Ready or not…This is the First Sunday of Advent! Many of you know that Advent represents the comings of Jesus. We normally emphasize the first coming of Christ. But Advent also represents the Second Coming of Jesus. In both cases this involves waiting with expectation and being prepared for His Coming and especially His Coming Again.
In this passage Jesus identifies some rather remarkable things that are associated with His Second Coming. As we look at the comings of Jesus there are stark contrasts between Christ’s First and Second Coming.
The First Coming was subtle and silent.
One of our favorite Christmas carols is “Silent Night which includes the lines, “Silent night, holy night… all is calm… all is bright”.
Or another one, O Little Town of Bethlehem mentions, “How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given”.
Of course, this references the OT prophet Micah who speaks of Jesus birth in the unheralded town of Bethlehem. Jesus was not born in Jerusalem or Rome or in a place of prominence or popularity. He was born in a place of obscurity where the animals would be kept, yes, even a manger or cattle trough.
Further, His birth announcement came to the poorest and lowest social group in the first century…common shepherds watching over their flocks at night. Not to those in political power or high social standing or religious leaders.
And Jesus was born to a very common Jewish maiden named Mary, not a princess or one of high social status. His First Coming was subtle and more silent.
But the Second Coming will be in great contrast to His First Coming,
The Second Coming will be spectacular and sensational.
What we know in the writings of the NT, just like this one, is that the Second Coming of Jesus will be nothing short of earth shattering. The whole cosmos will be involved, and every eye will see Him coming on the clouds.
In His first coming Jesus rode on a donkey as a humble King. In His Second Coming He will come on a white horse as the conquering King.
In His First Coming He brought grace and truth and extended mercy for salvation to all people. In His Second Coming He will come to judge all people and bring the Kingdom of God into full reality.
At his First Coming my wife likes to say that there was only the star that guided the Wise Men to where Christ lay. It was a lowly 1-star stable where Jesus was born. At Jesus Second Coming it will be a 5-star event more spectacular than anything we can fully imagine! Jesus mentions in Luke’s gospel there will be signs not just with one star but with all the stars. There will be signs in heavens and over all creation.
Jesus is using apocalyptic language here much of which is borrowed from the Old Testament. For example, Joel 2:30–31 says, “And I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth, blood, fire, and columns of smoke. The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.” All of this speaks of some kind of cataclysmic change in the natural order.
Let me note here that apocalyptic literature like our book of Revelation involves certain elements that can be symbolically used to describe events that are deliberately veiled. But even if we understand that some of these signs are more symbolic, it still leaves the message that the Second Coming of Jesus will incorporate the entire planet. It brings us back to the central message is all about Jesus. This Christmas message portrayed through the scriptures and in our Christian music. The manger in Bethlehem cradles a king. Not just any king, but THE king. The one that Revelation calls King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And he shall reign forever and ever! Alleluia!
When Jesus appeared before Pontius Pilate, he mentioned that His Kingdom was not of this world. And if it were, then his servants would fight (John 18:36). What did Jesus mean by that? I think Jesus was alluding to the physical Kingdom that He knew would one day come to rule the earth when Jesus returns the Second Time. In His First Coming, Jesus freely laid down his life as a sacrifice for our sins. When he comes the Second Time the Kingdom of God will come in its fullness. His Kingdom will rule over all other earthly power and dominion.
John reveals this in vivid terms in Revelation 21 and 22, when the “New Jerusalem” comes down out of heaven. Jesus’ kingdom descends to take its rightful place as the capital of this world, where all his disciples find their eternal home.
Now these signs and wonders are quite scary for a lot of people. Indeed, in a similar passage in Luke it records men will faint from fear in seeing these cosmic events take place (Luke 21:26). But the purpose of these events is meant to bring a message of assurance and hope about how God will finally restore all things. But there appears to be cosmic events that will bring about this new creation.
I find it quite interesting that even our secular movie producers have envisioned there being some type of end to our world as we know it. How many movies do you know that involve the end of time through some devastating nuclear war or overpopulation, or weather events that will change everything as we know it? In an article in National Geographic there was an interesting survey:
More than 62 percent of Americans think the world will experience a major catastrophe in the next 20 years. The four most likely disaster scenarios include (in order) a significant earthquake, a significant hurricane, a terrorist attack, a financial collapse. Sure, it sounds a lot like the scriptures. Further, 71 percent envision a major disaster in their lifetime as an “act of God, not man.” But here is the amazing part. 85 percent said they are not ready for a devastating event. Source: Meghan Gleason, Nat Geo TV Blogs
It bears repeating that Jesus and the writers of the holy scriptures did not tell us these things to bring about a panic or horror like some of the movies produced. Sometimes I think we ignore or avoid talking about these events because we are either uncertain of them or we do not want to be a “fear-monger” or dooms day prophet. Considering the teachings of Jesus the question comes:
HOW DO WE PREPARE FOR HIS COMING? There are some key points to consider in this passage as we prepare for the Second Coming of Christ.
First, Look up in hope
In a similar teaching on these events in Luke’s gospel, Jesus tells us that we must “look up” in hope. This is in great contrast to unbelievers who are in a state of panic. Luke writes, “When these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:28).
We look up in hope because something wonderful is happening. Redemption is near, and we’re about to be delivered. Friends, that’s something to look forward to! The Coming Again of Jesus involves some spectacular events that will in essence bring about the restoration of the creation. Back to what I was saying earlier, the First Coming of Jesus was to bring about salvation for humanity. It was to bring the kingdom of God to our hearts. Christ’s first coming brought reconciliation with God and moves us toward living in peace with others. It was essential to help prepare us for the Second Coming.
