INTRODUCTION
Everyone stand – because it’s participation time!
Holding up the appropriate number of fingers, communicate with your partner:
Christmas is tomorrow. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the most and 1 being the least, how prepared are you for Christmas?
Sometimes Christmas preparations can really wear us out. So on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being total exhaustion, and 10 being fully energized, where’s your energy level as you enter the Christmas holiday?
Question #3 – If Santa were to rate you this Christmas as to whether you have been a good girl or boy, with 10 being an angelic little darling and 1 being a rotten little devil, where would you rate?
And #4 – Tell your partner out loud, how many times do you think you have uttered the words, “Merry Christmas,” in the past 10 days?
OK. You can be seated.
Last week we took at look at Christmas using the first book of the Bible. This morning we’re going to use the last book – the book of Revelation to gain some perspective on the birth of Jesus. The text is Revelation 22.
It’s tough to miss Christmas if you live in America today. Just about anyone with a pulse can tell you what time of year it is.
We hear the ads on the radio and TV, see the lighted houses and buildings, the decorated yards in our neighborhoods, the displays inside every store make sure we don’t forget, and even the banners at that scroll across the top of the Internet search engines are there to remind us Christmas is coming in case we’ve missed all the other signs.
The clues many times are there to tell us simply – be prepared. Don’t get caught without just the right gift – the right decorations – the right treats and goodies – the right wardrobe accessories.
But what amazes me about all the hype and fanfare leading up to Christmas today is the pardoxical picture it paints when set alongside the world of Christmas Eve a little over 2000 years ago.
Who, do you think was fully prepared for Christmas #1? Were the stores that day full of last-minute shoppers in search of holiday gifts? Were the huts and houses decked out with twinkling décor? Were the theaters and houses of worship offering special shows and musicals? Did anxious children find it hard to sleep that night? My guess is the answer to all the above is “No.”
But the first Christmas was not without its own signals and signs dating back a few centuries. The prophets had predicted a coming Savior, the Messiah, who would be born of a virgin, from the ancestral line of David, born in Bethlehem – all Jews, even the marginally religious – had known such things from the time they were toddlers.
And yet on the eve of the very first Christmas business pretty much went along as usual for most. People came home from work and cleaned up for dinner. Children played in the dusty streets until time for bed. Spouses rolled over and gave good night kisses before turning out the light. Ho-hum, life goes on.
Except, perhaps, for those who still had yet to comply with that crazy census. The one Caesar had ordered. For those who still needed to register, their minds were occupied with getting to their home-town, if they didn’t still live in it, filling out the necessary documents and going home. One young couple arrived in Bethlehem on just such a mission.
Jesus was born, placed in manger
Who really knew?
Apparently, no one. An angel woke up some shepherds to tell them news.
Some wise men were intrigued by a strange star and followed it.
But apart from these unlikely guests at the manger, no one else really seemed to notice Christmas #1. Jesus came, and though many had been waiting for him, few noticed his arrival.
The first Christmas might have been easy to miss. But the subsequent ones in our lifetimes are practically impossible to overlook.
And Jesus said he’s coming again. Revelation 22. He said it’s soon.
Behold, I am coming soon! (Revelation 22:7, 12)
Yes, I am coming soon! (Revelation 22:20)
Here’s a question I pose to you today: Have we done more to prepare for the celebration of a past event than we have to prepare for His future coming?
In other words do our efforts to observe and remember his first coming surpass our attention to the details of being ready for Him to come again?
The stakes are much higher for this preparation.
Some of us might have a better idea of how to prepare for a great Christmas celebration than we do for how to prepare for Him to suddenly appear today. After all, Christmas preparations, if you boil them down, are pretty basic: decorate, purchase and wrap the gifts, make plans with the family, attend a church service, cook or cater, clean up. I know there are many other exciting nuances that make Christmas far more elaborate and far more busy. But really, you and I would essentially be ready for Christmas if we just gave attention to those things. And even if we’re not ready, Christmas is still going to come.
TRANSITION: There some basics to keep in mind for a person who wants to be fully prepared for Jesus to return.
I. WE SHOULD BE ALERT AND WATCHFUL
Illus – Sometimes at Christmas we are alert and watch for sales. We receive wish lists and we watch the ads for good deals. As of Friday night, ABC News was reporting that this year’s Christmas retail sales were only up 5% over last year’s – the smallest increase in 3 years. To help bring in more revenue, K-Mart boldly pledged to stay open 36 hours straight until midnight tonight. There’s still time to be prepared, because we know Christmas is coming soon.
Being alert and watchful helps us get ready to observe an event that has already taken place. But Jesus said, that to be ready for him to come again, this is also what we should do…
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. (Matthew 24:42)
Christmas is December 25 every year. Easy to keep track of. What day will Jesus return? We don’t know. The key is to be watchful and alert all the time. Constant attention needs to be given all the time, because it could be any moment. After all, Jesus said it would be soon. Ready or not.
TRANSITION: Which leads us to the second item to keep in mind…If we’re going to be fully prepared for Jesus to return…
II. WE SHOULD BE MOTIVATED TO LIVE GODLY LIVES
The Apostle Peter makes it very clear…
You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. (2 Peter 3:11-12)
Illus - At Christmas children are told they shouldn’t be bad or they’ll get coal in their stocking. The prospect of Santa coming soon spurs them on toward good behavior.
The prospect of Jesus coming back has a lot more on the line than candy or coal in a stocking. We’re talking eternity. Heaven and Hell.
So we ought to live holy and godly lives. Don’t get too attached to this world. It’s not home – we’re just a passin’ through.
Peter refers to us as aliens and strangers here. People whose citizenship is in heaven.
That means if there are things we are practicing now that we wouldn’t if we were sure today was judgment day – we need to change them today. How would you want Jesus to find you on the day He returns?
Would you like to:
Be less tied to materialism
Deeper tied to Him through prayer
Would you like to:
Put an end to that secret little habit
Be passionately about sharing your faith
However that is, start living that way now. Make preparations. We don’t know the day, but He’s coming soon.
TRANSITION: Third, if we’re to be prepared for Jesus to come…
III. WE SHOULD ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER
At this time of year we say, “Merry Christmas” a lot. We encourage each other to have a nice holiday celebration. Christmas is coming soon, hope you have a good one.
Christians can do the same as we prepare for Jesus’ 2nd coming.
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. Therefore encourage each other with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:17-18)
But let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:25)
Seek one another out. Pat one another on the back.
Remind each other – Jesus is coming. Hang in there. It’s not much longer.
Hang on to Jesus. Keep up the good work. He’s coming soon.
Encourage each other. We shouldn’t bring each other down. We should feel free to express our hope in the return of Jesus to other Christians.
TRANSITION: Lastly, if we’re going to be ready for Jesus to return…
IV. WE SHOULD PERSEVERE
Illus – In some ways this has been a tough Christmas. The snow and the extreme cold have made our usual preparations a bit more difficult. The traffic getting out of Yorktown and Oak Brook Malls. The traffic on Butterfield. Yikes! And there is a lot to get done for Christmas. Come home exhausted from shopping, fighting traffic, driving in this horrible weather – but you got it done. You persevered. Now you’re ready to celebrate.
Listen to what Paul tells Timothy about the Christian life.
Fight the good fight of the faith…I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Timothy 6:12, 14)
Persevere. Don’t give up. You’ll be tempted to think, it’s not worth it. You’ll be tempted to think, Jesus isn’t coming back. You’ll be tempted to turn away. You’ll be tempted to take your eyes off of Jesus while you wait.
You’ll be tempted to make a compromise here or there because it’s been a long time already, and Jesus hasn’t come yet. But don’t give in to those temptations. Persevere. What’s the best strategy for life-long perseverance? Remember that He’s coming soon!
TRANSITION: Those are the basics – to be prepared for the return of Jesus.
CONCLUSION
There is a poem that was written several years ago loosely based on “The Night Before Christmas.” This poem however is one man’s tale of “The Night Before Jesus Came.”
’Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house
Not a creature was praying, not one in the house.
Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care
In hopes that Jesus would not come there.
The children were dressing to crawl into bed,
Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
And Mom in her rocker with baby on her lap
Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.
When out of the East there arose such a clatter,
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here.
With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray
I knew in a moment this must be The Day!
The light of His face made me cover my head
It was Jesus! returning just like He had said.
And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth
I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.
In the Book of Life which He held in His hand
Was written the name of every saved man.
He spoke not a word as He searched for my name;
When He said "It’s not here" my head hung in shame.
The people whose names had been written with love
He gathered to take to His Father above.
With those who were ready He rose without a sound
While all the rest were left standing around.
I fell to my knees, but it was too late;
I had waited too long and this sealed my fate.
I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight;
Oh, if only I had been ready tonight.
In the words of this poem the meaning is clear;
The coming of Jesus is drawing near.
There’s only one life and when comes the last call
We’ll find that the Bible was true after all!
It’s never too early to start getting ready. Because even if we’re not fully prepared, tomorrow is still Christmas. Similar to Christmas, Jesus is still coming! If he said it was soon 2000 years ago, think of how soon it must really be now!
Read Rev. 22:17
Yes, I am coming soon.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20)
Invitation: O Come All Ye Faithful
