HoHum:
The famous reformer Martin Luther was asked what he would do if he knew for certain the world was going to end tomorrow. Without hesitation he replied, “I would plant an apple tree this afternoon.” What? Luther was not given to speculation about the ending of the world. He focused rather on the end of the world, that is, the purpose of the world which God intends for this present time. Luther would plant an apple tree today, even though the world will be ending tomorrow, because he believed that what may happen in the future does not excuse us from what God requires of us here and now.
WBTU:
Asked to do some lessons on Signs of the Times, really we are talking about Signs of the End of the Age, the Latter Days. We see many earthquakes and volcanoes in our day. Hard to know if there is more seismic activity today than in earlier times but the Bible does say that there will be earthquakes in the last days. Luke 21:11 says, “There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.”
We see many wars and rumors of wars. Mark 13:7-8 says, “When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.” Now is Jesus talking about the destruction of Jerusalem or about the end of the age? We are never sure. We see the war between Russian and Ukraine in recent days. We see the rise of Hamas and the invasion of Israel into Gaza as a reaction. Israel is using this as an excuse to eliminate the Palestinian Arabs. To be against Israel is to be against God some say. Might talk about this more. Even so, the prophet Isaiah says in 2:2, “In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.”
I was talking with Dr. Jody Owens (teaches OT Bible classes and spiritual formation) and he said this, “The Bible is not a revelation of the signs that will help us identify the time of Christ's return. It is instead a revelation of how those who follow Jesus should live in their days and the days leading up to his return. If we focus on trying to decipher the ‘when’ we absolve ourselves of the responsibility to change how we live in light of Jesus' return. Thus this sermon before…
Amos 4:12 says, “prepare to meet your God.” The Old “serpent” has been successful in persuading people either that “Jesus coming back” is nothing more than a fairy tale or that it is far, far off in the distant future so there is no need to think about it right now. He told Adam and Eve “you will not surely die” (Genesis 3:4) and they believed it. He’s tells an unbelieving world, “He will not surely come again,” and they believe it. Jesus says something else entirely. Matthew 24:36f says, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Then vs. 44 says, “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
Peter wrote about the coming of the Lord is 2 Peter 3:10- 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 done in it will be laid bare. Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”
Thesis: Since Lord’s return is imminent, what should we do?
For instances:
I. Wait
There is nothing we can do to delay or accelerate the Lord’s return. John said in Revelation 22:20- He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. God knows what he is doing. He sees the big picture that we cannot see. Why is he delaying? 2 Peter 3:9 says, “Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” The Lord is waiting for people to repent of their sins and obey His gospel. Contrary to the ideas of some people, the Lord does not delight in seeing people go to hell. Ezekiel 18:23 says, “Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?” If the Lord wanted people to go to hell then why did Jesus go to the cross? Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth and the life.”
Acts 2:38, not just the forgiveness of sins but the indwelling presence of God. We wait for Jesus to return to claim His bride, the church, and to take her with Him where He is. His kingdom has already been established on earth through His church. He now sits on His throne at the right hand of God. When He returns He will receive His bride and will bring judgment upon all. We wait for the Lord’s return so that the church will be vindicated. She will be glorified in Christ. This might be the year for all that to happen. But we must wait.
II. Watch
1 Thessalonians 5:2, 6- for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night… So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. We are to be watching for His return but how do we do that? Glad someone asked.
1. We need to watch ourselves. 1 Corinthians 10:12 says, “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” We need to be careful that we do not fall out of the Christian race. We need to be our own big brother, too easy to slip spiritually especially in our land. 2 Timothy 4:10 talks about Demas, “Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica.” We start to love the world more than we love God. Good time atmosphere in our day. Are we attending like we should? Are we giving of our time, talents and treasures like we should? Are we watching our own personal Bible study and prayer? Meet so many who say, “I used to go to church, I used to read the Bible, I used to be involved”. So many take their eyes off their relationship with Christ and place them on things of this world.
2. We need to watch with whom we associate in the world. We are in the world but not of the world. 1 Corinthians 15:33- Bad company corrupts good character. Peer pressure for the good or for the bad. When at camp act like church kid, when at school act like everyone else
3. We need to watch with whom we associate in the church. Some are never satisfied with anything in the church, preaching or singing, fellowship meal, youth activities, guest speaker, the way the money is spent- discouragers. 1 Corinthians 10:10- And do not grumble, as some of them did —and were killed by the destroying angel. Need to watch the doctrine that is taught in the church. 1 Timothy 4:1 “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.”
III. Work
The church is hindered in what she has been called to do because of lazy people. 20% of the people do 80% of the work. Couch potato- now we are glad that have people here. Hopeful that the Word of God will have an impact for many to labor alongside those who carry the load. In essence many people are drunk, not on liquor necessarily, but on the things of this world. The prostitute Babylon is fallen in Revelation 18 and vs. 3 says, “For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries.” Babylon represents the world system. 1 John 2:15-16 says, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.” Nothing about salvation, really? James 4:4 says, “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” James also says in 2:24 says, “You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.” We are saved by grace through faith at baptism for good works. Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” One area that needs a great amount of work to be done is the area of evangelism. Small doesn’t mean we are wrong. After all, Jesus said in Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Have little evangelistic zeal. I am not an evangelist! Invite. I am not a soul winner but can financially support those who do. Need people consumed with evangelism. Need work in discipleship. Have 3 baptized recently, over past 2 years. Where are they? Great to lead them to baptism but how many are malnourished and then die spiritually. They need to eat but need to teach them how. Had to teach Alex to eat. 1 Peter 2:2-3 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. May this be the prayer of this church (Luke 10:2): The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. My friends we will be judged according to what we did- not according to what we intended to do. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Revelation 2:10: Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
