Your Redemption Is Drawing Near!

Luke 21:25-36 The sun came up this morning just as it always has-- and it will go down tonight just as it always has—and the moon will rise just as it always has.  The earth is beneath our feet, the sky is above us, and the oceans are kept within their boundaries.

That’s the way it has always been and even the chronic worry warts among us never give these astronomical and geographical facts a second thought.  But what we take for granted in the heavens and on earth-- won’t always be that way.  Jesus says: 

“There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

What has existed in the natural world from the very beginning of time--what countless generations have experienced to be true and constant--will change as the broken-ness of creation that is due to human sin reaches its final, horrible conclusion and the heavens and the earth and the oceans will begin to come apart at the seams. 

In the midst of these signs in the physical world, Jesus will return and all people will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

When Christ ascended into heaven, he promised his disciples he would come again exactly as he left.  And so he will return again–down to the last detail–just like he promised—and if this is the faithfulness with which Christ will fulfill his promise to return, we can be confident that Christ is faithfully fulfilling his other promises to us: promises to bless us and forgive us–promises to abide with us and provide for us.

When Christ came the first time, he came in the meekness and humility of a little baby.  But when he comes again, he will come in power and glory–everyone will see him, know him to be the King of Glory, and bow their knees in either in faith or in fear.  Everyone!

During Jesus’ life upon this earth it was possible to ignore him.  He never preached to great crowds.  As hung upon the cross outside of Jerusalem, people turned their heads away--glad that some criminal was getting what he deserved.  As he comes today through Word and Sacraments, we know how often he is ignored, scorned, and ridiculed.

But when Christ comes again, he will come with power and glory–the fullness of his divinity shining through his human flesh and everyone in the world will see him and know him for who he really is: the living God of the universe who brings judgment and redemption.    

On that day, there will be distress among the nations and people will faint with fear.  And why not?  Everything that unbelievers have lived their lives for–everything that they have trusted in–everything that has filled their lives to the exclusion of Christ, will pass away.  Everything that has taken the place of Christ in the lives of unbelievers will be destroyed. 

In God’s perfect judgment, their empty way of life and foolish thinking will be shown for what it is.  Can you imagine it?  Everything gone in an instant and the only thing that will have ever mattered is what their relationship was with Jesus Christ--and then the horrible realization that they had traded it away for things that no longer exist. 

I can not imagine anything more horrible than to stand in the presence of the Son of Man knowing that I had rejected him in life.  No wonder they will be filled with fear and distress!

But for the believer, just the opposite is true.  In the midst of these frightening signs, even with the world crashing down around us, we don’t have to be afraid, we don’t have to run and hide.  We can lift up our heads-- and see our redemption draw near as Christ returns.  He says:

Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” 

On the day of our Lord’s return, we won’t have hide our face in shame or cower in fear.  We will stand in his presence blameless and holy–not because we are perfect--but because, through faith in Jesus, the Lord is our righteousness and his perfect righteousness avails in the time of trial and judgment.

When Christ returns in glory and power all that we know and believe and hope for and trust in by faith will be proved true for the world to see and we will be vindicated for having put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

All of the blessings that Jesus earned for us in his perfect life, bloody death, and glorious resurrection will be ours for eternity.  Our full redemption will be at hand.

Of course that begs the question, if Christ brings full redemption at his second coming what is it that I have now by faith?   Well, redemption!

Christ has redeemed us, that is bought us back with the price of his own shed blood on the cross from slavery to sin, death, and the devil.  These evil foes that he has redeemed us from have no right to us at all–we are God’s own children through faith in Jesus and we live in the power of his resurrection life.

And yet in this sinful broken world we still feel the painful attacks and effects of our spiritual enemies: we are tempted by the devil, the effects of sin batter us about as we become sick or suffer some other misfortune, and one day, unless the Lord comes first, we will die.

But when Christ comes again, the fullness of our redemption will come with him.  We will see with perfect clarity what Christ has redeemed us for.  On that day, we will no longer struggle under the burden of our sinful flesh.  No longer will the hateful effects of sin bring disease and disaster and heartache into our lives.  No longer will we stand beside the grave side of a loved one and mourn their passing.

When Christ comes again, it will be a day of rejoicing for all who have received him in faith and trusted in him for salvation.  Not a time for fear or worry or anguish–not a time to run and hide-- but a time to look up and see our Savior who comes to us with all the blessings of Almighty God.

Knowing this and looking forward to it in faith, how then are we to live our lives as we look forward with joy to that day?  Jesus says:

“Watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

As we wait for the Lord’s return, we are to be careful so that we don’t let our hearts get weighed down by drunkenness and the anxieties of this life.  Jesus warns us about this because even we Christians are susceptible to this temptation.

This is a difficult world we live in. There is so much fear and uncertainty that plagues our lives at times.  The devil offers us an easy solution: drown your sorrows with alcohol or some other substance or thing like drugs or pornography.  Even Christians have to be on guard so that we don’t fall victim to the devil’s lie that these are easy ways to deal with the pain of living in a broken world.

These things do not offer freedom and relief but an ever deeper slavery and addiction to the things of this world and ultimately to the prince of this world.  Satan uses these things to delude us into thinking that the emptiness that we feel in our lives can be fixed by something other than God.

That is a lie-- and to continue on in a satanic delusion that anything other than God is the way to feel better about life will lead to the death of our soul.  When we are imprisoned by these Satanic shackles, the day of judgment will fall upon us like a trap and then it will be too late.

Jesus does not want this to happen to anyone and so he tells us ahead of time to be watchful for the signs of his coming—which are as clear as the signs in nature.  He says:

“Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 

According to the Lord’s own promise, the generation of those who know the signs of his coming and look expectantly and faithfully for the coming of the Son of Man has never passed away.  The gates of hell will not prevail against us!

To make sure that we remain steadfast, Christ tells us that we are to strengthen our hearts by watching and praying and making use of God’s Word which endures forever. 

That means that we are present at the Divine Service when the Word is read and preached and that we receive Holy Absolution.  It means that devotions and prayers are an important part of our life at home.  It means that we receive Christ’s true body and blood in the Sacrament-often- as God’s own promise that the blessings of Jesus’ death and resurrection are for us personally and individually.

Amidst all the uncertainty around us, we don’t have to be apprehensive or fearful.  Even when the world itself comes to an end we don’t have to be afraid.  God loves us.  He has sent his Son into this world to live and die for us.  And he is coming again to bring us the fullness of our redemption–a life of peace and joy and blessing that will never end.  Amen.