9-28-2015

        Good Morning All!!

        Mark 13:32; “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

    You are reading this so the blood moon thing was a bust.  There were those who felt that four different blood moons in the past two years heralded the return of Jesus.  It caused some excitement; it sold a few books for some but other than something rare to see; it was a non-event.

    Many Christians get excited or anxious about events that point toward, or are supposed to point toward, the return of Christ.  They wring their hands and speak of it as a woe filled event.  They continually look for signs that point it out.  I don’t know why they want to plan and anticipate it; no one avoids it.  Sort of like those people who have safe homes hidden deep in the mountains so they can hide from it; think about that, they want to hide from God.  Adam couldn’t do it, Jonah couldn’t do it, and we won’t be able to either.

    Yet a close reading of Scriptures should give us comfort; perhaps, it can even give us joy as we look forward to the return of Jesus as Lord over everything.  Jesus tells us no one knows the day or hour.  That should pretty much end it.  No amount of searching or studying will reveal when God has determined to bring about the return of Jesus.  It will happen when it happens and we, as God’s children, should be looking forward to it.  We pray that it will occur.  Remember “thy kingdom come”?  We earnestly ask God to send Jesus as the triumphant king.  We pray this because when Christ returns all suffering ends.  All of the persecution, all of the pain and sorrow, all death ends.  We are reunited with the saints who have gone on to glory and with all believers to live in the renewed creation in perfect existence.  That will be the time when the victory is truly celebrated.  Jesus compares it to a wedding feast which we week long celebrations with fine food, fine wine and great fellowship.

    Until that day, we continue to try and bring hope and help to the broken and hurting in this world.  That is our purpose.  It is not to sit and look at the moon and the stars and wonder when.  Our purpose is to preach Christ crucified to the lost and condemned world.  Our purpose is to expand the kingdom of God.  Our purpose is to continue what Jesus started, to heal the sick and comfort the hurting and to offer hope to the hopeless.  The times will take care of themselves.  Our hope, our future is secure.  We wait, anxiously, for the return of Jesus.  As we wait, we offer comfort and hope.

Father of all mercies, we hear the rumble of falsehoods that can divert us from our task while we sojourn here on earth.  Lead us to remember that we are citizens of heaven while we serve you here.  Keep us focused on your wonderful Word.  Keep us focused on Jesus.  Guide us to bring healing to the broken world.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret