Prepare Your Heart

Prepare Your Heart: A Christmas Call to Vigilance

Bible Passage: Luke 21:25–36

As you prepare your heart for Christmas, I would invite you to prepare for another Advent. The second Coming of Jesus Christ. I suggest to you this morning, the first advent, without the second is only half the story.

Jesus coming a babe in the manger, is like read half a novel and putting it down thinking you have the whole story. Every knows the best part of a novel is always the second half, especially the ending.

The first Advent declared, the best is yet to come.

I want to suggest four truths about this second Advent.

1. Signs and Sovereignty

Luke 21:25–28 NASB95

“There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. “But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Wow, that is some scary stuff. Signs in the sun and moon, dismay among nations, men fainting from fear, and the power of heaven shaken.

I don’t know about you, but that would frighten me.

But notice, Jesus tells us,

Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great Glory.

However, this is not the first time we see this.

Daniel 7:13 NASB95

“I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him.

Power, Clouds and the Son of Man predicted back in Daniel, about 530 years before Christ birth.

Now, here Jesus reaffirms it.

But, like the old Roco commercials, there’s more.

In Rev 1:7 we read.

Revelation 1:7 NASB95

Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.

Why does God, through his word, warn us not once, or twice, but three times, at least, there are many more, about Jesus second coming, and the signs that we come before it.

I suggest, not so we will be afraid. But, so you will know what is happening. It is possible that all these are there to remind us of the awesome power of God and his sovereign control.

When we see these signs we should not be frighten, dismayed, or apprehensive.

Instead of fear, we are to stand tall, lift up our heads. Why, Our redemption is drawing near.

We know this world is not our final destination. We also know that Jesus Christ is going to return.

As one writer put it.

The Gospel according to Luke (King James Version) D. The Coming of Jesus: The Son of Man, 21:25–28

the Lord now begins to cover the most significant event yet to occur in human history: His own personal return.

As we see the world moving closer and closer to the signs in Matthew, Luke, Revelation, we are to stay alert, knowing that all of this is God’s eternal plan being worked out.

Just like, over 2000 years ago, an angel saying to the virgin maiden, His name shall be called Jesus, was part of that plan.

God is in control then, and he is still in control now.

Nothing will derail his plan. That should not bring fear, but rejoicing.

God is still in control.

Not only is a sovereign God is in control, His Kingdom is a Hand.

2. Kingdom at Hand

Luke 21:29–31 NASB95

Then He told them a parable: “Behold the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they put forth leaves, you see it and know for yourselves that summer is now near. “So you also, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near.

Jesus said, if you can see the fig tree or trees for that matter, begin to put forth leaves you know the seasons are changing.

In front of our home are roses bushes. Every winter, toward the end of winter, Ginny begins to look for the first buds to pop up. We watch the bushes, because when the rose buds show up, we know Spring is around the corner.

Jesus said, I want to make this so clear, no one can miss it.

If you can see the buds on the Rose bush, and the leaves of the maple tree, or as he put it the figs of the Fig Tree, you should be able to see the signs of his return.

You will not know the day nor the hour, but we, as followers of Jesus are called to always be ready.

This Christmas season, as we wait for Christmas, with our advent calendars, and our advent candles, and our advent readings, let us also keep an eye toward the sky for Jesus second advent.

Why do we wait for his second coming?

3. Promises That Endure

Luke 21:32–33 NASB95

“Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all things take place. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

Notice with me that Jesus tells us that his word will not pass away. Heaven and earth may pass away, but his word will not pass away.

His has promised to come back for his church, and his word can be trusted.

For thousands of years the word of God came to the prophets saying a Messiah, a Savior was coming. An then in small village of Bethlehem that promise was fulfilled. All the words of God, all the promises of God, flowing through his prophets, leaders, and kings, were fulfilled, when a virgin gave birth to a son, and they call him Jesus.

Emmanuel, God is with us. For thousands of years, the people waited for that promise to be fulfilled.

But, my friends, God is faithful to his word.

Now we wait, but we wait with the assurance God is always faithful to his word.

So, God is Sovereign, and in control. The Kingdom is coming, and is at hand. The promises he has given will endure.

What are we to do, stay alert.

4. Alertness Amidst Advent

Luke 21:34–36 NASB95

“Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth. “But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Jesus tells us to be on our guard, and to keep alert at all times. He tells us to pray for strength.

AS we move into this season of waiting, that is what advent is. Let us not just wait of Christmas, with all it joy and celebration. Let us also wait for Jesus second coming.

Our God is in control, our God has promised, and our God will do what he has promised.

Be Ready!