God's Word at Work

THE NARROW DOOR
Luke 13:22-30

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text for this mornings meditation is recorded in the Gospel of St. Luke, chapter 13, verses 22 through 30, particularly these words, “Someone asked Jesus, ‘Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?’ He said to them, ‘Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you.’” This is our text.

In the name of our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Dear Christian friends. What is the purpose of the Church? Why does the church even exist? There are several answers to that question. One important purpose of the church is nurture. We gather for worship and for Bible study so that together, through Word and Sacrament, the Holy Spirit can build us up in our Christian faith. The church exists so that we can strengthen Christian faith and love within the family of God through word and Sacrament. Our Christian fellowship and our Christian service play an important part in that nurture.

But there is also another very important purpose for the existence of God’s church — and it would be easy to argue that this is the MOST IMPORTANT TASK or PURPOSE of the church — and that is to proclaim the Gospel so that unbelievers are brought to faith in Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. This was what our Lord commanded of his Disciples in the great commission, “Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” “GO making disciples—- by BAPTIZING them – and by TEACHING them.!!” Those were the commands that Christ left with his disciples and with his church.

Our Gospel lesson today deals with the question of Evangelism. One of the people with Jesus asks him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” We are not told why the question was asked. Did that person wonder why there were not more people following Jesus? Was there a question about why so few people recognized him as God’s Son, and the promised Messiah? Were they thinking about this trip to Jerusalem, and thinking that now, at long last, Jesus would gather together his mighty army of followers, to overthrow Rome? The question basically says, “Jesus, there are only a few of us who believe in you — will there be more, or is this all there is?”

Jesus did not answer the question directly — instead he gave a command to the questioner: “You make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many will try to enter and will not be able to.” Jesus tells his hearers that first of all they need to make sure that they themselves will be among those who are saved by entering through the narrow door. Jesus made it very clear throughout his earthly ministry, that he himself was that narrow door. Jesus told them, “the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Jesus was not conducting classes in theory — but was dealing with the only way people could be saved. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus never taught a general salvation where all people were saved. Nor did he teach a limited salvation which would be restricted to only a select group, race, or nationality. But he consistently called upon all people to enter the kingdom of heaven through Himself. He is the narrow door — and there is no other door to heaven.

In our text, Jesus emphasizes this point. He said, “Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ But he will answer I don’t know you.’ Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ But He will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoer’s!” Jesus makes it clear that no one is received into God’s kingdom based on something they did. No one is saved by just listening to Jesus teach in the streets. No one is saved by eating and drinking a dinner with Jesus. No casual acquaintances are accepted. Entering the narrow door takes a faith-filled commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

I sometimes wonder, on that last day just how many people will say to Jesus, “We were in church every Christmas and every Easter, wasn’t that enough?” “We went to church when there wasn’t something else to do. Wasn’t that enough?” We were never unfaithful to our spouse, we never beat our kids, and we were certainly much better than Old John Doe the drunk, who lived down the street. Wasn’t that enough?” And Jesus will reply, “Even if you had perfect church attendance — even if you gave everything you had for the poor — even if you were the best person in your whole town — WITHOUT FAITH — without entering by the narrow door — IT IS NOT ENOUGH!! Why?? “For by grace have you been saved through faith, it is a gift of God not of works, lest any man should boast.”
And our last point from this text is that there is a certain urgency — not only for those who will follow Jesus, but for the whole world. Jesus talks about the closing of the door — and once closed, it will not be reopened. There is a time limit to this world and there is a time limit on the invitation to salvation in Jesus Christ.

And when that door is closed, there will be some surprises in store. Jesus said in the text. “People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and there are those who are presently first, who will be last.” God sees what you and I cannot see — the heart of humankind. God judges on the basis of faith found in those individual hearts. And that will produce some surprises on that last day. Some of those that we have judged by our human standards to be outstanding citizens and “First” in the kingdom of God — will be last — because God knows the heart. And then the opposite is true as well. Some of those that we have judged rather harshly by human standards, will be first in the kingdom of God — again, because God knows the heart.

That is why Zion Lutheran puts such an emphasis on Christian Education – through our early Childhood Center, through our Sunday School, through our Bible studies offered regularly and at different days and times of the week, through different service groups within the church who serve the church and others: Always proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We must proclaim the message, we must get the Word out, because there is a time limit to this world.

