Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Scripture Lesson just read, from Luke 21. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- We are generally pretty good at “multi-tasking,” at least we like to think that we are. And I suppose we all have some aptitude for this, unless we try to juggle one task too many.
- However, it is quite obvious that when we are preparing for some things we ought to keep our focus – because trying to juggle too many things may mean our preparation is lacking.
- And if the thing we are preparing for is really important, and we fail to “BE READY” and we end up failing some test, the consequences could be devastating.
- In the case of the “readiness” that Jesus is encouraging, God is the One Who must make us “ready,” and He does so by bringing us to faith and keeping us in faith. However, His concern is that there are things that can “distract” and destroy our “readiness.” He seeks to warn us about these things, and to encourage us to do all we can to remain “READY.”
- Now, what He warns us about are common human foibles and weaknesses. He does not give us an exhaustive list, but categories within which many things fit.
- We do well to consider His Word carefully, for:
I. Troubles, Anesthetizing Ourselves, And The Cares Of This Life Can Weigh Down Our Hearts, And Destroy Our Readiness
A. Headaches Can Come, And We Can Become Fixated Upon Our Troubles
Text: “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation.”
B. Anesthetizing Ourselves – With Alcohol Or Other Substances – Can Harm Our Readiness
Text: “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with . . . drunkenness.”
C. Infatuation With And Anxiety Over The Common Cares Of This Life Can Be Distracting, With Deadly Consequences
Text: “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with . . . the cares of this life.”
D. For The Day Will Spring Suddenly, Surprisingly To The Unprepared
Text: “Lest . . . that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.”
Statement: If there were no danger, Jesus would not have brought up these things. But obviously, since He knows all things, we need to heed His admonition that we “watch ourselves” in these matters! He mentions “dissipation,” which literally means “headaches.” These can be all manner of troubles – which if we focus on them can distract us from “readiness,” from faith in Christ and attention to the things of His kingdom. He also mentions “drunkenness,” which can refer to the over-use and abuse of any of the substances human beings use to ease the pain of their trials and troubles. This obvious interferes with our spiritual functionality, and our readiness. He mentions the “cares of this life.” In the parable of the four “soils,” Jesus warns that “the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the Word, and it proves unfruitful.” He also warns that some “go on their way but are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.” [Mark 4:19; Luke 8:14] So these things not only threaten our “readiness” for the Last Day, but our entire spiritual life and well-being!
Application: The fact that the timing of the coming day, and the suddenness of its coming, can mean that it may“come upon us suddenly like a trap” adds to the importance of hearing and heeding Jesus’ warnings. He doesn’t want this to happen to us; He loves us! He is concerned for us, and seeks to help us to “BE PREPARED” for this great and incredibly consequential day!
Transition: Jesus provides us with the antidote, the defense against being unprepared and “falling” on that day. To this end:
II. Jesus Urges Us To Watch Ourselves Carefully
A. He Urges Us To Stay Awake, Alert At All Times
Text: “But stay awake at all times.”
B. He Urges Us To Pray God To Give Us Strength And Readiness
Text: “be praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place.”
C. By So Praying, We Are Also Praying That On That Great Day We Will Be Standing Before The Son Of Man
Text: “and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Statement: The only one “standing” before Christ on that day are the repentant believers in Christ, who confessed their sins, washing their robes and making them white in the blood of the Lamb. No one stands on that day in their own strength; only the strength and readiness that God provides through His Word and Sacrament will suffice on that day! So “staying awake at all times” doesn’t mean being “sleepless in Lafayette.” It means utilizing God’s Word and Sacraments frequently, and praying to God for help!
Application: Jesus wants you to stand before Him on that day. The unbelievers will be wailing in fear and terror, seeking some way to escape the very presence of Jesus. They will not be able, and their worst fears – those of their unbelief – will suddenly grip them, and they will be burnt in the fire. You, however, know and believe the love that God has for us. You know that “God is love.” You know that God sent His Son as the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world, and that His blood cleanses us from all sin. So you will look up and stand tall before Jesus on that day, for you know Him as your dear Savior and Lord! This is “BEING READY.”
Conclusion: Jesus has given us clear indication of His good and gracious will for us – that we “BE READY” for His coming. He has given us clear warning as to what we should avoid, what will not be good for us to be “multi-tasking” in – troubles, pleasures, and riches.
So let us pay close attention to His loving words, and always take care to allow Him to be preparing us for the day!
The day will “come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth.” No one will be able to avoid, evade, or stall the Lord’s coming. If you are prepared, you will have no needs or fears on that day! God grant it to each of us, 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.