WAKE UP!
Text: Luke 21:25 -36
“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
A pastor tells the story of a church member who annoyed him often going to sleep during the sermon. To remedy the problem, the pastor offered the grandson of this man a dollar a week to keep his grandfather awake. It worked for two weeks. However, Karl Neufeld, the grandfather was up to his old tricks going to sleep in church during the sermon again. After the service the pastor said to the grandson that he was disappointed in him for not keeping the agreement. The boy replied you were giving me a dollar a week not to wake him but grandpa gives me five dollars a week not to disturb him.” (Lowelll D. Streiker. Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 2000, p. 363).
Who doesn’t like the snooze button on an alarm clock? Yet, when it comes to our spiritual condition, hitting the snooze button can be deadly because the results are not about tardiness but about eternity and where we will spend it.
“The Son of God became the Son of Man that He might change the sons of men into sons of God”. (Croft M. Pentz. Zingers. Nashville: Tyndale House Publishing, Inc., 1990, p. 168). We stand on the edge of another year, another Advent season, another opportunity to take and audit of where we are in our relationship with the Savior.
Today’s text reminds us once again, that Jesus was and is and is to come. Jesus was: Jesus was in heaven and left His glory to become obedient. Jesus is: Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith. Jesus is to come: Jesus is to come again in glory. Jesus came the first time in glory and when He comes back He will be our judge.
There have always been and always will be cosmic disturbances and spiritual complacencies until Jesus comes back. There will be people whose response will be one of anguish, grief terror and regret because they ignored the warnings as if they were exempt. They fail fail to realize that they “… will never change what they permit and never face what they deny.” (Perry Stone. Purging Your House And Pruning Your Family Tree. p. 13) That is a very dangerous place to be. Where are you with Jesus?
Today’s text presents us with two very important things, a warning and how we respond to it.
WARNING
What do you do when you hear a siren behind you? Do you look for a safe place to stop or get out of the way?
1) Caution: Chances are you look for a safe place to stop or get out of the way.
2) Time: With an emergency every second can be crucial. Rescue personnel often rescue people in danger just in the nick of time. 3) Apathy: Do we know anyone who has habitually become indifferent to those around them? Do we know anyone who has become indifferent to their own salvation? Isn’t that why Jesus told us to watch ourselves lest we be weighed down with heavy hearts?
How many are there who have dulled or weighted hearts?
1) Warning phrase: The phrase “that day” occurs at least 38 times in in the New Testament and 20 of those 38 deal with the day of judgment. Luke 21:34 indicates judgment for those who would not heed the warning and were caught “unawares” because they were spiritually asleep.
2) No hiding place from God’s wrath: Unless the spiritually sleeping wake up they will feel like those mentioned in Revelation 6:15 - 16: “Then the kings of the earth and the great ones [great men, rich men, chief captains in the KJV ; the officials in the CEB] and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” (Rev elation 6:15-17 ESV).
3) Necessary change: and the failure thereof: Again, they fail fail to realize that they “… will never change what they permit and never face what they deny.” That is why failure to change our ways can be dangerous! Change that is not in harmony with God’s will is not of God. It is God’s will that we produce fruit. Change that does not produce fruit is not good!
Is there a hint of warning for religious pretenders? Remember the words “that day” are about judgment!
1) Fruits: Jesus once said, Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (Matthew 7:20-23).
2) Obedience: Could it be Jesus was warning people not to be religious pretenders who lacked the fruits of righteousness and obedience? Is there anywhere in your life where you lack the fruit of righteousness because you’ve been spiritually sleeping?
RESPONSE
How do you respond to a warning?
1) Fig tree type signs: When the warning sign says the bridge is out, do you obey it? When the stop sign says stop, do you obey it? When a storm warning comes over the air waves about a tornado, a hurricane, a flood, or a winter storm, do you obey it?
2) Rebellion: Why is it that people will discern those things---the fig tree type signs and yet disregard what God’s Word in the form of the Bible says as well as God Word in the form of the Word made flesh Jesus Christ says?
3) The constant Word: Jesus assured us that Heaven and earth will pass away but that His words will never pass away!
Is being on the church membership roll enough? How many people join a church so that they can be assured that they have a plot in a church cemetery? How many people join a church thinking it is a ticket to heaven?
How do you view salvation?
1) No taxi cab ride: Salvation is not a taxi cab ride from here to the hereafter where we can stay seated and enjoy the ride!
2) By God’s grace only: Salvation is about remembering how we are saved through faith in God’s grace through the saving work of the Lord Jesus Christ as Ephesians 2:7-8 points out!
3) Relationship: Salvation is about having an ongoing relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. God makes ongoing changes in our lives equipping us for service in His kingdom!
4) Contradictory counterfeit religion: Salvation is not about having the form of godliness but lacking the power of godliness! 2 Timothy_3:5 “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” (KJV). This scriptural point of view addresses the same kind of point that Jesus made in Matthew 7:23 when people say “Lord, Lord…”
5) Lukewarmness: Salvation is not about having “… a Laodicean spirit being neither hot nor cold!” (thought borrowed from John Wesley’s sermon “Awake, Thou That Sleepest”).
6) Cleanleness: John Wesley once said “cleanliness is next to godleiness.” Salvation is not about being clean in appearance like the outside of the cup when God requires us to be clean from the inside out as new and sanctified creatures in Christ! (thought borrowed from John Wesley’s sermon “Awake, Thou That Sleepest”). (See Matthew 23:25- 26).
7) Born again: Salvation is not only about the spiritual clothes we wear but also the Holy Spirit inspired renovation of the soul. (See John 3:3, 5-6).
8) Obedience: Salvation is about obedience: Matthew 24:12 says, "Because of disobedience, the love of many will grow cold” (CEB). Is that why Jesus said to the church at Ephesus “I have this against you, you let god of the love you had at first. …. I will remove your lampstand if you do not change your heart and lives (Revelation 2:4-5 CEB)?
What is the most important book concerning salvation? Some would say the Bible and you would not be wrong. Some would say the most important concerning salvation is the Lamb’s book of life. Revelation 20:12 tells us that we will be judged on the basis what was written in the book. If I understand correctly, that mean that there are two important books that John wrote about in Revelation. One is the Book of Life and the other has to be the Book of Deeds. Now that can only mean that if our name is not in the Lamb’s Book of Life that we will be judged by what is contained in the The Book of Deeds. Just because our name might be on the church roll, it does not mean that we are saved! Revelation 21:27 tells us that only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will get in heaven.
Remember the sleeping grandpa we spoke of at the beginning? The Devil would rather people stay asleep than to get right with God in heart and life (Revelation 2:5). Have we made the change we need to make in heart and life or are we asleep?
… the kingdom of God is near. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Again, “The Son of God became the Son of Man that He might change the sons of men into sons of God”. (Croft M. Pentz. Zingers. Nashville: Tyndale House Publishing, Inc., 1990, p. 168). Have you let God help you to make that change?
In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