Throughout our text for today, the focus keeps coming back to Christ. There is one door, and one door only, into the Kingdom of God. That door is very narrow, because it allows no one to enter carrying his own baggage of personal goodness and merit. Each person entering that door must be doing so as a result of a close, personal relationship with the savior, a faith created by God the Holy Spirit, a faith created, nourished, and strengthened through the means of Grace, through Word and Sacrament — A casual acquaintance with Jesus is not enough. The response is urgent and cannot be postponed. No one knows when the door will be closed, but when it is closed, it will not be reopened – there is no second chance. And those who will be saved will come from all nations around the world.

So what does today’s text say about Evangelism. First of all, make sure of your own faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. After all, if you do not believe it yourself, you can not share it with others! And then, cut to the heart of the message — Jesus Christ is Lord!! Jesus is the Narrow door. There is salvation in no other. But in Jesus Christ, there is joy eternal. That is our faith. That is our message. That is our hope for eternal life. To God alone be the glory, now and always. Amen.

May the peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting. Amen.

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DO NOT BE AFRAID

Luke 12:22-34

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text for this mornings meditation is recorded in the Gospel of St. Luke, chapter 12, verses 22 through 34, particularly these words: “Jesus said, ‘Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body what you will put on. Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”This is our text.

In the name of our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, dear Christian friends. Think back for a moment to the last time you were given a gift by a small child. Maybe it was a flower that your son or daughter picked out of the yard. Maybe it was a fishing lure that your child picked out just especially for dad or grandpa. Maybe it was a hand drawn picture which the child painted themselves and now wanted you to have. The gift itself is not important. The cost of that gift is not important. What was important and what had value that money cannot buy, was the smile, and the pride, and the joy that were written all over that child’s face as the gift was given. There is nothing expected in return. There are no thoughts about wither or not it is good enough. There are no thoughts about what that gift might cost. The ONLY thought that goes through that child’s mind is, “This is mine — and I want to give it to you — because I love you. It is a gift given with great joy and pleasure.

Every time I read that verse of today’s text, I think of children and their giving of gifts. Jesus said, ‘Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.’”It pleases God — to give us the kingdom. NOT because we have earned it — because we haven’t. NOT because we are great people who deserve the honor, because we don’t. NOT because it is an inexpensive gift, because it is a pearl without price for which God gave his only begotten Son. BUT it is a gift, given purely out of grace and love, “Your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”God has on his face the smile, the joy, the love — of a child giving a gift to someone very special — and that someone special, is you!

The gift is ours by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ. So how does this gift of God effect our lives? First of all our text tells us to focus on Spiritual things. Jesus said, “Do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Instead seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.As God’s people we need to seek God’s riches through Word and Sacrament. We all know Jesus’ parable about the rich fool, who has so rich and had so many earthly goods that he could say to himself, “Eat, drink, and be merry.”But God said, “This night your soul will be required of you, then whose will all this be?”And Jesus concluded his parable by saying that we should be “Rich toward God” or as our text for today says, “Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.”Regular worship, regular Bible reading, and regular use of the sacraments, are all ways that the Holy Spirit uses to build up our faith in Jesus Christ, so that we experience first hand the forgiveness and the love which our God has pleasure in giving to his people. There is no greater treasure in all the earth than a right relationship with God by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ.

Secondly, knowing that the kingdom is ours will help us greatly in setting priorities for our lives. Jesus said in the text, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

That which we value the most, usually takes up our time, our talents, our efforts, our devotion, and our resources!

A prominent theologian of the 1940′s said that religion is, “The one thing which is most important in our lives” (depth dimension). If the most important thing in life was work, to him work was that man’s religion. If money was the most important thing in a person’s life, then money was that man’s religion.

What is the most important thing in your life? God has made you his very own. God has given you the kingdom. IS GOD FIRST IN YOUR LIFE? Do people“see your good works and glorify your father who is in heaven.”Or do they see other priorities in your life? Remember Jesus’ words in our text. “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”What are your priorities? Our text said, “Seek FIRST, the kingdom of God.”

