The One Who comes

December 4, 2011 Year B Second Sunday of Advent Isaiah 40:1-11 2 Peter 3:8-15 “The One Who Comes” Eschatology is our word for today Eschatology is our word for today. A word ending with logy always means the study of. Theology is the study of God, psychology is the study of the human psyche, and anthropology is the study of man. Escha means last, final, end, or in this case fulfillment. Eschatology means the study of the last days, the end times, and the fulfillment of human history. What is going to happen when Jesus comes again? Advent is a time to give thought to who God intends you to be – not who you were, not who you are – but the fulfillment of God’s mission in you. Every Sunday is little Easter The whole point of our faith is a celebration of that Jesus died, was resurrected and promised to come back again. We are always an Easter people. Everything that we do is in preparation for his return. We live in the shadow of the resurrection. Looking forward to what is to come, not looking back on what might have been. Without Easter, there would be no Christmas Without Easter, there would be no need for Christmas. We remember the first coming, so that we can understand the first coming. Christ came into the world – so that we could have eternal life. We need to keep that in foremost in our minds as we get ready for Christmas. Preparing for Christmas is in full blooom Have you noticed that Christmas is in full bloom? Stores are packed; the lights are out, Christmas movies are on. I used to say it won’t be Christmas until….. What about you. One of my favorite marks of Christmas is happening today – if I make it on time. The messiah The word of Handel’s messiah *PART I* OVERTURE RECITATIVE. (Accompanied - Tenor) Comfort ye, comfort ye My people, saith your God; speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem; and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness:-Prepare ye the way of the Lord: make straight in the desert a highway for our God. AIR (Tenor) Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill made low, the crooked straight and the rough places plain. CHORUS And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together;for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. The words of Isaiah 40 Those are the words of our text today….. God is gathered with the holy court – and he tells them to comfort my people. Prepare the way, create a highway for God, so that he can come immediately into the lives of his people What a concept – make a highway for God. What would it look like to make a highway in your life. Create a big open space for God. I decorated my house – set a place setting for Jesus – to come and make himself at home in my house, in my life, in my world. God’s message to us that God is still present, God still cares, God is still at work. If you are paying attention. Isaiah 40 good news to a world where God does not matter Comfort my people is good news. Lived in a world where there was depression and despair. The word from God was that they deserved it and were paying for not paying attention to God. The people of Isaiah Also lived in a world where it seemed God did not matter anymore. People had found other distractions. We feel that way. God had no power, God had no glory. God sees from heaven, and comfort my people – give them a message that God is still in control. And will come to deliver his people. 2 Peter 2 peter is the last of the new testament writings. Not written by Peter, not even the second generation, but the third. Closest to our times and our struggles. The first generation thought that Jesus was coming in their lifetime. But there was no Jesus. The second generation and still on Jesus. Why are you telling me to prepare for something that is not coming. Is indeed coming like a thief in the night – you never know. Started this whole conversation of eschatology – the end times. What it will be, what it will look like, what will happen when Jesus comes. There are different opinions with Christendom about what that day will look like and what Christ will do. But one thing we can be sure of – that we are found doing the will of god when he comes. Christ is our proof to the scoffers that God is still real and that God still cares. And that God gives us work to do in the meantime. No control over God, complete control over how you live your life. Who god calls you to be. Advent is my chance to prepare for the second coming. Take account of my life and decide what I need to do to get closer to God. It changes every year – depending on the circumstance. While the rest of the world is getting ready for Christmas. We are getting ready for Christ. Christ intervention into the way things are. What a couple does when expecting a baby When a couple is expecting a baby – there are certain things to do. Go to the doctor, have a baby shower, eat right, get things for the baby – sort of like getting ready for Christmas. There is a phenomena called nesting – when late in the pregnancy the mother starts preparing a place for the baby – getting the room ready – usually it is at that moment that the goes into labor. And everything changes. No longer getting ready for an event, preparing to be a new person a new identity. Change from doing to being. Being a parent is in who you are, not what you do. We all have to stand before the judgement seat Being a Christian is not in what you do, in who you are. Second coming – stand before God not interested in what you did – but who you are. Why did you give, why did you forgive, why did come to church, why did you treat people the way you did. Personal gain, or for the love of god. What do I need to do in order to prepare myself to stand before My God? Who do I need to talk to? What do I need to get rid of in my personality? What do I need to give away? What is standing in the way? What do I need to pray for? How do I need to pray? All good eschatological questions. The discussion of the things to come. My fulfillment in God’s kingdom. When Christ comes in his final victory what will he find me doing? Is my heart truly ready for Christ to come. When people say that Christ has not come in 2000 years – how do I help them see that he is always around, and the signs of his coming are nearer than you think. What is taking so long? Second peter says that he delays his coming out of mercy. He is waiting for you and for me and your our neighbors to get it. God is giving us time to get our lives in order. So that when he does come, we can stand before him blameless. Not to worry about when he comes, but what how we are preparing ourselves for his coming. Scripture says that for god a one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is only a day. One man prayed, God if a million dollars is like a penny to you and a day a thousand years, can I just have a penny – I would be happy with just a that much. God responds – sure I will give you one of my pennies’s – if you will just give a day. Eschatology – the study of things to come. What does God have in store for me? What is god calling me to be? What will my future days look like, what is the fulfillment of my life. Prepare yourself for the coming of Christ, not for Christmas. Parting benediction I leave you with the last words of 2 Peter text – therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found in him at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. Amen.