WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.440 You found your place there in Luke chapter number 17. We're going to read kind of a lengthy portion of Scripture 00:00:04.440 --> 00:00:04.440 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:35.439 and you shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man and shall not see it. And they shall say unto you, 00:00:35.539 --> 00:00:43.060 See here or see there, go not after them nor follow them. For as the lightning that lighteth out one part under heaven 00:00:43.060 --> 00:00:50.439 shineth unto the other part under heaven, so shall also the Son of Man be in his days. 00:00:51.280 --> 00:00:57.299 But first must suffer he many things and be rejected of this generation. 00:00:57.299 --> 00:01:01.539 As it was in the days of Noah, so it shall be in the days of the Son of Man. 00:01:02.119 --> 00:01:07.200 They did eat and they drank and they married wives and they were given in marriage unto the day that Noah entered into the ark 00:01:07.200 --> 00:01:12.259 and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot. 00:01:12.620 --> 00:01:16.400 They did eat and they drank and they bought and they sold and they planted and they built it. 00:01:17.159 --> 00:01:22.159 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 00:01:22.599 --> 00:01:27.060 Even thus shall it be in this day when the Son of Man is revealed. 00:01:27.299 --> 00:01:34.140 In that day he which shall be upon the housetop, his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away. 00:01:34.620 --> 00:01:39.399 And he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. 00:01:40.159 --> 00:01:41.579 Remember Lot's wife. 00:01:41.620 --> 00:01:43.900 That seems kind of just random, like let's just throw that in there. 00:01:44.280 --> 00:01:46.179 Jesus has a point and we're going to look at it here in a minute. 00:01:47.340 --> 00:01:47.959 Verse 33, 00:01:47.959 --> 00:02:17.959 00:02:17.960 --> 00:02:24.780 So I want to preach a message entitled this out of our text this morning. 00:02:25.159 --> 00:02:27.360 Kingdom come, kingdom coming. 00:02:28.140 --> 00:02:29.060 I got some questions. 00:02:29.180 --> 00:02:30.879 The Pharisees, hey, when's the kingdom coming? 00:02:31.520 --> 00:02:32.520 Jesus says it's here. 00:02:33.140 --> 00:02:34.420 But he also says it's coming. 00:02:35.000 --> 00:02:38.180 And so how do we live because he came and he's coming again? 00:02:38.500 --> 00:02:41.040 And that's really what he wants to show us here in the text this morning. 00:02:41.039 --> 00:02:43.280 So let's ask him to help us and then we'll jump right in. 00:02:43.319 --> 00:02:46.219 Father, thank you for this opportunity that we can open up your word. 00:02:46.699 --> 00:02:52.060 Lord, we're thankful you give us these truths that point to you, that remind us that you love us, 00:02:52.439 --> 00:02:57.319 that remind us that you came, that as we read already, that you came to suffer on the cross of Calvary. 00:02:58.099 --> 00:03:02.219 But we're also reminded here in this text and throughout Scripture that you are coming again. 00:03:02.719 --> 00:03:05.060 And you're not coming as a suffering Savior. 00:03:05.459 --> 00:03:07.819 Lord, you're coming as the King of kings and Lord of lords. 00:03:07.819 --> 00:03:13.199 And I pray that we would all be ready, that we would live today in light of your return. 00:03:13.299 --> 00:03:15.359 Lord, I pray that you would just be with me. 00:03:15.459 --> 00:03:16.359 You would guide my thoughts. 00:03:16.459 --> 00:03:17.639 You would give me strength, Lord. 00:03:18.019 --> 00:03:20.819 You would help me say the things that need to be said. 00:03:21.239 --> 00:03:23.539 There's somebody here that doesn't know you as their Savior today. 00:03:23.620 --> 00:03:24.579 Would today be that day? 00:03:24.979 --> 00:03:26.259 And we'll give you all the honor and glory. 00:03:26.419 --> 00:03:28.120 It's in Christ's name we ask these things. 00:03:28.659 --> 00:03:29.000 Amen. 00:03:29.180 --> 00:03:29.699 Thank you for standing. 00:03:29.759 --> 00:03:30.159 You may be seated. 00:03:33.419 --> 00:03:35.719 I'm sure everybody in here has had somebody tell you, 00:03:35.719 --> 00:03:40.939 I'll be there somewhere between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. 00:03:42.780 --> 00:03:43.979 That's not an appointment. 00:03:44.599 --> 00:03:46.479 That's a hostage situation. 00:03:47.460 --> 00:03:48.479 We've all been there. 00:03:48.539 --> 00:03:56.180 It could be a cable company, a repairman, a delivery that you're waiting for that you need in order for that day to move forward. 00:03:56.360 --> 00:03:59.419 And whatever it might be, you know it's coming. 00:03:59.939 --> 00:04:02.060 You just don't know when it's coming. 00:04:02.740 --> 00:04:07.140 And because you don't know when it's coming, it really changes how you live the entire day. 00:04:07.719 --> 00:04:11.020 You can't leave the house because you don't want to miss it. 00:04:11.219 --> 00:04:14.819 You keep your phone close to you in case they text you or call you. 00:04:14.960 --> 00:04:16.379 You keep checking the driveway. 00:04:16.819 --> 00:04:21.060 Every time you hear a truck outside, you run up to the front window and you peek outside to see if it's them 00:04:21.060 --> 00:04:23.779 because you just want them to show up so you can live your life. 00:04:23.779 --> 00:04:32.399 And the reason we live that way is because when you know somebody's coming, you live differently while you wait. 00:04:32.859 --> 00:04:36.799 You want to make sure that appointment gets taken care of because you don't want to do it again tomorrow. 00:04:37.179 --> 00:04:39.939 You don't want to miss it and not be ready. 00:04:39.939 --> 00:04:46.939 And really that's kind of the idea that we come to here in the Gospel of Luke and the text that we read this morning. 