Live Ready: He is Coming!

Matthew 24:36-25:30

Introduction

If you knew Jesus would return tomorrow, how would that change the way you live today?

This is such an important question for us to ponder because it is provocative and revelatory. This question reveals something within each of us that we know we should probably submit to the Lord and be changed.

As most of you know, my wife and I have a young daughter named Genevieve. She was born early in the morning on August 4th.

We were supposed to go into the hospital on Sunday, August 3rd, for Eliza to be induced. Our plan was to load the car, go to church together, grab a quick lunch, and then head to the hospital to get ready.

Part of the problem, though, is that I am a master procrastinator, especially for things that feel important. And this thing was pretty important. So, I hadn’t really prepared any of my stuff, mainly because I thought I had plenty of time. It would take maybe 30 minutes to get things packed that I’d need for an extended hospital stay.

So, here comes Saturday, August 2nd. We’ve gone to dinner with Eliza’s family, she’s gone to bed to get some rest, and what is Cody doing? I am sitting on the couch, after midnight, eating Nutella with a spoon because that feels easier than packing my bag for the hospital.

In my mind, I have plenty of time! The baby is due yet, so I can just pack whenever.

Well… I suddenly hear footsteps coming down the stairs. Eliza appears, smirks, and says, “Time’s up. Baby’s coming.”

She was no longer going to be induced. The baby induced herself. Water broken, baby’s coming.

Fortunately, we still had plenty of time, so I threw a few things together, got all the other stuff we’d already packed loaded into the car, and we headed to the hospital.

If you’re doing the math, the baby didn’t come for another 26 hours. My wife is a trooper.

Why do I tell that story? It is kind of silly, and the stakes truly were not that high, as everything was normal and everyone was very healthy.

But the reason I tell that story is because I thought I had an idea of when my baby was going to come, so I thought I still had plenty of time to get everything situated.

Do we ever treat our relationship with Jesus that way? Do we ever think we have an idea of when he might be coming, particularly sometime way in the future, so we have plenty of time to do the things we need to do before he comes?

We’ve all been there, and there is no need to stand condemned right now if that is you. Because, if we are being honest, I bet there is not a single person in this room who is always living 100% correctly. That is not the point. The point of this all is what are we aiming for? What are we striving for in this life as we await Jesus’ return?

Jesus gives us an answer to this is Matthew 24:44

Matthew 24:44 CSB

This is why you are also to be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

This verse underpins everything we are going to look at tonight as we continue in the Olivet Discourse.

Our main idea for tonight is based right out of this verse:

Main idea: We must live ready for Christ’s return and steward well what he has entrusted to us.

Let’s see how Jesus walks his disciples (and us!) through this idea in our text for tonight. Open your Bibles to Matthew 24. We will finish out this chapter, and then cover a big chunk of chapter 25.

Since Jesus is coming soon, how do we live ready? There are

Follow along as I read from Matthew 24, beginning in verse 36:

Matthew 24:36–44 CSB

“Now concerning that day and hour no one knows—neither the angels of heaven nor the Son—except the Father alone. As the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. For in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah boarded the ark. They didn’t know until the flood came and swept them all away. This is the way the coming of the Son of Man will be. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding grain with a hand mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore be alert, since you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. But know this: If the homeowner had known what time the thief was coming, he would have stayed alert and not let his house be broken into. This is why you are also to be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

1. Be alert, ready at any time for Christ’s return. - vv.24:36-44

Last week, we saw how Jesus spoke of the imminence of his return, and how the disciples (and even us as modern readers) can interpret certain events as signals of his return. But now, Jesus is making it clear that no one but the Father knows the exact day Jesus will return. So, to be clear, we know the day is coming soon, but we do not know what that day explicitly is.

Right out of the gate, we have to address the potential complication here. How can Jesus be fully God, yet not know something that God the Father knows? When Jesus stepped into creation, taking on flesh and becoming the Word of God incarnate, he also took upon himself human limitations in accordance with that incarnation. We see this throughout the Scriptures, but let’s just glance at a couple things that we see in the gospels:

Matthew 4:2 CSB

After he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

Matthew 4:11 CSB

Then the devil left him, and angels came and began to serve (or minister to) him.

John 4:6 CSB

Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, worn out from his journey, sat down at the well. It was about noon.

