Jesus, the Bible and You in 7 Steps - The Return

Thank you, Louise. Why don't you turn and say hello to the person next to you, or if you just want a moment to reflect before we start, then just put your head down and do that. Have a moment to yourself and to your neighbour.

Thank you.

All right. We draw your attention back this way. Thanks, Debs. Let's just pray before we think about this together, shall we?

Lord God, we need you. It is your word, and so we need your spirit to come to open our hearts, our ears, our minds, as we listen to it. Without your Holy Spirit, we will not understand, we will not accept, we will not believe.

So, Lord God, please, by your Holy Spirit, give us faith, give us ears to hear, and hearts to receive what you have set before us this morning. Would you do us good?

Please fix our eyes on the Lord Jesus. Let me pray that in your name. Amen. Amen. Last week, we thought about our place, the church's place in God's plan, didn't we?

As part of our series, seven-part series, covering the whole of God's plan, going through the Bible, focusing on the Lord Jesus. And we thought about how our reason for being is worship and witness, how we're to be disciple-making disciples, didn't we?

And as part of that, we looked at these words from Matthew 28, these words of Jesus. And then what?

And that's the question that we're thinking about today. What happens at the very end of the age? I just need to thank Jen Wilkin for this idea that's coming up.

What is the worst movie ever? What's the worst movie ever? Don't worry, I'm going to tell you the answer. The worst movie ever is Titanic.

I'll tell you why. It's the worst movie ever because of the way that it ends. The massive ship that represents humanity gets sunk, doesn't it, by nature.

That's bad. And then Jack, the hero of the entire film, dies. And that's sad, isn't it? And then Rose, who Jack died saving, she gets old and she dies.

And that's sad. And do you remember that moment at the edge of the ship when she's really old? She's got the necklace. We know what the necklace means, don't we? It symbolises the love between them.

And she throws it into the sea. And so love dies. As well. Great. Why is it the worst movie ever?

Because there's no resolution. It describes a world in which we don't reach safe harbour. Love does not find its fulfilment. The hero dies.

And disaster and distress and danger are not removed. That's why it's the worst film ever. And we know on some level that that's a terrible story, don't we? Because we kind of live in the tension of being on the good ship humanity ourselves.

And we want it to be okay. Even though we ignored the designer's instructions about sailing into iceberg laden waters. Even though we didn't listen when he told us how to sail through life safely.

We want it to be okay. We want it to be okay. And we need those irresponsible people who were steering the ship. And the selfish people who took other people's places on the lifeboats. We need them held to account, don't we?

And that doesn't happen if the whole ship just goes down and everybody dies. The Bible tells a better story.

And that story has a better ending. And it ends as it began with Jesus. Now there's lots we can say about this, isn't there? Lots we can say about when Jesus will come back.

We don't know. Short answer. And what's the thousand years about? And do pets go to heaven? And is hell actually a lake of fire?

It's all very interesting, isn't it? And at some point it's very worthwhile too. But we could discuss all of that without actually knowing Jesus any better or living any differently. Couldn't we?

Alistair Begg, who's one of my favorite pastor theologians, says, The plain things are the main things. And the main things are the plain things. It's a good way to navigate your way around the Bible, isn't it? Hebrews 1 verse 2 says, In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways.

But in these last days, note when Paul is writing, He has spoken to us by His Son. If we stick to the words of Jesus, we'll be best off, won't we?

And the Bible recording Jesus' words is clear. When Jesus returns, three main things, plain things, will happen in short order. Jesus will raise the dead. Jesus will judge all.

And Jesus will remake all things. In other words, there will be a resurrection, there will be a reckoning, and then there will be renewal and rejoicing. And that is how we're going to think about this last of our series of seven talks about Jesus, the Bible, and us.

Come with me back to that passage that Louise read for us. Revelation chapter 20, verse 11. Then I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it.

That's Jesus. The earth and the heavens fled from His presence. There was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And the first thing you notice about those standing around the great white throne of judgment before Jesus is that they're all alive.

