Good morning and happy Saturday. Wow, we had an amazing evening of worship yesterday. Omar and the team did an incredible job of leading us. I am so appreciative of them. As you know, we are in the midst of our 40 days of prayer. Including the worship night in the midst of it was really special. Praise God for how He is leading us these days! I hope that you are participating in the prayer each day. I am encouraged by the thought of a group of people seeking to grow closer to the Lord and to each other. Let’s press on toward Easter seeking to be used by God for His glory and honor.
Most of you that have been to Branson know that as soon as you get off of 44 and head south on 65 you begin seeing billboards lining the highway. It’s a throwback to an era gone by and a reminder that you are entering the promised land. (no, not the real one, but for some, it is a land of rest and paradise). As we traveled along mindlessly glancing at the signs announcing when the Dixie Stampede would open, the newest zipline attractions, pocket knives and cheese for sale, a sign caught my attention. In fact, it was so remarkable that I could barely believe the news. It was much easier to discern than the star the wisemen of old had to follow. It was a lot better than watching old Hal Lindsey and Tim LaHaye videos. There along Highway 65 was the news the church has been waiting for during the last 2000 years. Emblazoned in the billboard were these words: Jesus Live on Stage. Obviously, that was a bit unexpected. We have imagined how He might return. However, I never once read in any of the books by “experts” in prophecy that He would make His second appearance on stage at the Sight and Sound theater. I mean, I have been to some of their productions. They put on quite a show. Even though they use a lot of artistic license with the Biblical stories, you can still have a decent evening and be motivated to read you Bible more (mainly to see if some of the stuff you just saw is actually in there). They have done productions on Noah, Joseph, Samson and others. But this is the biggest of them all. Imagine, Jesus live on stage. How did they pull that off? They must have a really good booking agent or some serious connections. All of these thoughts were fleeting because, as we drove along, there were a few more billboards (like 37 more) that gave more details. I learned it wasn’t actually Jesus that was going to be live on stage. Rather, it was a production at the Sight and Sound theater. That was kind of a letdown. But there is good news, apparently group rates are available on the tickets. Maybe we should go….just in case.
It is interesting that we do live in the time between the first appearance of Jesus on earth and His imminent return. For nearly 2000 years, the church has been watching and waiting for His return. Throughout that time, there have been many predictions that have all been proven wrong. False prophets and teachers claiming they somehow have figured the date out using mathematical calculations, Bible codes discerning hidden meanings, or through so-called Divine revelation. Ironic (or moronic) since Jesus clearly said that no man would know the day or hour, not even the Son Himself. It is interesting that when bad things happen on the earth like a worldwide health pandemic, a large scale war, a series of natural disasters, or the discontinuation of the VW Bug, people’s curiosity in the end times increases. They begin to speculate the end is near. Which, by the way, it is true since it gets nearer with every passing day. Interestingly enough, the writers of the New Testament taught the people to be ready since they were living in the end times. And yet here we are, 2000 years later still living in the end times. It is only by the grace and mercy of God that this period of time continues. But one day, the fullness of time will occur and the end will come. Jesus will return for His church just as He promised. The question posed in the Bible is if He will find anyone faithful upon His return. The question for the modern church is really whether we believe that He might actually return in our lifetime. It is one of those things that we often hear mentioned and we get a lukewarm amen or a little nod of the hear. However, I wonder if we are caught up playing the statistics or probabilities game. By that I mean, if He hasn’t come back in 2000 years, what are the chances He is coming back today? Obviously, most people would claim that they would never think that way. Sure, whatever. I do wonder how this does affect our urgency to live for the sake of the Gospel. I am in no way suggesting that we sell everything we have, quit our jobs and sit on the rooftops waiting for His return (like the Millerites did). I guess what I am saying is that we should be living in such a way that if He did return today we wouldn’t have any regrets. That we would be found faithful in that we are living for Christ and according to His Word.
6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:6-11)
36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. 42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. (Matthew 24:36-44)
Just know, the end is near. It is now closer than it has even been. Let’s continue to live for His glory and honor every single day.
Love God. Love others. Impact our community. Change the world.
Pastor Larry
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