Midweek Advent 3 (2022)

Matthew 24:3-14, 32-35

Greetings my Brothers and Sisters in Christ, now that we know why the world must end, and what we are looking ahead to in the new heavens and the new earth. We want to know what we are to look for as the world comes to its conclusion. This is not that we might be caught unaware as the world was in the days of Noah, but that we might be see the day of our redemption drawing near.

Jesus gives to his disciples a list of events that will unfold, and to be honest, when we hear this, it sounds like what we would expect the end of the world to sound like! As though there will be nothing but pain and misery. For what does Jesus tell us, there will be people who come along and pretend to be him. There will be wars and rumors of wars, and nations will rise against each other, and famines, earthquakes, and these are all but the beginning.

He then also says that this will affect the Christians as well, that there will be tribulations, Christians will be put to death, and we will be hated by all for the sake of Christ’s name. It sounds outright horrific as it unfolds, but did you hear the word of promise that Christ spoke? The one who endures to the end will be saved. This good news will be proclaimed throughout the world as a testimony to all nations.

Christ tells us this not that we might be discouraged but that we might realize the light is at the end of the tunnel, that our day of redemption is near. This is why he compares it with the coming of summer later on, not winter where there are no more fruits and the land becomes bleak and desolate, but a time of fruitfulness.

As we look at this list, we lament that the world is growing worse, and this is in part due to the fact that God often allows us to forget the hardships of the past and allows the good parts to stand out, but if we pause and reflect. We also have a weakness as Americans, we tend to focus on our own country instead of looking out to the world. For where is Christianity persecuted like what Christ describes. We may lose a letter grade, we may lose friends, but we are not yet put to death here in the state, but Christians are in other parts of the world.

This would be too much to bear without knowing what was to come. In our own lives, it is hard enough to bear some things when we look for earthly rewards, and God wants us to come through this, and to be with him, but he also must judge the earth.

Christ promises that things will be ok. God shows to us in the prophets what he plans to accomplish for our sake through His Son, and what He will give to us in the Kingdom that is to come. The Father does not want his children to lose heart and fall into despair, this is why before this end comes He has not only given us His Son, and Christ and the Father send to us the Holy Spirit who is also called the Paraclete, the helper, the encourager, that we might cry to God Abba, Father.

Now Jesus assures us that these signs are like the trees putting out their buds, it lets us know that the hard days of winter are behind us. Now for us today we are quite blessed to have food and supplies in surplus in our land, but for them. Winter meant not crops were being grown, no harvest was coming in, they would stockpile as best they could, but they did not enjoy all the advantages we have today. The coming of summer and harvest was cause for great joy.

So it will be with the coming of Christ. We learned about it last week, we learned about the joy and the peace, that will overflow in the new heavens and earth that Christ creates. Even a beloved Psalm reminds of this, that our Shepherd leads us through the valley of the shadow of death. The valley still has all the terrors present in it, but our shepherd is with us to the very end.

Do you remember that this what Christ promised to his disciples before he left, he promised that he is with us always unto the end of the age. The world may fall down around us, it may beset us from every side, but we have Christ. No fierce the storms of this world may grow, no matter how terrible the wars might be. Our Shepherd is with us guiding us through, He comes to us again and again to assure us of the forgiveness, and hope that we have in His body and blood to strength our faith and cling to Him alone.

While we follow him, when we find other souls terrified by all they see around them, we ought to call to them, and bring them to Christ. For even the unbelieving world can see the signs of the times, but they do not know who can lead them through to green pastures. So invite them to Church especially this Christmas day.

My Brothers and sisters this world will end, but we should not fear, our shepherd is with us. Let the world rage with all its fury, but what can it do to us? For our treasures are not in this world, but in Christ’s kingdom. We know how to keep family safe, point them to Christ, and this is how we are able to be at peace in a world dying, for we know that Christ has come to give us life and make all things new. So rejoice when you see these signs for the end of this world is near, and then we shall dwell with God in eternity. In Jesus name. Amen.