00:04:47.740 --> 00:04:51.800 The Pharisees in the first couple of verses in verse 20 and 21, they want to know this. 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:53.680 Hey, when's the kingdom coming? 00:04:54.500 --> 00:04:57.420 Now they're not asking questions as we've seen in our study. 00:04:57.620 --> 00:04:59.839 They're not asking questions to really find information. 00:05:00.379 --> 00:05:03.279 It's really kind of a, the Bible says they demanded of him. 00:05:04.019 --> 00:05:08.119 They're saying, well, if you really are the king, if you really are who you say you are, 00:05:08.299 --> 00:05:10.379 well, tell us this, when's the kingdom coming? 00:05:10.919 --> 00:05:12.899 They were looking forward to that. 00:05:12.979 --> 00:05:14.619 They wanted a timetable. 00:05:15.099 --> 00:05:16.659 They wanted the signs. 00:05:16.759 --> 00:05:19.459 They wanted something they could observe and calculate. 00:05:20.679 --> 00:05:22.639 Jesus doesn't give them a date here, though. 00:05:23.139 --> 00:05:25.439 He didn't say, all right, here's the date that I'm coming back. 00:05:25.439 --> 00:05:27.259 Here's the date that the kingdom's going to show up. 00:05:27.539 --> 00:05:32.359 No, instead what he does here is he turns their question about when 00:05:32.360 --> 00:05:39.240 into a lesson of how they should live until it happens, until the kingdom comes. 00:05:40.060 --> 00:05:41.580 Because why does he do that? 00:05:42.160 --> 00:05:43.439 Why does Jesus turn that? 00:05:43.460 --> 00:05:44.660 Why doesn't he just give them an answer? 00:05:45.360 --> 00:05:46.580 It would be easier if they had an answer. 00:05:46.680 --> 00:05:48.400 We could be ready for it. 00:05:49.580 --> 00:05:53.120 I think he wants us to see this, that the most important question isn't, 00:05:53.120 --> 00:05:55.240 can I figure out when Jesus is coming? 00:05:56.180 --> 00:05:57.939 People have been trying to do that for a long time. 00:05:58.900 --> 00:06:01.319 Every once in a while, if you see somebody that says, 00:06:01.319 --> 00:06:04.920 hey, I know when Jesus is coming back, run the other direction. 00:06:05.719 --> 00:06:06.439 They don't. 00:06:07.060 --> 00:06:07.860 It's been happening. 00:06:07.959 --> 00:06:10.439 There was a big surgence in the 80s, and maybe you read that book, 00:06:10.740 --> 00:06:13.120 88 Reasons Why Jesus Is Coming in 1988. 00:06:14.459 --> 00:06:15.920 Well, newsflash, he didn't come then. 00:06:17.899 --> 00:06:21.199 But what Jesus wants us to understand, what he wanted them to understand, 00:06:21.399 --> 00:06:23.399 and what he wants all people to know is, 00:06:23.779 --> 00:06:27.180 am I living like I believe he's coming back? 00:06:28.060 --> 00:06:30.579 Because I'll be honest, we sang that last verse, and y'all sounded really good. 00:06:31.300 --> 00:06:32.259 It's a beautiful song. 00:06:32.959 --> 00:06:36.480 But are we living like that's not just a song, and it's not just some words on a page? 00:06:36.639 --> 00:06:39.800 Are we living like it's a truth and a reality in our life? 00:06:40.400 --> 00:06:44.139 Because as we come to this passage, I want to give us just a little bit of context of 00:06:44.139 --> 00:06:48.620 why they asked this question, because I think it's going to help us understand what Jesus is really saying. 00:06:48.620 --> 00:06:53.240 For the Jewish people especially, they have been waiting for this kingdom. 00:06:53.780 --> 00:06:55.660 They have been anticipating it. 00:06:55.920 --> 00:06:57.680 God had made promises to Abraham. 00:06:57.899 --> 00:07:00.980 He had made promises to David that he would set up his covenant, 00:07:01.319 --> 00:07:04.199 and he would come, and he would rule, and he would reign on the throne. 00:07:04.439 --> 00:07:09.459 And the prophets, when you read the Old Testament, they spoke of a king and a coming kingdom. 00:07:10.660 --> 00:07:14.340 But here when Jesus is walking on the earth in his earthly ministry, 00:07:14.339 --> 00:07:15.939 Israel wasn't ruling. 00:07:16.719 --> 00:07:22.319 In fact, they were under oppression from Rome, and there was no king sitting on the throne of David. 00:07:23.399 --> 00:07:27.199 And so they naturally wondered often, hey, when's the kingdom coming? 00:07:27.899 --> 00:07:31.159 When's all this good thing's going to happen for Israel? 00:07:31.500 --> 00:07:33.939 And Jesus' preaching, when they were listening to it, 00:07:34.120 --> 00:07:37.419 it was constantly centered around the kingdom of God. 00:07:38.120 --> 00:07:42.500 There in the Gospel of Mark, he said, I've come to preach the kingdom of God. 00:07:42.500 --> 00:07:50.839 But the problem was is that many of these Jews, and especially the Pharisees here with their kind of snarky question, 00:07:51.139 --> 00:07:55.000 they had a very different picture of what the kingdom actually looked like. 00:07:55.579 --> 00:08:02.519 What they wanted and what they expected was something immediate, something political, something visible, 00:08:03.199 --> 00:08:07.759 somebody that was going to overthrow Rome, that was going to put Israel back where they should. 00:08:07.920 --> 00:08:11.500 They expected a Messiah to do all of these things. 00:08:11.500 --> 00:08:13.660 That's what the kingdom looked like to them. 00:08:15.600 --> 00:08:20.560 But when Jesus came, he didn't march into Jerusalem with an army. 00:08:21.379 --> 00:08:22.459 He came preaching. 00:08:23.100 --> 00:08:24.399 He came teaching. 00:08:24.980 --> 00:08:25.980 He came healing. 00:08:26.180 --> 00:08:29.180 He came to call sinners to repentance. 00:08:30.300 --> 00:08:34.659 And that's kind of the tension that we see here at the beginning of our text this morning. 00:08:35.379 --> 00:08:38.240 And Scripture teaches us something important about God's kingdom. 