But what about the anxieties and the fears of our every day life? Do we worry over “what we shall eat, or what we shall drink, or what we shall wear?” Because of our sinful human nature, sometimes we fall short of full trust in God’s providence and care for us. Sometimes we lose sight of how God takes care of the ravens and the lilies. But God’s promise to us is sure – “If God so cloths the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.”As sinful people, we all too often doubt that promise — As sinful people, we all too often worry and fret over things over which we have no control — As sinful people we trust our own abilities to solve the problems of life, rather than putting things into God’s hands and trusting his providence and provision. AND for that we ask his forgiveness.

The Promises of God are sure! “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved.”And “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.”And today’s text, “Do not be afraid, little flock for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”

In the life of the Christian there is anticipation, and expectation, as we joyfully watch for the coming of our Lord and the fulfillment of all his promises to us.

Jesus said in our text, “Fear not, little flock!”Fear is built on concern or anxiety about the future. Because God has given us the kingdom through His Son Jesus Christ, our future is secure. Our confidence, our faith, and our courage are rooted in Christ, in His promises, in His presence, and in His power. In Christ we have nothing to fear. “Fear not little flock, for it is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.” To God be the glory! Amen.

May the peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting. Amen.

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CASTING OUT DEMONS

Luke 8: 26-39

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text for this mornings meditation is our Gospel lesson for today from Luke, chapter 8 verses 26 through 39, particularly these words: “A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into them, and he gave them permission. When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.”This is our text.

In the name of our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, dear Christian friends. A popular comedian 35 years ago had one line that became his trademark. He would say, “The Devil made me do it.” and the audience would laugh. The things that the devils or demons in our text for today, made this man suffer were not laughing matters. I guess we could get into an argument about if demons really exist — and if they do, if they can possess people. I really don’t want to be a part of that discussion because the Bible makes it perfectly clear that demons do exist and that they do possess people. Mary Magdala had seven evil spirits or demons that came out of her according to Mark and Luke. Jesus cast demons and evil spirits out of many people in his ministry. Saint Paul, writing to the Ephesians, says the believer’s intense conflict is “not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, world-rulers of this darkness and spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

According to scripture, demons have great knowledge and also great strength. Several times Jesus was confronted by demons who said, “We know who you are”, so obviously just knowing God exists and who he is does not constitute saving faith. Even Jesus own disciples after the stilling of the storm just before today’s text ask, “Who is this man? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.” The disciples did not even know who Jesus was! But the demons did.

AND our text for today tells us that this man’s family and community had tried to confine or restrain him, even to the point of putting him into chains — The text said, “For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. Many times the spirit had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot, and kept under guard, he had broken his chains, and been driven by the demon into solitary places.”The demons were in complete control of this man’s life. They had deranged him mentally, morally, physically and Spiritually.

The man is totally helpless against the demons. He is powerless to save himself. He is completely controlled by the power of evil.

Isn’t this a very vivid picture of our spiritual condition by nature? Because of Original Sin, we are, according to Scripture, spiritually blind, spiritually dead, and enemies of God. How many times have we made promises to God of what WE WOULD DO for him, only to find ourselves falling short again. How many times have we promised to change our sinful life, especially that one sin that seems to always keep coming up in our lives, only to find ourselves falling back into the same old rut, the same old habit, and the same old sin. And using the excuse “The Devil made me do it!” is only half true — because we gave in to the temptation. The “sinner” in us, overpowered the “saint” in us — and we sinned!

The man in the story had no hope whatsoever, until Jesus showed up in his village. He was probably NOT a child of Abraham and probably not a believer. Jesus had just crossed the Sea of Galilee to the region of the Gerasenes. And he is in an area that raises pigs — obviously, NOT a Jewish village! But here the man meets Jesus. We know these things just do not happen by chance! Jesus was there not by accident or chance — but by choice! And Jesus recognizes the need of this poor man and commands the demons, the evil spirits to leave him.

At this point Jesus begins a conversation with the demon through the man. First the demon makes a profession of absolute truth and orthodox theology, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!”Even in a pagan land — the demons still recognize the Son of the Most High God! The demons know that Jesus is the promised Messiah — the “seed of the woman” who would crush Satan’s head — together with all his minions. The demons know that this is the one — who by his life, death, and resurrection will defeat them, for all time and for all eternity. The demons know they have already lost the battle — “Jesus, Don’t torture us — Make it quick!” They ask for the pigs and Jesus grants it. They leave the man — enter the pigs — and the text said they rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. Jesus has saved this man from evil!! End of story??? Not quite!