Jesus will raise them, the Bible tells us. John chapter 5, verse 28. Jesus speaking, Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice and come out.

Those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned. Jesus speaking. Or if you would like it plainer, Jesus says somewhere else, John chapter 11, I am the resurrection and the life.

And so when Jesus comes, we will be raised. Have you ever been to London? Seen St. Paul's? St. Paul's Cathedral? Where St. Paul's stands now, there used to stand an old church.

And it was burned down in the Great Fire of London in 1666. Do you know who designed the current St. Paul's? Christopher Wren. Christopher Wren designed it.

And Christopher Wren was walking through the wreckage of the old church, thinking about the new. The first stone he picked up had this written on it. Re sergam.

And it means, I will rise. That is what God is going to do in us. From the rubble of the old, He will raise a new and greater temple, body, in which He will dwell, in which we will worship always.

New bodies which don't stumble, which don't crumble away. Death defeated. The consequences of sin undone. Reunited in Jesus with those who have died in Jesus.

That's what He's about. You might be thinking, hang on. I thought we had new life already. I thought Jesus taught that the kingdom of God had come when the King had come.

I.e. when He came at Christmas time. I thought this was already happening. Well, we do have new life. When we put our faith in Jesus, we have new spiritual life.

We are spiritually alive. And our spirits will never die again. But our bodies will die. Won't they? And so even though Jesus' resurrection work has begun, it is not yet finished.

Jesus' kingdom and His restoration are all ready and not yet. And you can trace that all the way through the New Testament. It is, to use some long words, inaugurated but not consummated.

The first step of consummation is resurrection. In other words, to go back to the Titanic picture, we're still on the good ship humanity.

It hasn't come into dock yet. It's kind of like the difference between dawn and noon. Dawn is broken with the first resurrection, that of Jesus.

And so there's light. There's beginnings of light. But even though there is some light, the cold of the morning, the fingers of darkness of night, still linger over the world, don't they?

But soon it will be high noon. And high noon is when judgment comes to town. Isn't it?

And that's where we live. We live between dawn and noon. The reckoning.

One reason that we can't just leave Jesus as a nice guy who said some good stuff when he was here is because he's not done with the world.

He's coming back. We'll see him. And then Jesus will be the judge of each of us. Back to our passage. The books were opened.

The dead were judged, verse 12, according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them. Resurrection. And each person was judged according to what they had done.

And then death and Hades were thrown in the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

See, the purpose of God's judgment is not to know our hearts, because God knows our hearts already. Doesn't he? He doesn't need to open the books to read the story of our lives, because he knows it.

The purpose of God's judgment is to demonstrate his glory to everybody by showing them both his justice and his mercy. And that means for us that wrongs will be righted, and will be seen to be righted.

All those injustices done against us. All the injustices done against those we love. All of the atrocities committed in this world. All the bad motives behind the good deeds, including the ones that people get away with, will be dealt with by a holy and all-powerful God.

And we need that. We need to know that. We need to know there's justice in this world. That justice will be done in the end. But, of course, for Christians, that also means no grudges, no getting your own back, no giving as good as we get.

That's God's business, because God is the judge. And he is also the party sinned against the most. At the same time, it's a double-edged sword, isn't it?

Because it means all the wrongs and the bad motives and the injustices that I have, that I have been involved in, that are on me, will also be revealed at that time.

And then the question for each of us is, to whom will you go? It also means rewards received. If you're a believer in the Lord Jesus, our works will be weighed.

But more important than that is what we spoke about last time when we were thinking about Jesus. Romans 8, chapter 1. There is now no condemnation for you who are in Christ Jesus.

Jesus' judgment, for those of us who love and trust him, will just mean receiving the inheritance and the reward that he has kept for us all of this time. For us who trust in him, Jesus' judgment will mean that we are vindicated.

It will be seen and shown that we were right to trust in him all along. It will all be worthwhile. That's what Jesus' judgment means for us.