00:08:38.240 --> 00:08:43.320 It teaches us this, that the kingdom has already come, but the kingdom is still coming. 00:08:44.379 --> 00:08:47.279 It has come in the person of Jesus Christ. 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:51.940 And the king is standing right in front of him, and they're saying, hey, where's the kingdom? 00:08:53.139 --> 00:08:57.220 But we're also reminded as we study this and we see other portions of Scripture, 00:08:57.680 --> 00:09:01.120 that the kingdom has not come yet in all its future fullness. 00:09:01.120 --> 00:09:04.279 And that's where we still live today. 00:09:05.500 --> 00:09:09.799 Theologians call it this, that we're living between the already and the not yet. 00:09:10.639 --> 00:09:15.240 And so if we're living there, how do we live in a way that honors Christ? 00:09:15.980 --> 00:09:19.179 How do we live knowing that he's come, but knowing that he's coming again? 00:09:19.179 --> 00:09:25.459 And Jesus' concern in this passage isn't primarily that we figure out all the details 00:09:25.459 --> 00:09:29.299 and have some end-time prophecy charts that we consult all the time. 00:09:29.519 --> 00:09:30.839 No, the big idea is this. 00:09:31.099 --> 00:09:34.779 Because the king has come, and because he is coming again, 00:09:35.099 --> 00:09:38.739 we should live every single day in light of that return. 00:09:39.439 --> 00:09:40.739 That is what he wants us to see. 00:09:40.839 --> 00:09:44.019 That is the aim of this conversation that he has. 00:09:44.019 --> 00:09:49.319 So it begs this question, how should we live while we wait for the king? 00:09:49.919 --> 00:09:54.559 And I think as we walk through this text, Jesus gives us five answers that are going to help us to do that. 00:09:55.159 --> 00:09:56.579 So here's what we should do. 00:09:56.980 --> 00:10:00.720 We should recognize, number one, we should recognize the king. 00:10:02.039 --> 00:10:02.939 Recognize the king. 00:10:03.740 --> 00:10:06.299 There in verse 20 and 21 again, they come and they ask him, 00:10:06.579 --> 00:10:07.960 when's the kingdom of God coming? 00:10:08.480 --> 00:10:13.299 And Jesus answers and says, the kingdom of God cometh not with observations. 00:10:14.019 --> 00:10:16.220 I mean, the Pharisees come and they want details. 00:10:16.939 --> 00:10:18.319 Anybody like details? 00:10:19.120 --> 00:10:20.299 I want to know what's going on. 00:10:20.939 --> 00:10:23.399 You know, I know my kids do when I say, hey, get in the car. 00:10:23.679 --> 00:10:27.740 Once I say get in the car, it is like a laundry list of questions that I have to answer. 00:10:28.079 --> 00:10:28.679 Where are we going? 00:10:28.899 --> 00:10:29.659 How far are we going? 00:10:29.819 --> 00:10:30.679 Do I need to bring a charger? 00:10:30.879 --> 00:10:31.539 Can I bring a book? 00:10:31.679 --> 00:10:32.379 Can I do this? 00:10:32.559 --> 00:10:33.460 Do I need to bring a pillow? 00:10:33.659 --> 00:10:34.720 I mean, it's like all these questions. 00:10:34.799 --> 00:10:36.059 I'm like, we're just going to go eat dinner. 00:10:36.559 --> 00:10:37.740 Just get in the car. 00:10:38.539 --> 00:10:39.919 You know, they want all these details. 00:10:40.059 --> 00:10:41.740 They want to know what's going on. 00:10:41.740 --> 00:10:43.319 And that's kind of how the Pharisees are. 00:10:44.120 --> 00:10:48.379 It's almost like, well, if you really are the son of God, then you should have all the details and you better give them to us. 00:10:48.879 --> 00:10:50.500 That's kind of where they're coming from. 00:10:50.679 --> 00:10:52.819 And in Jesus' answer, it seems different. 00:10:53.019 --> 00:10:55.559 He says, the kingdom of God cometh not with observation. 00:10:57.340 --> 00:11:06.759 Observation, it carries this idea of watching for something carefully, looking for all these external signs that allow you to calculate what's actually taking place. 00:11:06.759 --> 00:11:14.179 See, the Pharisees, they were looking for something they could observe, something they could chart, something they could point to and say, yep, there it is. 00:11:14.860 --> 00:11:16.000 That's what they were looking for. 00:11:16.039 --> 00:11:17.279 That's what they wanted to see. 00:11:17.279 --> 00:11:25.620 That phrase that he says in verse number 21, neither shall they say, lo here or lo there, for behold, the kingdom of God is within you. 00:11:26.899 --> 00:11:30.039 You say, well, I didn't think the Pharisees, they were really on team Jesus. 00:11:30.039 --> 00:11:35.439 Well, that phrase within you, it means among you or in the midst of you. 00:11:36.679 --> 00:11:42.419 And that's really the irony of this conversation that he has very quickly with them, that he is standing in front of them. 00:11:42.659 --> 00:11:44.639 They are asking when the kingdom is coming. 00:11:45.519 --> 00:11:47.519 And he's like, it's right here. 00:11:48.199 --> 00:11:49.360 You're looking at it. 00:11:49.360 --> 00:11:54.240 Because the kingdom is not necessarily, especially the kingdom of God, is not a physical place. 00:11:54.500 --> 00:11:57.220 It's this, where God's rule is in charge. 00:11:58.019 --> 00:11:59.279 And Jesus is in charge. 00:11:59.460 --> 00:12:01.320 And he is ruling and he's reigning. 00:12:01.580 --> 00:12:03.320 And yet they're completely missing it. 00:12:03.519 --> 00:12:06.460 Every time he shows himself, they say, well, that's not what we're looking for. 00:12:06.960 --> 00:12:08.360 We're looking for a political savior. 00:12:08.779 --> 00:12:12.460 We're looking for somebody that can take care of some real physical problems in our life. 00:12:12.460 --> 00:12:22.340 See, they were so focused on what they expected God to do, that they failed to recognize what he was already doing. 00:12:23.360 --> 00:12:24.879 They missed it completely. 00:12:25.220 --> 00:12:26.759 They wanted something dramatic. 00:12:27.519 --> 00:12:31.680 They wanted some giant thing and there's some written in the sky or whatever it might have been. 00:12:31.900 --> 00:12:34.259 And they just said, hey, if you would just show some real things. 00:12:34.320 --> 00:12:37.060 And I'm thinking, have they not seen what Jesus is doing? 00:12:37.700 --> 00:12:41.180 Have they not seen the good that he's doing and the lives that he's changing? 00:12:41.179 --> 00:12:44.259 I mean, these men have seen miracle after miracle. 00:12:45.019 --> 00:12:46.359 They've seen Jesus teach. 00:12:46.599 --> 00:12:49.359 They've watched the lame walk, the demons flee. 00:12:49.579 --> 00:12:53.120 They've watched the sick kill, the people thousands fed at a time. 00:12:54.439 --> 00:12:55.679 But here's the problem. 00:12:55.779 --> 00:12:58.399 It's the same problem then as it is today. 00:12:58.599 --> 00:13:00.779 It's not that God hasn't given enough evidence. 00:13:01.679 --> 00:13:03.779 It wasn't that they were missing the signs. 00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:05.419 They just didn't want Jesus. 00:13:06.579 --> 00:13:11.059 They wanted all the benefits of the kingdom without the actual king. 00:13:11.799 --> 00:13:14.919 They didn't recognize him because it wasn't what they expected. 00:13:15.500 --> 00:13:20.299 They had a preconceived idea and when it didn't match up, they said, well, that can't be the one we're looking for. 00:13:21.139 --> 00:13:23.120 No, they had to recognize who it was. 00:13:24.159 --> 00:13:26.179 And I think there's a warning here for us as well. 00:13:26.179 --> 00:13:34.959 That it is possible to become so interested in when Jesus is coming that we lose sight of Jesus himself. 00:13:34.960 --> 00:13:41.540 People can spend an enormous amount of time studying timelines. 00:13:41.940 --> 00:13:46.560 I mean, you start looking at end-time prophecies, you get on YouTube, you might never come out of that rabbit hole. 00:13:47.539 --> 00:13:50.579 And you might be so confused you don't even know your own name by the end of it. 00:13:50.580 --> 00:13:54.280 And if you're looking for end-time prophecy, don't go to YouTube. 00:13:54.400 --> 00:13:56.480 I just want to clarify that real quick. 00:13:57.020 --> 00:13:58.900 You can get sideways real fast. 00:13:58.899 --> 00:14:02.759 I mean, we look at what's going on in the Middle East. 00:14:03.299 --> 00:14:06.939 Every time something happens in the Middle East, every time something happens in Israel, it's like, is it time? 00:14:08.120 --> 00:14:10.539 No, I think there's signs and Jesus talks about that later. 00:14:10.600 --> 00:14:12.059 We're going to see later in the Gospel of Luke. 00:14:12.059 --> 00:14:20.779 But any time a world event happens, any time a sign happens, any time prophecy, everything, we're trying to connect all these headlines in the paper to a Bible verse. 00:14:21.899 --> 00:14:24.459 Jesus says, that's not what I've called you to do. 00:14:25.279 --> 00:14:30.500 You're looking for all the signs, but you're actually missing the most important thing, me, the king. 00:14:31.259 --> 00:14:35.239 See, biblical prophecy wasn't given to satisfy our curiosity. 00:14:35.639 --> 00:14:36.719 No, here's what it was given for. 00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:45.379 It was given to shape our faithfulness today in how we live our life and how we share the Gospel and how we love our family and how we love our neighbors. 00:14:45.580 --> 00:14:46.320 Because we know this. 00:14:46.600 --> 00:14:47.879 Jesus is coming back. 00:14:48.160 --> 00:14:51.240 We need to be ready, and we should share the truth with everybody else. 00:14:51.660 --> 00:14:53.379 That's what prophecy was given for. 00:14:53.759 --> 00:15:01.000 Because if your study of Christ and his return and his second coming doesn't make you love Christ more, if it doesn't make you more faithful, 00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:06.799 if it doesn't make you more concerned about lost people or more serious about your own holiness, then I think you've missed something. 00:15:07.980 --> 00:15:09.019 Because that was the Pharisee. 00:15:09.139 --> 00:15:12.139 He said, you said, guys, you are missing it, man. 00:15:12.159 --> 00:15:13.340 It's just going right over your head. 00:15:13.899 --> 00:15:15.399 And he said, that's not the point of it. 00:15:15.740 --> 00:15:18.299 The point is not simply to know what's coming. 00:15:18.460 --> 00:15:21.860 It's to know who is coming and to know him personally. 00:15:22.299 --> 00:15:28.100 And being ready for the kingdom begins with knowing the king and recognizing him. 00:15:28.100 --> 00:15:33.720 But Jesus doesn't stop with the kingdom that's already standing there in front of them. 00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:36.659 In verse number 22, he turns to his disciples now. 00:15:37.700 --> 00:15:40.399 Because more than likely, they had the same questions. 00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:42.860 We're going to see they're still confused too. 00:15:43.360 --> 00:15:45.320 I mean, they think they're going into a coronation. 00:15:45.779 --> 00:15:48.320 They think, Jesus, man, Jesus, you've got to take over soon, right? 00:15:49.040 --> 00:15:50.440 And they were still missing it. 00:15:51.080 --> 00:15:55.740 And so now he turns from the Pharisees to his disciples, and he moves from the kingdom come, 00:15:55.740 --> 00:15:58.779 I mean, the kingdom come to its coming. 00:15:59.899 --> 00:16:01.320 And so here's what he wants us to do. 00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:05.720 Not only should we recognize the king, number two, we should expect his return. 00:16:08.500 --> 00:16:13.519 See, here in these verses, Jesus does not sugarcoat anything for his disciples. 