Today’s Scripture

Psalm 111       Daniel 7:9-10              Hebrews 12:1-2           Mark 13:24-31

 

          We are preparing for winter as we get out the heavy coats, tune up the furnaces, etc.  Yet in the farm fields nearby and throughout the Midwest and plains states are strips of bright green fields of winter wheat.  Next summer’s crops have already begun even before we have harvested all of this year’s crops.

 

            Even in our own yards we have trimmed back certain plantings and planted other bulbs preparing for the upcoming growing season.  Even though the leaves have fallen, the geraniums and impatiens are pulled, we see the signs of what we know will occur, the new life of spring.  Spring and summer are coming.

 

            That is what God’s messages to us in today’s readings about the end times are all about.  He is telling us today part 2 of what this is all about.  Last week we read of the destruction of all created things.  Today, when all of the things as we know them are gone, that it is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who will come with all of the glory and company of heavenly hosts.  In the troubling message of things we know being destroyed is the hope we cling to, that Christ is coming for each believer.

 

            Today God sustains all of creation even though it is corrupted by sin.  All things reproduce after their own kind.  We are encouraged day in and day out with the joys of new life.  When the fall comes, we delight in the beautiful colors and the harvest that will sustain us through the dark winter months until the new growth of spring comes again.  We grieve the passing of loved ones and rejoice in the births of infants carrying on life. 

 

            But during this time there are the results of sin.  We let down ourselves and each other.  We age and face death each and every day.  We strive for retaining our youthfulness and vitality.  In that youthfulness and vitality we consider ourselves indestructible.  Yet life as we know it is disrupted, it is snuffed out, many times in a moments’ notice.  How many times have we commented about a change in health, a sudden death, an accident or disaster, “I did not see it coming!”  Those things are reminders to us that we will not consciously see Christ’s second coming, just as we did not see his first coming quietly in the Bethlehem night. 

 

            But, as at that first coming, he will be accompanied by the heavenly hosts, God’s army of angels.  Daniel tells us that this is an uncountable number, beyond our ability to imagine.  Unlike that first coming, this one will be seen by all people in all places of this earth at the same time.  Unlike that first coming, this time the day-to-day activities of this earth and all of creation will not go one, but will come to an abrupt and horrific end.  Jesus tells us of stars falling from the sky and the heavenly bodies shaken (v. 25).  We know from natural science that all things in this universe are held in relationship with each other by gravity, the natural “pull” of one body on another.  Even gravity will be destroyed.  For those who trust only in earthly things, it is not a pretty sight.

 

            The pretty sight, the most glorious sight is the Son of Man, our brother, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ coming in clouds with great power and glory [v. 26].  Jesus calls himself the Son of Man because he is our brother through birth by Mary.  He knows our weaknesses, our needs, our desperation, and our need for his love.  He promised that he will be with us to the end of the age and in his second coming at that time, we have the great comfort that he will not come of himself, but will bring all of the glory and power of heaven with him.  We know from God’s promises that there are angels guarding us as we sleep and as we are awake.  At that time those angels will visibly and physically take all believers to be gathered with Jesus in the clouds.

 

            Remember that from the first sin God promised a savior.  That savior came.  Remember that God promised how that savior would be born, live, suffer, die and rise again.  Jesus came, was born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried.  Remember that Jesus promised that he would come again to take believers to be with him?  “In my father’s house…I will come to take you to be where I am,” [John 14:2].  “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels,” [Matthew 16:27].  “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven,” [Acts 1:11].  “At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power,” [Mark 13:26] .  This is what you and I wait for each day – the time when Jesus will come again as he has promised. 

 

            You and I have sinned.  We have fallen short of the glory of God.  There is no way you or I can take back any, let alone all of our sins.  There is no hope for the wages of our sins is death.  But God has given us the Abraham’s, the Enoch’s, the Job’s, the David’s, the Peter’s and Paul’s, the Tabitha’s and Mary’s, the James’ and Johns’, the Silas’ and the Cornelius’, the Elijah’s and Jeremiah’s, and all of the company of witnesses of faith in a God who loves, who forgives, who makes each one who trusts in him through Jesus Christ his own dear children.  You have been made his child in baptism.  You receive the proof of his sacrifice in the body and blood present in the bread and in the wine.  You have seen the empty tomb.  You have heard his voice saying to come to him you who are weak and are burdened heavily. 

 

            When that final day comes, you and all will see him in the heavenly glory we can only begin to imagine.  That heavenly glory will be given to you and all believers.  The destruction of creation will be nothing in comparison with being taken by angels to be with him in the clouds forever.

 

            Just as we have the certain signs of summer coming after the winter, we have the signs of Jesus coming after this winter of our lives.  In Jesus’ undying love.  Amen.