he Motto of the Boy Scouts is “Always be Prepared”
Prepared for what?
A flood?
A volcanic eruption?
Nuclear fallout?
an Electromagnetic pulse that would take out the power grid?
For some disaster preparation, it has to do with where you live - like for a tornado or a volcanic eruption
Others might be preparing for an alien invasion or a zombie apocalypse?
Obviously, your preparedness for some of these has to do with what you believe is possible.
I don’t believe there’d ever be a zombie apocalypse.
But if it does happen, I hope it starts in Las Vegas… Because then it’ll stay in Vegas.
Our preparedness for Jesus’ return also has to do with what we believe.
It has to do with whether we believe He’s returning to rescue His redeemed and to judge the world.
And it has to do with where we live.
The fact is we all live in His dominion.
So, every part of the world is expected to follow His Word & Will, because He rules over all.
This morning, I hope to help you to
Title: Be Certain You’re Prepared
We’ve been in Matthew 24 in which Jesus is answering His disciples question.
Recall they asked Him when it was that the temple would be destroyed (as He’d predicted).
They also asked what would be the sign of Jesus’ coming and the end of the age.
we pick back up as Jesus continues to give scant details about His future return.
· 32 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 34 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
· 36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all
away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left.
· 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
· 45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.
· 48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
People joke about the end of the world like there’s no tomorrow.
But what grieves followers of Christ is that it represents an end to the opportunity for people to be saved.
At the same time, it cheers our hearts because we know that this world wasn’t meant to be broken.
And the end represents a restoration to what the world was meant to be - God and man together again.
As we talk about being certain you’re prepared, this is mostly a relationship-check between you and God.
Do not take this as a matter of doing enough.
Take this message as a reminder that Jesus did more than enough and how that should impact us as we wait for Him.
As the First step of Being Certain You’re Prepared, I want to challenge you to -
BE CERTAIN THAT JESUS’ PROPHECY WILL BE FULFILLED.
· 32 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 34 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
The fig tree was different from most other trees in Judea which were evergreens,
It bears new leaves each year in the spring as we’re used to in America.
As we experience in the Spring, we know the normal course of things is going to lead to fruit on trees.
Similar to trees bearing fruit on schedule, Jesus tells His disciples the events that He’s been foretelling will take place on schedule.
What’s Jesus pointing to with “all these things?”
Recall that He’s been addressing two/three issues that the disciples were asking about.
1) The destruction of the temple that He alluded to - “When will these things take place?”
2) The sign of His Return
3) The end of the age.
It does seem like Jesus answers the first part of the question of these things (the destruction of the temple) along with the similar future events when He speaks about all these things
One assurance that Jesus is giving is that those who listen to Him should be able to discern at least when to leave the temple.
This we know for sure.
But also recall that there are future elements that I believe have to do with the coming antichrist.
These are events of the End Times and can also be summed up with the phrase “all these things.”
Along with the question of what “all these thing” are pointing to, there’s the question of what’s meant by of this generation will not pass away until all these things take place
It can mean what we’re accustomed to like “Gen Z.”
Or if can mean people a genetic group.
The original language for generation is linked to the term genetics just as it is in English.
I think this is one of those “now and not yet” aspects of Jesus’ prophecy.
As much as all these things simply refers to the temple, generation refers to the Jews alive at the time of Jesus’ prophecy - call them “Gen 70 AD.”
And as much as all these things refers also to the desecration of the temple by the antichrist, the term generation refers to the Jewish people.
Either way, Jesus intends to assure us of the certainty of His prophecy.
Those live through these events will see them come to their full culmination.
Jesus closes His statements on what we can be certain of with a statement that would be crazy if it weren’t God saying it.
· 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
In the scriptures, this statement wouldn’t even be said by God’s greatest prophets.
It is another Jesus’ claims of being the Creator God Himself since He claims His word to be more firm than the universe itself.
We can be more sure that Jesus’ words will be fulfilled than being certain the sun will rise tomorrow.
Whether He speaks of the end of the temple or the end of the age, we can be sure He’s speaking truth.
Notice, Jesus doesn’t say that even IF Heaven and earth WERE to pass away
He says Heaven and earth WILL pass away
How can Jesus promise that His teachings are going to remain even when heaven and earth pass away?
Because He is outside of heaven and earth.
He’s the only being that was not created and thus dependent no someone else.
Think of a father telling his toddler son to trust him and to jump from the second step into his arms.
Once the father tells him “I’ll catch you.”