00:16:14.200 --> 00:16:16.180 And I'm thankful for the truth of the word of God. 00:16:16.799 --> 00:16:19.720 You should be thankful to God and say, hey, man, you're all champions and life's great. 00:16:19.779 --> 00:16:20.539 You're going to have no problems. 00:16:21.460 --> 00:16:23.639 Well, we've lived life, and that's not how it works. 00:16:23.639 --> 00:16:25.840 And that's kind of what he tells his disciples. 00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:30.919 He says, listen, the days will come when you shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, 00:16:30.960 --> 00:16:31.919 and you shall see it not. 00:16:32.559 --> 00:16:37.600 And they shall say to you, see here or see there, go not after them, nor follow them. 00:16:38.319 --> 00:16:43.699 For as the lightning that lighteth out one part of under heaven shineth unto another part under heaven, 00:16:43.980 --> 00:16:46.539 so shall also the Son of Man be in his days. 00:16:47.779 --> 00:16:50.679 He reminds his disciples, because they don't know it, but he does, 00:16:51.139 --> 00:16:52.960 he's not always going to be with them physically. 00:16:54.159 --> 00:16:55.580 He's heading towards the cross. 00:16:56.100 --> 00:16:57.759 He's still marching towards Jerusalem. 00:16:57.879 --> 00:16:59.679 We saw that at the beginning of chapter number 17. 00:17:00.120 --> 00:17:00.840 That is the goal. 00:17:00.939 --> 00:17:01.539 That is the aim. 00:17:01.620 --> 00:17:03.659 That's where he is planning to head. 00:17:04.859 --> 00:17:08.119 And he knows that when he's gone, they're going to face persecution. 00:17:09.240 --> 00:17:12.839 They're going to endure some serious opposition. 00:17:13.500 --> 00:17:16.180 They're going to suffer for the cause of Christ, 00:17:16.180 --> 00:17:21.580 and they're going to remember what it was like to walk with Jesus and just long for a day like that. 00:17:22.320 --> 00:17:26.880 And say, Lord, I just want you to come back because this life is just too hard. 00:17:27.259 --> 00:17:30.860 And because of that longing, Jesus warns them, don't be deceived. 00:17:31.700 --> 00:17:33.779 Don't believe every claim that you hear. 00:17:34.080 --> 00:17:37.960 Don't run after every person that says, hey, it's happening then, and it's happening here. 00:17:38.100 --> 00:17:39.240 I figured it all out. 00:17:39.320 --> 00:17:39.840 This is right. 00:17:39.839 --> 00:17:43.839 This proves he's coming now because if you read this paper and you look at this YouTube, 00:17:43.959 --> 00:17:46.019 then you'll know Jesus is coming back. 00:17:46.859 --> 00:17:48.819 Jesus says be careful about those things. 00:17:49.859 --> 00:17:54.079 Don't get bogged down in your life, stuck in a book, trying to chart a timeline. 00:17:54.339 --> 00:17:57.799 No, live your life like I'm coming again. 00:17:58.419 --> 00:17:59.559 That's what he's reminding them. 00:17:59.740 --> 00:18:01.159 Expect me to come back. 00:18:01.419 --> 00:18:02.659 Why does Jesus say this? 00:18:02.660 --> 00:18:07.560 Because when he returns, verse number 24, nobody's going to have to convince you that it happened. 00:18:08.740 --> 00:18:11.740 That's what the idea there in verse number 24 is. 00:18:13.120 --> 00:18:15.360 He's kind of painting this powerful picture. 00:18:16.140 --> 00:18:20.600 I'm sure we've all been outside during a storm, or you see a storm off in the distance, 00:18:21.019 --> 00:18:22.820 and lightning suddenly flashes. 00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:27.340 You don't have to announce and say, I think that was lightning over there. 00:18:28.500 --> 00:18:29.640 Everybody saw it. 00:18:30.140 --> 00:18:30.840 It's lightning. 00:18:30.839 --> 00:18:33.119 And that's kind of what he's saying here. 00:18:33.559 --> 00:18:36.899 Nobody has to say, everybody, if you look real close and you look at all these things, 00:18:36.939 --> 00:18:38.639 you're going to see some lightning over there. 00:18:39.439 --> 00:18:40.819 No, he said you've got eyeballs. 00:18:41.500 --> 00:18:42.699 You're going to know what happens. 00:18:43.199 --> 00:18:44.419 It lights up the sky. 00:18:44.579 --> 00:18:45.659 It's very clearly. 00:18:45.980 --> 00:18:48.399 And Jesus says, that's what my coming is going to be like. 00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:49.859 It's going to be visible. 00:18:50.019 --> 00:18:50.639 It's going to be sudden. 00:18:50.740 --> 00:18:52.079 It's going to be unmistakable. 00:18:52.319 --> 00:18:56.539 The return of Christ won't be some hidden event that only a few people are going to understand. 00:18:57.500 --> 00:18:59.019 No, he's coming again. 00:18:59.019 --> 00:19:01.420 See, and here's the message to his disciples. 00:19:01.819 --> 00:19:03.059 Expect me to come again. 00:19:04.420 --> 00:19:05.839 Don't be searching all these things. 00:19:05.920 --> 00:19:06.759 You know I'm coming. 00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:08.920 So live like I've taught you to live. 00:19:09.299 --> 00:19:09.900 Follow me. 00:19:10.220 --> 00:19:11.099 Share the truth. 00:19:12.859 --> 00:19:15.740 But then verse 25, Jesus says something that we cannot skip. 00:19:17.019 --> 00:19:20.000 We can't move quickly past this word, must. 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:27.940 He says, but first must he suffer many things and be rejected of this generation. 00:19:29.700 --> 00:19:35.680 See, before the crown, before he comes back as the king of kings, there had to be a cross. 00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:44.259 Before he comes as the reigning king, the Lord of lords, he first came as a suffering savior. 00:19:44.259 --> 00:19:49.720 There's times Peter says, Jesus, hey, you're not going to do that. 00:19:49.900 --> 00:19:51.700 Over my dead body, you're going to the cross. 