Wake Up! (First Sunday Of Advent 2018)

WAKE UP!

Text: Luke 21:25 -36

“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

A pastor tells the story of a church member who annoyed him often going to sleep during the sermon. To remedy the problem, the pastor offered the grandson of this man a dollar a week to keep his grandfather awake. It worked for two weeks. However, Karl Neufeld, the grandfather was up to his old tricks going to sleep in church during the sermon again. After the service the pastor said to the grandson that he was disappointed in him for not keeping the agreement. The boy replied you were giving me a dollar a week not to wake him but grandpa gives me five dollars a week not to disturb him.” (Lowelll D. Streiker. Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 2000, p. 363).

Who doesn’t like the snooze button on an alarm clock? Yet, when it comes to our spiritual condition, hitting the snooze button can be deadly because the results are not about tardiness but about eternity and where we will spend it.

“The Son of God became the Son of Man that He might change the sons of men into sons of God”. (Croft M. Pentz. Zingers. Nashville: Tyndale House Publishing, Inc., 1990, p. 168). We stand on the edge of another year, another Advent season, another opportunity to take and audit of where we are in our relationship with the Savior.

Today’s text reminds us once again, that Jesus was and is and is to come. Jesus was: Jesus was in heaven and left His glory to become obedient. Jesus is: Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith. Jesus is to come: Jesus is to come again in glory. Jesus came the first time in glory and when He comes back He will be our judge.

There have always been and always will be cosmic disturbances and spiritual complacencies until Jesus comes back. There will be people whose response will be one of anguish, grief terror and regret because they ignored the warnings as if they were exempt. They fail fail to realize that they “… will never change what they permit and never face what they deny.” (Perry Stone. Purging Your House And Pruning Your Family Tree. p. 13) That is a very dangerous place to be. Where are you with Jesus?

Today’s text presents us with two very important things, a warning and how we respond to it.

WARNING

What do you do when you hear a siren behind you? Do you look for a safe place to stop or get out of the way?

1) Caution: Chances are you look for a safe place to stop or get out of the way.

2) Time: With an emergency every second can be crucial. Rescue personnel often rescue people in danger just in the nick of time. 3) Apathy: Do we know anyone who has habitually become indifferent to those around them? Do we know anyone who has become indifferent to their own salvation? Isn’t that why Jesus told us to watch ourselves lest we be weighed down with heavy hearts?

How many are there who have dulled or weighted hearts?

1) Warning phrase: The phrase “that day” occurs at least 38 times in in the New Testament and 20 of those 38 deal with the day of judgment. Luke 21:34 indicates judgment for those who would not heed the warning and were caught “unawares” because they were spiritually asleep.