It becomes a matter of whether son believes that his dad can and that he will.
Imagine a similar scenario but more dire.
A little girl is in a second story window of a burning house with her dad telling her to jump into His arms.
It’s all passing away in a blazing inferno.
That child’s wellbeing is going to be dependent on her dad’s ability to keep his promise
Her wellbeing is also dependent on whether she believes him and is willing to jump.
Be Certain that Jesus’ Prophecy will be Fulfilled.
I should point out that there’s much more to Jesus’ Words/teachings than just His prophecy in these verses.
For instance, His Word includes His claim in John 14:6 to be the Way, Truth, and Life and that no one has a relationship with God the Father unless they go through Him.
What is Jesus’ prophesy that we can trust will be fulfilled?
He will return to judge and reward.
When heaven and earth pass away, what will you have left?
* 2 Peter 3:10–13 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. 11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
From v. 36-51, I want to also challenge you to
BE PREPARED FOR JESUS’ IMMINENT RETURN.
· 36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all
away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left.
Recall, the disciples asked about when the destruction of the temple (these things) would take place and when Jesus would return.
Jesus’ gave a lot of warning signs about the destruction of the temple.
But His answer to their question about His return points to the need for constant readiness.
Jesus tells them that, as a man, He didn’t know exactly when He’d be back
Jesus is fully God and omniscient.
But as a man He surrendered the use of His omniscience
And this means He didn’t know when His return would take place - neither He nor the angels
We can assume that He does know now because He makes full use of His omniscience being exalted again
Let me mention something as a sidenote.
Jesus’ mentioning the imminence of His return allows us to say something about the Rapture of 2 Thes 4.
What will be the end of the church’s experience on this earth?
Will the church be raptured before the time of tribulation that we discussed last week?
These verses are some of many that describe Christ coming at a time when is unexpected.
Yet, His return after 7 years of Tribulation kind of make it predictable.
The thought is that Jesus will come secretly for the church prior to the Tribulation period.
And He will return in an unmistakable way at the end of the Tribulation.
This Pre-Trib. Rapture also seems to allow God to complete His covenant with Israel in the End Times.
With all this said, I’m not certain we can know exactly when Jesus comes and gets us in the process.
We do know that He wants us to live for the moment and live knowing it is imminent.
First, we should Be Prepared for Jesus’ Imminent Return
BY TRUSTING IN JESUS AS SAVIOR OF THE WORLD.
In the days of Noah, everyone but Noah and His family were caught unaware.
In this way, most will be caught unaware and unprepared when Jesus returns.
Being unaware, they will be going on with their life unconcerned & ignorant for the Lord’s return.
Being unaware points to how they were unrepentant and unprepared for judgment and swept away.
How did those who were aware and repentant prepare themselves for the flood?
They entered the ark and trusted their salvation to God’s sovereign care
In the same way, we’re invited to enter the righteousness of Christ to be sheltered from God’s wrath.
Quote - TNTC - “The implication is that it is possible to prepare for [Christ’s Return], not by calculating its date, but by a life of constant readiness and response to God’s warnings.”
Jesus goes on to give an illustration of vigilance
· 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Our vigilance in waiting for Jesus is to be like a homeowner that’s expecting a thief
Illus - [preparing for a break-in]
If a homeowner knows that someone is going to break into their home at 3 AM, they’re going to be awake
“They’re not gonna say,
“That’s past my bedtime. Everybody else in my neighborhood is going to be sleeping. So, I’m going to be sleeping too.”
No, they’re gonna say, “I’m gonna to break with the norm to meet the moment as I should.”
J They might even go full-out Kevin McAllister - heat up the doorknob, put Hot Wheels on the floor, and tar the basement steps.
Jesus uses this parable to illustrate one facet of Hs return - It is imminent. It’s looming.
Unlike me (who hopes the Home Alone methods are valid forms of home defense), some of y’all are so prepared that you may almost hope somebody will try to break into your place.
We should be prepared for Jesus’ arrival as well - not to fend Him off of course - to welcome Him
This is what being prepared looks like - looking forward to His arrival.
Unless the person has been running from Christ.
In this case, Jesus is saying, “Get ready by bowing your knee to me!”
Have you ever seen Christmas decorations where someone includes a landing strip on their roof?...
Our hearts, our behavior, our investment of our time and resources and treasure should be done in a way that we’re saying, “Land here, Jesus!”
We should “stay awake” for Jesus’ arrival.
