Yesterday, desperate, homeless villagers on the island of Sumatra mobbed American helicopters carrying aid. From Dawn until sunset on New Year’s Day, 12 Seahawk helicopters shuttled supplies to the hungry and traumatized inhabitants of the island. (DENIS D. GRAY, AP)
Currently, the death toll for the earthquake and tidal wave that hit that part of the world last Sunday stands at over 120,000 and is expected to top 150,000.
Just a few months ago, our state was hit by a record number of hurricanes. Many in our area still live in homes draped by blue tarps, which daily remind us of the nights we sat with only flashlights to pierce the darkness of our homes. They remind us of the thousands killed by the storms on Caribbean islands before the winds and rains even reached us.
Frequently during the holidays, we have seen greetings televised to loved ones in the area from soldiers overseas, reminding us of the fighting and war going on in Iraq. The increased security and increasingly intrusive searches air travelers experienced in the past few weeks, remind us that the world is becoming a more dangerous place.
In the past month, major swarms of locus have begun attacking crops in Africa and the Middle East.
Last week, a prosecuting attorney in Philadelphia said that several Christians were guilty of using hate-speech because they quoted the Bible from a sidewalk at the scene of a gay parade. That capped off a Christmas season which saw Christ, the real reason for the holiday, the Holy Day, removed from more and more schools, stores, and public places.
This past week, I had the opportunity to drive through parts of Arkansas, Tennessee, and even preached in Mississippi, and I saw new Kingdom Halls of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and worship places for Mormons in places there weren’t any just a few years ago. It appears that the cults are spreading and growing in this country while true Christianity in increasingly attacked.
My friends, I want you to know that we are living in an age, a time Jesus warned would be coming. This morning, I would like us to look together at how you and I are to respond in the days ahead.
- Read Matthew 24:1-14, 23-31, 36-42
I. PREPARE FOR ARRIVAL – vv 30-31, 40-42
These verses remind us that one-day Jesus will return for you and I. One day, Jesus is going to come again. When He comes, it will be just like in Noah’s day. People will be working and playing and living. Some will be getting married, and others will be planning to retire. When He comes, it will be a surprise.
When Jesus comes, some will be ready and those will go with Him. Others will be left behind. On that day, 2 will be working, one will leave and one will stay. 2 will be playing, one will leave and one will stay. 2 will be married, one will leave and the other stay.
Oh my friend, when Jesus returns, when He comes again, there will not be time to say, “Hey, wait for me.” There won’t be time to make it right. There won’t be time to change your mind. You and I need to prepare for Christ’s arrival. In 2 Corinthians 6:2 God says,
> 2 Corinthians 6:2 In an acceptable time, I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. Look, now is the acceptable time; look, now is the day of salvation. (HCSB)
Oh dear friend, the signs are there. The Lord is coming. Are you ready for His arrival?
II. STUDY FOR SURVIVAL – vv 4-5, 11, 23-24
In these verses, Jesus warns that the Devil will attempt to lead some astray. He warns that some people, some in the church, some who believed they were Christians, some who believed they were saved, will be led astray. Even, perhaps, some who are saved will become confused. Why? Because the Devil is a liar. He has been practicing his craft for thousands of years and lie better than any politician, better than any cheating spouse you’ve ever seen, better than any wayward child, better than any scam artist you’ve ever seen. It’s his words they use.
Jesus calls him the Father of Lies. My friend, if you and I are to stand against him, if we are to stand against his lies, if we are going to remain faithful and true, then we had better be students of God’s Word. We had best study for survival.
A number of years ago, I worked as a youth pastor in Arkansas. While serving there, I spent a great deal of time at the home of a couple of the youth. I was single, they kept feeding me, so like a bad stray, I kept going back.
7 years ago this past July, I preached the funeral for the teenage boy who was killed in an accident. Since then, his parents have stopped attending church. Even worse, I discovered this past week that they currently visit a palm reader, a spiritualist, trying to talk to their son.
My friend, the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons, those cults offering false messiah’s draw the largest percentage of their converts from churches. Everyday, more and more are deceived. Why? Because people do not know what they believe and they do not know why they believe it.
Let me tell you my friend, you and I need to know what we believe and why we believe it. We need to learn and study God’s Word inside and out, so that we too will not be deceived. If you don’t know what you believe and what God’s Word says about it, anyone with a good argument can lead you astray. The Bible says,
> 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Oh my friend, you and I must study for survival.
III. REFUSE TO UNRAVEL – vv 12-13
These verses warn that in the end days, sin and lawlessness will increase and many people’s love will grow cold. Many people will lose their passion. They will grow lukewarm. They will lose their vision and lose sight of the goal.
Oh my friend, don’t lose sight of our mission, or our purpose. Don’t be distracted by the things going on around you. They won’t last.
Several years ago, Gladys and I went on a mission trip to Colorado. We drove from Marks, Mississippi, across the continental divide, to the plains of Colorado. We have many memories of that trip. We took a lot of pictures. And you know, I am convinced, since Gladys was pregnant and since we were traveling with a van full of youth, that we visited a lot of rest areas along the way, but I don’t remember any of them. Why? Because, they were not our destination.
My friend, we must not be distracted by houses and buildings and careers, and entertainment, and forget that this place is not our home. We are just passing through. Jesus is preparing a better place for us, and one day He will come and take us there; but while we’re here, He’s left us with a mission. That is to help others prepare for the trip as well. We can’t let that unravel.
This past Wednesday I got to visit with a man in his 60’s who invited Jesus into his heart just a few months ago. Let me tell you, I knew that man for years. He was a good man, he was a moral man, but he wasn’t a Christian man. When I visited with him Wednesday, he was smiling like he never had before. His wife reports that he is a new man. Why? Because he is now a believer.
When Jesus left, He left us with a mission. It wasn’t to build monuments, it wasn’t to build our reputations; it was to make disciples.
When the wave came ashore in Indonesia, I can assure you, the people there no longer worried much about the appearance of their homes, and their clothes were no longer all that important, they had more pressing things on their minds.
My friend, you and I have something more pressing as well. We are ambassadors of the Lord Jesus Christ, Royal Ambassadors, assigned to tell the world that Jesus is coming. …
IV. PRAY FOR REVIVAL – vv 36-44
Jesus is coming when He’s unexpected. We need to pray that God will rewarm our hearts, rekindle our love, and renew our passion for Him and for the lost. We need to pray for revival.
Let me tell you my friend, the world may be able to outlaw Christmas displays, but they can’t stop Christ’s love. Our schools may refuse to have children sing Christmas carols, but they’ll never stop the angel’s singing. Religion may be banned from the workplace, but no wall, and no law, can stop revival if God’s people pray for it.
My friend, we must pray for revival. …
3 days ago I visited an old church I once pastored. Last year, a tornado destroyed their building. They’ve since rebuilt …
