Signs and Readiness

 Read Luke 21

Anyone ever heard  of the 5 Man Electrical Band?

And the sign said,

"Long-haired freaky people

Need not apply."

So I tucked my hair up under my hat

And I went in to ask him why.

He said, "You look like a fine upstandin' young man.

I think you'll do."

So I took off my hat and said, "Imagine that.

Ha, me workin' for you."

Today, business owners hire long-hair freaky people if they will show up and work. Back in the mid-80s, I was in London. The ship had pulled into Portsmouth Harbor for a couple of days, and I took a day trip by train to London.

I saw the sights and stopped in a store to buy some souvenirs. I was about to check out when I saw this guy with the spiked rooster hair look. The hair was green and some other color. He had some bling hanging off of various parts of his face and head. This was before bling was a word in the common vernacular.

We were both approaching the same check-out register. I thought I would just let this guy go first. He was taking the long-hair freaky people thing to a new level, and I was surprised at something else hanging off of him every time I looked.

Yeah, you can go first. He walked towards the register and went behind the counter to ring up my purchase. There was no sign reading, "Long-hair freaky people need not apply."

  They applied and got jobs!

Whoa, sign, sign.

Everywhere a sign.

Blockin' out the scen'ry.

Breakin' my mind.

Do this. Don't do that.

Can't you read the sign?

One of my favorite signs was displayed at a taco joint in 29 Palms, California. It read:

Tacos

3 for $1

Limit 8

I usually make my Math for Marines jokes with that one. But then, on a street far away from any Marine Corps Base was the sign that read:

2 Hour Parking

6-7 pm

Whoa, sign, sign.

Everywhere a sign.

Blockin' out the scen'ry.

Breakin' my mind.

Do this. Don't do that.

Can't you read the sign?

The song "Signs" was actually a protest song, not against the War in Vietnam but against the ubiquitous onslaught and apparent authority of signage.

We look at chapter 21 in Luke’s gospel. The disciples remarked on how magnificent the temple was. It was an impressive structure and adorned with gifts dedicated to God. The disciples were impressed by the structure and thought their Master might be as well.

Jesus didn’t play the adore the temple game. He said that this thing would be rubble one day, and not one stone would stand upon another. That’s some serious stuff. This is the same temple where Jesus taught the scholars when he was 12 and where he fashioned a whip and turned over tables later in his life because his Father’s house had been turned into a den of thieves.

 

The disciples ask, “When” and “How will we know the time is near?”

What will be the signs of the end of the age?

Jesus told his closest followers to be on the lookout and not to be deceived. Many would come in his name and be imposters. Don’t play their games.

Some things must happen first. There will be wars and rumors of war. It will be nation against nation and kingdom against kingdom. We read this as there will be some isolated wars and some between and among alliances.

In addition, there will be some really big earthquakes, famine, and even pestilence. Some of you are thinking seals will be opened, and horsemen will be dispatched.  

You may very well be the target of persecution. You should expect it. If you are persecuted because of Jesus, Jesus will count that as fruit to your credit.

If you are persecuted because you are doing stupid stuff, then stop doing the stupid stuff. That’s a horse of a different color. Don’t shoot yourself in the foot, and admire your marksmanship.

One of the unsung benefits of being a pastor is I get to work with people who shoot themselves in the foot, admire their marksmanship, and when you think it couldn’t get any crazier, they reload.

But when you are persecuted because you follow Jesus, that’s counted to your credit. You are welcomed into the company of the prophets.

There will be times when God rescues Jerusalem from invaders and times—such as near the end of the age—when desolation is near. Yes, there will be some run-for-the-hill times.

These will be some very bleak times. The world won’t understand them and will surely construct stories without what it understands without God. What is coming to this world is not the stuff you put on the travel brochure.

OBTW—welcome to the first Sunday of Advent. Advent is about preparing for the coming of the King. We prepare to celebrate his birth into this world as a baby born in some meager surroundings, and we prepare for him to come to claim us.

We return to the lectionary briefly for this season of Advent. We note that Jesus will come as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, and it will be the biggest event in history. You can’t miss it. You won’t miss it.

You can't miss it but will you be ready for it?

My prayer is that you are ready for it. Advent is a time to prepare for the coming of the King, and he is coming for us. When? Soon.

We have had wars and rumors of war, but they had those in the first century too.

We have had hurricanes and earthquakes and some terrible weather events, but they also had those in the first century.

Famine and pestilence have occurred in various places over the centuries. They are not unique to our time.

We have seen many of these signs in our time and have read about them in history.

So, does soon mean by the end of the year or end of the decade?  Could it be longer. How will we know?

“There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

There will be:

·       Cosmic Disturbance.

·       Nations will be at a loss as to what to do about anything and everything

·       People will pass out from terror.  They will be afraid.

What should we do?

·       Hold your head up!

·       Know that redemption is coming.

·       Know that Jesus is coming on a cloud and he is coming as King this time.

·       Know that the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is coming for you. Your room is ready.

While the world trembles, we anticipate what we have waited for all of our lives. We cry out for Jesus to come and rescue us from this world. He will.

The world will be caught up in the drama, terror, and fear of not knowing what is to come.

Not us. We know what is coming and are getting ready to celebrate who is coming.

Yes, we may have to endure much, but we know who is coming for us, and that’s a big deal.

So, let’s consider what is ahead in the manner prescribed by Paul. The stuff that we will go through now is nothing in comparison to what God has in store for us.

So, when we know the time has come, and it will be evident in the heavens themselves, hold your head up. Know that your Lord is coming to redeem you out of this world.

The work to accomplish that has been accomplished. It is finished.

All that’s left now is for Jesus to claim us and take us home.

Hold your heads up!

Amen.