He Is Coming Back

December 26^th 2010

Through the last three weeks we have been looking at the major sections of the Bible; He Is Coming, He Has Come, and this week He Is Coming Back. When we read the OT and all of the prophecy we see the teaching that the Messiah is coming and how to know who He is. When we read Mathew and Luke we read of His coming and then all of the gospels show us the impact of His arrival. But the story does not end with His coming. The gospels focus on Jesus’ teaching, His life, death, burial, and resurrection and within all of this He prepares us for His return.

Think with me about the impact that the first born child had on his parents. Mary is a new mother who needs to care for her son: feed him, change him, and burp him. Joseph as a new father may be reluctant to help out especially since he knows more than any other person that this is the son of God. But somehow they get through, and they travel to Egypt and back when the time is right.

But the birth of this baby had an impact on other people of the story as well. The people of Joseph’s family that had spurned him now see how cute and fragile he is. The shepherds keep talking about the events that they have been through. The Magi travel amazed that this was the promise and that the stars really had led them to the boy. And let’s not forget Herod. He knows of the impact of this child more than any other because this child is to be the King of the Jews and take his throne away and so his choice impacts countless other families and there when their boys were killed. But the early days also impact two other people who are mentioned in Luke. Luke 2:21-40 (Page 1591) tell of his encounter with Simeon and Anna. Simeon was promised by God that he would not dies until the saw the Lord’s Christ (verse 26) and Anna who was very devoted to the Lord and she told the people around her about the impact that this child would have.

People who connect to Christ are changed. That was true back then and it is true today so now is the time to connect with Him through His word and His disciples because one day that time will be over. At the return of Jesus the time to choose to know Him will come to an end and Jesus himself warns us of that in the Gospel of Matthew with a number of parables.

Turn your Bibles to Matthew 25 (1540) to see three parables that warn of being prepared for Jesus’ return. In this section Jesus uses images of some people being ready for the bridegroom while others were not. Then He speaks about some people who honoured their master by putting his investment in them to use while he was away and those who did not honour the master in the same way. Then Jesus concludes the section speaking to those who served others in His name and those who did not and the judgement that each one will receive.

Matthew 25:1-13 (1540) is a parable of ten virgins who were supposed to be prepared for the arrival of the bridegroom.

Verses 1-5: "At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6-10: "At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' 7 "Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' 9 "'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'

10 "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

11 "Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!' 12 "But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.' 13 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

The next parable in Matthew 25 is one that we know fairly well so let’s hit some highlights:

The master gives his servants different amounts of money (talents) to one he gives 5, to another 2, and to another 1 – verse 15 says the difference was according to His ability! The one who had five uses it to make 5 more, the one who had two gained two more but the servant who had one buried it.

Verse 19 says: After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts. The ones who had doubled their talents receive praise and the one who buried it receives condemnation in verses 26-30.

26-30: "His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

28 "'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

The last parable in Matthew 25 speaks of God sorting people as a shepherd separates sheep and goats (vs 32). Jesus says that the key to the sorting in this passage is in how we have helped others in the name of Jesus.

34-36: "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

So what is the news for those who did, and do not today, help others? What happens when we care only for ourselves? What will Jesus say to that when He returns?

Verse 41 says: "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

Verse 46 says: "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

Jesus is coming back and now is the time to be ready for His return. The time for preparedness will run out and He will return in judgment. The third phase of biblical history has Christ returning to end human history and take the righteous with him to Glory. At that time He will also allow those who did not want to connect to Him, or follow His teachings, to have their punishment.

Today I wanted us to realize that Jesus has had an impact on everyone. His presence and his claim of being the promised Messiah makes people choose. You can either see him as a lunatic who thought he was something but he was not, you can see him as a liar who knew he was nothing special but claimed divinity for the great life that it provided, or he was (and is) truly the Lord. Only one option is viable and leads to eternal life where his impact will be fully known.

As we finish this year, and with the Lord’s blessing begin another, we do so as people who speak and live as people of influence. The level of impact that Jesus has in our hearts, homes, relationships, and communities is directly proportional to the level of impact that he has on our daily life. Jesus’ impact today depends on how we impact people around us. How will they know if we do not tell them? Is he a lunatic, liar, or Lord? What message are you spreading, and to whom are you sharing? Time is drawing near, so let’s do our part.

I want to conclude by reading from 2 Peter 3:8-14 (1896)

8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.

11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

Next Week: Starting Right – First Things First.