Echoes Through Eternity

Introduction

The video clip we just saw was from the movie Gladiator…a film released in the year 2000. The setting is in modern day Germany…the frontier of the Roman Empire around the year 180 of the common era. This...like many other wars and battles…was thought that it would bring lasting peace again to Rome. Of course with humanity…there is never lasting peace.

The reason this scene was used today is because I like the line…the general sasys to his troops in the woods. “What we do in life…echoes in eternity.”

Sure…that’s a way to inspire troops preparing to go into battle…but it’s also true in a biblical sense. What we do in life…truly does ‘echo’ in eternity. Why do I say that? B/c of Jesus words from our reading this morning...decrbing judgement day. The actions or the lack thereof…seemed to determine the fate of the nations.

Recap

Last week we read Jesus’ words Matthew 24:38-39

Matthew 24:37–39 ESV

For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 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.

In other words…people were going about their everday lives. Talking about the news of the day…sports…politics…not giving a second thought to God or their spiritual lives...

So it will be…says Jesus…upon his return.

When you and I are focused on just today…or on the short-sided aspects of life…such as breaking news or sports....or politics…or a myriad of other distractions around us…we aren’t giving much thought to eternity / to our eternal destination / the the eternal ramifications for the way we choose to live out lives here and now.

When the great Roman General encourages his men before battle “what we do in life, echoes in eternity”…he is appealing to the soldier’s sense of duty, of honor…to men who are facing the possibility of etrnity in the coming battle. He is reminding them to live their lives…with eternity in view…and in the Roman culture there was not greater ethic than to live and die honorably.

Jesus warns his disciples not to live as in the days of Noah…where people live carless lives…never taking the thigns of God seriously…but to keep eternity in view…in everthing we do.

Rubber Hits the Road Matthew 25 Judgement

Jesus has been doing the same thing in the Olivet Discourse…telling his disciples that things are going to get tough for you…and for humanity…especially in the time just before Jesus return. So what does Jesus tell his disicples to do?

David Turner sees 3 categories of Jesus’ exhortations to his disciples in Matthew 24-25.

He tells them to be alert…to be faithful or turstworthy in what the Lord has given them and in their steadfastness in waiting and looking for JEsus’ return. And finally to show compassion as Jesus’ disciples in the time the leads up to his 2nd coming.

Remember our prepper talk last week…be prepared! As followers of Jesus we are to have our spiritual bug-out bags ready at all times! Keeping eternity in view.

Jesus is clear…the day or hour is not important and cannot be known…the disicples must be ready at all times…as Garland puts it “When Christ reutrns…he will not ask if one had the date right…but ‘what have you been doing.’”?

That’s exactly what we see at Jesus description of the final judgement in today’s reading. Except he already knows what the sheep and goats have been doing…and not doing.

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Isn’t it interesting to consider that neither the sheep (those who have eternal life)…nor the goats (those destined for eternal punishment)…actually know they are serving the Lord himself…when they serve or ignore “the least of these”.

I suppose that’s because the Christian life is all about our relationship with Jesus…and our reliance on the Holy Spirit to bring about changes in how we live…and what motivates us. It become second nature to us…to care for our sisters and brothers in Christ…or to ignore the needs of the church.

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The Least of these

It’s clear that how you and I treat “the least of these” is part of our second nature as Chrildren of God. But who exactly are “the least of these”?

Scholars debate this issues with some saying it is the least of all people regardless of their beliefs or affiliations…and Jesus does teach some universal truths in how we are to treat other people.

Other scholars however…see in this term “least of these”…Jesus’ often repeated term used for struggling disciples…or…you could say… “the least of these” is meant as the least in the church. As I have said before…the Christian has an obligation first and foremost to God…then to Christ’s body…the church…and finally to those around us…who are outside of the faith.

The Greek text says “the least of these, my brothers” (which could also be understood as brothers and sisters) clearly referring to fellow Christians.

D.A. Carson writes “By far the best interpretation is that Jesus’ “brothers” are his disciples (12:48–49; 28:10; cf. 23:8). The fate of the nations will be determined by how they respond to Jesus’ followers, who, “missionaries” or not, are charged with spreading the gospel and do so in the face of hunger, thirst, illness, and imprisonment. Good deeds done to Jesus’ followers, even the least of them, are not only works of compassion and morality but reflect where people stand in relation to the kingdom and to Jesus himself. Jesus

D. A. Carson, “Matthew,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 8 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984), 520.

Closing

This is where the rubber meets the road in our faith.

Jesus Olivet Discourse to his disciples…was meant to perpare his disciples for the confusion and chaos that was just around the corner. First with Jesus’ own death and resurrection…then the coming destruction of the 2nd Temple in Jerusalem some 40 years later…and finally to prepare them for his second coming.

How you and I treat fellow believers…whether we agree with thier theology or understanding of scripture…whether we agree with their secular politics or phiosophy…whether we like their personality or not…none of that matters; how we treat them…how we treat one another…is how we are treating Christ Jesus our LORD.

No doubt that extends to those beyond the church. I would find it strange indeed if…on judgement day…the Lord would judge our works of compassion only for the church. The truth is…if Jesus has changed our hearts and our persepctives…our treatment of any human being…will be gracious and compassionate.

You might be sorry you came to church today…because now you’ve heard it…you can never again say “I don’t know what God wants me to do.” We are to be faithful disciples…as the time draws near of Jesus’ 2nd coming. We are to go.

We are to make disciples.

We are to care for fellow disciples. Vist them when sick or in a nursing home or prison. If you know a brother or sister in Christ is hungry or has some material need…meet that need. Because when we do so…we are meeting Christ’s need and we will be counted among his sheep. Remember: “What we do in life, echoes in eternity.” Make your echo resound with the compassion of God!

Thanks be to God…AMEN