Matthew 24:1-51
"It's going to get worse before it gets better." I think that expression is a fitting summary for this passage. The disciples are anxious to know when Christ will come. This is a valid question that we continue to ponder to this day. Christ was somewhat cryptic in His answer but, at the same time, He told them, and us, all that we really need to know. There are a ton of eschatological debates over these verses, and I plan to ignore them all. Instead, we will focus on what I think are the three major questions that Christ answers in this text.
HOW WILL CHRIST COME? Christ compares His coming to child birth. For those of you that have experience or accompanied the miracle of giving birth to a child, you know that there are several stages. There is the false labor that sends many a first time parents rushing to the hospital in the last month of pregnancy only to be told to go home and wait. Then there is the "real thing" that is unmistakable labor and this time they put you in a room where you think there is pain. Then, several hours later, you find out what real pain is and vows are made that this will be an only child because "there is no way we could EVER do this again." Then the child is born and their is bliss. Amnesia goes to work, mom and dad beam with pride and beginning to make plans for brothers and sisters.
It seems like Christ's coming will be much like this. In this world, there are deceivers, disputes and disasters. There always have been and always will be. This, in a sense, is false labor. Are they signs that the end is drawing near? Yes! Is it really the end? Maybe so maybe not. False prophets, wars and natural disasters are a part of living on a sin cursed planet. However, these same things will escalate in the end to a level never before seen in the history of the world. Many will be pointing to false messiahs, massive wars and plagues that make Moses in Egypt look like child's play. This time of tribulation will be unprecedented and unmistakable. The pain, like child birth, will seem unbearable.
THEN, Christ will come in glory. His return will be like a breath of fresh air sweeping across the nations. It will blow away the chaff and the soot of man's destruction leaving behind an earth that is fresh and pristine. His righteous rule will begin and all the pain and misery that brought us to this point will be forgotten. We will beam in the bliss of His presence as we experience a joy that far exceeds that of new parents. What a glorious day that will be!!!
WHEN WILL CHRIST COME? This will be a short paragraph. I don't know! You don't know! Nobody knows! Not even the angels have been made aware of this date. God, and God alone, knows! And He knows how to keep a secret. Predicting dates for the rapture of the church or the return of Christ is foolishness. It is a waste of time and effort. It is a practice that has brought shame on the name of Christ and caused all of the followers of Christ to loose credibility. Don't do it and don't listen to those that do!
WHAT SHOULD WE DO? This is really the most important question. In light of Christ's coming, what should we as believers do? The answer is to get to work. He could come at any time, and when He comes, we should want to be found ready. I have always thought that it is so ludicrous when, those who do predict dates, sell all they have, put on white robes and go to the top of a mountain, hold up their hands, close their eyes and sing "Kum Ba Ya." Is that really what they want to be doing when Christ comes? Does God not have white robes of His own? Will going on a mountain top get them there faster? Does anyone really know what "Kum Ba Ya" means?
When Christ returns I want to be found busy at work. I have always said that I want to be raptured from the pulpit. Maybe that is why I am so long winded when I preach. It improves my odds. What do you want to be found doing when Christ returns? The best answer I have ever heard to this question is this. A pastor told me that it would make sense that as soon as the last member of the Church trusts Christ, the Bride of Christ will be complete and the rapture would happen. He said he would like to be the one who was evangelising that last believer. Can you imagine? "In Jesus name Amen" --- ZOOM!!!
The point is, whatever you think you want to be doing when Christ comes; do a lot of it now. He could come today!!! Perhaps a better point is this: what don't you want to be doing when the Lord comes? I would hate to be raptured from a place that I should never have gone, while watching some unedifying program on TV, during an argument with a friend or family member, or any number of sinful or useless activities. You get the idea. Christ's counsel to His disciples and us it to not do those things.
