The God Who Holds The Future

Matt 24:15-28 - The God Who Holds the Future

One common fear we have is the fear of the future. We worry about what is to come.

• We fear because we do not know what can happen and we are not in control.

• The things we worry about may not even happen but the thought of it can rob us of joy and peace today. We lose sleep over the future.

Will there be peace in our world? Will our children grow up to be good citizens?

Will I be able to find a new job? Will the church grow? Can we find a new pastor?

The truth is, the future is not in our hands. Many things are beyond our control.

• The only way to experience peace is to turn to the One who is in control and trust God to sovereignly govern our lives and our future.

When the people of Israel were taken captive by the Babylonians, they had no hope.

• On their own, there is no way for them to free themselves and return home. They have no resources and no means whatsoever.

• The Lord spoke to them through the prophet Jeremiah. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jer 29:11 Their future is in God’s hands.

That’s what we are reminded of from the text this morning. God knows the future.

• We have been reading the words of Jesus to His disciples, from Matt 24-25.

• Jesus was telling them about the future – what will take place and what are the signs of the end of the age.

• By now, we know that the things Jesus talked about are bad news. They are not the things we like to hear but the TRUTH we need to know.

• Jesus spoke the truth about the end times to warn the disciples and encourage them to be vigilant and stay faithful to God.

• Trust God because He knows everything that is to happen in the future.

JESUS REVEALS THE FUTURE

The conversation started at the beginning of Matt 24 when they left the temple and the disciples were impressed by the grand structures of the building.

• 24:2 But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

• Jesus took the opportunity to tell them that what they see will not last. The Temple in Jerusalem would one day be destroyed.

Which came true. The Temple was destroyed in AD 70 by the Romans.

• The Roman General Titus led his army against Jerusalem, besieged it for 4 years, starved the Jews and conquered the city.

• He razed it to the ground and destroyed the Temple, leaving not even one stone of the Temple standing, just as Jesus said.

Since Jesus said something about the future, the disciples asked Him privately,

• “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (24:3)

• That’s when Jesus began to tell them the signs of the end times and urged them to be prepared for His second coming, all the way to the end of Matt 25.

There will be trials and tribulations, wars and rumours of wars, nation rising against nation, and famines and earthquakes in many places.

• False prophets will arise and confuse the people, turning many from the faith.

• The love of many will grow cold. There will be animosity and betrayal among people, more hatred and wickedness.

That’s the first part of Matt 24. Jesus said it more than 2000 years ago but we are seeing more and more of these signs today.

• Jesus revealed these not to scare His disciples but to warn them that difficult days will come. And the fact that He said it means that God knows and He is watching.

Last week’s message on this text (shared by Pr Lo Fung Lian ????? at CS) reminded us of the need:

? to be vigilant and not let others lead us astray (v.4),

? to face tribulations with courage and patience (v.9), and

? to be faithful and not let our love grow cold (v.12).

That’s the first point we learn: THE FUTURE IS IN GOD’S HANDS

Despite these difficult days, Jesus said 24:14 “…this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Clearly, someone is controlling the timetable.

• Despite all the changes we see in our world today, this is the assurance we have.