Many of us have heard the Christmas story of Jesus, born to a virgin whose name was Mary two thousand years ago. That first Christmas night, while shepherds were watching over their flocks, they had an angelic visitation announcing the news of the birth of the Messiah, the Christ. Born in the little town of Bethlehem, they would find him in a manger, so off they ran to see this wondrous birth. In Matthew’s gospel we discover sometime later, magi [we call them wise men] from the east, who saw a star declaring the birth of the King of the Jews travel to pay homage to Him. Mark doesn’t go into these early details of the birth of Jesus but begin his gospel with the preparation that was need for people to receive their Messiah.
The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way—a voice of one calling in the wilderness, Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’[i]
Yet, Jesus’ arrival was quite obscure. He was born in a stable, and his ministry, ending in apparent shame, left most of the Jewish people thinking the promised Messiah was yet to come. Jesus had come in an unexpected manner and they were not prepared.
The church celebrates this season called Advent focusing on Jesus’ birth over two thousand years ago, but the early church used this time of year not only focus on Jesus’ first coming but primarily focused on second coming at the end of this age.
Jesus Christ, two thousand years ago as foretold by the prophets just as the Scriptures promised. Like the promise of His first coming, the Scriptures teach us that Jesus Christ is coming again. In the larger scheme of things, it doesn’t matter too much how prepared we are this Christmas. What really matters is how prepared we are for Christ! Are we ready for His next arrival? Do we really understand why He came? Mark summarizes it: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).” In other words, Jesus came to die to deliver us from sin and death. So, in His first coming, Jesus came to save us from our sins, but He will come again to be with us forever. So, what did Jesus have to say about His Second Coming? It is one of the great themes of the Bible.
At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.[ii]
So, what does it take to be prepared for Christ’s soon return?
THE FIRST THING THAT IT TAKES TO BE PREPARED FOR CHRIST COMING AGAIN IS VIGILANCE
To be vigilant means we are prepared. We need to be alert and ready. In Luke’s gospel, Jesus warns against three seductive elements of life that diminishes our expectations.
- We are told not to squander our lives in dissipation. You may say, what is a life of dissipation? It is to squander our lives on frivolous pursuits and activities. A lot of people are wasting their lives. Jesus warns against living such a life. William Law in his book on Christian Perfection, points out:
If you attempt to talk with a dying man about sports or business, he is no longer interested. He now sees other things as more important. People who are dying recognize what we often forget that we are standing on the brink of another world.[iii]
- The second seductive element is drunkenness. It is obviously that Jesus includes squandering our lives in chemical addictions. But it means so much more. James Houston points out:
Addiction means being so completely possessed that one is enslaved, deprived of inner freedom, and ultimately of personal integrity. It is the ghastly process of ‘losing one’s soul’.[iv]
- The last element that seduces our souls, Jesus calls the ‘anxieties of life.’ What does He mean? Jesus is speaking about worry. As a seventeenth century bishop, Francis Fenelon once wrote:
Don’t worry about the future—worry quenches the work of grace within you. The future belongs to God. He is in charge of all things. Never second-guess him.[v]
We can become so consumed with this life and all its cares and difficulties that these pressures can often define our mental wellbeing. One of the best ways to retain equilibrium in this life is to have our focus set for the next life. When we are preparing for the future, the ultimate future, this life loses its demonic, terrifying, stranglehold upon our soul. We are free because we choose to trust God.
THE SECOND THING THAT IT TAKES TO BE PREPARED FOR CHRIST COMING AGAIN IS COMMUNICATION WITH GOD
Communicating with God is what prayer is. Jesus tells us to pray in order to escape the difficulties and challenges that this life will bring to us. As the day approaches when Jesus is coming back, there will be challenges. “Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man (Luke 21:36).”
Jesus specifies two concerns we need to pray about.
1. First, we need to pray that we will be able to escape the future deceptions that will lead us away from genuine faith in Christ. In this chapter, Jesus details a number of catastrophic events that will transpire before He returns. We are told to pray for the strength to survive these things that are coming.
He replied: ‘Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, “I am he,” and “The time is near.” Do not follow them. When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.’ Then he said to them: ‘Nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines, and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.’[vi]
Jesus goes on to warn against coming persecution because we are followers of Jesus, yet we are challenged to stand firm and trust Jesus through these things.
2. Secondly, we need to pray that we will be able to stand before the Son of Man. In other words, will we be ashamed on that day when Christ comes again? Will we have lived a life of faith, a life that trusted God? This trust is evident in the decisions we make and the life we live.
There is a poem that was written several years ago loosely based on ‘The Night Before Christmas’, entitled, ‘The Night Before Jesus Came.’
‘Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house Not a creature was praying, not one in the house. Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care, In hopes that Jesus would not come there.
The children were dressing to crawl into bed, Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
And Mom in her rocker with baby on her lap. I was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.
When out of the East there arose such a clatter, I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!
When what to my wondering eyes should appear But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here. With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray, I knew in a moment this must be The Day!
The light of His face made me cover my head. It was Jesus! returning just like He had said.
And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.
In the Book of Life which He held in His hand was written the name of every saved man. He spoke not a word as He searched for my name; When He said ‘It’s not here’ my head hung in shame.
The people whose names had been written with love He gathered to take to His Father above. With those who were ready He rose without a sound While all the rest were left standing around.
I fell to my knees, but it was too late;
I had waited too long and this sealed my fate. I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight; Oh, if only I had been ready tonight.’
In the words of this poem the meaning is clear; We must be ready for Jesus’ coming again. There’s only one life and when comes we come to the end, we will find that the Bible was true after all!
It’s never too early to start getting ready. Because even if we’re not fully prepared, tomorrow is still Christmas. Similar to Christmas, Jesus is still coming! If he said some 2000 years ago, think of how soon it must really be now![vii]
Jesus gives to the church at Laodicea in the final book of the Bible, the book of Revelation, a powerful word picture. It was written to a church that had lost sight of what it truly meant to be followers of Christ.
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent [change your mind, which leads to a change of behavior]. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.[viii]
This metaphor of an invitation for a meal is Christ inviting us into a personal relationship with Him. It is a turning away from our dependency on false securities and trusting fully in Him. Jesus will come and give us his amazing love, joy, and peace. All we have to do is to call out to Jesus and invite Him into our lives. He will come into our lives filling us with joy, peace and love!
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[i] Mark 1:1-3, The New International Version of the Bible, Zondervan, 2011.
[ii] Luke 21:27, 34-36.
[iii] William Law, Christian Perfection (a contemporary paraphrase by Marvin D. Hinten). Christianity Today, Vol. 39, no. 7.
[iv] James Houston, The Heart’s Desire: Satisfying the Hunger of the Soul, (Colorado Springs, Co: NavPress, 1996), 56.
[v] Francois Fenelon, Seventeenth-century French Bishop. Leadership, Vol. 17, no. 4.
[vi] Luke 21:8-11.
[vii] http://www.sermoncentral.com 12/23/2002.
[viii] Revelation 3:19-20.
