful servant with all his possessions because the servant was faithful with some of his possessions. That was the theme of the children's sermon last week. Jesus said if you can be trusted with the small things, you can also be trusted with the larger things.
Let me go off on a small tangent for a moment. Whether we think we've been given much or little, we are to use what God has given us for the sake of His kingdom. What He has entrusted to us is His. We are merely stewards of what He has placed in our hands. So, we are to use it as He would want it to be used. That says a lot about giving to the Lord and being good stewards of what He has given us. I’ll just leave that thought right there for now.
Matthew 24:46-47 – “Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing his job when he comes. 47 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.”
So Jesus is saying in this parable that a good servant is one who remains faithful, and as Christians, we are His servants. So, Jesus tells us that since we are His servants, we are obligated to serve Him in every way.
This parable of the wise and faithful servant illustrates the principle that we always should be ready for Jesus's return. That readiness includes always being faithful and being found doing what we are called to do at the time Christ returns. We need to realize that our life, our breath, our energy, and our gifts are entrusted to us from God to be used in His service.
And what Jesus is saying is that the reward for our faithfulness and the responsibilities we've been given, is more responsibility. That may sound strange to a person without a biblical view, but there is a great joy that accompanies these responsibilities. In the parable of the talents, that Jesus tells in the next chapter, those who were given more, those put in charge of many things, were told that they would share their Master's joy. I pray that when Christ returns, we may be found faithful to the work of God. Now let’s listen to what ELSE Jesus has to say.
Matthew 24:48-51 – “But if that wicked servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and starts to beat his fellow servants, and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 that servant’s master will come on a day he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know. 51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
So Jesus has told us what we should do and how we should be prepared. Now He contrasts that with the evil servant. The evil servant ignores his master's instructions and assumes the right of authority for himself.
We are called to obey and serve God, but the wicked servant likely is a picture of an unbeliever who refuses to take seriously the call to follow, obey, and serve. He's like the scoffers that the apostle Peter wrote about when he said that, “The unbelievers say, where is his coming that he promised?”
Jesus highlights the fact that the wicked servant is not a true believer. He assigns this servant to judgment and hell. Even though the word hell is not used in this verse, we get the picture of it. To cut him to pieces means to cut a person in two, which was a form of judgment used regularly in ancient times. The convicted were literally sawn in half while alive.
The image pictures severe judgment. Jesus also describes the judgment as a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Jesus frequently referred to the weeping and gnashing of teeth that will be done by those who are doomed to hell.
And there is that uncomfortable subject; hell. But we can't deny its place in God's word. We have to acknowledge that judgment and condemnation are waiting for those that are outside of a relationship with Jesus Christ. But with that acknowledgment, should come a desire and a motivation to point others to Christ.
So here is a lesson in a lesson. Yes, we should be faithful to Christ and be alert and watching joyously for His return one day. (Ok? We got that!) But at the same time, we should be ready to share the gospel when the opportunity arises. As Christians, one of our tasks is to proclaim the gospel and point others to the hope, grace, and salvation found only in Jesus Christ.
I want you to think of it this way. Once Jesus returns, our opportunity to share Christ will be gone, and so will others’ opportunity to accept Him.
So that leads to God's invitation to come today and accept His Son in a personal way.
If you believe in Christ, but have never publicly accepted Him, come now and tell me. That is your public profession of your faith in Him. Remember, Jesus said, “If you confess me before man, I will confess you before my Father in heaven.”
But on the contrary Jesus added, “But if you deny me before man, I will deny you before my Father in heaven.”
And please remember, if you already know Christ as your Savior, Semper Fi. Always be faithful to Him.
SO….it’s you’re choice. What is your choice today?
