Tomorrows Good News

Mark 13:24-37New International Version (NIV)

24 “But in those days, following that distress,

“‘the sun will be darkened,

and the moon will not give its light;

25 the stars will fall from the sky,

and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’[a]

26 “At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.

28 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 29 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it[b] is near, right at the door. 30 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

The Day and Hour Unknown

32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert[c]! You do not know when that time will come. 34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

35 “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”

1 Corinthians 1:3-

3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving

4 I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— 6 God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. 7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Get ready -

The great depression of the 1930’s in New Zealand was a terrible time according to those who lived through it. Jobs were very hard to come by Farmers walked off their farms land prices plummeted and survival was the key thing – growth was unthinkable. Those farmers who thought they could trade their way out of it by increased production were very soon disappointed. They increased the production of Butter and milk products which increased thwe worldwide surplus which forced the prices down. Buying a farm seemed ridiculous if you did buy one it would be very very cheap – Who would predict that by 2014 farms on only about 150 hectares could go for as much as 7 – 10 million dollars.

If you knew then what farms would be worth or even during the rural downturn of the 1980’s you would have bought up land wholesale and waited for the prices to rise.

You not only would have bought as much land as you could you would have encouraged your friends and relatives to buy up on a grand scale.

If we knew what was happening in the future we would act very very differently.

If I had really appreciated the harmful effects of smoking I would have hounded my parents to have knocked off smoking.

If I was a religious leader about 20 years before the birth of Christ and I really knew what was about to happen I would have been very excited about the birth of Jesus and would have been awestruck at his coming.

If I knew who he was really was then I would not have been part of the movement that hounded him to death on a cross.

If only!!!!!

Imagine if you only knew before hand!

The scripture reading this morning is part of the advent readings and it speaks of a time that is not present but in the future. The disciples had confused the destruction of Jerusalem with the end of time. But the destruction of Jerusalem was not to be the end but this was to be in the future.

A day Is coming though – in the future- when God wraps up the current situation on earth.

The final curtain of life on this planet as it has always been known will finish.