Advent: Preparation

Preparation

Matthew 24:36–44 ESV

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 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. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

The coming of Christ will sudden

Matthew 24:36–39 ESV

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 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.

Mt 24:37 -Like the flood, Jesus’ return would arrive as sudden-

We are never told how long it took Noah to build the Ark, but with everything that is had to hold, and the size of the boat it had to be in order to hold everything- It must have taken Him quite some time to Build

When Noah and his family entered the Ark the Flood came swiftly

This analogy/ story deals with the statement “if they only had more time”

Noah’s actions testified to the preparation of what he believed was going to happen

Preparation testifies to what we believe

Faith- to believe to the extent of complete trust and reliance—‘to believe in, to have confidence in, to have faith in, to trust, faith, trust.’

Hebrews 11:7 ESV

By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

believers “preparation” shows what they truly believe

2 Peter 2:5 ESV

if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;

Noah was a Herald- a person who preaches—‘preacher.’ ἐτέθην ἐγὼ κῆρυξ καὶ ἀπόστολος καὶ διδάσκαλος ‘(God) has appointed me as a preacher, as an apostle, and as a teacher’

God’s public messenger to the people

Something was going to Happen and Noah was getting ready because He believed what God had said

To not prepare has consequences

Mt 24:38- the acts the people were doing weren’t sinful in the list given by jesus- eating, drinking, marrying giving in marriage -

they did these actions right up till Noah entered the Ark

They just lived everyday life

Go to job, make money, live happy life, take vacations, go to college

No preparation for God

Mt 24:39 - The people could see Noah building his ark, and mocked him

The people didn’t share Noah’s commitment to the service of God- So they did not know what was coming -

“The Flood came and took them all away”

Jesus is saying that people will continue to be about their normal business right up until the time of His coming

this a critical point cause after His coming it is to late- just like it was to late after the flood came

The coming of the Son of Man will be abrupt, and just as unexpected as the flood

Examples for the believer

Matthew 24:40–41 ESV

Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left.

Mt 24:40-41- Two pictures of the activities that will be going on at the time of Jesus’ return bring out the importance of being ready and also of the fact that some will not be ready and will miss the glories of the great day

Some will miss it : Two men working in the fields- their circumstances are the same, but one gets share in the blessing of being with the Lord

two women grinding at the mill - a regular part of normal life for women of that day- once again one get to share in the glory of being with Christ

The coming of Christ marks a complete and permanent division- Those who have chosen to live without God will find their choice respected when the great day comes.

It will be the portion of the godless to be without God.

The worst thing that can happen is God turning us over to our own desires

We harden our own hearts and in the end God gives us exactly what we had desired

The Believers response

Matthew 24:42 ESV

Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.

Mt 24:42 “Stay Awake”- the believer must remain prepared for the Lord’s coming, remaining alert and awake

Jesus’ calls His followers to live in a way so that the will be ready when the day of Christ’s return happens

If we Knew the time and day- people could delay the preparations until just before, But because we don’t we live in constant preparation for the coming of Christ.

we “Keep Watch” We do not know, therefore they must live in constant readiness

Ignorance of the day of Christ’ return, is one of the condition of living here and now, for the pleasures of this day only.

One More Example

Matthew 24:43 ESV

But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.

Mt 24:43- Jesus uses the example of a burglar:

If the home owner knew the exact time of the break in, he would be able to protect his possessions- And he could safely neglect watching all other times.

He only needs to watch for that specific time

Since the home owner doesn’t know the time the burglar will come he must take reasonable precaution to protect his possessions and prevent loosing his valuables

Constant readiness is the only safeguard

The point is that no one knows even approximately when the Son of man will return.

Matthew 24:44 ESV

Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Mt 24:44- Christ followers are in the position of the Home owner-

Jesus calls His followers to be ready at all times- because they do not know the time of His return

Will we listen to the warning and live a life prepared for the coming of Christ

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 94 Train Stops Just in Time

Train Stops Just In Time

The British express train raced through the night, its powerful headlamp spearing the black darkness ahead. The train was carrying Queen Victoria.

Suddenly the engineer saw a startling sight. Revealed in the beam of the engine’s headlights was a weird figure in a black cloak standing in the middle of the tracks and waving its arms. The engineer grabbed for the brakes and brought the train to a grinding halt.

He and his fellow trainmen climbed out to see what had stopped them. But they could find no trace of the strange figure. On a hunch, he walked a few yards further up the tracks. Suddenly he stopped and stared into the fog in horror. The bridge had been washed out in the middle and had toppled into a swollen stream. If he had not heeded the ghostly figure, the train would have plunged into the stream.

While the bridge and the tracks were being repaired, the crew made a more intensive search for the strange flagman. But not until they got to London, did they solve the mystery.

At the base of the engine’s head lamp, the engineer discovered a huge dead moth. He looked at it a moment, then on impulse wet its wings and pasted it to the glass of the lamp.

Climbing back into his cab, he switched on the lamp and saw the “flagman” in the beam. He knew the answer now: the moth had flown into the beam, seconds before the train was due to reach the washed-out bridge. In the fog, it appeared to be a phantom figure, waving its arms.

When Queen Victoria was told of the strange happening she said, “I’m sure it was no accident. It was God’s way of protecting us.”

—Selected

Advent reminds us to prepare for the Messiah

Isaiah 7:14 ESV

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

God through the Prophets told the people to be ready for the Brith

Matthew 2:6 ESV

“ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”

Christ is has come as light in the darkness

We response and prepare for His return by living a life of Faith- walking in the things of God

John The baptist said:

Matthew 3:2–3 ESV

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’ ”