I want to begin the lesson this morning by wishing a “Happy New Year” to each and every one of you! I sincerely hope the year we have just started will be the best ever in your life. And my particular wish for each of you is that this will be the year in which you are more open to God’s presence, his power, and his purpose for your life than ever before.
But exactly what year is this?
Keep in mind that in ancient times, people didn’t worry too much about “what year it was”. It was enough for them to say that an event happened during the reign of a certain king or x number of years before or after a certain war, flood, or earthquake.
And so we have passages like 2 Kings 23:23 which say, “But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah this Passover was held before the LORD in Jerusalem.”
But, about 1500 years ago, a monk by the name of Dionysius Exiguus developed a calendar which started measuring the years from the time of Christ. His intention was to date the year 1 from the time when — by his best calculation — Jesus was born. But, of course, today virtually all scholars agree that this sixth-century monk was off by at least four years and possibly by as many as six.
You see, based on our current calendar, Herod the Great died in 4 B.C. And since Jesus was born near the end of his reign, his birth couldn’t have been any later than that year. And since Herod ordered the slaughter of infants in Bethlehem who were “two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men” (Matthew 2:16), the birth of Jesus Christ may have been as early as 6 B.C.
Despite that error, our Western calendar has endured and has been adopted as the international standard of measuring years. But there are a lot of nations that privately use calendars other than this one for dating the documents of government and trade. For example, today in China the year is 4700, in Islamic nations, it’s 1424, and in Israel it’s 5764.
But here in America, it’s finally the year 2004, and despite concerns a few years ago the world is still in existence. For those of you who may have forgotten, January 1, 2000 was supposed to be the day that computers around the world went haywire and we experienced all sorts of chaos. But it would certainly appear that we escaped without any major disasters. When that day arrived, we still had electricity, we still had running water, and there were no plane crashes at midnight.
But there’s another reason that the year 2000 and the years since have been in the news. Many religious people in recent times have become obsessed with date-setting scenarios. So, as the ominous-looking year 2000 approached, we heard a lot of doomsday warnings. We were told that the 2000th year would be the time that Jesus Christ would return.
Many Christian writers and lecturers wanted you to believe that it was TEOTWAWKI -- “the end of the world as we know it.” Why does it seem that Christians tend to jump on every bandwagon being pulled by fear?
There are a couple reasons why I never got all that excited and packed my bags. For one thing, with the calendar mistake that Dionysius made, the 2000th year after the birth of Christ actually came and passed in 1994, 1995, or 1996 without the end of the world.
But there’s another reason why I never got all excited. Jesus said there would be no special sign of his coming. In unmistakable language, he said, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming -- in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning -- lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” (Mark 13:32-37).
Despite what Jesus said, we had predictions by the score for what most people were hyped up to believe was a “monumental hinge date in history”.
I saw an amazing poll result, one taken by the Los Angeles Times in May of 1999, which said that 2% of all people in this country believed that the world would come to an end on January 1, 2000 and 3% believed that Christ would return on that day. Furthermore, of those who believe the Bible is the Word of God, 6 percent expected the second coming of Christ to fall on January 1, 2000. That’s more than 15 million people in this country who fully believed that Jesus would return on that day.
The entertainment industry wasn’t a bit reluctant to capitalize on the doomsday predictions of religious groups. CBS ran a special program entitled Mysteries of the Millennium in 1996 that opened with these words: "Are you going to witness the end of the world? The Bible, Nostradamus, the Mayan Calendar, and ancient Hopi Indians all predicted that doomsday will be sometime in the next few years. . . . [N]ow modern science seems to support them." Then Hollywood checked in with two 1998 movies exploiting the same forecasts in Deep Impact and — wouldn’t you know it — Armageddon.
But the people who most exploited the foreboding turn of the millennium were the religious teachers. Hal Lindsey — author of The Late Great Planet Earth who has had to update his book several times as his fanciful interpretation of Scripture failed to match up with what actually happened — says this on a videotape:
“All of this [i.e., earthquakes, famines, wars, AIDS, etc.] leads up to one thing. . . . Jesus said, ‘This generation will not pass away until all these things are fulfilled.’ What generation? The generation that would see all these signs. We are that generation! I believe you cannot miss it. We’re that generation, and I believe we’re rapidly moving toward the coming of Christ.”
We’ve heard it a lot. But what many people don’t realize is that this sort of millennial hysteria is really nothing new; it’s been fairly constant across the centuries. In connection with "hinge dates" or world-shattering events, doomsday prophets have offered their projections of an end-time scenario. Here are just a few of the failed predictions through the centuries:
Hippolytus (who died in 236) predicted that the 500th year after Christ would see the end of the world.
