Parables #8: Ready for Christ’s Return

Parables 8: Ready for Christ’s Return

Sermon: Ready for Christ’s Return

Preaching the Kingdom of God

Luke 13. 22-30

With Jesus, he is there.

Apocalyptic time?

The latest events we face, wake up Western believers to the end times, to the return of Christ:

covid,

mandatory or highly recommended vaccination,

monkeypox,

rise of fundamentalisms,

war in Ukraine,

energy or food restrictions,

climatic degradation,

recurring heat waves,

droughts and fires,

disruption of manners and morals.

Westerners are finally aware.

All these disruptions are not new and have been affecting many countries for decades.

But as it tickles Western mechanics, which has told itself for 70 years on the back of the rest of the world, Western believers then think of the return of Christ, at the end of the cycle which will lead to the restoration of all things.

Perhaps Paradise is okay, but we’re still good down here”, it’s good to mention it, I would say, it’s time, but what changes?

Just catastrophism?

A bit of catastrophism to show that we are talking about serious or important things, but if it remains only on the level of conversation, it is no more useful than the information we are already hearing.

What does the Bible say?

I suggest you go beyond the counter discussion and look at the Bible which, for 2000 years, has spoken seriously to us about the times of the end and the attitude we should adopt.

I invite you to join chapters 24 and 25 of the Gospel of Matthew

In chapter 24

On the subject concerning the end times, a dozen remarks from Jesus.

The False Teachers #Jesus warning against false teachers# includes us all

##Jesus warns against all teachings that could mislead the disciples.

Matthew 24. 4-5

If he had been with us, he might have said:

“Be careful what you read on the net or watch on Youtube, the podcasts you listen to. »

Wars, famines, earthquakes

The wars,

famines,

earthquakes

are not decisive signs, but the beginning##

Matthew 24. 6-8

And we’ve been serving for the past 100 years.

It seemed to me that it was the most murderous last century, but it is clear that there have been terrible ones throughout the history of humanity. ( see murderous wars in history )

Technological advancements are not helping…

Persecution of believers

Since there will follow in those times a strong persecution of believers because of the name of Jesus. This will have consequences

betrayal, hatred,

false teachers,

love at half-mast.

Matthew 24. 9-12

This is already the case in the 15-40 window ( see open doors )

At the end of perseverance, salvation.

In this dark and difficult picture, an encouragement: the one who will persevere in his faith in Christ until the end will taste salvation.

Matthew 24. 13

The outcome of persevering faith is salvation #Have faith,salvation is worth the wait#, don’t worry, ##faith in Christ is bound to be persevering.

Faith in Christ stands out from betrayal, hatred, false teachers, and love at half mast## ( Matthew 24. 9-12 ), it is necessarily persevering.

Announcing the Gospel to the Whole Planet

And what will be emphasized for the final phase is that the proclamation of the Gospel will have reached the whole planet.

Matthew 24.14

We are 7.9, almost 8 billion;

3495 languages ​​with part of the Scriptures for 7.04 billion people;

717 languages ​​with the complete Bible for 5.75 billion people;

828 languages ​​are being translated;

1119 languages ​​are not large enough to be able to plan a translation job;

1892 languages ​​need a beginning of translation (or preparatory work).

Attention, even if the translations of a part of the Bible reach more and more languages, that does not mean that the gospel is announced.

Although we have the Bible in French, that does not mean that those around us have heard the proclamation of the Gospel!

Perhaps digital communication and the trend towards the standardization of languages ​​will contribute to accelerating the spread of the Gospel?

Moreover, a “Community Manager” missionary on the net and social networks, will reach millions of times more people than a classic missionary. But God needs both profiles.

Destruction of Jerusalem in the year 70, mirror of the final events

Like what believers experienced at the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple – a cataclysmic period – it will be the same in the times preceding the return of Christ.

Matthew 24. 15-28

I was reading the Bible with notes from Archaeological and Historical Studies…

, pp 14210

what Flavius ​​Joseph writes in “Jewish War 6.33”:

Famine in Jerusalem during the Roman siege.

