Without a doubt Summer has well and truly arrived.
The hot weather is a sure sign that Summer is here.
The headers are out which tell us that the harvest is ready and Summer has arrived.
Even if you didn’t have a calendar, the signs will tell you that Summer is either here or at least approaching.
And if there were any doubts about whether or not it was Summer – you could simply turn on the TV and there would be no doubt about it.
The cricket is on.
The tennis will soon start.
But not only that – the TV ratings have finished which means you get all those wonderful shows that have been gathering dust on the shelves during the year.
The re-runs of Gilligan’s Island.
The shows that were flops and need to be shown.
We even get repeats of Wheel of Fortune for some unknown reason.
Summer TV really shows us what the networks think of us as they give us their second rate shows.
What a difference we find when we compare that with God at this time of the year and what he thinks of us.
Because Summer also means Advent – the beginning of a new Church year.
In advent we are preparing not for a second rate gift from God – but the greatest gift God could ever give us – the gift of his Son Jesus at Christmas.
But what is even more amazing is that we did not deserve this gift in any way.
The bible tells us that it was while we were sinners and enemies of God that God showed his love by sending his Son Jesus at Christmas – even though he knew that Jesus would suffer and die.
That’s how much God thinks of you.
That’s the love that God has for you.
But not everybody sees God as kind and loving.
Many people see God as the one who sends tragedy and sadness.
God is the one who sent the rains that flooded the crops in NSW.
God is the one who took away my loved one too soon.
God is the one who sends cancer.
God is the one who never answers my prayers – or who is never there when I need him.
As such it is easy to forget the love God has shown us.
Where is this God who loves me when I am hurting?
[Pause]
It’s true isn’t it?
It’s easy at times for us to believe in an absent and unloving God.
It’s easy at times to put our trust in ourselves:
In our possessions.
In our careers.
In our sports.
It’s the way of the world – building up your own empire around your own achievements.
Pretty soon it becomes easy to push God right out of our lives.
After all we have a growing population but a shrinking church membership.
People are becoming more affluent.
People are becoming busier.
The Sunday which used to be a day of rest, even for non Christians is now a day when shops have to open because of our busy lives – it’s when sport has to be played – the church has had to give way.
Even today a reconciliation walk is going on in Melbourne at a time usually reserved for church.
And many church leaders encouraged their members to skip church and attend the walk because it is important.
Jesus warns strongly in our text about losing our focus on God.
Jesus reminds us that this world is passing away.
Jesus warns strongly against setting up false gods in our lives.
What you need to understand from our text is that in Jesus’ day many people worshipped the Sun and Moon and Stars – similar to the way we read horoscopes and astrology.
But Jesus says all these things are passing away.
The world as we know it is coming to an end.
And so to put our trust in these false gods – whatever they may be - is crazy.
Jesus says to you – keep your focus on God and don’t let anything take it away – no matter how wonderful it sounds.
[Pause]
Advent is a perfect time to remember the love of God as we focus on Christmas.
As Christians you live a life of Advent - not just the 4 weeks before Christmas.
But the Advent you live is a 2nd Advent looking and waiting for the 2nd coming of Christ.
The first advent was the coming of Christ at Christmas.
A coming that has already happened.
The Second Advent waits for the Second Coming of Christ - the day you will stand before God in judgment.
On that day you will stand before God and it will be Jesus himself who will stand with you and show God the Father the scars which he suffered for you.
The nail marks that were pounded into his innocent hands for your sins.
The scars by which you will enter into heaven.
But to understand the 2nd Advent properly you need to understand the 1st Advent.
Christmas is a wonderful time.
It is full of sentiment and happiness:
Giving presents.
Family get togethers.
The food and drink.
The Christmas Carols and all that goes along with it.
Christmas is a wonderful time to forget all your problems for a while.
It is a time that even those who don’t believe in Jesus can celebrate.
But that was not the reason why Jesus came – to give us a holiday.
Jesus came because the world was lost.
Jesus came because your relationship with God was not right.
Ever since Adam and Eve first disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, sin has torn you away from the love of God.
The love and blessings from God were replaced by chaos and tragedy.
This world is not what God intended for you.
But it is what we have because of our disobedience.
But advent puts an end to that as Jesus comes to restore your relationship with God.
And that’s why when Jesus was on earth he healed the sick, he gave sight to the blind, he made the crippled walk – he calmed the rough seas.
Jesus reversed all those things that came into the world because of sin.
Christmas tells us that our relationship with God has been restored.
But for a while the reminders of our sin are still with us – the pain and suffering.
And sadly these turn many away from God.
But we now focus not on the first Advent, but the Second Advent of Jesus:
Jesus returning to bring us into the Kingdom of Heaven.
And so for Christians – for you and me – the tragedies and all that happens in the world are signs pointing us to our coming home in heaven as this world draws to an end.
The troubles in this life are a reminder for you that your hope is not in this world.
No matter how good you make your life – it will always be threatened by the consequences of sin.
No matter how good you make your life – it can all be taken in the blink of an eye – and it will do no good in your defence on judgment day.
God will not be impressed by what our sinful hands have done.
No, the hands of Jesus that bore our nails will be all that matters.
[Pause]
Your hope and home is in heaven, which is coming soon.
And so the troubles that you encounter in this life –
The worries
The anguish
The pain
And even death
These are signs for you, as Christians, to lift up your head and proudly look to God knowing that he will soon bring not only and end to your suffering but an everlasting life of peace and joy.
Just as the hot weather is a sign of summer – so the tragedies in life are a sign that a new and better life is coming.
The signs that Jesus speaks about in our text – the troubles and catastrophes sound quite frightening.
With so many who don’t believe in God and the hope of heaven, you’ve got to ask, what sense do they make of this life – what sense do they make of this world.
So many times we read of people who have everything but lose it.
I read this week about a contestant on the game show - Who Wants to be a Millionaire who won $250,000 recently and was now set for life – he was young, popular and rich.
Except that he died this week in a car accident.
Where is it all heading?
Where is hope in this world?
Jesus says – watch and pray.
Stand firm in your faith and always be ready to stand before God, with the assurance that Jesus stands with you.
As Jesus says – these things must happen – they are the result of sin.
They are the result of our disobedience to God.
But they are also a sign that the Kingdom of Heaven is near.
So watch and pray – for yourself that God may keep you firm in faith.
Watch and pray for your family that God will keep them firm in faith.
Watch and pray for your friends and family who do not know Jesus in their life that they may turn from their unbelief and put their faith in God.
Keep close to Jesus in his word – read your bibles – pray regularly – receive the Lord’s Supper – remember your Baptism because even though this heaven and earth will pass away, God’s word won’t.
As difficult as life gets at times – even in death – we know that through Jesus and all that he did for us in his coming at Christmas, that the difficulties that face us each day are signs that all is not right in this world.
But they are also signs that God has dealt with by sending his one and only Son to bring you forgiveness and hope.
So watch and pray.
And may the peace of God that surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, now and evermore.
Amen.
