What Do You Do When Your World Is Falling Apart?

For those not familiar with an Anglican Service there are four readings before the Sermon. Today's Readings are: Malachi 3:13 - 4:6 ; Psalm 98; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 and Luke 21:5-19

Dr. Ian Paisley, ... the fiery Irish cleric and politician ...was reputed ... to have been preaching one Sunday ... on the End Times ... and in particular ...on the Day of Judgement.

As he reached the climax of his address, ... he said that on the Day of Judgement ... "there would be wailing and gnashing of teeth".

At which point ... an old woman put up her hand and said ... "Dr. Paisley, I have no teeth"

Paisley replied ... "Madam, teeth will be provided"

Beloved ... I am not sure if teeth will be provided or not ... but this I am sure of ... that each day ... we are 24 hours ... closer our Lord's ... return. (Pause)

In our Gospel Text: Jesus along with his disciples ... had left the temple ......and were in the process of walking away from this magnificent complex ...

When these remarks in are made.

Hear God's Word ... BIBLE 5 When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, Jesus said, 6 "As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down." END (Luke 21:5-6)

They admired the temple for its architectural grandeur, .... and it's expansive decorations.

The temple was impressive indeed ... not only for its beauty ...... but for its size.

Each foundation stone ... was almost the size of a box car (67 ft. long, 18 ft. wide, 12 ft. high).

The temple was indeed impressive, ....... covering about one-sixth ... of the ancient city of Jerusalem.

The building complex ... was nearly five hundred yards long ... and four hundred yards wide. (Pause)

Jesus' remarks are especially devastating, ... for the temple ... was the heart and soul ...of Jewish worship.

Remember that today's Gospel passage immediately follows the story of ...... the widow's mite.

Where Jesus is comparing the widow's giving ......All that she had ...... with the ostentatious giving ... of the rich man.......

A rich man ... Who the listener's clearly understood ... gained his wealth ... by devouring widows' houses ...... which had made the widow's destitute... in the first place.

The temple might look pretty ... on the outside, ...... but it is pretty rotten ...... on the inside.

The temple system ... was falling apart; ...... yet most ... could not see it.

All this grandeur ... and all this beauty might impress you... Jesus in essence tells them:

But it all ...will be .... thrown down.

And The fact is, ... in 40 years ... 70AD... most of Jerusalem is destroyed.

Tradition is ... The temple was burned, ... and the gold inlay melted ... and seeped between the large stones.

And in turn ... The stones were removed by the Romans ... in order to retrieve the gold.

Heed the Lord's prophetic words: Not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down. (Luke 21:6)

The disciple's questions to Jesus statement ... were no different than ours would be.... when will this all happen?

How will we know ... when these things ... will take place?

What sign ... should we look for?

It is a question ... people still ask ... today.

Yet ... Jesus does not directly answer ... their question.

Instead ...... Jesus paints them a picture ... with all of the usual elements:

Warring nations, insurrections, earthquakes, famines, plagues, and ...dreadful portents.

Many hear this text and are either overwhelmed by all of the apocalyptic imagery ... Or ... ignore it altogether.

Apocalyptic imagery and ... dreadful portents aside,

I imagine, ... that many of us have wondered ... If our world too ... is not falling apart ... before our very eyes.

The United States ... and most of the western nations have accumulated debt ... that is unimaginable ... and unpayable.

Our country still has troops stationed around the world.

Terrorist attacks have not abated.

Wars... Hurricanes... Tsunamis and earthquakes ... we have had those ... too.

And it is not only the world that seems to be falling apart, ....... but the worldwide Christian church.

Some who call themselves Christians ...Followers of the Christ ... are denying The Authority of Scripture.

Some are denying the Deity ... and Saving power of Jesus.

Beloved .... When Christian doctrine and Christian truth are abandoned;

You do not get liberal form of Christianity.

Not at all ... you have formed a whole new humanistic religion... based on Satanic doctrine. (Pause)

So ... in these ...... trying times ... how are we to act as followers of the Christ.