00:19:52.500 --> 00:19:54.559 And Jesus says this, get thee behind me, Satan. 00:19:55.579 --> 00:19:57.740 See, because it wasn't just the Pharisees that wanted the crown. 00:19:57.980 --> 00:19:58.839 It was the disciples. 00:19:59.819 --> 00:20:02.359 But Jesus reminds us, that's not how it works. 00:20:02.359 --> 00:20:06.079 And I just want to remind us today that the cross wasn't plan B. 00:20:07.240 --> 00:20:08.939 That the cross wasn't a bump in the road. 00:20:09.539 --> 00:20:14.379 That Jesus didn't get caught up in the political wills of the day and become a martyr for a cause. 00:20:14.639 --> 00:20:16.639 No, he came as a sovereign savior. 00:20:17.240 --> 00:20:21.179 He came with this in mind, that his face was towards Jerusalem, 00:20:21.339 --> 00:20:24.659 because he came to seek and to save that which was lost. 00:20:25.240 --> 00:20:27.439 And Jesus knew exactly where he was going. 00:20:27.699 --> 00:20:28.899 He came to be rejected. 00:20:29.139 --> 00:20:30.059 He came to suffer. 00:20:30.059 --> 00:20:33.299 He came to be crucified for our sins. 00:20:34.240 --> 00:20:38.319 See, because before there can ever be a kingdom filled with redeemed sinners, 00:20:38.500 --> 00:20:43.059 there had to be a cross where the king would pay for the sins of the whole world. 00:20:43.299 --> 00:20:45.519 For God so loved the world. 00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:47.359 That had to happen. 00:20:47.659 --> 00:20:48.799 That's the gospel. 00:20:49.859 --> 00:20:53.379 And Jesus is reminding his disciples, listen, stop being like the Pharisees. 00:20:53.480 --> 00:20:55.679 Stop wondering and trying to figure all of these things out. 00:20:55.899 --> 00:20:57.319 Just expect me coming. 00:20:57.319 --> 00:21:01.159 And when you expect me, you know who I am. 00:21:02.639 --> 00:21:06.299 Listen, if you know Christ is your savior, we're not waiting for somebody we've never met. 00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:08.480 We're waiting for our redeemer. 00:21:09.439 --> 00:21:11.299 He's promised that he's coming again. 00:21:11.879 --> 00:21:15.679 And so as a Christian, the return of Jesus shouldn't produce fear. 00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:20.440 I would imagine if we took a poll, maybe here, maybe not. 00:21:20.700 --> 00:21:23.779 But in Christianity in general, I think people are scared of the book of Revelation. 00:21:24.980 --> 00:21:27.660 Some people just don't read it because I don't like it and it scares me. 00:21:28.340 --> 00:21:28.560 No, no. 00:21:28.600 --> 00:21:29.259 Here's what it should do. 00:21:29.420 --> 00:21:30.420 It should comfort you. 00:21:31.100 --> 00:21:37.980 It should comfort you that God has saved you from those things and he's promised to come back and to receive you unto himself. 00:21:37.980 --> 00:21:40.860 No, the return of Christ, we should expect it. 00:21:41.059 --> 00:21:42.400 It should produce expectation. 00:21:42.740 --> 00:21:44.059 It should produce excitement. 00:21:45.339 --> 00:21:47.000 That's what he wants us to see. 00:21:47.559 --> 00:21:49.599 That the end times, it can be scary. 00:21:50.079 --> 00:21:52.680 We look around at our world and we think, man, this thing's falling apart. 00:21:52.900 --> 00:21:53.559 It is. 00:21:53.700 --> 00:21:55.039 But he said it would. 00:21:55.920 --> 00:21:58.759 All the things going on shouldn't surprise any of us. 00:21:58.759 --> 00:22:01.579 But it should not change the way that we live. 00:22:02.039 --> 00:22:03.359 He didn't say be a hermit. 00:22:03.619 --> 00:22:04.579 No, here's what he says later. 00:22:04.980 --> 00:22:06.059 Occupy till I come. 00:22:06.839 --> 00:22:08.379 Do what I've called you to do. 00:22:09.960 --> 00:22:11.299 But Jesus knows this. 00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:16.079 There's a danger when you're waiting for something for a long time. 00:22:17.599 --> 00:22:19.140 You can know it's coming. 00:22:19.819 --> 00:22:21.160 You can believe it's coming. 00:22:22.160 --> 00:22:25.460 And yet you can start slowly living like it never will. 00:22:25.460 --> 00:22:30.840 Because the greatest danger may not be that we deny his return. 00:22:31.660 --> 00:22:37.840 It might become that we're so comfortable with ordinary life that we stop living like he's coming at all. 00:22:38.819 --> 00:22:41.460 So thirdly, here's what he wants us to see in verses 26 to 30. 00:22:41.720 --> 00:22:43.259 We need to avoid getting distracted. 00:22:44.620 --> 00:22:46.120 Anybody here get distracted easily? 00:22:49.259 --> 00:22:50.039 Yeah, I do. 00:22:50.700 --> 00:22:52.579 I mean, I'm all those letters. 00:22:52.680 --> 00:22:54.059 ADHD, whatever it might be. 00:22:54.059 --> 00:22:56.359 I mean, sometimes I have a hard time focusing. 00:22:58.480 --> 00:23:01.659 But what Jesus does in these verses, he takes us back to the Old Testament. 00:23:02.599 --> 00:23:06.539 And he gives us two examples and shows us kind of what's taking place. 00:23:07.240 --> 00:23:07.940 Verse 26 says, 00:23:08.019 --> 00:23:11.460 As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it also be in the days of the Son of Man. 00:23:12.159 --> 00:23:16.879 They did eat, and they drank, and they married wives, and they were given in marriage until the day that Noah entered into the ark. 00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:19.639 And the flood came and destroyed them all. 00:23:19.640 --> 00:23:24.860 He gives another example of an Old Testament in verse number 28. 00:23:26.100 --> 00:23:27.680 Likewise also was in the days of Lot. 00:23:28.180 --> 00:23:31.220 And they did eat, and drank, and bought, and sold, and planted, and built. 