You see, Luke does not tell us how many pigs there were in that herd. But Mark does! Mark tells us that there were 2,000 pigs in that herd! If some farmer in Harris or Montgomery County lost 2,000 pigs in a drowning it would probably be on the 6 o’clock news and in the headlines of the Chronicle! They see the dead pigs — And they see this man that they have known for years now dressed nicely, cleaned up, talking intelligently, and acting quite normal — and what do they do?? They ask Jesus to leave!!

Doesn’t that seem strange? This man has power over demons! This man can help people who are possessed! This man could be a great help to them in their needs! But they send him away. The ESV text tells us they sent him away because, “They were seized with great fear.” But this verse uses the same Greek word which elsewhere is translated as “Being filled with AWE.” It’s the same feeling which Peter had when he saw the large catch of fish. Peter told Jesus to depart from Him because he was a sinful man — and the people want Jesus to depart — for they too know their sins, and they fear they will receive judgment just as the demons received judgment.

But what about the man who had been delivered of the demons? Our text tells us that he wanted to go with Jesus. He wanted to be a disciple. He is not afraid of his Savior. The evil has been removed from his life — he has been delivered from the evil over which he had no control — he wants to follow Jesus! But Jesus tells him to stay where he is. He is to tell others what God has done for him. He is to share the good news — the Gospel of a Savior who really saves, with all who will listen.

Jesus has delivered us as well. Jesus, has forgiven our sins, made us his own, and given us the promise of life eternal in heaven. What wonderful things he has done for us. We too are His witnesses to the marvelous things God has done for us. Maybe Jesus didn’t cast demons out of us, but by his life, death, and resurrection, he has given us the final victory over sin, death, and the devil. Let us tell others what great things God has done for us! To God alone be the glory, now and always! Amen.

And may the peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting. Amen.

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Our Mysterious God
John 16:12-15

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text for this mornings meditation is recorded in the Gospel of St. John, chapter 16, verses 12 through 16, particularly these words: “All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.” This is our text.

In the name of our Blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, dear Christian friends. Today is Trinity Sunday. A day that we remember, and celebrate, the fact that our God is three persons, yet only one God. This is a mystery which we cannot fully comprehend, nor can we fully explain it. And yet it is a doctrine that is central to our Christian faith. It is a doctrine that is clearly taught in the Scriptures, even thought the Scriptures themselves never use the word “Triune”.

Since the doctrine of the Trinity is an unexplainable mystery, I am not going to even try to do the impossible and explain to you the Trinity. But I do want to share with you the comfort and the hope that is ours because we know for sure that our Triune God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is at work in our lives and in our world, every minute of every day.
We will start off first of all with the Father. Jesus said in our text, “All that belongs to the Father is mine.” What is it that belongs to the Father? The comforting truth is that EVERYTHING belongs to the Father! This is God’s world. He created all things. He made out of nothing, everything that exists. Because he created all things — all things belong to him.

And another comforting thought is that he not only created the world — but he is still in control of His world. The Bible reminds us that it is God who sends rain on the just and the unjust. Luther explained the petition about daily bread in the Lord’s Prayer by saying that “God gives daily bread to all people, even to the wicked.” But there is a difference between the Christian and the unbeliever, the Christian recognizes that these gifts come from the loving hand of Almighty God, takes the time to say “Thank You” to God for the blessings received, and then uses these gifts of God to the glory of God, not selfishly for self.

What a comfort it is to know that Our Father in Heaven, who controls the movement of the stars and the universe, loves you and me. He cares about us. He even promises to listen to us when we pray to him. And we know that because he had the power to create this world, he also has the power to care for us and to answer our prayers.

What a comfort it is to know the first person of the Trinity: God, our Almighty Father, Maker of Heaven and earth.

Next we look at God the Son. Jesus said in our text, “All that belongs to the Father is MINE.” I guess the question might be asked, “Just how did all of this that was created by the Father become also the property of the Son. And that is an easy question to answer.

First of all, Jesus was there at creation and participated in that creation. John 1:1; “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God!”

