WE STILL DON’T GET IT!

 

Sunday, May 5, 2024

 

WE STILL DON’T GET IT!

 

Matt 24:36-39

36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

 

Matt 22:3-5

3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.

4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.

5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:

 

          The casual way we consider important things, and the urgent care we give to trivialities, has set the stage for the surprising return of Christ. Matthew does not condemn “eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage.” His point is that when Christ returns there will be no alarm! Every day activities will go on as usual. Christ’s return will be a great surprise. In the same way old age settles upon us like the evening dew. Like children playing, we pay no attention to Mother’s call to wash up for dinner.

 

          My greatest challenge as a local church pastor was not to make bad people good but to make good people prepared. Noah both preached and prepared while the world around him provoked him and laughed. The laughter and ridicule do not slow the eventuality of the end but makes it more bitter. I sometimes even see myself as the bearded eccentric carrying a sign which reads “the end is near.” It is hard to take yourself seriously because few others do.

 

          The sun glinted off the silver fuselage of the Enola Gay while the people of Hiroshima went about their morning tasks. Most did not notice it but those who did concluded that one American bomber was not worth their concern. In much the same way our world either does not see the signs of Christ’s coming or they ignore those signs as unimportant.

 

Matt 24:42-44

42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

 

Dear Lord, let me live as if today I will see you face to face. AMEN