00:23:31.220 --> 00:23:36.600 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom, and rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 00:23:38.220 --> 00:23:46.200 See, these things that Jesus lists here, both in the days of Noah and the days of Lot, there was nothing inherently sinful about those things. 00:23:46.900 --> 00:23:50.440 Now, we know in both of these situations there was some wicked sin. 00:23:51.180 --> 00:23:56.019 The Bible tells us in Genesis 6 that the thoughts of man was continually wicked all the time. 00:23:56.480 --> 00:24:00.180 We saw the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah, and it was more than just homosexuality. 00:24:00.180 --> 00:24:00.799 It was pride. 00:24:00.880 --> 00:24:02.240 It was all kinds of things. 00:24:02.880 --> 00:24:05.279 They had really kind of bowed up against God. 00:24:05.340 --> 00:24:06.460 It was all of these things. 00:24:06.700 --> 00:24:09.360 But these things that he's talking about, there's nothing wrong with them. 00:24:09.360 --> 00:24:11.620 In fact, when you look at it, it's stuff that we do. 00:24:12.380 --> 00:24:17.720 Make dinner, plan weddings, buy property, run businesses, plant crops, build homes. 00:24:17.720 --> 00:24:20.960 They were doing the same kind of things in those days that we're doing today. 00:24:22.000 --> 00:24:23.000 And that's the warning. 00:24:23.740 --> 00:24:25.440 That's what he wants to remind us. 00:24:26.039 --> 00:24:27.960 See, their problem wasn't simply wickedness. 00:24:28.200 --> 00:24:30.259 Yes, that was there, and that was a major issue. 00:24:30.420 --> 00:24:34.660 But a lot of the problem was just complete indifference to the things of God. 00:24:35.460 --> 00:24:37.079 We're just going to live our life. 00:24:37.240 --> 00:24:38.720 Hey, Lot, you don't tell us what to do. 00:24:38.900 --> 00:24:41.160 Hey, Noah, just build your boat and leave us alone. 00:24:41.360 --> 00:24:45.740 Hey, we're just living our life to each their own, and we're doing all of these things right here. 00:24:45.740 --> 00:24:50.779 And they were so consumed with ordinary life, they gave no thought to what was coming. 00:24:52.759 --> 00:24:57.079 Noah preached for 120 years, and they said, man, this guy's lost his mind. 00:24:57.839 --> 00:24:58.620 What's rain? 00:24:58.940 --> 00:24:59.940 They didn't know what rain was. 00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:02.700 And he's out here building this boat in the middle of the desert. 00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:03.819 What a weirdo. 00:25:04.579 --> 00:25:05.720 That's kind of how they looked at it. 00:25:06.200 --> 00:25:08.140 And Noah said, hey, the rain's coming. 00:25:08.799 --> 00:25:10.460 Hey, God said this is going to happen. 00:25:10.460 --> 00:25:17.059 Even Lot, when he, Lot was in a bad spot, but even when he tried to reach out and tried to convince his family, 00:25:17.140 --> 00:25:18.240 they said, Noah, what? 00:25:18.960 --> 00:25:20.019 Lot, you're crazy. 00:25:21.840 --> 00:25:25.519 See, Noah was building an ark, and everybody else was just worried about building their life. 00:25:26.559 --> 00:25:29.740 Until one day the door closed, and the rain fell. 00:25:29.799 --> 00:25:31.160 Noah, Noah, let us in. 00:25:31.460 --> 00:25:32.680 Noah, hey, I can't. 00:25:33.100 --> 00:25:34.019 The door's closed. 00:25:34.019 --> 00:25:39.720 Lot, Lot was, everybody was good in Sodom and Gomorrah until Lot left. 00:25:40.279 --> 00:25:44.480 Everybody just continued with business, as usual, until the fire fell. 00:25:45.480 --> 00:25:47.759 And then they realized, we're in a bad spot. 00:25:49.680 --> 00:25:56.279 See, verse 30 reminds us that the world doesn't have to stop believing that Jesus is coming. 00:25:56.740 --> 00:25:58.900 They just get too busy to really care. 00:25:58.900 --> 00:26:04.240 And if we're not careful, we can even live that way as believers. 00:26:06.460 --> 00:26:10.420 I mean, because people say, and you talk about it, you talk about the second coming, and they say, 00:26:10.560 --> 00:26:12.280 it's been 2,000 years, where is he? 00:26:13.340 --> 00:26:15.180 You've been saying all this time he's coming back. 00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:15.960 Well, where is he? 00:26:16.700 --> 00:26:18.820 I mean, if God really loved us, why did all these bad things happen? 00:26:18.900 --> 00:26:21.060 If he really cared, why didn't he come back and do something about it? 00:26:22.519 --> 00:26:28.519 See, the danger that we can have in our life is we allow good and ordinary things to crowd out eternal things. 00:26:29.600 --> 00:26:31.820 And to be reminded that we're not living for the here and now. 00:26:33.240 --> 00:26:35.940 That God's reminding us over and over again, he's coming back. 00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:38.920 And we're not here to build our kingdom. 00:26:39.480 --> 00:26:40.620 We're here to build his. 00:26:41.420 --> 00:26:42.560 And his kingdom is people. 00:26:43.140 --> 00:26:44.920 And he wants us to share the gospel with him. 00:26:45.060 --> 00:26:48.900 And we can build a good life and forget that this life isn't all there is. 00:26:48.900 --> 00:26:53.500 We can be so busy planning for the next week that we give very little thought about eternity. 00:26:54.100 --> 00:26:55.080 And about that co-worker. 00:26:55.300 --> 00:26:56.200 And about our family member. 00:26:56.380 --> 00:26:57.060 And about our children. 00:26:57.240 --> 00:27:00.400 And about that neighbor that never heard the gospel. 00:27:00.400 --> 00:27:07.580 And I think that's where this passage and especially this thought right here, it becomes so incredibly practical. 00:27:09.600 --> 00:27:12.720 Because I would imagine the majority of us are not going to wake up one morning and say, 00:27:13.060 --> 00:27:15.160 I've decided I don't believe Jesus is ever coming back. 00:27:16.340 --> 00:27:17.900 I think we know that to be true. 00:27:17.900 --> 00:27:21.720 I think it happens much more quietly though. 