Y-2-CHAOS AND THE LORD OF HISTORY

Y-2-CHAOS AND THE LORD OF HISTORY Hebrews 13:8 December  26, 1999 Given by: Pastor Rich Bersett [Index of Past Messages] Introductory Standing in a short line at the Sears Hardware store the other day I picked up on a part of the conversation two elderly gentlemen were having. Something told me they were regular customers there and that they had probably spent other mornings hanging around the front counter visiting. One asked the other, "Whaddya' think about this Y2K thing?" "I got no idea what's going on with that stuff--and I don't care!" It reminded me of the old barb where someone told a friend he had all the problems of the universe boiled down to two: ignorance and apathy. The friend responded, "I don't know and I don't care." Neither ignorance nor apathy erases the fact that in just about 130 hours history's timeclock will click over to double-ought and the most suspenseful moment of history will occur. Preparation for Y2K has been the most expensive repair job in history, costing conservatively from $600 billion to well over a trillion dollars. How should we approach this thing? It's hard to be sure, and it seems that most people I know are stymied by the uncertainty, and don't know what to do. What should the wise person do? Prepare for it or ignore it? If you prepare for it, do you go as far as many who are stockpiling up to a year's rations, along with guns and ammunition, generators and their entire bank account which they've already withdrawn in fear of a run on the banks? And if that is too much for you, do you at least fill dozens of gallon jugs with water, stock up on everything from toilet tissue to heating oil, and sit quietly at home waiting? Experts on both sides have been queried and quoted everywhere from the Times to the Enquirer, from Nightline to Oprah. Some say not to worry--just get your PC Y2K compliant and all is well. Others are quite alarmist about the whole thing. Even at the prestigious M.I.T., where the creme of the intellectual crop are either teaching or earning doctorates, they are encouraging everyone to store up blankets, flashlights and elevator technicians; and they are shutting down all of their 20,000 computers. All because of a two-digit code. The fact is, one day in mid-January you may receive a credit card bill for $900,000, because the computer at some bank got stuck back at the year 1900 and you got charged 99 years of interest for your Christmas eve dinner out at Denny's. Or your phone bill may be over 2 million dollars because their computer says you were on the phone to uncle Rodney for 99 years and seven minutes. Worrisome thoughts run to the most tragic scenarios: water companies unable to supply homes with clean water; public utilities like power and gas shut down; no petroleum available for automobiles because of some glitch in an exporter's computer. But, then again, shouldn't we just trust God? After all we're His children and He wouldn't let anything happen to us, would He? On the other hand, God does allow this world to be filled with imperfect people, where things break, and strange and tragic things happen on a regular basis. We believers are not immune to struggle and tragedy. Add to all that, those who are convinced that some end times plan will be set off at the stroke of midnight and nothing short of a cataclysmic, apocalyptic series of events will inevitably ensue--perhaps even the "tribulation" period predicted in scripture. Two gas company servicemen were on duty checking meters in a suburban neighborhood. They parked their truck at the end of the alley and worked their way to the other end. At the last house in the block, a woman looked out just as the men finished checking the meter. She didn't hear one technician challenge the other to a foot race back to the truck. As they came running up to the truck, they realized this lady was huffing and puffing and arriving right behind them. They asked her what was wrong, and she said, "When I see two gas men running as hard as they can away from my house, I figure I'd better run too!" Is this maybe what's happening with the Y2K scare? Or, maybe you think it's crazy to ignore all the warnings, and a wise person will prepare! Most balanced and trustworthy sources are surprising me with their advice. They are saying you ought to be minimally prepared, just as you ought to be prepared for any emergency. You don't have to buy out the neighborhood Schnucks, but be ready. I would add this comment: it is NOT a lack of trust in God to be prepared for disaster ANYtime, let alone when so many are issuing warnings. An old Bedouin saying goes like this: "Trust God, but tie up your camel." Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan: "No one really knows what will happen when the century rolls over. The Century Date Change.is a unique event, and the complexity of the problem suggests that something is likely to slip through the cracks." Sen. Robert Bennett, chairman, U.S. Senate Special Committee on the Year 2000 Technology Problem: "[W]e won't really know how serious or unserious the impact of Y2K is until maybe the 20th of January." Bruce Webster, cochairman, Washington D.C. Year 2000 Group: "We will not fully understand or anticipate all of the Y2K events that we face until they happen in real time." Larry Burkett: "Y2K is not a thing to fear; it's a thing to prepare for." For those who need some assistance in doing basic, frugal preparations, there is some literature available on the back table for you, from the American Red Cross. Please help yourself to it. Now, for the next few moments, I would like to bring the Word of God to bear on this topic of high interest. May I be very frank and direct as I offer this encouragement. What I want to share with you, particularly about the nature of the God we serve as Christians, is TRUE, whether the whole Y2K scare turns out to be an innocent hoax, OR if it, in fact, sets off even the most horrifying series of events in our world. Psalm 89:14-18 - Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you. Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord. They rejoice in your name all day long; they exult in your righteousness. for you are their glory and strength, and by your favor you exalt our horn. Indeed, our shield belongs to the lord, our king to the Holy one of Israel. The unchangeableness and faithfulness of God is the saint's greatest comfort, no matter what happens. There is no room for paralyzing fear in the life of one who is committed to the Lord Jesus Christ. As Job said, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him." The apostle Paul spoke of the strength and confidence available to the one who trusts in Him: "For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21) After all, as far as this world and it's troubles are concerned, whether you leave this Worship Center at noon and are struck by an automobile, or you encounter the most devastating of all possible catastrophes in a week from now, you are the Lord's! And he added, in verse 22: "If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me." There are two important truths here for the believers who are about to enter into the unknown of the 21st century AD: We live under the grace and faithfulness of the Lord, AND we are to go on serving Him as long as we live in this world. We of all people are not to be confused or unduly concerned about what the future brings to us. The apostle Peter gave God's advice about how to prepare for "The End" in 1 Peter 4:7-8 - The end of all things is near. Therefore, be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Notice, there is nothing here (or anywhere else in the Bible) about God's people getting caught up in fear and worry about what is ahead of them in the end times. (And, by the way, the "end times" according to the scriptures, is the entire period of human history between the first and second comings of Christ!) Our best preparation, and our best behavior in the face of potential difficulty is to CONTINUE DOING THOSE THINGS THAT PLEASE OUR LORD AND WHICH BENEFIT OUR NEIGHBOR. Let me remind you whom you worship and serve in this world and whom you will be worshiping and serving for all of eternity in the next world. Hebrews 1:1-3 - In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed HEIR OF ALL THINGS, and THROUGH WHOM HE MADE THE UNIVERSE. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being, SUSTAINING ALL THINGS BY HIS POWERFUL WORD. Listen, believer, Jesus, the Lord, the Son of God and God Himself, MADE EVERYTHING BY THE WORD OF HIS POWER, INCLUDING YOU, AND HE SUSTAINS EVERYTHING BY THE WORD OF HIS POWER, INCLUDING YOU. AND, NEVER FORGET, AT HIS WORD ALL THINGS IN THIS WORLD WILL END. Those things which we may consider threats to ourselves are not threats to Him. He has always been faithful and He has always called us to represent Him to lost and perishing people. 2 Peter 3:9-15: The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting ANYONE to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the Day of the Lord WILL COME like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to LIVE HOLY AND GODLY LIVES as you look forward to the day of God and SPEED ITS COMING. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. BUT, in keeping with His promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO BE FOUND SPOTLESS, BLAMELESS AND AT PEACE WITH HIM. Be assured, my intention in referring to such passages is not to say that I think that the end is coming in January, 2000. Nor am I trying to bring you to a place of worry. But we must know that the apostle Peter was moved by the Holy Spirit to bring these very words of truth to the Christians of his day who were facing the unknown in a nation whose leaders were beginning to rain down persecution on them, and whose futures looked threatening. The final day of the Lord did NOT come then, either, but Peter was commanded to remind the people at such a time of testing that there will be an END, and to remind them how they ought to live with that imminent end in mind. ESCHATOLOGICAL ETHIC. Hebrews 1:8-12 - But about the Son He says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy." He also says, "In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. you will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But YOU REMAIN THE SAME, AND YOUR YEARS WILL NEVER END." He is our hope and our salvation, come what may, and He is faithful to keep that which we have committed to Him against that day. Hebrews 10:23 - Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. We have really nothing to do but to trust Him in all things and to serve Him with all our resources, including our time on this earth. Our primary text for the day is Hebrews 13:8 - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. If this next week is the best week of your entire life, what are you called to do? Love, trust and serve the Lord! If this next week turns out to be the very worst week of your existence, what are you called to do? Love, trust and serve the Lord! IN ALL THINGS, THESE WORDS ARE OUR SECURITY: JESUS CHRIST, WHOM WE LOVE, TRUST AND SERVE, IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER. Throughout history there have been very menacing times: persecution, widespread extermination, disease and famine, martyrdom, and all manner of problems. And, though nation after nation and culture after culture has not only fallen, but in most cases been wiped out of everything except the history books, the church of Jesus Christ has not only survived, but triumphed in al these things. I bring a word of hop to the church today: that no matter what happens today, next week or next millennium, Jesus Christ is Lord of history, he is faithful and just and He never changes! I have three words of exhortation for the body of Christ here this morning: 1. Place your full trust in the Lord Jesus. Don't worry. Serve His kingdom. And you will always be on the winning team. I recently read these words by an author: Maybe an asteroid could hit the Earth, just like in the movies. Maybe people around the world would suddenly lose faith in this paper money that the United States has printed and is circulating around the world. Once they lose faith in that paper, then the economy might collapse. That could happen tomorrow. Maybe the bubonic plague might get started in the United States tomorrow. Maybe it's resistant to antibiotics and millions and millions of people will be killed. There are all kinds of "what ifs" for tomorrow. There are financial "what ifs". There are family "what ifs". What if there is trouble at church? What if there is trouble with the traffic tomorrow? What if there is a war that starts tomorrow? What if we are rejected by our friends tomorrow? What about being rejected by strangers? What about our enemies? What about the weather? What about schedules? What about on and on it goes, all of the "what ifs" that could take place tomorrow. I am reminded of one lady who said, "I always feel bad even when I feel good, because when I feel good I know it will not be long until I feel bad again." 2. Be acutely ready in uncertain days with your witness. Let your steadiness and confidence win the attention of those whose anchors float away in times of distress. While people's minds are wondering, while their brows are furrowed and while their hearts are open, share with them the good news of Jesus Christ, the One who never changes. Invite them into the Kingdom that is never shaken. 3. Be more ready than normal to be of help to those around you, in case of need. It's always been good for God's people to serve others. If nothing else it helps us to stop worrying so much about ourselves. One more thing: WE WILL BE MOVING INTO OUR NEW FACILITY THIS SATURDAY, JANUARY 1, AND WE WILL BE MEETING IN THAT FACILITY AT 10:00 AM ON JANUARY 2, 2000.                   [Back to Top]