Introduction
The theme for today is a statement of alertness, "Look". It also brings to mind the immediate sight of the Saviour's coming, 'Look, your Saviour comes.'
I had an encounter with a lady who asked me, "Reverend, is it true that Jesus will come again?", "Is Heaved and hell truly there? In her few words, she said, people are digging so deep but have not really seen hell. "Is there any proof of Heaven and hell being real?"
Similar questions are on the lips of many people including those who profess to be Christians. A senior Minister once said an elderly woman asked him, 'if what you have teaching and preaching to us are not true, please tell me wai?'
Look, Your Saviour Comes
In Jeremiah 33:14, God tells us “‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfil the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah.
Will Jesus come again? Yes, a day is coming God will fulfil the good promise to us.
The Promise
The people in the days of Christ also had questions on the end of time (escatos). (Luke 21:7) “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”
Jesus makes the emphatic statement, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."
My dear, I believe and fully trust my Saviour Jesus Christ that He will surely come back. Therefore, "Look, your Saviour comes".
THE SIGNS
Jesus warns us not to be deceived by the falsehood of His coming and so He gives us the signs. It is like you're told of the death of a known person, the question we normally ask is 'what happened to him/her? What we are really asking for are the signs that led to the person's demise.
For the Saviour, Jesus Christ's coming is not to be a shocking thing to you and me, He has given us the signs that would precede.
Luke 21:25 - Jesus says, "There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars..."
Were hereby directed to where the signs would be seen, 'in the sun, moon and stars.' No one individual can claim ownership of these. This means that you and I do have to visit diviners, spiritualists, seers, soothsayers etc to know the 2nd coming of Christ. (cf. Matt. 24:23-29)
In verse 28 of Luke 21, Jesus added that "When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads because your redemption is drawing near.”"
The day of Christ's coming may be a terrible and a horrifying one too many but will be a soothing welcoming gesture for us, Children of God, because He's coming to save us, hence "our Saviour."
JESUS TO CHRISTIANS
In Matthew 24:24, Jesus speaks about the deception the devil is pulling around to deceive many through false prophets and teachers "to even the elect" - that is the called-out ones, the chosen ones, children of God (John 1:12-13).
Luke 21:34, Jesus says to us, “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap."
A few things to sit the saved ones up in today's message.
1. Our caution, against security and sensuality so that we are not rendered unfit for the Kingdom.
That you and I ought to be so careful or else, we may be overpowered by temptations or betrayed by your own corruptions.
2. Our danger, that death and judgement should come upon us unawares at a time we do not expect it and are not prepared for it.
{A question was posed, what would you do if you know you're going to die today or Jesus is coming in the next 1 hour?}
(cf. Matthew 24:37-39)
3. Our Duty, looking at the danger above (2), we must be careful or (take heed) lest our hearts be overcharged. Two things to do so that our hearts are not overcharged or weighed down.
a. We should guard against our indulgence of the fleshy/worldly appetites and burying ourselves in excesses of worldly sense. The food, drinks, fun-filled life, pornography, immoralities, etc. will influence the body and mind making them weak and lifeless in their duty. These and others weaken our consciousness of waiting for the Saviour.
b. Our insatiable pursuit of popularity or fame, money and power. They overcharge our hearts with the pleasures of this life. People want to do anything for fame, money or power which becomes a snare on us. (Luke 21:26)
Conclusion
"Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones." (1 Thessalonians 3:11-13)
God bless you as you Look,
your Saviour comes.
