Preparing Ourselves for the return of the Lord

Main idea: This sermon explores Isaiah's prophecies, emphasizing spiritual preparedness, the promise of God's return, and our responsibilities in light of these truths.

Introduction

Good morning, we thank God for our leadership team throughout this church, we are grateful for Rev. Ellis and solicit your prayers for him. To our support staff in all areas who provide a warm worship experience. Certainly, to all our visitors who are here and our online community. Our God is greatly to be praised. The season of Advent is upon us. It is good that we can reflect and be reminded of history and our future hope in Christ. Today we begin our journey through the Advent season in hopes that this message prepares our hearts and minds for that great blessing before us. Preparation involves action. We just ended hurricane season. From June to November 30th we watch weather reports, responded when we were told of an impending storm in our area. We prepared by, storing up supplies, boarding up the windows of our houses, creating evacuation plans, or deciding to ride out the storm in the safest way that we could. In short, some preparations were made. Likewise, we must be prepared for the coming of our Lord. The Bible teaches us that, Christ will return. Although we do not know the exact time of His return, we should be making preparation for it because the Bible says, it will happen.

Today, we're going to turn our attention to the prophecies of Isaiah, a book rich in imagery and filled with profound truths about our God and His plan for this world. The passage we will be focusing on is Isaiah 2:1-5.

"The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord."

In these verses, we see a prophetic perspective that Isaiah presents, we see practical steps for spiritual preparedness, and we see a promise of our Lord's return and the responsibilities that come with it. First lets look at:

Prophetic Perspective of Isaiah

As we turn our attention to the book of Isaiah, we find ourselves stepping into a world that is both ancient and incredibly relevant. Isaiah was a prophet in a time of great upheaval and uncertainty, much like our own. His words, inspired by God, speak to us across the centuries with a clarity and power that is undiminished by time.

Isaiah's vision of the future, as recorded in the second chapter of his book, is one of hope and promise. He speaks of a time when the Lord's house will be established on the highest of mountains, exalted above all others. This is not just a physical elevation, but a spiritual one. The Lord's house, His dwelling place, will be the most important place on earth, drawing all nations to it.

Isaiah also speaks of a time when people will actively seek God's instruction. They will say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." This is a picture of a world that is hungry for God's truth, eager to learn His ways and to walk in His paths.

Isaiah's vision also includes a profound promise of peace. He speaks of a time when nations will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. This is a powerful image of disarmament, of turning weapons of war into tools for cultivation. It speaks of a time when resources are no longer wasted on conflict, but used for productive, life-giving purposes.

This is a vision of a world where war is not just absent, but unthinkable. It's a world where people have learned the futility of violence and the value of peace. It's a world where the energy and resources that were once used for destruction are now used for cultivation, for building up rather than tearing down.

Finally, Isaiah's vision includes a call to action. He urges the house of Jacob to walk in the light of the Lord. This is not just a call to belief, but to action. It's a call to live in a way that is consistent with the knowledge of God, to let His light guide our steps and shape our lives.

This is a call to live in the present in light of the future that Isaiah describes. It's a call to start living now in the way that all people will live in the future: in peace, in obedience to God, in eager pursuit of His wisdom. It's a call to be a foretaste of the world to come, to be a living example of the peace and righteousness that will one day fill the earth.

In all these ways, Isaiah's vision of the future shapes our understanding of the present. It gives us hope during uncertainty, direction in the midst of confusion, and a sense of purpose in a world that often seems meaningless. It reminds us that God is not distant or irrelevant, but actively involved in our world, guiding it towards a future of peace and righteousness. And it calls us to be part of that work, to live now in the light of that future.

Practical Steps for Spiritual Preparedness

As we consider Isaiah's vision, we are drawn to the practical implications for our own lives. The prophet's words are not just for a distant future, but for us here and now. They provide us with a roadmap, guiding us on how to prepare ourselves spiritually for the days to come.

The first step in this process is to recognize the importance of seeking the Lord's instruction. Isaiah paints a picture of people from all nations streaming to the house of the Lord, saying, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths." This is a call to active engagement with God's Word, to immerse ourselves in His teachings and let them shape our thoughts, our attitudes, and our actions. It's not enough to simply read the Bible; we must strive to understand it, to apply it, and to live it out in our daily lives.

This brings us to the second step: walking in the Lord's paths. The people in Isaiah's vision don't just want to learn about God's ways; they want to walk in them. This is a call to obedience, to align our lives with God's will as revealed in His Word. It's not always easy. It requires discipline, perseverance, and a willingness to deny ourselves and take up our cross daily. But it's also incredibly rewarding. As we walk in the Lord's paths, we experience His presence, His peace, and His power in new and deeper ways.

