I admit it.
I am one of those people who went to the store right before the winter storm
came and got some milk and other essentials, like ingredients for tacos. Don’t give
me that look; you were there, too. Everybody was.
That’s all
right, though. I mean, you never know. This winter weather has been pretty
unpredictable. I’m just thankful we have a grocery store in town. And while our
church, along with several others, was cancelled Sunday morning, guess who was
open? County Market.
I hope you don’t think less of our
commitment to come together for worship, when County Market opens up for
business while we close for the day. But it was the wise decision for us to
make, and I’m sure they felt staying open was the wise decision for them. After
coming in early to the church building Sunday morning to survey the situation
and make some phone calls, I also stopped at the store for some donuts on the
way home. I’m glad they were open. Yeah, I’m one of those people.
Okay, so a friend posted a picture
on Facebook that showed some lady with a full shopping cart ready to unload
groceries in her car in a snowstorm. The caption read: “People: Tell them bad
weather is coming, and they prepare! Tell them Jesus is coming, and they do
nothing.” And I thought that’s about the way it is.
We believe the weatherman when he
says the storm is coming, but do you believe the preacherman when he says
Christ is coming?
"Well, when’s He coming?” you ask.
Good question.
Here’s the answer. “Now, brothers,
about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well
that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians
5:1-2). In others words – rather, in Jesus’ own words, He said: “So you also
must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not
expect him” (Matthew 24:44).
The point, obviously, is that we
don’t know when He’s coming, which means we must always be prepared. There is
no radar that can track His movements and forecast His arrival. It would be
foolish to even try, though some fools have attempted to predict dates of His
second coming, and failed.
But we can see the signs and know
that the time is drawing near. Some of these signs, as Jesus says in Matthew 24
include: many who claim themselves to be Christ and deceive many people; wars
and rumors of war; nation rising against nation, kingdoms against kingdoms; famines
and earthquakes in various place; extreme persecution and hatred of Christians;
many who will turn away from the faith and betray and hate each other; many
false prophets appearing and deceiving people; increase of wickedness; the love
of most will grow cold; and the preaching of the gospel to the whole world.
You know what? It looks like we’d
better start paying attention to the signs.
Friend, I urge you to get ready for
the coming of the Lord Jesus. I’m not talking about getting an extra gallon of
milk or some taco sauce, either. I’m not talking about making sure you’ve got
enough gas in your car or seeing that the generator’s working.
I’m urging you to get on your knees
before a holy and righteous God and plead for His mercy. I’m telling you to
recognize that because of your sin, you need the salvation that Christ Jesus
alone offers to rescue you from the coming storm of God’s wrath and judgment.
I’m warning you to repent from your sin and believe in Jesus, who died on the
cross in your place, so that you will not perish, but have everlasting life.
Jesus is coming, and He’s coming
soon. Are you ready?