John 19:28 CSB

After this, when Jesus knew that everything was now finished that the Scripture might be fulfilled, he said, “I’m thirsty.”

A great summary of this limitation is found in Paul’s epistle to the Philippians in something we call the “kenosis passage” in Philippians 2:5-11. I won’t read that whole passage, which is a beautiful poem or hymn Paul wrote. I encourage you to read that passage in your own time, and if you use a translation like the CSB, NIV, or NLT, you can see clearly the poetic format in how the verses are structured.

Philippians 2:6–8 CSB

who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.

Jesus, as a man, necessarily bore the limitations of humanity, including humanity’s susceptibility to temptation. But he did not err. And he tells us here that even he is not aware currently of when he will return. This is an important aspect of his ministry: to prepare his followers for a day they know is coming, but a day which they cannot know exactly.

He references the time of Noah, where the whole world continued about their business, their merry-making, everything they normally did, even up to the moment of their judgment by the flood waters. Jesus’ return will be exactly the same, and he is coming for the exact same purpose.

Just as the flood waters appeared to sweep away the wicked, so Jesus will return in an instant to gather up his people and judge the world. He gives these other analogies of people going about their normal business, when one will be carried away to safety, and one left to stand for their judgment. Why? Because one was living expectantly, and the other was not.

What will it look like for us?

Two people will be writing code at their desk, when one is taken and one is left. Two people will be caring for patients in the hospital, when one is taken and one is left. Two people will be eating lunch, one is taken, one is left. We will be doing the normal things, but the reason why we do them, and the methods in how we live those things out, are what set us apart.

The reality is no different for us now than it was for them then. So Jesus warns the disciples, and by extension, warns us modern-day disciples to be alert! He is coming when we least expect it.

Friends, we need to take this to heart. In everything that we do, are we living expectantly for Christ to come at any moment? We cannot let ignorance of the day lead us into ambivalence at his return. We must be ready, because in an instant, Christ will come to separate those who lived in expectation of his return from those who have not. Just like the thief in the night, we should always have our Ring or our ADT or whatever home security system ready and engaged! A burglar will come, and we cannot prevent it, so we must have the security measures ready.

Friends, we must be alert for his return. But not only that, we must also Be faithful servants.

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Matthew 24:45–51 CSB

“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give them food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing his job when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But if that wicked servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delayed,’ and starts to beat his fellow servants, and eats and drinks with drunkards, that servant’s master will come on a day he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

2. Be faithful servants, expecting no delay in the Master’s return. - vv.24:45-51

“Who then is a faithful and wise servant...” Jesus asks. Who is it? He provides the answer, how nice of him: Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing his job when he comes.

Jesus juxtaposes a faithful servant with a wicked servant. The faithful servant is prepared for his master to return, has been doing the work around the estate that was necessary to keep it ready. The wicked servant has been goofing off, mistreating the other servants, assuming his master is delayed. Assuming he has plenty of time to clean up and make the place ready.

During the summer, my mom would give us chores to do while she and my dad were at work. It would be a short list, do a few things here and there to help keep the house in order. Wash dishes, fold laundry, mow the lawn, whatever. Small potatoes now that I look back on it all.

But what would we often do...? We’d goof off. We’d play games. We’d mess around. Before we realized it, uh-oh. It’s 3:30, and Mom gets home at 4:00… I can’t mow the lawn in 30 minutes?!?!

I knew what my deadline was, and I wouldn’t always get done what I had plenty of time to do. I did not prioritize the return of my parents. If I had simply done what I needed to, I could still have enjoyed the day doing other things. But, I was not faithful. I was not wise. I was a dumb kid far too often. And I would be punished. Fortunately, my mom did not cut me into pieces and cast me into hell, as Jesus says it will be for the wicked servant.

But this is what we must remember with Jesus’ return; he has given us things to do, just like many of our parents did. The difference is that we do not know the time or day he will return. So instead of being goofy, immature kids, or instead of being wicked servants who squander their responsibilities, instead, we are to do what? Be faithful and wise, stewarding what God has entrusted to us.

How do we do that? What has God entrusted to us?

He has entrusted the gospel to us, spiritual gifts to us, resources like time and money. Paul’s letters to Timothy show us this to great effect. Paul writes to Timothy (and Titus in a letter of his own) to essentially instruct him as a church leader how to be a faithful steward of these things. But it is clear from Jesus words, and as you read Paul’s words to Timothy, that these things can and should all be applied to the life of every Christian.

