Sermon 27th November 2022 – 1st Sunday in Advent
Text: Matthew 24:36-44 – End Times Complacency
As we prepare for Advent the weeks leading up to Advent and also today
speak about the end times. Usually when we think of “end times” we think of
quite horrific and scary events. We heard a few of those just recently – Wars
and rumours of war.
Nations fighting against nations. Earthquakes, famines, pestilences. Many
people like to turn to the Book of Revelation to read about end times with
frightening scenes of beasts, dragons, antichrists, lakes of fire.
In our Gospel reading today Jesus again speaks about the end of the
world but there is nothing frightening at all in the events leading up to
Judgment Day. In fact it’s quite the opposite. Jesus said: Just as the days of
Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before
the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until
the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and
swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. It will
literally be normal living rather than cataclysmic events according to Jesus.
So when we start looking at the state of the world and thinking we must
be in the last days because of all the turmoil in the world, that’s not Jesus
warning.
Jesus’ warning was about complacency, like the days of Noah. It does say
that the world was corrupt and violent but it seems that it was so common that
it was everyday life. And that’s the danger we face, like the days of Noah, no
one was ready for the flood that would wipe out all the earth. They couldn’t
see the violence and decay because it had become so commonplace. So part of ordinary everyday life. But what we
shouldn’t be confused about is that living our everyday lives is not
complacency. Eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage was not the
problem. The problem was in the last part of that statement by Jesus - they
knew nothing until the flood came and then it was too late.
And that’s the difference. We may not live very different lives to our
neighbour who is not a Christian but we are in a relationship with God through
Jesus Christ as our Saviour. And that’s the difference – our relationship with
Jesus. We may look no different to the person next to us and that is often the
criticism of Christians as we live out our daily lives – eating and drinking. In
fact Jesus faced that criticism at one stage – John the Baptist came neither
eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating
and drinking, and they say, ‘He is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax
collectors and sinners. We don’t have to live “holier than thou” lives. But we
must be ready for whenever Christ returns or he calls us home. And that’s why
Jesus says – on that day – Two will be in the field; one will be taken and one
will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and
one will be left. There was no difference between the 2 other than one was in a
relationship with God through Jesus Christ their Lord and one was not. There
was nothing that distinguished them other than their faith in Jesus Christ as
their Lord and Saviour.
So it’s a question of, if there is no difference then how will people
come to know about Jesus in their lives through us. As St Peter says – always
be prepared to give the reason for the hope that you have. But how will they
know you have hope? We need to remember that life is a gift from God. Just
because we are Christians doesn’t mean we have to live a life where we can’t enjoy
the finer things of life – given to us by God to enjoy. But Paul reminds us
that not all of life is beneficial to us nor a good witness. A good example of
that in Paul’s life is his explanation of eating meat. Paul believed he was free to eat meat, even
meat that had been sacrificed to idols. But
if his eating meat harmed another person’s faith then he said he would never
eat meat again, even though he was free to do so.
And that’s the challenge for us. Some people can enjoy a drink while for
others one sip could destroy their lives and the lives of their family. Some
people can enjoy a flutter on the pokies or the Melbourne Cup but for others
they have lost homes and livelihoods through addiction. So it’s a personal
challenge for us to examine our own lives and what behaviours could harm our
relationships – with God and others. So Paul says: Let us then lay aside the
works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in
the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, debauchery, licentiousness, not in
quarreling and jealousy. Anything that harms our faith or is a bad witness to
God should be avoided.
Even though we have the forgiveness of sins – there are behaviours that
affect our faith which we need to become aware of. As Paul says - “Everything
is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,”
but not everything is edifying.
So we need to identify those things in OUR lives that affect our faith. And
it’s different for everyone. So it’s not about judging others but reflecting on
and examining our own lives. It’s about identifying those impulsive desires
that affect our lives and the lives of people around us: The desire for
revenge, the desire for wealth, the desire to prove others wrong, the desire to
be seen as important by others can affect our love for God and our neighbour.
Paul says make no provision to gratify any of these but instead put on
the Lord Jesus Christ. And the best way to get rid of negative impulses in our
lives is to build up our positive impulses. What we are called to do is to live
our lives ready for Jesus to return. It’s living our lives, not as if Jesus is
coming tomorrow but today. It’s about living our lives not as if Jesus is
returning later in the day but now. It’s about living our lives not as if Jesus
is coming but is already here. And that’s why Jesus says - Keep awake
therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But that’s not
about living in fear – what if Jesus comes if I’m doing something wrong. But
it’s about living in hope and readiness – and people will see that. And it is
God who has made us ready – through our Baptism where we were sealed with the
cross of Christ to live as his baptized child. We are kept ready by the body
and blood of Jesus that cleanses us from the disobedience that kept the people
of Noah’s day from knowing the truth. We don’t accept disobedience because
everyone’s doing it these days – or I’ve tried but I just can’t break the
habit.
Paul also struggled in that area – the good I want to do I do not do.
The evil I should not do, this keep on doing. Who will save me from this body
of death? Thanks be to God. New Years are always good for New Year resolutions.
As we begin this new Church Year maybe it’s a good time to make some New Year
Christians Resolutions. To begin the day with Prayer. To read your bible
everyday. To ring one of our members you haven’t spoken to or seen for a while to
see how they are or even to introduce yourself. There are so many positive
things we can do each day and it’s these positive things that are the best way
to put aside the negative things – the things of the flesh – the things of
darkness.
Remember, our entry into heaven is one day less that it was yesterday,
as Paul said: You know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to
wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became
believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. So may God bless you as you
get ready for that great day when Jesus returns to brings us all home to his
Kingdom.
No comments:
Post a Comment