The third step is to embrace the promise of peace. Isaiah's vision includes a powerful image of disarmament, of turning weapons of war into tools for cultivation. This is a call to be peacemakers, to strive for reconciliation and harmony in our relationships, and to promote peace in our communities and our world. It's a challenging task, but one that is close to the heart of God. As Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."

In the original Hebrew, the word used for "peace" in this passage is "shalom." It's a rich and multifaceted term that encompasses much more than the absence of conflict. It refers to a state of complete well-being, of harmony and wholeness in every area of life. This same word is used in numerous other passages throughout the Old Testament. For instance, in Psalm 34:14, we are exhorted to "seek peace and pursue it." In Jeremiah 29:7, the exiles in Babylon are instructed to "seek the peace of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its peace you will have peace." These passages underscore the importance of pursuing peace, not just in our personal lives, but also in our communities and our world.

The fourth step is to live in the light of the Lord. Isaiah concludes his vision with a call to action: "O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord." This is a call to live in the awareness of God's presence, to let His light illuminate our path and guide our steps. It's a call to live transparently, honestly, and with integrity, knowing that we are always in the Lord's sight.

Finally, the fifth step is to look forward with hope. Isaiah's vision is ultimately a vision of hope, of a future where God's reign is fully established, and His peace pervades the earth. This hope is not just for the distant future, but for the here and now. It's a hope that sustains us during trials, that strengthens us in the face of adversity, and that inspires us to live faithfully and obediently, even when the way is hard. As the apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 15:4, "For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."

Promised Return and Our Responsibilities

As we turn our attention to the promise of our Lord's return and the responsibilities that come with it, we find ourselves standing on the precipice of a great and glorious truth. This truth, my dear friends, is that preparation involves action. It's not enough to merely anticipate Christ's return; we must actively prepare for it.

In the realm of spiritual preparedness, action is a necessity. It's not a passive waiting game, but an active pursuit of righteousness. It's about aligning our lives with the teachings of Christ, about living out the Gospel in our daily interactions, about being the hands and feet of Jesus in a world that desperately needs Him.

The first aspect of this active preparation is the cultivation of a Christ-like character. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, outlines the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are not just admirable qualities to strive for; they are the very essence of Christ's character. As we actively cultivate these fruits in our lives, we become more like Christ, and thus, more prepared for His return.

In the words of the respected Christian writer, A.W. Tozer, "The most important thing about a man is not what he does, but who he becomes." Our actions, then, reflect our character, and our character is shaped by our relationship with Christ. The more we grow in Christlikeness, the more our actions will reflect His love, His grace, His mercy.

The second aspect of this active preparation is the pursuit of God's mission. Jesus, before ascending to heaven, left His disciples with a clear mission: "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." This Great Commission, as it's often called, is not just a command for the early disciples; it's a command for all followers of Christ.

This mission requires action. It requires us to step out of our comfort zones, to share the Gospel with those who haven't heard it, to disciple new believers, to baptize them, and to teach them to obey Christ's commands. It's a mission that demands our time, our energy, our resources. But it's a mission worth pursuing, for it's a mission that aligns us with God's heart for the lost and prepares us for Christ's return.

In the grand scheme of God's redemptive plan, the return of Christ is the climax, the moment we all eagerly await. But while we wait, we must not be idle. We must actively prepare, cultivating a Christ-like character and pursuing God's mission. In doing so, we not only prepare ourselves for Christ's return, but we also participate in God's redemptive work in the world. So, let's take action, Let's prepare, for the King is coming, and we want to be ready when He does.

Conclusion

As I hurry to a close, good afternoon! May the Lord God bless you. So as we embark on this season of Advent, let us be mindful that Christmas is important and worth our celebrating, but there is also the reminder that, in the midst of all the festivities that the Lord is soon to come again and we must be prepared.

In a world that often feels chaos and uncertain, we can find comfort and hope in the steadfastness of our God. His Word is a light to our path, a guide for our journey. It's not just a book of ancient stories, but a living, breathing message of love from our Creator. However, we must be ready! In the words of the lyric of a song by Dottie Peoples,

I want to be ready when Jesus comes I want to be ready when Jesus comes One day the Lord's gonna crack the sky and the dead in Christ shall rise I want to be ready when Jesus comes No man knows the day or the hour when the Lord will surely come that's why you need to get your house in order don't let Him catch you with your work undone You've got to get ready, oh yes, when Jesus comes

Is there anybody here that’s ready? He is soon to come! Riding on a cloud, every eye is going to see Him, every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God!