1 Timothy 1:11 CSB

that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which was entrusted to me.

Paul urges Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2 to find men and make disciples who can be entrusted with these same truths, and can then teach and entrust others.

1 Timothy 6:11–21 CSB

But you, man of God, flee from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of eternal life to which you were called and about which you have made a good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the presence of God, who gives life to all, and of Christ Jesus, who gave a good confession before Pontius Pilate, I charge you to keep this command without fault or failure until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. God will bring this about in his own time. He is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see, to him be honor and eternal power. Amen. Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and willing to share, storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of what is truly life. Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding irreverent and empty speech and contradictions from what is falsely called knowledge. By professing it, some people have departed from the faith. Grace be with you all.

That means that we work hard for the glory of God in all things, whether work, service, family, studies: in all areas of life, Christians should disciplines ourselves for godliness, to borrow from Paul again.

I am going to give some kudos to Natalie real quick, because she has actively lived this out this week. She had the Lord impress upon her the transient nature of her environment. Her coworkers could leave at any time, and what if they have never heard the gospel? She listened to that still, small voice, and she was a faithful steward with the time God gave her, with the gospel he entrusted to her, with the opportunity to share that he opened. And guess what? That coworker is leaving for another job in a month. Natalie, your faithfulness is an incredible encouragement, praise the Lord for his work through you.

This is how we are to live, my friends. We do not know when he comes, and that not only means something for us as believers, but it means something for those around us who are lost. If Christ could come tomorrow, how many people in our lives would we try to share the gospel with?

So, we must be alert, and we must be faithful servants with what Christ has given us responsibility over.

Regardless of what events we see that may signal Christ’s return, we should always be alert and be faithful servants as we wait for the day he comes.

We must also Take responsibility for our own readiness.

Matthew 25:1–13 CSB

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they didn’t take oil with them; but the wise ones took oil in their flasks with their lamps. When the groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. “In the middle of the night there was a shout: ‘Here’s the groom! Come out to meet him.’ “Then all the virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ “The wise ones answered, ‘No, there won’t be enough for us and for you. Go instead to those who sell oil, and buy some for yourselves.’ “When they had gone to buy some, the groom arrived, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. Later the rest of the virgins also came and said, ‘Master, master, open up for us!’ “He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you!’ “Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour.

3. Be steadfast in your faith, storing up for Christ’s delay. -vv.25:1-13

In this parable, there are two types of young women: the ones who are wise and prepare for a delay of the groom’s return, and those who are foolish and falsely assume that he will arrive before they need more supplies.

At first glance, and probably second and third glance, this parable is confusing. Jesus just said that the wicked servant is the one who thinks the return of his master is far off. But here, the foolish maidens are the one who think the return of the groom is very soon. What is going on here?

We have to keep all of these stories in tension with the overarching theme of this Olivet Discourse. Jesus is emphasizing throughout all of his teaching here that regardless of the signs - which will be real and apparent - and regardless of our understanding of timing, the true return of Christ is unknowable. It is inevitable and imminent, but it is also potentially distant. It can happen any day now, but it may not happen anytime soon.

This is the tension of Christ’s return. Hence this parable of the ten virgins. What we are to take from this story is that we must not be so convinced Jesus is coming soon that we no longer prepare for the long haul. We are to always work out our faith in a steadfast manner, and we cannot coast off of previous spiritual effort, or even the spiritual efforts of those around us.

The oil described here is our faith. The Holy Spirit sustains us in our faith, but we must participate in that. Read the book of James! It is all about this idea. The Christian walk is so often described not as a sprint, but a long, endurance race.

Hebrews 12:1–2 CSB

1 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, 2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

1 Corinthians 15:58 CSB

58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

1 Corinthians 16:13 CSB

13 Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong.

2 Timothy 4:7 CSB

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

John 8:31 CSB

31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you continue in my word, you really are my disciples.

The point of all of these verses is that we are to remain prepared in growing and refining our faith by the grace of God who empowers us to do so.

How many of us had friends who seemed to be on fire for Christ but ran out of oil? They did not see God do what they desired in the time they expected it to, or they grew weary of doing good, which Paul warns against in Galatians 6:9. Maybe they grew up in the church, but never developed their own ownership of the faith, and fell away. That happened to my best friend from high school. There is a good chance I may not be here today if it weren’t for him, but he himself has turned away. It is heartbreaking.

