How Then Shall we Live?
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Last week, we finished what we might describe as the first section of the Olivet Discourse, which deals with the first Big Point. If you remember, we closed by giving a simple summary outline of the whole passage in two points.
Verse 1-35, Christ could return at any time.
Verse 36 through the end of the next chapter, Because Christ could return at any time, we should be watchful, faithful, and ready.
Like any great sermon, including those that we read in the Bible, Jesus gives us not only information, but a call to action. Put simply, believing in Jesus and following Him in the here and now includes a firm belief that he is coming back, and that could be at any time.
Everything, then, in our lives is lived in the conscious or subconscious light of his second coming.
Every hardship and trouble is viewed in light of his second coming.
Every joy is viewed in light of his second coming.
Every interaction and relationship is viewed in light of his second coming.
Every decision and value judgment is made in light of his second coming.
Every evaluation of worth or investment is made in light of his second coming.
And these considerations have as much to do with our motive and reason as they do with our actual actions and decisions.
For instance, there will be areas in life that, by nature, will not look radically different than our neighbors who do not yet know Christ. We may mow our lawn, plant our gardens, wash our cars, go to work, prepare our food, and do our laundry with the same results and elements, but even these small things can be done in light of Christ’s imminent return, so that we see every single part of life as being lived out for Him, for his glory, as a testimony, as a light.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
So, Jesus is coming back at any time. Do you believe that? Do you? I do not want to rush past that question, and I don’t want you to rush past it in your thinking either, because if you rush past that, the rest of what we have to say won’t do you much good.
You see, there are calls to action and there are warnings that Jesus will give in the coming sentences. These calls to action and warnings are real, but before he gives them he makes clear the reality of his coming. And if you don’t believe, the calls to action won’t do you any good. And if you don’t believe in the one who is coming, then you won’t believe the warnings either, as real and weighty as they are.
Because Jesus could come back at any time, he gives his followers careful instruction on the importance of life in the here and now.
Because Jesus could come back at any time, he gives his followers careful instruction on the importance of life in the here and now.
1. What his Coming Looks Like - Vs. 36-43
1. What his Coming Looks Like - Vs. 36-43
Jesus opens this next “section,” or the second “big point” by reiterating what he has told us already. While his coming could be at any time, there is nobody except the Father who knows when that time will be.
Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know
Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
“day” and “hour” are used generally in scripture for “time,” and “Day” in the Old Testament oftern referred to the “day of the Lord,” which was a specific reference to the final day of judgment and vindication by God Himself.
We find that Jesus is that “Lord” of the “day of the Lord,” and He, as the Son, and second person of the Godhead, will be that judging and vindicating one.
This verse also highlights something amazing about Jesus, and that is while we know he is co-equal and eternal with God the Father, we see in action his voluntary limiting. He voluntarily limits the free use of his divine attributes in the incarnation, so that when he takes on the flesh of man in his birth, he is truly god and truly man. Philippians 2:6-8
who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
This humility will ultimately lead to the cross, which he humbly and willingly submits to as part of the plan of redemption, and we see it here even as he speaks of His second coming. Though he will be the powerful Redeemer, savior, victor, and judge who comes on the cloud to gather his own and exact revenge on all evil, in this very moment he was a humble and faithful servant.
I don’t think this is coincidental, because if the Son of God himself humbles himself to where he didn’t even know the date of his own coming, and yet focused on faithful obedience and service, then we, too, his followers, can rightly do the same.
We can neither expect nor desire any higher calling than what Christ pictures here. Humble an faithful service while we wait for the consummation of all these things.
Then, after demonstrating his humility and reminding us of our inability to know his exact time of coming, he reminds us that our humility and limited knowledge does not make the coming any less significant.
A. The Flood
A. The Flood
In your outline, I think that i put it as “a flood,” but after thinking through it again yesterday, I recognized that it is not simply enough to compare it to “a flood,” as something that just sweeps through quickly and powerfully, but we must know that Jesus specifically compares it to “the flood.”
Of course, “the Flood” is Noah’s flood.
Jesus gives a picture here of the days of Noah.
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, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
The picture here is that life was going on normally for everyone on earth, whatever normal looked like for them, and then the flood came.
The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.
