Be Prepared Always

Title: Be Prepared Always By Pastor Lohn Johnson
Text:  Mark 13:26-33  "26At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens….32 "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.” INTRODUCTION:   My dear friends in Christ, Someday God will come. We don’t know when. Jesus leaves that last big question unanswered. Imagine parents going out for the evening and telling their teenage kids, “we’ll be right back.” (Kids)“So when exactly are you coming back?” (Parents)“Who knows? Could be anytime at all. But when we do come back it will be suddenly and without warning.” (Kids)“ “Could you at least give us a ballpark estimate?” (Parents)“ “No, that wouldn’t be good for you.” (Kids)“ “Maybe nine o’clock? Midnight? Something like that?” (Parents)“ “No, but we’ll be back. You can count on it.”
I. Now why do you think those kids wanted to know exactly when the parents would return?. Why would we want to know when Christ will return.
	A. I think one reason is that we are like irresponsible kids.
			1.  We want independence from authority.  We want to “play” as long as we can, then at the last minute “clean up our act”. 2. And also it’s like we have a desire to domesticate God, to put Him into a convenient box the way we do our holiday seasons, to make Him fit in our busy calendars. So then we can make sure we’re ready when He shows up so we can have our lives in order.
		B. And also like irresponsible kids we insist on foolish figuring out when the Lord will come again? Why do we fixate on years like 1000 and 2000 and now 2012 and the Mayan calendar? Why do we “figure” when He told us we cannot know that day?
			1. One part of it, I think, is fascination with the unknown and a lurking sense that things seem to be tumbling to some sort of end point. 2. And generally we have some ability to prepare for events that we expect on a date that can be determined.
					a. We make our plans and prepare for family events such as birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and the like.  b. We also can, despite the hectic pace, prepare for major holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. But we’re not so good at something unknown.
		C. And what about our need to prepare ourselves for the eventual return of Christ?  That’s certainly an unknown event, that leaves us at a loss
			1. And I suppose this is not a topic we contemplate daily.
					a. But maybe we should spend more time preparing for the coming of the Lord, not just at Christmas, but at the end of time too. b. But for most of us it has become a little like this: Margaret was all ready for her date. She was wearing her best outfit, her hair was fixed, her makeup was perfect. Imagine her disappointment when her date didn’t show up! After an hour of waiting, Margaret decided that he wasn’t going to come. She changed into her pajamas, washed off her makeup, gathered up a bunch of junk food, and parked herself in front of the television for the evening. As soon as she got involved in her favorite show, there was a knock on the door. She opened it to find her handsome date standing on the doorstep. He stared at her in shock, then said in disbelief, “I’m two hours late, and you’re still not ready?” She was ready but then he didn’t come so she gave up.  Have we given up waiting for Jesus to come?
			2. But on the other hand, there are some Christians who make Christ’s return their primary preoccupation.
							a. They put up signs on the highway and they write books describing in great detail elements of what they call “the Rapture.” b. But since Christ warned us that no one knows when that day will be, and since Christians have been waiting for 2,000 years, we look at those who are obsessed with this subject as a bit eccentric or just plain wrong.
II. And in spite of these eccentric people we must be prepared for the day of his coming.
				A. In Advent we prepare for the coming of the Lord in two ways: First His Second Coming, when the world will be claimed by Christ, and then his coming in history at Christmas.
			1. And it seems his coming on the first Christmas is easier to celebrate. The Savior of all the world came to us in the babe of Bethlehem, but this was only the beginning of God’s redeeming work.
							a. After that special birth Jesus lived a perfect life. He was tempted but did not sin.  He taught the disciples.  He healed the sick.  He raised the dead.   He went to the cross.  He died paying for our sin.  He rose conquering death for us.  b. Then He ascended into heaven—like the man in our Gospel lesson who went away—now, what will the kids do?
			2. The victory was won. But the war was not over.  the war over evil and darkness still goes on.
				a. That victory will only be complete when the Savior returns and the kingdom of God is established in eternal perfection. b. History has a direction, and one day Christ will return to reign over all. It is an amazing and wonderful promise about our future.