So how do we stay prepared? We arm ourselves with the Word of God. We store up his Word in our hearts that we might not sin against him. We expect to live long lives here on earth, and devote ourselves to growing in the fear and admonition of the Lord through intentional communion with him. We pray often, we serve others in need, we memorize and meditate on Scripture, we fast, we do life with one another. We must live our faith for ourselves. No one else can live it for you.

The foolish virgins did not stay ready. They were at first, but the delay caused them to lose their oil. And when they tried to get more, it was too late. We do not want to find ourselves in the same position.

And so it is that we must both be ready for Christ to come soon, and also be prepared for a long wait. Be steadfast in your faith, and take responsibility for your own readiness. And finally, steward wisely what Christ has entrusted to you.

Matthew 25:14–30 CSB

14 “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey. He called his own servants and entrusted his possessions to them. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent, depending on each one’s ability. Then he went on a journey. Immediately 16 the man who had received five talents went, put them to work, and earned five more. 17 In the same way the man with two earned two more. 18 But the man who had received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money. 19 “After a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five talents approached, presented five more talents, and said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I’ve earned five more talents.’ 21 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.’ 22 “The man with two talents also approached. He said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I’ve earned two more talents.’ 23 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.’ 24 “The man who had received one talent also approached and said, ‘Master, I know you. You’re a harsh man, reaping where you haven’t sown and gathering where you haven’t scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went off and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ 26 “His master replied to him, ‘You evil, lazy servant! If you knew that I reap where I haven’t sown and gather where I haven’t scattered, 27 then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and I would have received my money back with interest when I returned. 28 “ ‘So take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 30 And throw this good-for-nothing servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

4. Be a wise steward, remaining faithful with what Christ has given to you. -vv.25:14-30

It has often been said that we are to attempt great things for God, and expect great things from God.

We’ve already talked about the things the Lord has entrusted to us. And here, we see it reiterated that God has trusted each of us with something. The Lord doles out gifts and callings and talents and equippings differently, but he expects the same from all of us: faithful return to him.

So, he has given us each something to do as part of the church. What are you doing with that thing? Do you have a desire or ability to teach? Why aren’t you teaching?

Do you have the ability to sing or play an instrument? Why aren’t you doing that in service of God and his people?

Do you have the ability to speak wisely about the Word of God? Why are you not returning that to the Lord through how you witness and encourage and counsel others?

I say this not to condemn you, but to warn you. If your life is not marked by a devotion to God that seeks to serve him and return your life into his hands with whatever he sees fit for you to do, then what do you truly believe about the power and authority of God?

So often we labor over our callings, and this is a good thing to do! But what is more important is remember that God will give you gifts in accordance with the task he has set before you. Desires are a gift. Talents are a gift. He will equip you for what he wants you to do. Are you willing and ready to do it?

When Christ returns, he is not going to ask us if we had the right time and day. He will ask us what we have been doing. And this is something we will explore more as we close out the Olivet Discourse next week.

Conclusion

I just have a quick conclusion for us here. Remember:

Main idea: We must live ready for Christ’s return and steward well what he has entrusted to us.

Be alert, ready at any time for Christ’s return.

Be faithful servants, expecting no delay.

Be steadfast in your faith, preparing rightly for a delay.

Be a wise steward, remaining faithful with what God has given to you.

If you are a Christian, the first place to start for response to this is prayer.

Ask God to reveal to you how he desires for you to grow and serve him. Trust him with your life, and follow where he leads you.

Guys, we have an abundance of opportunities to serve throughout the church, and throughout our community. We will be learning more in the coming weeks about that from our missions pastor Ben, but be thinking how you can serve where there is need. Don’t wait, just jump in. Let’s continue to be faithful to share the gospel and make disciples.

If anyone here has not believed in Jesus for salvation and repented of their sins, let me encourage you… it is not too late. Now is the time. Throughout our text tonight, we have been warned that hell awaits those who do not follow Christ, who are not ready for his return, who do not love him and follow him and trust him as Lord and Savior. If you have any questions about this, please come talk to me. Do not leave doubting where you stand with Christ tonight.

Let us always seek to live ready for the inevitable yet potentially delayed return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s pray.