November 21, 2021 Text: Mark 13:24-37
Dear Friends in Christ,
On May 19, 1780, the sky over Hartford, CT and much of New England, darkened so quickly and ominously that some members of the Connecticut legislature, as they peered through the windows thought was world was ending. They rose for an immediate adjournment.
The speaker, Colonel Abraham Davenport, quelled the chaos when he rose and said, “The Day of Judgment is either approaching or it is not. If it is not, there is no cause for adjournment. If it is, I choose to be found doing my duty. Therefore, I wish that candles be brought.”
The end of the world as we know from the Bible is imminent. What should we be doing now? On this last Sunday of the Church Year the text is from the Book of Mark. When it comes to the grand finale we have . . .
“ALLURES, ALERTS, ASSURES”
Our first word of the day is allure. The end of the world always has a certain allure for us. Jesus disciples were no different. They want to know when. They want details.
People are fascinated by the end times. Why the popularity of the Book of Revelation? More people ask questions about this book more than any others in a Bible Study. And then we still don’t completely understand it. But the end times have such drama and oh Judgment Day. We write books and make movies and have television shows like we are some kind of experts.
The only expert is the Lord. There is such an allure for both the believer and the unbeliever. The believer is confident of a new and a new earth. The believer knows that Jesus’ return is a good thing for now and for eternity. The unbeliever on the other hand is scared. They may not say it, but down deep they know they may be facing an eternity of hell. When the trumpet sounds it is too late. They wonder, “Could I have been wrong all along?” The predictions must make God laugh. Even Jesus says in verse 32 that He, Jesus, doesn’t know the day or hour.
That brings us to word two of our day – alert. “Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.” Are you on alert? Are you anxious with expectation or dreading the moment? We’ve lived through some big moments but if Jesus returns – wow – now there is something to talk about in heaven. The good news, the 24-hour cable news channels can’t cover it to death!
Our lives are full of trouble and challenges. But Jesus tells us: “The one who endures to the end will be saved.” (Mk. 24:13) We don’t walk alone. Jesus is alongside as we wait. You can and you do endure because Jesus lived, died, and rose for you.
That leads to our final word of the day and that word is…assure. Christ is coming. Trusting in Christ we have his full assurance. We wait with joy because the Lord has put sin and death in their eternal places. We have light and life and forgiveness and hope.
Be assured through His Word. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” (v. 32) His Word assures of forgiveness and we share that with others. His Word assures of love and we share that with others. His Good News of salvation assures us and we share that with others.
For thirty years I have preached to three different congregations that the Lord is going to return. I see the signs. You see the signs. Pray that day will be here sooner rather than later, the day there will be no more headaches, no more stress, no more fears, no more tears, no more virus, no more sorrow and no more death. I can’t wait for heaven. No more political footballs, everything works and nothing breaks down. The showers are always hot and the toilet paper is plentiful and soft. Truthfully we know that won’t matter. What will matter is being in the presence of Almighty God – another wow moment.
As Christians, we live in Him now by faith, and on that Last Day we will be with Him forever in love. That is good news for us and all who believe. With faith in Christ, there is forgiveness for all our sins. There is hope when things seem hopeless. There is life after death. There is eternity. With Jesus, we are more than conquerors. That is why Jesus lived, died, and rose for you. So, not just allured – stay alert, be assured. Jesus is coming.
Amen.