		B. So even though it’s so easy to focus on the beauty and the joy of Christmas, but that necessarily leads to Advent’s theme of preparing for God’s final victory.  But a lot of Advent preparation comes in the form that does not seem as concrete as we might like.
			1. But Advent is harder because it stresses how He comes to us in a hidden way. Advent really looks to Jesus’ sacramental presence today. Not seen, though very real. He comes to us through the Word, through the water of Baptism, through the bread and wine of His Supper. He comes to us in this hidden way to save us here and now, where we are and to prepare us for when He comes again.
							a. He joins you to Himself in His death and life, making His death and life your death and life. b. He feeds you His Body and Blood, His death and life becomes your food. c. He forgives you your sins by His Word. And trusting that Word, the kingdom comes to you and you are part of the kingdom.
			2. And remember judgment was pronounced over your own head in your Baptism, where you were united with Jesus in His death, His life, His glory.
						a. You were clothed with Christ. You were made a new creation. So you are prepared even now in Christ. b. What we are waiting for is to take possession of this new creation.  “I am making all things new,” Jesus says. A new heavens, a new earth, a new you.”
III. And now I’d like you to bear with me for a moment, and don’t think I’m one of those eccentrics or those who are just plain wrong. I'm going to reveal to you when Christ will come again.  Are you ready?  He's coming next Sunday morning.  And the following Sunday morning, and the following, and the following...and I'm not just being silly about this.  Christ will return here to His House to be with you to grant you repentance and faith every time His Word is preached and taught; every time His body and blood is given. I did not say I will reveal to you when Christ will come again visibly in Judgment.  I revealed to you when He will come again.
		A. Are these dates on your calendar?  The date of Jesus' final coming would be on your calendar if you knew it.  But you do know the exact dates and times when He will be here for you in the power of His Word—every one an important event.  Are these dates circled in red on your calendar?
			1. Why am I making this point?  Well because, there is a very close parallel between the way we prepare for worship and the way we are prepared for Christ at the end of time.
						a. It is the very same Jesus who comes to us now every time we gather for worship, who will come in the clouds of Judgment at the end.  b. Our posture toward His coming now will be our posture toward His coming then.  The way we greet Him now is the way we will greet Him then.
			2. We cannot circle in red when Christ will come again at the end, but we do know exactly when He comes to us now.
		B. Listening attentively to God's Word week after week may not be as exciting as we may wish.  But for us, to faithfully hear the Word--repenting of our sins when the Law is preached; trusting in Christ as His good news is proclaimed--is to be prepared to be given the crown of life in the end.
			1. As the pages of your calendar are torn away; as important events come and go, the word of forgiveness remains the same--it will not pass away.  You don't have to worry that you may miss out on the prize of heaven in the end.  It's not what you do that matters here; it's what Jesus already has done for you.  2. His death and resurrection can be circled in red on your calendar.  It's done.  Nothing can change that or do away with it.  He died and rose for you.  3. Your baptism can be circled in red because the blood of Christ which was poured upon you then still covers you today.  4. And really because of these things it doesn't matter when Christ will return in Judgment.  He is here for you now, not to judge you, but to grant you repentance and faith; to shower you with His grace and mercy.
CONCLUSION:  And now because of our preparation in His comings today we can look forward to His coming on that last day like this: A Pastor was once deep into preparation for a sermon. His little daughter came where he was working and asked, “Daddy, can we play?” He answered, “I’m awfully sorry, sweetheart, but I’m right in the middle of preparing this sermon. In about an hour I can play.” She said, “Okay, when you’re finished, Daddy, I am going to give you a great big hug.”  He said, “Thank you very much.” She went to the door but then she did a U-turn and came back and gave him an enormous, bone-breaking hug. The pastor said to her, “Darling, you said you were going to give me a hug after I finished.” Her big eyes looked up and deep into his, and she answered, “Daddy, I just wanted you to know what you have to look forward to!”  Likewise His word and sacraments are that hug that tells us what we have to look forward to. Through them we know He is here for us now in Word and Sacrament and that brings us to be prepared as we wait for that unknown time in the future.  Amen.
The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.   Amen