Paul writes about this in Romans 8 when he indicates that the whole creation is crying out, moaning for its deliverance. Our sin and rebellion brought about chaos and disorder. But we know from Revelation that Christ’s Second Coming will transform the creation! No more tears and sorrows. No more pain. No more death. Nothing that can hinder, or harm will be present in the coming Kingdom of God. This is ultimately a message of HOPE for all of us and our world. Whatever else we read from this passage, I pray we get the purpose and meaning behind Jesus Coming Again. It brings about our full redemption and complete harmony with God and nature. As I mentioned recently, this is Paradise Restored and not only restored but transformed! Alleluia!
Second, Look out for the signs
As I look around my neighborhood it is quite different. Even before Thanksgiving but especially on this weekend I see all kinds of lights and Christmas displays in yards. Some of them are quite elaborate. Like most of you, our family sometimes drives around just to look at the lights. Many of you may take a trip to Bellingrath Gardens to view the multiple light displays that are quite spectacular. These changes in our neighborhood and town are signs to everyone driving by that something is about to happen. There is a magnificent event coming that you do not want to miss. A little earlier in Matthew’s gospel Jesus identified certain cosmic signs that would precede His coming. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.
Now let me quickly say that cosmic events are happening in every generation. But it sure seems like more are happening in our generation. Tsunamis and earthquakes and the awful pandemic that happened. It is amazing to consider events that are happening in our world.
One thing I want to avoid here is that Jesus is not asking us to be date setters and calendar keepers about when He comes again. No! I hope we have learned from lessons of history of those who try to predict and have a full diagram of when Jesus is coming again. This is not the point of this passage which many have stumbled over. But it is meant to teach us about end times and help us be prepared by watching events that will unfold. Remember Jesus told us clearly that no one know when He is coming again. Only the Father knows.
This leads to the last thing.
Third, Look to God in watchful prayer
Notice what he says in verse 42, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”
And he repeats it in verse 44 “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
In a similar passage Jesus warns us in Luke 21:36. “So keep watch at all times, and pray that you may have the strength to escape all that is about to happen and to stand before the Son of Man.”
This preparation demands a couple of things from us.
First, we must guard against being lulled to sleep by the things of this world. This includes worldly pleasures and worldly worries; both can be deadly anesthesia for the soul.
One person put it like this… We have our families, houses, cars, vacations, retirement plans, and television sets, etc. Life seems so good. Jesus says we must not be so preoccupied with the things of earth that his Return becomes nothing more than an afterthought. It is amazing the preparations we go through to prepare for Christmas. Decorations we unpack. Lists we make out. Cooking and baking we perform. Shopping that we do. We are going through all these preparations to get ready for Christmas. As you, I am right in the middle of all these decorations and preparations. Now if we are going through all these preparations in the more worldly sense of preparing for Christmas, what are we doing to prepare ourselves for the Coming Again of Jesus? This leads to the next part of what we do.
Second, Jesus says we must keep watch for He will come unexpectedly.
Jesus talks about Noah and the Flood and how people were not prepared for that event. He preached for 120 years, and nobody would listen to enter the Ark. Only 8 survived.
Keeping watch has overtones of military service. A soldier is designated to keep watch for the enemy. We’re in a battle, and it’s easy to disregard Christ. But we cannot be victorious ourselves so we must be ever vigilant.
According to the apostle Peter, the scoffers say: “Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation. … Where is this ‘coming’ he promised?” (2 Peter 3:4.
I have had people in my own extended family who have made statement like… We have been waiting for 2000 years on Christ to come. I don’t think it is going to happen…So they carry on with their lives without any consciousness or care about His Coming. Peter reminds us in that same passage that one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. God keeps time much differently that we do.
Jesus uses another example of a thief coming at time you do not expect. Again, another warning that we must keep constant watch. Several years ago, I recall a young man on the beach of N Ft Myers who refused to leave the beach during a lightning storm on the horizon. He was drinking from an aluminum can and was struck by lightning and killed immediately. He failed to heed the signs and paid a very high price with his life. I find it interesting to note that Jesus will come as quickly as lightning, suddenly and unexpectedly.
So, Peter poses the question: “What kind of people ought you to be … as you look forward to the day of God?” (3:11-12).
His answer: “You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God … looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth” (2 Peter 3:12-13).
Robby Robins was an Air Force pilot during the first Iraq war. After his 300th mission, he was surprised to be given permission to immediately pull his crew together and fly his plane home. They flew across the ocean to Massachusetts and then had a long drive to western Pennsylvania. They drove all night, and when his buddies dropped him off at his driveway just after sun-up, there was a big banner across the garage—”Welcome Home Dad!”
How did they know? No one had called, and the crew themselves hadn’t expected to leave so quickly. Robins relates, “When I walked into the house, the kids, about half dressed for school, screamed, ‘Daddy!’ Susan came running down the hall—she looked terrific—hair fixed, make-up on, and a crisp yellow dress. ‘How did you know?’ I asked.
‘I didn’t,’ she answered through tears of joy. ‘Once we knew the war was over, we knew you’d be home one of these days. We knew you’d try to surprise us, so we were ready every day.'” What a great image here.
She was ready every day! Ready or not…Jesus is Coming! To borrow the lines of Santa Clause is coming to town…He sees you when you’re sleeping. He knows when you’re awake. He knows if you’ve been bad or good. Because ready or not, He’s coming!! On a much higher-level Jesus is calling us to watch and pray and be ready for His Coming. As Robbins’ wife, we need to be ready every day.
As you are preparing for Christmas, are making the necessary preparations for Christ Coming Again?
How about your life? Are you prepared for the coming of Christ?
Where might you need to change or rearrange things in your life to prepare for His Coming?
Ready or Not…He is Coming!