“ However, the population of the city was consumed with hunger:countless were those who fell ; the ills they suffered cannot be told, for,in each house,if there appeared any shadow of food, there was a struggle; the most closely united beings came to blows, tearing away these poor supports of their lives. Even the dying were suspected of being in abundance , and brigands searched those who gave up their souls. Me, fearing that one of these unfortunates would pretend to die by hiding food in his bosom. And the hungry on the lookout, like rabid dogs, staggered along:they passed, crashing into the doors like drunkards, and, driven by despair, rushing two or three times an hour into the same houses. Necessity made them put all sorts of things in their mouths:they picked up and resigned themselves to eating what would not have suited even the most filthy of animals deprived of reason;lastly, they wear out the leather of their belts and sandals;they scratch chewed up the skin of their shields. Others fed on twigs of old hay;many picked up fibres and sold them for the price of four Atticus, a very lightweight.

Loss of the shine of the moon and sun

Some precisions :

If the celestial aspects will no longer have their brilliance (moon and sun),

Christ’s return will be dazzling.

Matthew 24. 29

Fires

Pollution

Cosmic disorders

Gathering and glorious return

His angels will gather all believers and Jesus will appear.

Matthew 24. 30-31

Be careful,

Just as we understand that good days come when we see buds on the branches of trees, so will we when we see the clues given by Jesus come true.

Matthew 24. 32-35

Observations in history

The history of humanity has experienced cyclical fatal events, as mentioned above.

But we can observe that the phenomena that we observe nowadays have the particularities of being global (more spared places); I.e 

Globalized, what affects one place affects all other places on the planet (economy, contamination, climate issues, for example);

Instantaneous, as soon as a place is affected, immediately there are consequences (economic through the stock market, price of oil, wheat, for example);

Frequent (recurrence of exceptional climatic phenomena, for example);

Irreparable (damage to the planet).

These are new indicators in the history of humanity, but the exact moment only God knows.

Matthew 24. 36-37

Never pay attention to false teachers who give predictions about Christ’s return.

It is always false (only God knows it, the Son in His humiliation of the incarnation did not know it, a Foreteller or a simple man will never have this revelation).

If you bet a huge sum of money with these false teachers who give dates for the return of Christ, you are sure to win every time!!!

Sudden and unexpected

It will be a sudden and unexpected moment!#The coming of Jesus can not be predicted#

Matthew 24. 38-41

Personal reaction

##So what to do in the face of these assertions, how to react personally?

As if you knew a thief was coming, but you didn’t know when, you would put a lot of strategies in place to avoid his misdeeds##.

The believer must be in active vigilance!

Matthew 24. 42-51

So stay alert, since you do not know when your Lord will come.

43 You know well, if the master of the house knew at what hour of the night the thief was to come, he would stay awake and would not allow the walls of his house to be broken through.

44 Therefore, you too, be ready, for the Son of Man will come at an hour when you will not think of him.

45 Who, then, is the faithful and wise servant whom his master has made responsible for the people of his household to give them food in due time?

46 Blessed is the servant whose master on his arrival finds busy with his work!

47 Truly I tell you, he will make him responsible for all his possessions.

48 But if he is an evil servant, who says to himself,

‘My master is late in coming’,

49 if he begins to beat his companions,

if he eats and drinks with drunkards,

50 The master of this servant will come on a day when he does not expect it and at an hour which he does not know.

51 He will punish him severely and make him share the fate of the hypocrites:

there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

#Be Vigilant and ready#

##Jesus invites believers to be alert and to be ready##.

Active for God and those for whom he is responsible

He specifies it by comparing this attitude to a servant of the time, established in his house, busy taking care of those who are under his responsibility and working in the absence of his master, even if the latter is late.

He will be congratulated for this and promoted to even greater responsibilities.

Inactive and thinking only of himself

Unlike a lax and profiteering steward, who will be confused on the return of his master and punished irremediably.

Explanation by a parable

So that we can better understand the attitude that Jesus expects from his disciples, He offers two parables in chapter 25.

Atmosphere

The first, Matthew 25. 1-13 , propels us into weddings of the time when brides waited for their husbands to enter the wedding hall.