A Spanish monk named Beatus predicted that he would live to see the Antichrist and the end of the world by the year 800. He died in 798 and, of course, the world is still here.
In the 900’s, it was a widespread belief across Europe that the end of the world would occur in the year 1000.
After the year 1000 passed uneventfully, the year 1033 was targeted by several as "the time of the end".
In 1843-44, William Miller and his followers were looking for Jesus’ return.
In 1910, many Christians expected that Halley ’s Comet would destroy the world
The year 1914 was proclaimed by the Jehovah’s Witnesses as the time when the Battle of Armageddon would be fought.
The February 1967 issue of Plain Truth magazine carried Herbert W. Armstrong’s pronouncement that the "Day of the Eternal" would come between five and ten years from his prediction, that is between 1972 and 1977.
A few years later, based on the first edition of Hal Lindsey’s The Late Great Planet Earth, tens of thousands of people sincerely believed "the rapture" would occur by the end of 1981.
In 1988, I received a book in the mail along with millions of other preachers. Edgar Whisenant wrote a book giving 88 reasons why he was certain "the rapture" would occur between September 11 and 13. In fact, Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) altered their nightly programming to run prerecorded shows on "the rapture" that informed people what to do in case Christian family members and friends disappeared.
In 1991, Louis Farrakhan announced the Gulf War would "be that [war] which the scriptures refer to as the War of Armageddon which is the final war."
And, of course, we’ve heard all the predictions about what would happen in 2000 and over the past few years. In the end, all the silly speculations throughout history have only served to discredit the attempts of others who proclaim the gospel.
I am hard pressed to explain the motives of people who try to predict the date of the second coming of Christ, and even more, to explain the gullibility of those who continue to believe them in the face of Jesus’ own words: “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Mark 13:32).
Do I believe Jesus is going to return personally, visibly, and bodily? Absolutely yes. Do I believe that his return will bring time as we know it to an end ? Yes. Do I believe his return will result in a separation of the saved and the lost for all eternity? Yes. Then why am I not interested in trying to figure out when that return will be? For the same reason that I have never needed anybody to stand guard and tell me when my wife was pulling up in the driveway or coming into the room. I am her husband when we are together and when we are apart, and I will be faithful to her in either setting. In the same way, I belong to Christ, and I am to be ready for his coming at any moment. The person who needs to post a lookout for either his wife or his Savior makes me a bit suspicious!
I think God knew that if he gave us the precise time of Christ’s return that the natural tendency of folks would be to put off following Christ till the last minute. I mean, that’s only natural, isn’t it? And you parents and teens have experienced this first hand. If the parents leave the house in the morning and say, “We’ll be back at 5:00 this afternoon. We expect for the kitchen to be clean when we get back”, what happens? You know exactly what happens. The teens watch TV, play on the computer, read their books until 4:30. And then it’s a mad rush to get it finished before Mom and Dad walk through the door!
But suppose the parents leave in the morning and they say, “We’ll be back after a while. We expect for the kitchen to be clean when we return”, now what happens? A precise time hasn’t been given. So the teens go through a thought process something like this -- “I can probably get away with waiting until noon until I get started -- but no, they could come home earlier than that -- the only safe thing to do is clean it now and keep it clean till they get back”
You see, when you don’t know the exact time that someone is coming, it changes your whole outlook on getting ready. That’s why Jesus said, “It could be in a few years, it could be in a few decades, it could be in a few centuries, it could be in a few millennia. It doesn’t matter that you know when it is, it only matters that you know that it’s going to happen, that you get yourself ready now, and that you stay ready.”
There’s an old fable which tells of three apprentice devils who were coming to this earth to finish their apprenticeship. They were talking to Satan about their plans to tempt and ruin men. The first said, "I will tell them there is no God." Satan said, "That will not delude many, for they know that there is a God." The second said, "I will tell men there is no hell." Satan said, “You will deceive very few that way." The third said, "I will tell men there is no hurry." Satan said to him, “Go, and you will ruin them by the thousands." The most dangerous of all delusions is that there is plenty of time.
Jesus said, “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.” (Matthew 24:42).
As 2004 begins, I can’t help but wonder, “Could this be the year that Jesus Christ returns?” Absolutely! In fact, I pray that it is. It has as much chance this year as it has every year. But my concern that we get ourselves ready is not based on predictions of men; it’s based on the fact that Jesus said to be ready at all times.
Listen to these words of Peter: “Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” (2 Peter 3:1-5).