The picture here is that while life was going on “normally,” normal had devolved, because of the fall of mankind, and human sinfulness, into a kind of wickedness and evil that was so widespread and pervasive that God describes himself in human terms so we can understand. He said, “i regret that I have made man!”
Now, scripture does this sometimes, giving human emotions to God so we can know something of the depth of the situation, and while God can’t “regret” in the same way we do, he has no sin and he has perfect knowledge, God wants us to know his displeasure and holy sadness at the wickedness of man.
And I think the picture here is of more than the flood itself, which was judgment and salvation, but also of the kind of situation that led up to the flood, which was a normalcy of pervasive evil.
Undeniably, we live in those very conditions. They will probably get worse, though we struggle to imagine that, but the “flood” of Christ’s coming in judgment and salvation has not arrived yet, so it is not over yet.
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
This pervasive normalcy of evil and wickedness displeases God, incites his righteous anger, goes against his beauty and goodness and loveliness, and it will not be allowed forever. Because Christ’s coming will be like the flood.
Again, back in Genesis 6, the flood was in judgment and salvation. It was judgment on all the earth, but it was salvation for one man and his family. Noah, who found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Noah found favor. And in light of the coming flood, was told to build an ark. He did so, and was saved.
That image, of those who have found God’s grace, and thereby his gracious warning and salvation escaping the flood of Christ’s coming in judgment, is the picture here.
There will be strong words of judgment and warning on Jesus’ lips here, but I want you to see them as they are - they are as gracious to us as God’s words of warning and call to Noah were in his day.
Do you hear Christ calling you out on the Ark of his salvation? Do you see the pervasive wickedness of our day? Then take his gracious offer of salvation. Take it even now. His flood-like coming will cleanse the world of unrighteousness, and he offers those who follow Him an eternal righteous existence with Him.
B. A Thief
B. A Thief
Jesus goes on, and describes his coming with the word “taken.”
Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
There is debate on who is being “taken” here. Are the ones who are “taken” those who are “gathered up” like in verse 31, His chosen bride? Or are the ones who are “taken” the ones who are swept away in the flood-like coming of his judgment?
Both, really, are true. For the gathered up ones will be saved and spared from judgment, and the ones who are left will be swept away in the flood-like judgment of His coming.
The point here is the radical separation, the day and night distinction and clear imagery of those who will be saved, and those who are not.
The details of how the saving works and how the judgment works are less clear and less critical than the fact that there is saving and there is judgment. That is the warning, that is the gracious word for those of us who will listen.
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. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
The word picture of “taken” here leads into this image of a thief breaking in. And the picture is obvious.
Without a doubt, if a person knows their house is to be broken into, they would take every available precaution and be sure the thief does not have any chance of success. In the same way, those who hear Jesus’ words are told very clearly that he is coming, and that the negative ramifications of his coming are avoidable. Entirely avoidable because of his grace and salvation.
Many take issue with a severe message of God’s judgment, and would like to separate Jesus from that judgment in their minds. But dear one, the problem is not a severe judgment. The problem is that this judgment, while real, is completely avoidable by the gracious salvation that Christ offers, yet it is ignored by so many.
In the paragraphs to come, Jesus will give some incredibly strong images and language concerning the gravity of judgment. But know this, he does not do so in order to scare us. Nobody has ever been scared into heaven, or scared into following Jesus. He does so, as though with tears in his eyes and a broken voice, as a warning.
Judgment is real, it is severe, and it is deserved. There will be no doubt about that. But by his gracious salvation, it is avoidable, just as it was for Noah and his family, and just as it is for the household who knows a thief is coming. This is God’s kindness to us. He does not owe us warning, and he does not owe us grace. Yet He gives. Have you found it?
2. What our Readiness Looks Like - Vs. 44-51
2. What our Readiness Looks Like - Vs. 44-51
Verse 44 is a good transition verse for us
Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Therefore...
because, at this point, there is nothing else “necessary” before his coming
because, we experience the kind of pervasive evil and tribulation that jesus described
because, we believe firmly that Jesus is coming back
because we long for him and love him
we must be ready.
Readiness is the main description of a follower of Jesus waiting for his return. There is hope for those who know the Lord, because the bible describes them as those who are ready.
For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.