But it also means, unmistakably from that passage, rebels punished, doesn't it? If you don't believe, then how does the prospect of standing before a God that you have rejected to account for your life strike you?

Jesus' standard, remember, is that anybody who hates his brother is a murderer and anybody who looks at another person lustfully is an adulterer.

Which of us is innocent then? How do you stand with Jesus? That's the key question. Because for those not in Christ, there is no eternity in the presence of God who is the source of all goodness and all love and joy.

There is only eternal separation from him in a place that has, therefore, no joy or goodness in it. And where the consequences of sin have not been reversed and so they go on forever.

Jesus speaks of that place more than almost anybody else. And he calls it hell. I just want to read you a story.

It took place quite a long time ago in another country. Let's see if I can find it.

Here we are. Happened in a church. A young minister of the gospel was confronted as the congregation expected after the service by an able young sceptic who was called Bert Olney.

And at the close of the service, Olney goes up to the pastor and he says, you did well, but you know I don't believe in the infallibility of the Bible. It is appointed to men once to die, but after that to face judgment was the young minister's calm assertion.

I can prove to you there is no such thing as a judgment after death, declared the sceptic. But men do die, the young preacher declared, for it is appointed unto men once to die and then to face judgment.

Well, that's no argument, the sceptic protested. Let's get down to business and discuss this matter properly with rational arguments. And the minister shook his head.

I'm here to preach the word of God and not argue over it. Bert Olney is very annoyed and he turns away with the remark, well, I don't believe you know the Bible well enough to argue about it.

Perhaps you're right, came the calm response. But please remember this. It is appointed to men once to die and after that to face the judgment.

And Olney goes home and every sound on his way home sings the word judgment to him. The brook he crossed, the leaves on the trees say judgment.

And the next morning he knocks on the pastor's door and he says, I've come to see you about that verse of scripture you gave me last night. He said, I spent a terrible night with those words burning their way into me.

I can't get rid of them. Tell me what I must do to be saved. It is appointed for man to die once and then to face judgment.

And after that, let's look at chapter 21 in our reading. Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away and there was no longer any sea and I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, look, God's dwelling place is now among the people and he will dwell with them.

They will be his people and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain for the old order of things has passed away.

After that, friends, there will be renewal and rejoicing. Heaven and earth will be remade but without the chaos that the sea represents.

Jesus will finish the work of redeeming and restoring which he has already begun. The promises that he stamped and sealed at the cross will be hand-delivered then and there will be a feast.

A feast to celebrate that nothing now hinders the happiness of God and his people together. Israel knew this.

God's people knew this from before. This is how David is able to sing in Psalm 16. You make known to me the path of life.

You will fill me with joy in your presence with eternal pleasures at your right hand. That's what the future holds for God's people. There will be the immediate presence of God with us all.

That's the essence of heaven, isn't it? Because in his presence is fullness of joy. Westminster Catechism first question is what is man's chief end?

In other words, what's the point of us? Man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. And that is possible and wonderful here, isn't it?

But it is inevitable and unlimited there. That's the future for us. I don't know if you like your theology.

You probably guessed I do. The reformers had three purposes for Sundays, for Sabbath days. Rest, recreation, or recreation, if you like, and rejoicing.

Heaven is all of that all the time. isn't that amazing? All that is good here will be better there.

No more death. No mourning, no crying, no pain. And the tender hand of our Father God will brush away all the dirt and knit up all the wounds.

And if you're in Christ here today, then you're already a citizen of that kingdom. you belong there. That's your inheritance. Isn't that amazing?

It's another story. Those of you who get the bulletin will know that we sometimes, in advance, let folks know what we're going to be thinking about. Some time ago, a minister called Charles E. Fuller announced that he would be speaking the following Sunday on heaven.

And during that week, a letter was received from an old man who was very ill. And here's an extract from it. Are you ready? Next Sunday, you are to talk about heaven.

I am interested in that land because I have held a clear title to a bit of property there for over 55 years. I did not buy it.

