Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Epistle Lesson just read, from 1 Thessalonians 4. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- How many times have you said or thought: “I wish that . . . “? We are often our worst enemies when it comes to our wishes and desires! Often we wish for things that are evil – like the demise of an enemy, or success at the expense of another. Often we wish for good things but with evil desires – so that we can trust in our money, or so that we can show off, or so that we can feel superior to others. And often we wish for good things while unaware of the unintended consequences that come along with them – like the insurance costs, maintenance and repair costs, or the risk of someone stealing from us or even robbing us with violence.
- The same is true in regard to our spiritual lives, and our relationship with God. You remember that Job wanted a “face to face” confrontation with God. That didn’t turn out well for him! Many times people cry out for justice, not taking into consideration what justice would mean for their sins. In the Old Testament reading God declares: “Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord.” The Day of the Lord should be a good thing to desire and long for; but not for the impenitent and the ungodly and the unbelievers!
- So the title of our sermon today: “BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR.” Or perhaps, “BE CAREFUL HOW YOU WISH FOR THINGS.” For we see in our Scripture readings for today that:
I. Some People Desiring The Day Of The Lord, And Some Going To Meet The Bridegroom, Are In For A Negative Surprise
A. The Unbelieving, Even If Seemingly Pious, Are Shut Out Of The Kingdom Of Heaven – Unknown To Jesus
Gospel: “Afterward, the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, open to us.’ But He answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
B. The Unregenerate, Impenitent, And Unbelieving Get Disaster, Darkness, And Gloom On The Day Of The Lord
OT Lesson: “Woe to you who desire the Day of the Lord! Why would you have the Day of the Lord? It is darkness, and not light, as if a man fled from a lion and a bear met him, or went into the house and leaned his hand against the wall, and a serpent bit him. Is not the Day of the Lord darkness, and not light, and gloom with no brightness in it? I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in you solemn assemblies. I will not accept . . . or look upon [your offerings].”
Statement: This is a very dire warning against the spiritual disease of impenitence, mere religiosity, and failure to trust in God’s mercy, forgiveness, and free gift of salvation. All who reject the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but who practice religion are in this precarious circumstance: they think that they know God, and think that they are surely acceptable to Him and will be blessed by Him, when in fact they have rejected His gracious mercy, forgiveness, and salvation. Impenitence and unbelief spell disaster in our relationship with God, and this is true for everyone!
Application: So we must ever heed the warning of Jesus to “Watch, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” How are we to “watch”? By living constantly in humble repentance and confession, and joy and peace in God’s gracious forgiveness. By living constantly with mind and attention on the “things above,” storing up treasures in heaven and not on earth. So that even when using the things of this earth we are fully aware that they are temporal, passing away! Our minds and hearts are on Jesus, eagerly awaiting His appearing!
Transition: If this seems to be encouraging you to be neurotic with anxiety and fear, just the opposite is the case, for:
II. Those Who Are Believers In Christ, Who Know And Believe God’s Love For Us, Need Have No Fear Or Anxiety
A. We Need Not Fear For Fellow Believers Who Have Already Died, Or Are Nearing Death
Text: “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a Word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.”
B. We Need Not Fear For Believers Living At The Time Of Christ’s Return
1. The dead in Christ do rise first
Text: “The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God,. And the dead in Christ will rise first.”
2. Then Christ will gather us to Himself
Text: “Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.”
3. So we will always be with the Lord, whether dead or alive at His coming
Text: “And so, we will always be with the Lord.”
4. We are to encourage one another – perk each other up to joy and confidence – in regard to the Day of the Lord
Text: “Therefore encourage one another with these words.”
Statement: So, should we “desire the Day of the Lord”? Of course – if we are living in repentance and faith and trust in God’s gracious gift of salvation in Christ Jesus. If so, we are among those who “know and believe the love that God has for us,” and so His perfect love is casting out all of our fear and anxiety. We also then are “watching” for His return, focused on the things of His kingdom, and not on the things of this world.
Application: On the other hand, if we are living in impenitence – whether rejecting God’s Law and living licentiously in all manner of sin, selfishness, greed, and self-indulgence, or living self-righteously in feigned superficial piety – the Day of the Lord will be a day of woe, darkness, gloom and doom! That we not be caught by surprise, the Lord Jesus encourages us to “watch,” to be attentive to these matters of repentance, humility, faith and trust in God.
Conclusion: By all means we should “BE CAREFUL WHAT WE WISH FOR.” Especially, given our sinful nature which inclines and draws us away from God and to the sinful dynamics of this present age, we must be careful!
But if we are living in repentance and faith in Jesus, in humble and eager anticipation of His return, then our desires and wishes will be heavenly, centered in the things of the age which is to come, the wedding banquet of the kingdom of heaven. Such wishes and desires are completely in line with God’s wishes and desires, His plans for our good and blessedness. We need have no care or anxiety for these wishes and desires!
Thanks and praise be to God Who has delivered us from fear of darkness, from fear of lions, bears, serpents, gloom and doom – in the Lord Jesus Christ! Thanks and praise be to God Who has transferred us from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of His dear Son – where there is no condemnation, especially not in the Day of the Lord! Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.