Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the reading from Luke 21. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- For many years it has seemed quite safe, and with many advantages, to build cities on the coastlines. Yes, there were a few occasions when the original elevation of a city was too low – and measures had to be taken to save the structures and allow for continued habitation.
- Now with the increase of average temperatures and the apparent melting of glaciers and polar ice caps, ocean levels have been rising and numerous cities world-wide are under threat. Millions of people may be displaced in the next few decades.
- For some time now there have been signs that not all is peaceful and harmless in nature. Earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, famines, violent storms – these things have plagued and afflicted mankind for centuries, and caused the death of thousands of people.
- But Jesus indicates an acceleration and intensification of these horrible natural disasters near the time of the end. So as we contemplate changes in nature, and others are terrified and distressed, Christians who heed the Word of God and believe in Christ will instead “straighten up and raise our heads” because these are “SIGNS IN NATURE” that “our redemption is drawing near.”
- This is what Jesus is teaching about in our text for this evening, and we want to keep all of it near to our hearts, for He teaches us for our great blessedness and comfort and strength. First then, we know that:
I. Natural Disasters Will Come – With Great Fear And Distress For The Unbelieving
Text: “There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world.”
Statement: So we have it today – people and nations in great distress and perplexity because of the awesome power of hurricanes and tornadoes, and the violent roaring of the sea. It is really rather remarkable – that the supposed power, brilliance, and capacity of mankind is no longer being lauded against these frightful changes in nature. The next two or three decades will be interesting to observe, in regard to mankind’s reactions to the growing troubles.
Application: One might like to think that this would be a great time for the preaching of repentance, and the call to people to turn back to the God of the Universe, the God of love. But it is unlikely that people will be more inclined to repent of their evil or associate the impending doom with their own sins. They might blame others but likely they will remain committed to the rationalizations they have created for their own wickedness. Nonetheless, followers of Jesus will have the right answers in these times, for:
II. Jesus Will Come Again In Power And Great Glory, As The Natural Powers Are Shaken
Text: “For the powers of the heaven will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”
Statement: Again, one would think that this would be a perfect time for those who reject God and refuse His gracious mercy in Christ Jesus to re-think things, and perhaps humble themselves before the glorious Lord Jesus Christ. Again, if we think this, then we are going to be disappointed. Consider what the Book of Revelation records as the response of the unbelievers to the glorious return of Jesus:
“When He [the Lamb] opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him Who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of Their wrath has come, and who can stand?’” [Rev. 6:12-17]
Application: Imagine, being so ignorant of God’s love and Christ’s love, that one would consider it better to be buried alive than to be in Christ’s presence on Judgment Day! This is the plight of unbelievers, and no “great signs” will convince them to repent! If they have rejected the written Word of God, of Moses and the Prophets, and Jesus and His apostles, then these awesome occurrences will not change them! But it will not be so for us, for as Jesus instructs:
III. When These Things Take Place We Are To Believe, To Look Up And Rejoice, Knowing That Our Redemption Is Near
Text: “Now, when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Statement: What causes consternation, distress, and terror for unbelievers provides us with great peace and joy, even triumphalism! This is the victory of our great God and Savior being actualized fully and completely! This is the beginning of our great joy and blessedness – because we have been brought onto the side of God, the side of Love, the Victor’s side!
Application: So we are not to be distressed by such difficulties with nature. We are not to be confused about what is happening. Nor are we to be terrified, not even when “the powers of the heavens” are being shaken! For we know Who is coming next, and His promises to make all things new and right once again!
Conclusion: There was a time initially when I thought that the folks clamoring over “global warming” were just a bunch of alarmists who were ignorant of the power of the One Who rules over all the things that He has created. I know that they remain ignorant of God, even though they are acknowledging the very things Jesus warned were going to come upon mankind and the earth!
It also tends to be frightful to us when it seems that things in nature are becoming more violent, and we are less able to trust that we can be safe and prosperous here on earth! But we do not trust in nature – even though we know the Creator! We trust in the Creator, the only True and Living God, and His beloved Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
Because we know His salvation, His power, and His promises regarding the end, we are able to be prepared for the end! So let these “signs” in nature not be terrifying, but rather strengthening and reassuring. Jesus said it would be so, and that our blessedness is getting closer! Thanks and praise be to Him that we can be confident and secure! 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.