Paul says, using the very same kind of language as Jesus, that while many are living that “normalcy” of life, the coming judgment will arrive. But we, those who are in Christ, are not in darkness for that day to suprise us like a thief. Rather, we can be prepared. What does our preparedness and readiness look like?
A. Faithfulness
A. Faithfulness
For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.
We read that text earlier in the service, and it is fitting here because when we consider faithfulness, we must consider the author of faithfulness and the ultimate faithful one. God, who is unchanging and perfect in all his ways, is the faithful one, and he calls us to faithfulness as his servants.
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
We have looked at 1 Thessalonians 5 in previous weeks, because Paul is speaking of the very same things in that chapter. Things of the coming of our Lord, things of faithfulness to the end. And here, he ties our faithfulness and holiness to the faithfulness of God.
Even here, we see God’s grace. He calls us to faithfulness and holiness, yet he himself is the one who keeps us faithful and holy. What love is this, that calls and supplies? What grace is this, which demands but also gives the means of accomplishing?
Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.
What is faithfulness? It is the essence of being true to a calling, a mission, a purpose, a promise. God’s children have a mission. From the first human beings, Adam and Eve, he has set people as workers and agents in creation. In following Christ, it is no different. We have much to do in following Him, and faithfulness is the mark of his followers.
Does this mean perfection? Of course not, and we could go to a myriad of scriptures which keep us in check, lest we think that the only way to gain salvation is to be sinless on this earth. But it does speak of sanctification, whereby we who were once unfaithful to God, are made faithful and grow in faithfulness.
B. Wisdom
B. Wisdom
If faithfulness is being true to a calling or promise, then wisdom is knowing how to apply our knowledge to that task.
For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
A few weeks ago we looked at James, and saw how we need wisdom in this life to live in hardships and see the good and grace in them. Well, we also need wisdom to be faithful servants. To know what it looks like to obey and be watchful.
Thankfully, we don’t have to conjure up this wisdom or sort through the wisdom of the day to find it.
For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
God’s Word is the source of our wisdom, and God’s word is of and from God Himself, so rightly we can say, God is the source of all wisdom.
The call to follow Christ in this day is high, but the faithfulness and wisdom needed is supplied, we must receive it and apply it by Grace through faith in Him.
But he answered, “It is written,
“ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”
Wisdom and faithfulness in readiness teach us that we follow God, his word, his calling, and his ways because he is the source of all these things.
To make this image clear, Jesus gives a picture of what unfaithfulness and foolishness looks like.
But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards,
This person is called a servant, but he proves to be an enemy. He is the same as those Peter speaks of who say “where is the promise of his coming?”
hundreds of illustrations could be given, i could give many myself of my dad giving me a task or chore to do at home, expecting to find either the task done or the work in progress when he returned. It probably happened so many times that I couldn’t pick one, but we know concept.
God has called us, supplied what we need, promised to help and keep us, yet many still remain in their rebellion.
the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The warnings, again, in this passage are severe. And we will look at them even more in depth next week.
Notice, the wicked one “does not expect” the master’s return at any time. He has become comfortable in the normalcy of his rebellion, and probably assures himself, “there is plenty of time.”
It reminds me of the old illustration of the Devil, who is training some of his evil servants to deceive the world.
We will tell them there is no God!
That won’t do, for deep down they know there is a God.
We will tell them there is no judgment!
That won’t do either, for they all know that there must be a judgment.
We will tell them there is no hurry!
Go, you will deceive many by these words.
Jesus gives this warning in earnest and tenderness, and notice the way this judgment is described.
There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Weeping for pain? perhaps, though physical pain is probably not an adequate comparison.
Weeping for regret, and unending sorrow. Whatever what we call hell is like, know this, there will be nobody satisfied with their final rejection of the Lord.
3. A Parable of Readiness in Wisdom - 25:1-13
3. A Parable of Readiness in Wisdom - 25:1-13
“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.
As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.
And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.
Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Know this, dear one. The urgent cry goes out for you to apply wisdom from God and follow Him. Time is not without end, and eternity matters.
Wisdom of this world may tell you to enjoy yourself and get what you can out of this world while you can get it, but wisdom from God tells us to watch and be ready, because Christ could come at any time. This brings great hope to those who are hopeful in him, but it brings a warning to those who neglect him now.
Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.