Peter said there would be folks to come along who say, “I thought you said Jesus was coming back again. It’s been 2,000 years since he promised that. Looks like it’s not going to happen.” But it is going to happen!
“For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:6-9)
Peter says that Christ’s delay in returning is not to be viewed as a sign that he lied about coming back, but should be viewed instead as a sign that God loves us and wants to give us every opportunity to get ourselves ready. If you’re not prepared for Christ to come back, when you woke up this morning and found that Christ did not return yesterday, you got a second chance. You have one more opportunity to obey the gospel. It may be your last chance, but, by the grace of God, you have one more day to get yourself ready.
Well, in view of the fact that Christ may or may not return this year, what should be our concern, our focus? Allow me to share with you some desires that I have for this congregation in the coming year.
I pray that God will continue to build us into a healthy church -- a biblically conservative church which looks to the Word of God as our final authority, but a church where people are allowed to think for themselves, to grow at their own pace, and know how to show the grace to one another that the Lord has shown to all of us.
As we have often described it, I want us to be not a “museum for saints” but a "hospital for sinners" -- a church that truly demonstrates God’s power to transform sinners and offers them something better than they now know in their lives.
I pray that we will continue to celebrate the Lord in our worship in spirit and in truth this year. Using old hymns and new hymns, Bible preaching, weekly communion and hearts filled with gratitude and praise -- to continue to move the focus away from ourselves and to Jesus Christ where it belongs. As a priesthood of believers, may we bring our sacrifice of praise to him and exalt his name. I want our worship to let the visitor or seeker who comes into our midst know that we find such joy in Christ that he or she will want to know more about him as well.
I pray that we will continue to preach the gospel – to tell the story of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection through which we find forgiveness, hope and strength to live our daily lives.
I pray that we will demonstrate the compassion of Jesus to the community around us. God didn’t call us into a cave to isolate ourselves from the world he loves. The church is supposed to continue the personal life and ministry of Jesus. He was no isolated, antisocial hermit. He didn’t segregate himself from lepers, prostitutes, poor people, or criminals. If we are his body in the world today, we must have a burden for the same people he loved.
I want us to see the face of Jesus in the people we serve, to affirm their dignity as men and women in God’s own image, and give them the opportunity to know him.
And I pray that we will continue to pursue the unity of the body of Christ, to strengthen our bond of fellowship with one another.
Conclusion:
I want to close by sharing with you a resolution I believe was written by David Chadwell, a minister in Fort Smith, Arkansas. It was significant to me, and I pray that it will be meaningful to you as well.
My Christian Resolution for [This Year]
My Christian comprehension is growing.
I realize that nothing in my life is more important than my relationship with God.
I realize that everything in my life is directly affected by my relationship with God.
I realize that a maturing relationship with God benefits everything good in my life.
I realize that a growing relationship with God blesses everyone touched by my life.
I realize that my body will die but my person will not. I will live with God forever.
As a Christian I resolve to advance my commitment to spiritual growth [this year]. I want my mind, my heart, and my life to be more like the mind, heart, and life of Jesus Christ. I want my whole life to move closer to God. I want every area of my life to open to God’s Spirit. I surrender myself to God’s objectives and priorities in my life.
I will follow any avenue that helps me grow closer to God. I will consciously promote my spiritual growth in these ways.
1) I will grow to a new level in my prayer life. I will better understand what prayer is and how to pray. As I pray more frequently, I will to talk to God about everything. I will make requests and intercede for others. I will also pray prayers of thanksgiving and praise.
2) I will grow to a new level in my worship. I will grow a better understanding of the nature and meaning of worship. I will worship privately and publicly. I will attend worship assemblies, but not to observe, critique, or evaluate. I will come to worship God. God will be honored and praised by my actions, my voice, my heart, and my mind.
3) I will grow to a new level of service. My growth will include serving well, but it will not be limited to what I do. It will include my attitude, my motivations, and my spirit as I grow. I will serve because I belong to God. My relationship with God will be the foundation of my service.
4) I will grow to a new level of closeness in my association with God’s family. I will contribute to the warmth, the love, the caring, and the attentiveness of the congregation. I will seek to be a healthy, caring, unselfish, attentive part of His family. This body of Christians will be blessed because I am a part of this spiritual family.
Will this be the year that Jesus Christ returns? Possibly. But whether he comes or not, I pray that we will be ready for that coming.
I don’t know what resolution you may have made for your life in the coming year, but I hope that if you’re not a Christian, it is your resolution to become a part of God’s family as this new year begins. I can’t think of a better way to start off a new year!
