Text: MATTHEW 24:44
INTRODUCTION:
Today is the Sunday of Advent, the beginning of another Christian Calendar. Advent, (from Latin adventus, “coming”). It is a four-week season dedicated to reflective preparation for the arrival, “advent”, of Jesus Christ’s Nativity at Christmas time as well and Christ’s expected return in the Second Coming. During this important event on the church calendar, each week of Advent focuses on a different theme – hope, peace, joy, and love. Christians from different denominations and backgrounds celebrate Advent in different ways but all focus on the anticipation of waiting for the arrival of Jesus.
EXPOSITION OF THE TEXT
The days of Noah (Verses 36–42) emphasis on the fact that the people did not know the day when judgment would strike. Noah and his family in the ark are a picture of God’s miraculous preservation of Israel during the awful time of the tribulation. What kept the people from listening to Noah’s message and obeying? The common interests of life as we have it today are — eating, drinking, marrying, giving in marriage. They lost the best by living for the good. It is a dangerous thing to get so absorbed in the pursuits of life that we forget Jesus is coming.
The verb “taken” in Matthew 24:39–41 means “taken away in judgment.” During the tribulation, a division will take place: Some people will perish in judgment (be taken away), while others will remain to enter into the kingdom. The use of “took them all away” in Matthew 24:39 makes this clear. The thief in the night (Verses 42–44). Jesus used Noah to warn that men will not know the day, and He used the picture of the burglar to warn that they will not know the hour.
After the rapture of the church, there will be a time of peace and safety on earth (1 Thess. 5:1ff.). Then suddenly God’s judgments will fall (2 Peter 3:10ff.). People alive on earth during the tribulation period will be able, from the Scriptures, to tell the drift of events, but they will not be able to calculate the exact day or hour of Christ’s return. Added to this is the fact that the days will be “shortened … for the elect’s sake” (Matt. 24:22). This may mean fewer days of tribulation, or it may mean fewer hours so that the people on earth suffer a bit less (Rev. 8:12). When we combine the exhortations found in these three pictures, we end up with: “Know that he is near! Watch therefore! Be ye also ready!” Believers alive during that period of history will certainly find great comfort in the promises of the Word of God. While the interpretation of this section relates to Israel during the tribulation, we may apply the Word to our own hearts. We do not know when our Lord will return for His church. Therefore, we must be alert, watchful, and faithful. Jesus dealt with this in detail in the next section of the Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24:45—25:30). How grateful we ought to be that God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation when Jesus Christ appears. He has saved us from the wrath to come (1 Thess. 1:10; 5:9–10). As the people of God, we will certainly go through tribulation (John 16:33; Acts 14:22), but not the tribulation.
WHY IS CHRIST COMING AGAIN?
Jesus Christ, is coming and few of the reasons are noted below
1. To fulfil prophecy (Acts 1:11, Rev. 1:7). The prophecies about His birth, life, ministry, suffering, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension came to pass thereafter; His second coming is certain. His coming can not be too late. To destroy Antichrist ( 2 Thess. 2:8): The work of the Antichrist can be felt in every aspect of the world today. We see the impact of the Antichrist in the world today and that is why some people are after money.
2. To Judge the living and the dead ( 2 Tim. 4: 1 ): In the apostles’ Creed recited on Sundays, state that Jesus is coming to judge the living and dead.
3. To restore God’s kingdom (Jer. 33:14 – 16): Christ will come to restore the kingdom of peace.
4. To bring His reward (Rev. 22: 11 – 12): There will be reward for everyone at the coming of Jesus Christ
5. To stay with the elect forever ( 1 Thess. 4 : 17) : The elects will be with the saviour forever.
HOW CAN CHRISTIANS STAY FOCUS FOR CHRIST SECOND COMING
Some of the ways a Christian can stay focus for Christ Second Coming are
We must watch and pray.
We must remain faithful .
We must remain fruitful for the kingdom advancement.
We must remain holy and spotless .
We must remain responsible and accountable.
We must continue in a Christlike life. CONCLUSION:
I will conclude this sermon with the motto of the Boys Scout which state “Be Prepare” in conjunction with the great Hymn by Fanny Crosby.
1. When Jesus comes to reward His servants, Whether it be noon or night, Faithful to Him will He find us watching,
With our lamps all trimmed and bright?
Refrain: O can we say we are ready, brother?
Ready for the soul’s bright home?
Say, will He find you and me still watching,
Waiting, watching when the Lord shall come?
2. If, at the dawn of the early morning,
He shall call us one by one,
When to the Lord we restore our talents,
Will He answer you, “Well done?”
[Refrain]
3. Have we been true to the trust He left us?
Do we seek to do our best?
If in our hearts there is naught condemns us,
We shall have a glorious rest. [Refrain]
4. Blessed are those whom the Lord finds watching,
In His glory they shall share;
If He shall come at the dawn or midnight,
Will He find us watching there?
[Refrain]
✍🏽 The Rev. AZOSI, ABRAHAM NUNAYON (Minister in Charge, Alakia Methodist Church, (Sanctuary of Joy), Ibadan, Oyo State in the Diocese of Agodi.
He can be reached on +234 703 617 6439.
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