While I was on my summer vacation I did something that
I had never done before. I was
robbed in broad daylight. We
weren’t ready for the thief, so he got into our truck and stole our
suitcases. When I was growing up
the thief came into our house while we were away. He stole my bike when I left
it in the yard. Every time I have
been robbed in was at the time that I didn’t expect it.
Could
you call Jesus a thief? Are you
ready for the second coming?
Intro: I
wish we'd all been ready.
Scripture:
Matthew 24:36-46
Matt 24:36 (KJS) But of that day and hour knoweth no
[man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37 But as the days
of Noe [were], so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in
the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying
and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And
knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the
coming of the Son of man be. 40 Then shall two be in the field; the one
shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two [women shall be] grinding at the
mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 42 Watch therefore: for ye
know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43 But know this, that if the
goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would
have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of
man cometh.
I. Jesus
promises He will come again. - (John 14:1-3)
John 14:1 (KJS) Let not
your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my
Father's house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told
you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for
you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there]
ye may be also.
When
Jesus left, He told the disciples that He would come again.
If you believe that he came the first time then you have to believe
that he will come again. Why? Because he
said he would.
One
scholar has estimated that there are 1,845 references to Christ's second
coming in the Old Testament, where 17 books give it prominence. In the 260
chapters of the New Testament, there are 318 references to the second advent
of Christ--an amazing 1 out of every 30 verses. Twenty-three of the 27 New
Testament books refer to this great event. For every prophecy in the Bible
concerning Christ's first advent, there are 8 which look forward to His
second!
II. How
will we know when this will be? (vs.36-39) - We don't
know the time, but we do know when it will be 37-39. As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be in the
days of the coming of the Son of Man. Life
was going on as usual without God. Be
Ready for in such an hour as you think not the Son of man will come.
III. Jesus
will come as a Thief.
T. Takes stuff away.
He is coming to take away those
who have believed in Him and trusted in Him as their Lord.
If he were to come right now would you be ready?
H. Helps
Himself. (Doesn’t wait for you or others
to get ready.) Doesn’t wait for
permission. He will come when the time is right. Ready or not he is coming.
You only have a certain amount of time to get ready.
I. Is Coming. No
question. It will happen.
For some it will be in the second
coming and for others it will in death. Mary
Gentile was in the 10th grade when Jesus came for her.
Jesus came for Cassie Bernall when she was asked if she believed in God
in her Columbine High School.
E. Eagerly, excitedly, earnestly, and enthusiastically.
He will come according to the plan
of the Father. He will do what he
came to do just as he did the first time around.
F.
Fast. Quick. As a flash of lightning
That
is why we must be ready and watching for the Lord’s second coming.
V. What
are we to do until then?
A.
Watch (vs.42-46) Look for him to come and expect
him to come. For he will come in
the time that you don’t expect.
B.
Pray. Mark
13:32 (KJS) But of that day and [that] hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels
which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. 33 Take ye heed, watch
and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
C. Prepare and be
prepared. Remember the ten virgins who were waiting for the groom to come.
Five were foolish and five were wise.
Five were ready and Five were left.
Invitation: Have
you been preparing? Are you
watching? Are you ready to meet
the Lord? If he would come right
now would you be glad to see him?
Make a personal decision to trust him as your Savior.
Make a decision to follow him in your life and you will be ready,
watching, and waiting.
Our
absent Lord has given special commendation to those who not only WAIT for His
return, but also earnestly WATCH for Him. The difference between these terms
is illustrated by the story of a fishing vessel returning home after many days
at sea. As they neared the shore,
the sailors gazed eagerly toward the dock where a group of their loved ones
had gathered. The skipper looked
through his binoculars and identified some of them: "I see Bill's Mary,
and there is Tom's Margaret and David's Anne."
One man became concerned because his wife was not there. Later, he left the boat with a heavy heart and hurried up the
hill to his cottage. As he opened
the door, she ran to meet him saying, "I have been waiting for you!"
He replied with a gentle rebuke, "Yes, but the other men's wives
were watching for them!"