"Christianity 101: The Second Coming"

I’ve been involved with altogether too many funerals of late.  I mean, I know that death is the natural end to life, and I know that everyone’s funeral that I’ve been involved with has been celebrating the life of someone who knew the Lord and whom I plan to see again someday when we’re all strong and healthy and whole in God’s presence (at which point, I hope to have my hair back).  But it’s just hard to say “Good-bye” to this many people in rapid succession -- even if we know that it’s more of a “Until we meet again” sort of thing -- and it’s hard on all of the families who have been losing loved ones in the past week and a half.  So please do be praying for Amy Kellerstrass and her family, as they mourn the loss of her brother this week.

But I also take consolation in knowing that Jesus not only died to wash us clean from sin, but also pointed us to eternal life... and then also was the first of those who died and yet gained new life... and then promised us not only a place in His Father’s house for all time, but promised to come back Himself to get us and bring us there with Him.

So this week, when we talked about Christ’s Second Coming as part of our ongoing sermon series looking at a “Christianity 101,” that promise held a special place in my heart.  It’s not just some doctrine or Christian myth that we should vaguely believe in -- and let’s be honest, that’s exactly what many of us do.  Instead, time and time again in Scripture, Paul and Peter and John and the writer of Hebrews and Jesus Himself all preached that we should live every single day in a constant state of readiness for when Jesus comes back.

If you knew when a thief would break into your house, you’d be ready for him.  If you knew when your baby would be born, you’d schedule the birth in your day-planner.  If you knew when Jesus would return, you’d prepare to be ready on that day -- and that’s precisely why God didn’t want us to know the day in advance.  God doesn’t want you ready next Tuesday, or a century from now -- He wants you living like you’re packed and ready to face Him right now, today, and every day. 

Because Jesus is coming back. 

If you knew that He was coming back an hour from now, how would you live out those next 60 minutes?

Now, do you know that He’s not...?