Comparison

Comparison of wise brides

Wise brides, having taken their precautions to wait for their husbands and if he is late, having fuel for their oil lamp, whatever the time, are compared to believers who wisely orient their lives in a practical way, to be ready for the sure and sudden return of Jesus, even if He seems to be late.

Foolish Brides Comparison

Foolish brides made no special arrangements to wait for their grooms. If he is late, their lamps will go out and they will have to refuel, running the risk of missing the meeting with the husband and it will be forever too late.

They are compared to people who live their lives without worrying about Jesus and His certain and sudden return. But when the time comes, they will not be ready for Jesus, then they will have eternal regrets.

let’s look at

Matthew 25. 1-13

1 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten maidens who have taken their lamps to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 Those who were foolish took no oil with them when they took their lamps, 4 whereas the wise took oil in vessels with their lamps.

5 As the bridegroom delayed, they all dozed off and fell asleep. 6 In the middle of the night they cried out:

‘Here is the groom, go to meet him!’

7 Then all these maidens awoke and trimmed their lamps.

8 The foolish said to the wise:

‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’

9 The wise answered:

‘No, there wouldn’t be enough for us and for you. Instead, go to those who sell it and buy it for yourself.’

10 While they were going to buy some, the groom arrived.

Those who were ready went with him into the wedding hall and the door was closed.

11 Later the other maidens came and said,

‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 but he answered, ‘I tell you the truth, I do not know you.’

13 So be vigilant, for you know neither the day nor the hour [when the Son of man will come].

Truths

Say positively

An attitude of vigilant life in the face of the certain and unexpected return of Jesus is to lead one’s life now wisely. Joy and bliss crown such an attitude.

Wisdom in the Bible is to think and act according to God in all things.

say negatively

An irresponsible attitude is to live one’s life without worrying about Jesus (and therefore about His sudden and certain return). A “clap” of the definitive end will fall…

More details?

Would we have more indications to nourish positively this wise active expectation?

Jesus gives them to us in the following parable.

Matthew 25. 14-30

14 It will indeed be like a man who, going on a journey, called his servants and handed over his possessions to them.

15 He gave five sacks of silver to one, two to another, and one to the third, to each according to his capacity, and then he left immediately.

16 The one who had received the five sacks of silver went to work with them and won five more sacks of silver.

17 Likewise, the one who had received the two bags of silver gained two more.

18 The one who had received only one went and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

19 After a long time the master of these servants returned and made them accountable.

20 The one who had received the five bags of silver came and brought five more and said,

‘Lord, you gave me five bags of money. Here are five more that I won.’

21 His master said to him,

‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful in a few things, I will entrust you with much. Come and share the joy of your master.’

22 The one who had received the two bags of money came also and said,

‘Lord, you gave me two bags of money. Here are two more that I won.’

23 His master said to him,

‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful in a few things, I will entrust you with much. Come and share the joy of your master.’

24 The one who had only received a bag of money then came up and said,

‘Lord, I know that you are a hard man: you reap where you have not sown and you reap where you have not planted. 25 I was scared and went to hide my bag of money in the ground. Here it is, take what is yours.’

26 His master answered him,

‘Evil and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown and reap where I have not planted. 27 So you had to hand over my money to the bankers and on my return, I would have withdrawn what is mine with interest.

28 So take the bag of money from him and give it to the one who has the ten bags of money. 29 For to him who has will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who has not even what he has will be taken away.

30 As for the useless servant, throw him into outer darkness:

there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Comparisons

Man and God

The man who goes on a trip, returning much later, and who in the meantime hands over the management of his property to his servants is compared to God who has entrusted the management of the earth and life on earth to humanity and who, through Jesus, will return with a personal declination, the management of our life.

Servants and Our Lives

The servants administering bags of money, according to their abilities on behalf of the master, are compared to managing our lives for God, according to the abilities He has entrusted to us.

Return of the Master and Jesus

The return of the master and the management record of the servants

is compared to the return of Christ, where He will take stock of each of our lives.

Two faithful servants lives for Christ

The management successes of the first two servants are commended and open to other responsibilities are compared to divine approval and entry into the Eternity of God where He entrusts other responsibilities to His consistent children

The immobility of the last servant condemned irreparably by the master

is compared to those who take advantage of the life and capacities that God has given them, without giving any thought to Him.

The sad and regrettable Eternity, far from God, is reserved for unprofitatble servants (everything that bears life is taken away from them and becomes the specificity of those who are attached to Christ).

Truth

No matter what life skills God gives us, what matters is what we do with them for God during our lifetime, Christ will take stock of them for Eternity:

at His side with other responsibilities;

away from Him forever without any flavour of life (regrets and difficulties instead).

News

As I re-read these parables, I am always amazed by their simple and still relevant understandings.

Synthesis

By synthesizing the message that Jesus wants to convey, He invites us to be filled with divine wisdom, that is to say to continually pay attention and to act according to the certain and sudden return of Jesus, where the balance sheet of our life will be done.

Valuing our given capabilities

Practically, it means that the abilities He entrusts to us must be valued by Him and not considered as our property to serve ourselves.

Different capabilities

God gives us different abilities:

beauty,

physical strength,

endurance,

school,

sovereignty,

relational,

creative,

polyglot,

listening,

intelligence.

The package He entrusts to us, what do we do with it?

Children

When we are children, to be the best at school, which always pleases parents. If you can’t, express yourself in the area where you stand out. OK, it’s good to grow, to build yourself up, but how do you link it all up, in relation to the certain and sudden return of Jesus, and the assessment He will draw from my life?

If I mention children, it is because the phase of their construction must include the most important objective of life.

DO NOT THINK INDIVIDUALLY IN THE SHORT TERM

ANTICIPATING IN RELATION TO ETERNITY

Youth

When we are young, working more at UNIL, at EPFL, to earn more or out of passion for the subject of study.

To flatter oneself with sentimental, sexual or professional, financial successes, etc.

What value does all this have in relation to the certain and sudden return of Jesus and the balance He will draw from my life?

Do God-given abilities revolve around us?

DO NOT THINK INDIVIDUALLY IN THE SHORT TERM

ANTICIPATE IN RELATION TO ETERNITY

Chess

To trust, even if the apparent ways seem without exits.

Sometimes, we don’t really understand where God is taking us but He patiently builds something lasting.

DO NOT THINK INDIVIDUALLY IN THE SHORT TERM

ANTICIPATING IN RELATION TO ETERNITY

Married

If we are married, is the goal to devote the common forces to having a lot to meet the expectations of our consumer society? And there are more of them…

What value does all this have in relation to the certain and sudden return of Jesus and the balance He will draw from my life?

DO NOT THINK INDIVIDUALLY IN THE SHORT TERM

ANTICIPATING IN RELATION TO ETERNITY

Retired

If we are retired, are the abilities God grants us to freewheel in leisure or in trivial things?

What value does all this have in relation to the certain and sudden return of Jesus and the balance He will draw from my life?

#DO NOT THINK INDIVIDUALLY# IN THE SHORT TERM

##ANTICIPATING IN RELATION TO ETERNITY

Lack of health

If health has eluded me, how can I continue to have a wise and valued life for God?

DO NOT THINK INDIVIDUALLY IN THE SHORT TERM

ANTICIPATING IN RELATION TO ETERNITY##

Different expressions

There are a thousand different ways to do it and I don’t want to give simplistic or even religious examples.

Adapted to my abilities but the way of investing myself for God will necessarily be adapted to the abilities that God gave me from the start and to the gifts He gives to His children, for the missions to which He destines them.

Prayer, an echo of the orientation of our lives

I had the pleasure of walking with a brother in faith,a Rwandan, refugee, victim of the counter-genocide.

When he met with his other friends in the faith in Rwanda, their main prayer topic was to be ready to meet the Lord.

And us, what is the tenor of our prayers?

God gives us wisdom

May God give us wisdom to direct our lives and our actions in view of His certain and sudden return.

James 1. 5

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all simply and without reproach, and it will be given to him.