The fact is that we don’t know when Jesus is coming.
So, we need to be vigilant all the time - a lifestyle of readiness.
So, are we to sit and twiddle our thumbs as we wait for our Lord’s return?
No, we’re to be about our Lord’s business - being good stewards of the people He’s placed in our life.
Be Prepared for Jesus’ Imminent Return
BY TRUSTING IN JESUS AS LORD OF YOUR WORLD.
· 45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.
Jesus provides us with another illustration of what He means that we should be ready
We’re told to be ready the same way that a faithful manager of a person’s business or house is ready.
We’d understand this person as a Butler - think of a Plant Manager that works for the owner
Should that person do whatever they want and straighten things up when they see the owner coming?
No, the faithful manager carries out the owner’s wishes all the time.
And, he’s always ready when the owner shows up.
If he’s faithful, he might even get promoted to regional manager.
Quote - BKC - “The coming of the Lord will be a test of servants. As the master in Jesus’ story entrusted all his possessions to his servant, so God has entrusted the care of His kingdom work in this earth to His servants.”
Examples:
We’re managers of the relationships that God has put us into.
The first level of these relationships is our family.
We’re to think of ourselves as stewards of the parents, siblings, children, grandchildren, nieces & nephews.
We’re expected to be pointing all in our life to the one that has given us abundant life.
And it helps to call a spade a spade when we’re not living an abundant, Christ-honoring life before them.
In v. 48-51Jesus gives a negative example of someone who is not just unready but rebellious
· 48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards,
Can you imagine a manager that beats the employees or spends their day drunk rather than doing what they should be doing?
Sadly, some of you might have experienced a manager this bad.
Even more sadly, we can all recall stories or even experiences of parents who behaved this way with kids.
When those who should be trusted to love those God has given them instead prey on those in their care, it’s a perfect example of someone who’s going to face harsh judgment for how they treated others.
Jesus is describing His followers as being like managers that are to be about His business while He’s away.
· 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The terms that Jesus uses are clearly used for eternal punishment throughout Matthew.
Why does Jesus obviously threaten the fires of hell in this situation?
Like other places where He does the same, He’s communicating what are the stakes of the situation.
The person that chooses to use and abuse what God has given them and then thinks,
“I’m just glad for grace. I’m glad I’m forgiven. I’m glad I prayed a prayer of salvation” is not saved.
Why can I say this?
Jesus is telling us that the most basic work of the Holy Spirit keeps us from treating others in this way.
The most basic work of the Holy Spirit gives us a holy, reverent sense of accountability to God.
It’s a process of repentance, change and growth.
But a sense of being accountable to God is a most basic work of the Holy Spirit
And it’s the presence of the Holy Spirit in a person’s life that provides assurance of salvation.
A degree in business management isn’t going to change someone who’s intent on abusing the situation that they’ve been entrusted with.
In the same way, even a Bible college degree doesn’t mean that someone is a follower of Christ.
If a person thinks that salvation is a get-out-of-jail-free card that let’s them do whatever they please, their destiny is not a heaven but hell.
Are there issues in your life where you’re saying, “I know it’s wrong, but…”?
What does it look like to be prepared?
Like the manager that does his work because he loves the owner/employees/company,
You do your best to obey God as He is steadily changing your heart to make your obedience more out of love for Him.
I’m not saying that doing this makes you prepared.
Salvation makes you prepared.
I’m saying that serving Jesus as our Lord is what it looks like when we are prepared.
If you’re the type of person who’s thinking, “OK, tell me what belongs to God so that I can manage His stuff,” you need to examine your heart.
You belong to God. Your family members belong to God. Your home belongs to God. Your stuff/money belongs to God…
I remember hearing a story of a Christian home for mentally challenged people.
The home would have a teacher come and explain a Bible story at least once a week.
One week, the teacher came and shared with the residents about Jesus’ return.
He read verses from John 14 about Jesus going away to prepare a place for His followers -
* John 14:3 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
He closed his talk with Revelation 22:20 - He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
The next time the teacher was at the home, one of the janitors took him aside and said,
“I wish you’d teach on something else this week. I can’t spend my whole day washing windows.”
It turned out that, ever since the residents learned about Jesus’ imminent return, they spent much of the day with their noses pressed to the glass, with their eyes on the sky.
What a beautiful example of believing what Jesus has said and being prepared for His imminent return.
Oh that we would live with such certainty and be so prepared to leave all behind to finally be with Jesus.