It was given to me without money and without price. but the donor purchased it for me at tremendous sacrifice. I'm not holding it as an investment since the title is not transferable.

It is not an empty plot. For more than half a century, I've been sending materials out of which the greatest architect and builder of the universe has been building a home for me, which will never need to be renovated or repaired because it will suit me perfectly individually and it will never grow old.

Termites can never undermine its foundations for they rest on the rock of ages. Fire cannot destroy it. Floods cannot wash it away. No locks or bolts will ever be placed on its doors for no vicious person can ever enter that land where my dwelling stands, now almost completed and almost ready for me to enter in and abide in peace eternally without fear of being invicted.

There is a valley of deep shadow between the place where I live and that to which I shall journey in a very short time. I cannot reach my home in that city of gold without passing through this dark valley of shadows, but I am not afraid because the best friend I ever had went through the same valley long, long ago and drove away all its gloom.

He has stuck by me through thick and thin since we first became acquainted 55 years ago, and I hold his promise in printed form never to forsake me or leave me alone.

He will be with me as I walk through the valley of shadows, and I shall not lose my way when he is with me. I hope to hear your sermon on heaven next Sunday from my home.

But I have no assurance that I shall be able to do so. My ticket to heaven has no date marked for the journey, no return coupon, no permit for luggage.

Yes, I am all ready to go, and I may not be here while you are talking next Sunday evening, but I shall meet you there someday. Wish I could write letters like that.

Thank you. That, friends, is why Jesus says the words that Dave read out at the beginning. Do not let your hearts be troubled.

You believe in God, believe also in me. My father's house has many rooms. If that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you also may be where I am.

renewal and rejoicing is what we have to look forward to. Jesus encourages us as his followers to think about three main things in view of his return.

And the first is to hold on. I've got a mug. I don't know where it came from. I like it so much, in fact, that I bought a second one in case the first one breaks.

A bit weird. It's on the level of the man who buys like 20 pairs of the same trousers and keeps them in his wardrobe. Anyway, here's the mug. On it, in case you can't see, it says, everything will be okay in the end.

And if it's not okay, it's not the end. And that is the message of Jesus to us as we wait for his return. Hold on.

which, of course, in the Bible also means continue to be held. Secondly, be ready.

If you read the words of Jesus in the Gospels, this is the main thing that he says to his followers. Be ready. Long for his coming with all of your heart.

Live watchfully and expectantly. Don't drift off to sleep in the same field that everybody else is camping in. Be ready. It's a bit like putting on your seatbelt.

We don't put on a seatbelt because we see the accident coming, do we? We put on the seatbelt because the accident can happen anytime. Be ready. And thirdly, invest there.

Treasures in heaven. Those are Jesus' words, aren't they? Send the building materials that way, to use the letter. Give yourself, give your resources to things that will last. Build a lifestyle of worship because that's what we'll be doing there.

Witness to those around us because that's why we're still here going through all this because we want people to be with us there, don't we? for those of you who don't yet follow Jesus, who have not committed themselves to following Jesus, that means changing direction.

It means turning around and following him. Repent, to use the Bible word. Ask the judge for mercy before it's too late.

Make sure your name is in the book of life. I just want to give you a moment to reflect. using the three questions there. Just take a minute to yourself, think and then pray and then we'll close off.

Jesus promises to return, doesn't he?

come to fruition. He came to fruition. And when he returns at the end of the age, then we will see all that we have learnt, all that we have hoped, come to fruition.

But you know, the end of the age that Jesus speaks of is not the end. It's not even the beginning of the end. it's rather the end of the beginning.

Here's how C.S. Lewis puts it in the Chronicles of Narnia at the end of the stories. The things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them.

And for us, this is the end of all the stories. And we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them, it was only the beginning of the real story. all their life in this world, all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page.

And now, at last, they were beginning chapter one of the great story, which no one on earth has read, which goes on forever, in which every chapter is better than the one before.

So, come, Lord Jesus, is what we say, isn't it? Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.