Sunday, December 10, 2017

2nd Sunday of Advent (10 December, 2017)

The End Is Near

"For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.  But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.  And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the LORD of hosts.  "Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel.  "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes.  And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction." Malachi 4:1-6 
(A Psalm of Asaph.) The Mighty One, God the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.  Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.  Our God comes; he does not keep silence; before him is a devouring fire, around him a mighty tempest.  He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people:  "Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!"  The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge! Selah "Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, I will testify against you. I am God, your God.  Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you; your burnt offerings are continually before me.  I will not accept a bull from your house or goats from your folds.  For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.  I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine.  "If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine.  Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?  Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me." Psalm 50:1-15 
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.  May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,  that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.  For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,  and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, "Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name."  And again it is said, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people."  And again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him."  And again Isaiah says, "The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope."  May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:4-13 
"And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."  And he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.  As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near.  So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near.  Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.  But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.  For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth.  But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man." Luke 21:25-36

Its the end of the world as we know it... and, according to the song now likely stuck in your head, apparently I'm supposed to feel fine.

But should we feel "fine?"

The end is near.  Jesus even says "heaven and earth will pass away."  Sounds like He's talking about the destruction of the world.  In other passages we get detailed accounts of the "birth pains" of the end of the world: wars, famine, earthquakes, and worse.  How can anyone feel "fine" in the face of that future?

Of course, because our redemption is drawing near.  In fact, it already has.  Christ has completed the task.  We rejoice and leap in celebration because we have been saved.  But there is still a sobering fact we must contend with.

Not all have yet heard.

This is part of the orders to "keep watch" which our King gives us.  We are not only to watch for our own sake, but for those who we can still help while there is time.  That is the only reason Christ has given any warnings for the end.  It will come suddenly, and for everyone, but we have a bit of inside information.  We know it will be soon, we know there is limited time remaining.

So we keep watch, and proclaim the good news of the King's victory and swift and soon return.

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