But there is also another reason. You see, when God the Father created this world, he created it perfect and Holy. God looked at his perfect world and said “It is good!” But then something terrible happened to this great creation of God’s. Man listened to Satan in the serpent, and sin entered into the world. God’s perfect creation was no longer perfect, but instead was stained and blackened by sin. No longer was man perfectly happy and blessed in the Garden of Eden — but now suffered because of sin.
In order that this world might once again be set right, a price had to be paid. The world had to be bought back from sin and death. The world had to be redeemed.

And that is just what God the Son, did. He paid the price. It was not cheap either. “The wages of sin is death.” because of sin, someone had to die. And the only ransom good enough, the only person who could fully and completely pay the total bill for sin, was the very Son of God himself — Jesus Christ. Remember what Luther said about the work of God the Son? “He redeemed us, not with gold or silver, but with his holy precious blood and his innocent suffering and death.” Christ paid the price. He redeemed you and me, and all sinners from everlasting death and condemnation.

What a comfort it is for us to know that God the Son has redeemed us, has bought us back, so that we can be God’s people, so that we can be forgiven, so that we can spend eternity in heaven. It is the work of God the Son to redeem and to restore sinners, so that we might be right with God the Father.

God the Father creates and preserves the world. God the Son redeemed sinful mankind through his perfect life, his innocent death, and his glorious resurrection. What then does the Holy Spirit do in our lives? Our text says, “The Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.” That is the work of the Holy Spirit, “To make things known to us.”

It is very important that the Holy Spirit is at work in and among us. Our scriptures make it very clear that because of original sin, which each and every one of us has, we are by nature at odds with God and God’s will for our lives. By our sinful human nature, we do not do good, instead we do the opposite of what God wants for us. By our human nature, we are spiritually blind, spiritually dead, and enemies of God. That is why Luther started his explanation of the 3rd article of the Apostles’ Creed with these words, “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in my Lord Jesus Christ or come to him.” Luther couldn’t do it! I can’t do it! You can’t do it by yourself either! As a matter of fact the Scriptures say, “No one can say that Jesus is Lord but by the Holy Spirit.” That is why it is so important for the Holy Spirit to be at work in us — because we cannot save ourselves. We cannot “make a decision for Christ” without the Holy Spirit calling us by the Gospel, enlightening us with his gifts, sanctifying us and keeping us in that one true faith.

Jesus said in our text, “The Holy Spirit will make it known to you.” The Holy Spirit is God at work in us, and among us. The Holy Spirit works through the Means of Grace, through Word and Sacrament to make known to us the Love of God the Father, and the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit moves in our hearts and in our minds through Word and Sacrament, to create saving faith, and to show to us the pathway that God would want us to walk in life. All this we call “SANCTIFICATION” — which is a big word which means, “to make holy”. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to bring us to faith in Jesus Christ, and to keep us in that faith, and to make it possible for us to walk in that faith.

What a comfort it is to know that God the Holy Spirit is active always through Word and Sacrament to keep us in our Christian faith, and to strengthen us for a life pleasing to God.

God the Father creates us! God the Son redeems us! God the Holy Spirit sanctifies us! That is a rather simple way of understanding the process by which God works within our lives. The Holy Three-in-one and One-in-three. This explanation does not fully explain the Triune God — but it at least gives us some guideline of his love, his strength, and his care for you and for me. On this Trinity Sunday, let us rejoice in our Triune God. And let us celebrate His wonderful love for us. To God be the Glory, now and always. Amen.

May the peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting. Amen.

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TRIBULATION AND DELIVERY
Daniel 12:1-3

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text for this mornings meditation is recorded in the book of Daniel, chapter 12, verses 1 through 3, particularly these words: “There shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time, your people shall be delivered.” This is our text.

In the name of our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, dear Christian friends. We are now in the last few weeks of the liturgical year of the church. As we draw near to the end of that church year, our Scripture readings remind us that we are also drawing near to the end of time — to the second coming of Christ — to judgment day.

There has always been a lot of debate over the “End Times”. There is even a movie out now telling us that the end of the world is coming in 2012. Will there be a 1000 year earthly reign of Jesus — As some think? Will there be a rapture as some teach? Does Russia and Israel fulfill the symbolic prophecies of the Old Testament and of Revelations? OR is all of this stuff about the “End Times” just the result of an over active imagination of people who specialize in meaningless trivia?

