Being prepared is really important. …….Today is the beginning of the Advent season, a time of anticipation, a time of getting ready for the arrival of someone important. Jesus will come back again, as out text reminds us.
The Advent season reminds us through the words of Jesus and people like John the Baptist, Paul and the Old Testament prophets that we should always be prepared for Jesus' return because we don't know exactly when this will take place.
His reappearance will catch many people unprepared just as a thief comes during the night when the owners of the house are sleeping and unprepared for his unexpected arrival.
Once upon a time there was a spider that lived in a cornfield. He was a big spider and he had spun a beautiful web between the corn stalks. He got fat eating all the bugs that caught in his web. He liked his home and planned to stay there for the rest of his life.
One day the spider caught a little bug in his web, and just as the spider was about to eat him, the bug said, "If you let me go I will tell you something important that will save your life." The spider paused for a moment and listened because he was amused."
You better get out of this cornfield," the little bug said, "The harvest is coming!" The spider smiled and said, "What is this harvest you are talking about? I think you are just telling me a story." But the little bug said, "Oh no, it is true. The owner of this field is coming to harvest it soon.
All the stalks will be knocked down and the corn will be gathered up. You will be killed by the giant machines if you stay here." The spider said, "I don't believe in harvests and giant machines that knock down corn stalks. How can you prove this?"
The little bug continued, "Just look at the corn. See how it is planted in rows? It proves this field was created by an intelligent designer." The spider laughed and mockingly said, "This field has evolved and has nothing to do with a creator. Corn always grows that way." The bug went on to explain, "Oh no. This field belongs to the owner who planted it, and the harvest is coming soon."
The spider grinned and said to the little bug, "I don't believe you," and then the spider ate the little bug for lunch. A few days later, the spider was laughing about the story the little bug had told him. He thought to himself, "A harvest! What a silly idea. I have lived here all of my life and nothing has ever disturbed me.
I have been here since these stalks were just a foot off the ground, and I'll be here for the rest of my life, because nothing is ever going to change in this field. Life is good, and I have it made." The next day was a beautiful sunny day in the cornfield. The sky above was clear and there was no wind at all.
That afternoon as the spider was about to take a nap, when he noticed some thick dusty clouds moving toward him. He could hear the roar of a great engine and he said to himself, "I wonder what that could be?" "I wonder what that could be?"
Jesus knew that when he came a second time there would be many people who would say, "I wonder what that could be?" and so he went to a lot of effort to tell us that he will return and that we need to always be ready.
He tells the story about a man who goes on a trip and leaves one of his workers in charge of his property and house. Before he goes, he gives the worker a list of jobs he expected to be completed while he is away. After the owner leaves the worker doesn't worry too much about the jobs he had to do.
The owner won't be back for ages; there will have plenty of time to do those jobs just before the owner returns so he had a good time partying and having a great time. The owner came back suddenly and caught the man he had left in charge unfaithful and unprepared (Matt 24:45-51) . Jesus concludes,
"Watch, then, because you do not know when the master of the house is coming—
it might be in the evening or at midnight or before dawn or at sunrise.
If he comes suddenly, he must not find you asleep. What I say to you, then, I say to all: Watch!"
When Jesus ascended to his father in heaven, he left us in charge and gave us instructions what we are to do while he is away:
Go, make disciples of all nations... baptize...
love one another...
pray for one another...
do this often as you drink in remembrance of me....
trust and believe in God...
worship, study, pray, teach, listen to God's Word,
live as God's people.
He will come again and he wants us to be always ready for his return. There is no room for leaving things to the last minute. Jesus leaves us in no doubt whatsoever that the day will come when the history of this world as we know it, will be drawn to a close. The last page of the world's history will contain a description of what took place when Jesus returned.
"There will be the shout of command, the archangel's voice, the sound of God's trumpet,
and the Lord himself will come down from heaven" (1 Thess 4:16 ).
When this happens fear will grip the hearts of many people.
People will run this way and that way to escape.
Everyone will faint from terror, everyone except people of faith.
According to Jesus, people of faith need not panic when they see this happening. Jesus says, " When these things begin to happen, stand up and raise your heads, because your salvation is near." How can I say that we do not need to panic and be terrified like the rest of the world when Jesus comes as judge?
After all, aren't we all sinners, people who have disobeyed God? Haven't we been loveless? Haven't we been too eager to offer excuses rather than live as one of God's people? On what basis can it be said that we have nothing to fear on the day Jesus returns?
Friends, there are two ways to view Christ's return in the eyes of a believer:
• Firstly, people can ignore their sin and the fact that Jesus will come again. When the end looms near, they will have every reason to panic. They will realize that they will soon face an audit of their lives and how they have regarded God. They will panic because they know they will fail the test.
• On the other hand, people who have acknowledged their sinfulness, and have received God's forgiveness, don't have to panic when they face the end. If all our wrongs have been removed, wiped out, eliminated, by the forgiveness that Jesus won for us by dying on the cross, then there won't be anything left to judge on judgment day.
Apostle Paul puts it like this; "You will be free from all impurity and blame on the Day of Christ" (Phil 1:10 ) . For Christians the return of Jesus is not something to fear. In fact, when everyone else around us is overcome by panic, we can stand up and raise our heads, because our redemption is drawing near the Bible tells us.
Our baptism assures us that we have nothing to fear when Christ returns. Not many of us can remember the day we were baptized but that doesn't reduce its significance or power one bit. In baptism, we are united with Jesus Christ in such a way that the power of sin to condemn is destroyed.
We receive God's forgiveness, and are given the promise that we shall live with God forever when our life here on earth is over. From the day of our baptism on and throughout our lives, we acknowledge our sins against God, family members; friends and even total strangers and we claim the promise of forgiveness, which God gives us in baptism. Daily our sins are judged; daily we are forgiven; daily we are made new and clean.
Therefore, we need not fear the end of the world, because our sin has been dealt with at the baptismal font. While the rest of the world is cowering in fear, Christians stand tall with uplifted heads because they have been washed pure and blameless by the blood of Jesus.
When we get right down to it, baptism is not a very spectacular thing. It involves standing at the font while some ordinary water is applied to your head and some ancient words are spoken. There is no dove hovering overhead. No booming voice of God declaring that you a holy son or daughter.
There is nothing to cause the congregation to ooh and ah. There is no angelic choir singing the "Hallelujah Chorus". There is only the Word of God in and with the water - very ordinary water from the tap and a few simple words, powerful words.
Jesus Christ was born in a dark, lonely stable amid lowly animals, not in the crowd-filled streets near a shopping mall amid fireworks and thundering music.
Those who came and looked into the manger saw just another tiny Jewish baby, born to very poor parents, in a small county town, in very turbulent times. This first advent of Jesus into our world was indeed very ordinary and humble, but we know what great blessings the tiny baby in the manger brought to our world.
When we were born again in baptism at a quiet font with ordinary water and simple words, look what power that humble ceremony has brought to us. If Jesus came today, what would he find in our heart and mind?
It is my hope that when Christ comes, he will find each and every one of us faithful to his Word. He will find us believing on his finished work of the cross. He will find us courageous amid the turmoil of our time.
He will find us ready standing up and with our heads rise in great hope and expectation , because we do not have to be afraid of Jesus' return. Our life to come is secure for those who believe in the promises of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
As we progress through the Advent season, let's join with the church of all ages and say, "Come, Lord Jesus!" Come into our heart as the Christ-child. Come here to stay. Come with your grace into our lives.
"Come, Lord Jesus! Come!"
Amen.
.
Rev. Samuel King-Kabu
November 30 , 2003