Christ is coming. We don't know when. We know it is closer today than yesterday. The world seems to be in labor. Is this it? WE DON'T KNOW!!! What we do know is that we need to get busy proclaiming the Gospel of Christ to the nations of the world. That is our job. He will come and usher in a glory that should make our imaginations run wild and our hearts race with joy in anticipation. That is His job. Let's make sure that we do our jobs and let Him worry about His. I am confident that He is quite capable.
HOW WILL CHRIST COME? Christ compares His coming to child birth. For those of you that have experience or accompanied the miracle of giving birth to a child, you know that there are several stages. There is the false labor that sends many a first time parents rushing to the hospital in the last month of pregnancy only to be told to go home and wait. Then there is the "real thing" that is unmistakable labor and this time they put you in a room where you think there is pain. Then, several hours later, you find out what real pain is and vows are made that this will be an only child because "there is no way we could EVER do this again." Then the child is born and their is bliss. Amnesia goes to work, mom and dad beam with pride and beginning to make plans for brothers and sisters.
It seems like Christ's coming will be much like this. In this world, there are deceivers, disputes and disasters. There always have been and always will be. This, in a sense, is false labor. Are they signs that the end is drawing near? Yes! Is it really the end? Maybe so maybe not. False prophets, wars and natural disasters are a part of living on a sin cursed planet. However, these same things will escalate in the end to a level never before seen in the history of the world. Many will be pointing to false messiahs, massive wars and plagues that make Moses in Egypt look like child's play. This time of tribulation will be unprecedented and unmistakable. The pain, like child birth, will seem unbearable.
THEN, Christ will come in glory. His return will be like a breath of fresh air sweeping across the nations. It will blow away the chaff and the soot of man's destruction leaving behind an earth that is fresh and pristine. His righteous rule will begin and all the pain and misery that brought us to this point will be forgotten. We will beam in the bliss of His presence as we experience a joy that far exceeds that of new parents. What a glorious day that will be!!!
WHEN WILL CHRIST COME? This will be a short paragraph. I don't know! You don't know! Nobody knows! Not even the angels have been made aware of this date. God, and God alone, knows! And He knows how to keep a secret. Predicting dates for the rapture of the church or the return of Christ is foolishness. It is a waste of time and effort. It is a practice that has brought shame on the name of Christ and caused all of the followers of Christ to loose credibility. Don't do it and don't listen to those that do!
WHAT SHOULD WE DO? This is really the most important question. In light of Christ's coming, what should we as believers do? The answer is to get to work. He could come at any time, and when He comes, we should want to be found ready. I have always thought that it is so ludicrous when, those who do predict dates, sell all they have, put on white robes and go to the top of a mountain, hold up their hands, close their eyes and sing "Kum Ba Ya." Is that really what they want to be doing when Christ comes? Does God not have white robes of His own? Will going on a mountain top get them there faster? Does anyone really know what "Kum Ba Ya" means?
When Christ returns I want to be found busy at work. I have always said that I want to be raptured from the pulpit. Maybe that is why I am so long winded when I preach. It improves my odds. What do you want to be found doing when Christ returns? The best answer I have ever heard to this question is this. A pastor told me that it would make sense that as soon as the last member of the Church trusts Christ, the Bride of Christ will be complete and the rapture would happen. He said he would like to be the one who was evangelising that last believer. Can you imagine? "In Jesus name Amen" --- ZOOM!!!
The point is, whatever you think you want to be doing when Christ comes; do a lot of it now. He could come today!!! Perhaps a better point is this: what don't you want to be doing when the Lord comes? I would hate to be raptured from a place that I should never have gone, while watching some unedifying program on TV, during an argument with a friend or family member, or any number of sinful or useless activities. You get the idea. Christ's counsel to His disciples and us it to not do those things.
Christ is coming. We don't know when. We know it is closer today than yesterday. The world seems to be in labor. Is this it? WE DON'T KNOW!!! What we do know is that we need to get busy proclaiming the Gospel of Christ to the nations of the world. That is our job. He will come and usher in a glory that should make our imaginations run wild and our hearts race with joy in anticipation. That is His job. Let's make sure that we do our jobs and let Him worry about His. I am confident that He is quite capable.
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