Closer than you think

314 There are four signs of approaching age: baldness, bifocals, bridges, and bulges!

Eli Stanley Jones (Missionary Statesman)

Alas, the majority of professing Christians are far more occupied with what are called “the signs of the times” than they are with the One in whose hand all “times and seasons” are (Acts 1:7).

Arthur Walkington Pink

Romans 13:11 “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.”

Hebrews 11:8–9 “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:” “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” “By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.” “For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”

Introduction:

In 2005 Ice Cube along with Nia Long starred in a family comedy

Attempting to win the favor of the newly divorced Suzanne Nick (Ice Cube) offers to accompany her two children, on a flight from Portland, Ore., to Canada to see their mother. A mishap with a corkscrew and a metal detector gets the troupe banned from the flight, however, so Nick is forced to drive the kids in his prized Lincoln Navigator. Tensions inevitably rise during the long road trip, but Nick is not to be deterred.

Many of us can relate to a long trip.. as we look for signs that inform us how close we are to our destination.

Often times we go to sleep and wake up wondering how close are we to our destination.

Your City 1000 miles away. Next rest stop in 10 miles.

When I was a child, I would play and sleep the entire trip. When I became a young man my uncles taught me how to pay attention to my journey, my surroundings, and where I am in the journey.

I taught my children to notice what road’s we were traveling on and the mile markers along the highway.

I was taught to NEVER LET MY GAS TANK run below a 1/4 of a tank, and preferably a 1/2 tank.

Eg. Running out of Gas in the dessert at the gas station.

The Lord wants us to stop sleeping on this journey called life. In a world full of detours, and distractions.

Make your mind up that you want to go

In our case. I’m talking about a city called Heaven.

Get up and go! Get moving. In the right direction.

The trip is pre planned by GOD HIMSELF…. Follow the directions

Only pack what’s needed for the trip.

All unneccesary weight and sin leave it behind.

eg.. Driving a Uhaul while towing a Cadilac up the mountains

Barely Making it up the mounting Almost going backwards

Pay attention where you are going

If any road is not leading to a CITY CALLED HEAVEN. I don’t want to be on that road.

God direction is to stay on a street called straight… A HIGHWAY CALLED HOLINESS

Isaiah 35:8 “And an highway shall be there, and a way, And it shall be called The way of holiness; The unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: The wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.”

These are the signs that tell us we are almost home

THE SIGN OF JONAH.= RESSURECTION Matthew 12:40 “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

The SIGN OF THE CHURCH Joel 2:28 “And it shall come to pass afterward, That I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions:”

The Sign of the TRUE GOSPEL. Matthew 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”

The Sign of the FAKE GOSPEL. Matthew 24:11 “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.”

2 Timothy 3:1–5 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

While traveling there are some places, some rest stops. we just wont go.

Getting lost in England…. The towns sound the same but are so different

THE FINAL SIGNS

Luke 21:7–28 (ESV)

7 And they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” 8 And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. 9 And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.”

Jesus Foretells Wars and Persecution

10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. 12 But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. 13 This will be your opportunity to bear witness. 14 Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. 17 You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your lives.

Jesus Foretells Destruction of Jerusalem

20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, 22 for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. 23 Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

The Coming of the Son of Man

25 “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, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Christians must learn to read the signs of the times.

Kevin J. Vanhoozer

(4) The signs of the times call for decision.

Anthony A. Hoekema

(5) The signs of the times call for constant watchfulness.

Anthony A. Hoekema

(3) The signs of the times reveal the continuing antithesis in history between the kingdom of God and the powers of evil.

Anthony A. Hoekema