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.

What should we do?

Read Luke 3:7-18

I’m sure that somewhere in the preacher’s handbook for Advent, there is a rule or regulation that states one must preach at least one Sunday about John the Baptist.  He did precede Jesus.  He did prepare the way for him.

Some thought that John might actually be the Messiah, but John set them straight noting that he was the lowest of servants compared to the One that would follow.

We sometimes spend time focusing on John’s wardrobe and dietary habits.  I love the proclamation that John the Baptist makes and is recorded in John the Apostle’s gospel.

Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

John’s gospel provides the shortest Christmas story that we know.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

I think the translators left out the words, Merry Christmas, at the end.  Mark’s gospel doesn’t have a Christmas Story. It starts with John the Baptist.

Paul provides a Christmas story in his letter to the Galatians.

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

We see a variety of ways that this thing we call the Christmas story was presented.  Matthew and Luke have more substantial accounts than the others. This year, I want us to look at the question that the people asked once they knew that John was for real and someone more important was coming.

John had been very terse in addressing the crowd.  There were surely some Scribes and Pharisees within the crowds that gathered, but John was letting everyone have it.

You brood of vipers!

The axe is already at the root of the tree.  This thing is happening.

Your claim to be Abraham’s offspring isn’t getting you anywhere with regards to be in right standing with God.

You had better produce fruit that is indicative of a life given over to repentance.

John got everyone’s attention and some asked:  What are we to do?  We understand how important this is, but we need some specifics to go with these metaphors and generalizations.

If you have more than you need, share.

If you can impose the will of the government, specifically tax collectors and soldiers, do it fairly, not for undue personal gain.  I would love to turn John the Baptist loose on our own government.

Don’t extort and don’t accuse falsely. 

John even had some choice words for Herod who had taken his brother’s wife to make his own.  There was no First Amendment, guarantee of Free Speech, or other worldly protection for John.  If you upset the wrong guy, you could end up in jail, and he did.

But for those who came and asked for his counsel, John’s instructions were simple and to the point.  Do what you already know you should be doing.

If you have more than you need and see someone who has little of nothing, help him or her or them.

If you have the advantage in a situation, don’t take advantage of your position.  Just be fair and merciful.  Do what is right.

If you have to choose between the ways of the Lord and the ways of the world, it should be a no-brainer.

Does this not remind you of Micah 6:8?

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.

    And what does the Lord require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy

    and to walk humbly with your God.

John is not asking people to do new things.  He charged them to do the things that they already knew to do.  He just added a sense of urgency not previously present.

 The axe is already at the root of the tree.  This thing is happening.

Messiah is coming.

About 50 or 60 years ago, people had bumper stickers that said, Jesus is coming.  Look busy!

John said:  Jesus is coming.  Be fruitful.  Produce fruit worthy of repentance.

We celebrate the coming of the Lord as a Babe in a manger.  We say Merry Christmas.  We sing about Emanuel—God with us.

I have challenged you to look forward not with trepidation but with anticipation to the time when our Lord comes again. 

We will receive the fullness of our salvation.

We will be fully redeemed.

We will be purified so that we will actually be the people that the blood of Jesus made us to be.  We will be refined as silver and gold.  What we could not do for ourselves, the Lord will do for us.

His coming is something that we should have an even greater expectation and greater anticipation than we do for Christmas. But what are we to do now?

There is no deep theological revelation here.  We know what we are to do.  We serve a God who is in his very nature love.  So, we seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.

Sometimes that means:

·       Giving someone a coat.

·       Giving food to someone or to a family that is struggling.

·       Helping someone with a bill.

·       Sharing the good news that we know in Christ Jesus.

·       Inviting people to abundant life in Christ Jesus.

·       Encouraging people to become part of a family of faith.

·       Giving someone a ride.

·       Speaking the truth in love.

·       Putting gas in someone’s tank.

·       Saying no to an addict who just needs one more fix.

·       Saying yes to that prayer request and praying as if you were praying for your own family.

·       Visiting your neighbors.

·       Talking with strangers just because.

·       Giving someone a hug.

·       Listening more than we speak during prayers.

·       Reading God’s word with the Holy Spirit illuminating his word.

·       Singing Christmas carols for people who are shut in.

·       Visiting the sick and shut-ins.

·       Yielding to God’s own Spirit that dwells within us.  Embracing his direction.

·       Helping someone make a budget.

·       Helping someone find a job.

·       Putting our Spiritual Gifts to use to produce fruit for the body of Christ and bring Glory to God.

·       Being a light for someone who is lost in the darkness.

·       Letting people taste God’s goodness every time they come across your path.

·       Being less transactional with people.  Lead them to the One who can transform them.

·       Include people in your life.

Whoa!  I’m not sure I’m up for that last one.  I would like to stay transactional on that one.  I’ll cough up some money or food, but I don’t really want to have to deal with the people.  Isn’t that why we hired a preacher?

That’s one of the big-ticket items right up there with sharing the gospel.  We must bring people into the family of faith if we are going to make a long-term difference.  This is more than inviting people to church.  This is being such a compelling witness that others want to be the church.  This is the First Century Church that we see in Acts.

Our relationship with God grows when we begin and sustain godly relationships with others.

We don’t have many tax collectors among us who can charge whatever they think they can get away with.

We don’t have soldiers who can extort us.

We do have material blessings that we are called to share, and we have a commission that had not yet been bestowed upon the people of John’s time.

But much like the people of John’s time, we already know what we should be doing.  I listed a few.  You know of more.

God has always been straightforward about loving him and loving our neighbor.  These things are not mysteries.

There is a whole bunch of good stuff in store for us—Eye has not seen and ear has not heard what the Lord, God has in store for those who love him; but between now and then, we are charged to do what we already know to do.

John was very terse with many.  In fact, he said, “Who warned you—you brood of vipers—that you had better do something now to avoid God’s wrath?  Here’s the thing.  The people already knew.  They knew!

I need not be so terse this morning.  God condemned sin two thousand years ago on a hill called Golgotha.

God’s own Spirit lifted the blindness that you once had.  For some that happened long ago.   For others, it is more recent.

You have turned away from the world’s way and are seeking God’s ways.

You have professed Jesus not only as your Savior but as your Lord and you are trying to be his disciple.

We fall short but are not discouraged.  We continue to confess and follow him.

Trouble and struggle continue in our lives, but we know what to do.

Let’s have wonderful Christmas celebrations.  Let’s look forward to the time of our redemption and purification.  In between celebrating his first advent and his next, let’s just do the things that we know to do.  You know what these are.  They put a smile on God’s face.  They bring glory to his name.

Let’s be people who put the words of God into practice and truly be in the spirit to celebrate Christmas and every day from now until his return.  Let’s do the things that we already know to do!

Amen!