There is a lot of interest these days in prophecy. People want to know the “Signs of the times.” Just like John and Andrew in today’s Gospel lesson, people are asking, “When will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?” Today’s text, together with today’s Gospel lesson, answers a few of those questions for us.

The first point of our text for today is that there will be a period of great tribulation before the world comes to an end. Our text reads, “There will be a time of trouble such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then.” And Jesus, in today’s Gospel Lesson, explains further this period of tribulation. He says, “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. All men will hate you because of me.”

In the last 100 years alone, we had World War I and World War II. There was Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, and now Iraq and Afghanistan. Today, the Middle East and Central America are heavily armed just waiting for that one mistake by someone to start another major war. We have NEVER been without wars and rumors of wars — they have always been with us — and according to Jesus — they will be with us until judgment day. This part of prophecy was fulfilled long ago.

There have been earthquakes around the world forever. There are famines going on even today in Africa. There have been natural disasters around the world for centuries already — This part of prophecy has been fulfilled long ago.

Child abuse and family violence is at an all time high not only in the U.S. — but around the world. But with the sinfulness of man — this is not something new. It has always been with us ever since Cain killed his brother Able. This part of prophecy has been fulfilled long ago.

From what I see in our world today and from what I read in world history, those who spend their time trying to read the “signs of the times” — are basically wasting their time trying to figure out when the world will end. The Scriptures are very clear that the end will come “Like a thief in the night, when no one is watching.” It will come like a twinkling or the blinking of an eye. The signs have long ago been fulfilled. As Paul said even in his day, “Today is the day to be saved, this is the hour to receive God’s favor?” There is no reason to look for signs — they have been fulfilled!

A true Christian does not have to worry about what the future holds. That is made clear by the second point in today’s text. We have this promise in the text, “At that time, your people will be delivered.”

The one thing that makes people fear the second coming of Christ is that separation of the sheep and the goats — and their conscience makes them fear that they will be numbered among the goats, instead of among the sheep. If you live in fear of God’s return to judge the living and the dead, then you need to look for signs and wonders – you need something to give you a warning, so that you can prepare at the last minute!

But the Christian does not need to worry about that second coming because we have God’s own promise in today’s text — “At that time, your people will be delivered.” Jesus said it this way in today’s Gospel lesson, “He who stands firm to the end will be saved.” That is God’s promise to us. By grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, we will be saved. It doesn’t matter about the tribulation! It doesn’t matter about a rapture. It doesn’t matter about a millennium — Jesus Christ is our Lord and our Savior, and if we believe in Him, we will be saved. That is certain! That is sure! That is God’s promise to you and to me!

Guessing about when Jesus will come again — or trying to figure out all the symbolism of prophecy so that we know when He is coming again will do us no good. When Jesus comes again all that will matter is the answer to that one question — “Do you believe that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior?” If your answer to that question is “YES – by God’s Grace”, then you will rejoice to hear Jesus say — “Come into my kingdom prepared for you!”

But there is a third point to our text for today concerning those coming end times. And that is found in these words, “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.” In the Old Testament — Wisdom was always rooted in the faith and trust of God. We remember verses like, “The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.” So what the verse is telling us is that those who are wise — that is, those who have faith — will shine, and they will lead many to righteousness.

Christians are not to just sit back in their easy chairs waiting for Jesus to return and take them to heaven. We have a lot of work to get done for the Lord while we are waiting for His return. There are many people who do not yet know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. As Christ’s ambassadors, as Christ’s representatives on earth, it is our joy and privilege to share with them that Love of God. To share with them the only way of Salvation — which is faith in Jesus Christ.

Through our faith in Jesus Christ, you and I are ready for Christ’s second coming. We know that we have a task to fulfill yet here on earth — and that when the right time comes — God will take us out of this world into His eternal kingdom. But don’t be misled by all the talk about what “might be,” or by what “can be,” or by what “possibly will be.” Rather put your trust in the one thing that is sure — “God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but will have everlasting life.” That’s God’s promise to each of us. Amen.

May the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting. Amen.

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