00:27:22.340 --> 00:27:25.180 We get busy and we get comfortable and we get distracted. 00:27:26.640 --> 00:27:33.740 And I think somewhere along the way, the return of Christ becomes a doctrine we believe and not a reality that affects the way that we live. 00:27:35.400 --> 00:27:39.220 And what Jesus is saying right here is, church, it's time to wake up. 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:43.620 Christian, it's time to start living like Jesus is coming back. 00:27:44.040 --> 00:27:45.019 Because he is. 00:27:45.680 --> 00:27:47.460 It's time to get real about this. 00:27:47.460 --> 00:27:50.539 And Jesus isn't saying, hey, stop living your life. 00:27:50.940 --> 00:27:51.160 No, no. 00:27:51.259 --> 00:27:52.279 Here's what Jesus says. 00:27:52.539 --> 00:27:53.140 Go to work. 00:27:53.400 --> 00:27:54.120 Raise a family. 00:27:54.440 --> 00:27:55.120 Build a house. 00:27:55.360 --> 00:27:56.059 Take a vacation. 00:27:56.360 --> 00:27:57.100 Plan for the future. 00:27:57.380 --> 00:28:01.799 But while you're doing that, make sure that your heart is fixed on something beyond. 00:28:02.519 --> 00:28:04.819 That we're not living for that job and that house and that vacation. 00:28:05.079 --> 00:28:06.700 No, we're living for the king. 00:28:07.220 --> 00:28:08.880 This world is not our home. 00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:11.100 We're just passing through. 00:28:11.340 --> 00:28:14.160 The king is coming back and we need to be ready for that. 00:28:14.160 --> 00:28:19.040 Maybe one of the best questions we can ask ourselves this morning is this. 00:28:19.040 --> 00:28:24.880 What has my attention that won't matter at all when Jesus comes back? 00:28:26.940 --> 00:28:28.660 That's a probing question. 00:28:29.860 --> 00:28:31.860 It may not be sinful at all. 00:28:32.380 --> 00:28:33.279 But here's what it's doing. 00:28:33.360 --> 00:28:34.519 It's consuming your life. 00:28:34.519 --> 00:28:38.279 Everything in your life is focused on that one thing. 00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:43.799 And it may not be that God wants you to get rid of it, but we need to check our priorities. 00:28:44.639 --> 00:28:45.740 What are we living for? 00:28:47.259 --> 00:28:53.200 And see, Jesus, what he does is he takes that warning here that he gives us here and he takes it one step further. 00:28:54.039 --> 00:28:59.379 Because it is possible to become not only distracted by this world, but attached to this world. 00:28:59.380 --> 00:29:01.740 So here's what we should do as believers. 00:29:02.400 --> 00:29:05.460 We should hold this world loosely. 00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:08.860 We should hold this world loosely. 00:29:10.200 --> 00:29:10.780 Verse 31. 00:29:11.740 --> 00:29:14.720 In that day he which shall be upon the housetop. 00:29:14.760 --> 00:29:17.600 In that day when Jesus returns is what he's referring to. 00:29:18.580 --> 00:29:22.480 And his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away. 00:29:23.060 --> 00:29:26.920 And he that is in the field, let him not likewise return back. 00:29:27.660 --> 00:29:28.800 So here's what Jesus is saying. 00:29:28.799 --> 00:29:33.019 Hey, when I come back, you're not going to have time to gather all your stuff. 00:29:33.639 --> 00:29:34.720 You're not going to say, oh, Jesus is coming back. 00:29:34.759 --> 00:29:36.419 Let me hook up my U-Haul real quick. 00:29:36.659 --> 00:29:37.759 I'm going to take all this stuff with me. 00:29:38.339 --> 00:29:39.279 That's kind of what he's saying. 00:29:40.039 --> 00:29:42.639 You know, you've heard the joke, you've never seen a hearse pull in a U-Haul. 00:29:43.119 --> 00:29:47.579 We know that's true, but sometimes we live like all the things we have we're going to take with us one day. 00:29:48.379 --> 00:29:49.539 That's not how it works. 00:29:50.119 --> 00:29:51.619 That's not what God has called us to. 00:29:51.819 --> 00:29:54.799 And then he gives us this really weird kind of short command. 00:29:56.299 --> 00:29:57.579 Remember Lot's wife. 00:29:58.799 --> 00:29:59.539 Very short. 00:29:59.659 --> 00:30:02.299 You know, when I had to learn some memory verses, they said you've got to have all these memories. 00:30:02.619 --> 00:30:03.379 Jesus wept. 00:30:03.599 --> 00:30:04.659 Remember Lot's wife. 00:30:04.799 --> 00:30:06.759 You know, deep, deep ones. 00:30:07.299 --> 00:30:08.299 They are good verses. 00:30:09.220 --> 00:30:11.700 But like, what is he talking about here? 00:30:12.159 --> 00:30:13.940 Why would he give this little warning? 00:30:15.399 --> 00:30:17.139 Well, his disciples would have known the story. 00:30:17.140 --> 00:30:19.500 You remember he's talking to them. 00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:26.360 I would imagine we're somewhat familiar, but what's happening is God is going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. 00:30:26.580 --> 00:30:28.240 And Abraham is pleading with him. 00:30:28.520 --> 00:30:31.180 If there's 50 righteous, and if there's 40, and there's 30, there's 20. 00:30:31.380 --> 00:30:32.620 He said, would you save the city? 00:30:33.080 --> 00:30:35.360 And sadly, there wasn't that many there. 00:30:35.359 --> 00:30:39.259 But what God does is he delivers Lot's family. 00:30:40.299 --> 00:30:43.000 And when he's delivering Lot's family, he gives them a very clear command. 00:30:43.079 --> 00:30:44.039 He says, you need to get out. 00:30:44.799 --> 00:30:45.579 Don't stop. 00:30:46.319 --> 00:30:47.079 Don't look back. 00:30:47.819 --> 00:30:50.219 I'm saving you from the destruction that's coming. 00:30:50.579 --> 00:30:52.339 But Genesis 19.26 says this. 00:30:52.679 --> 00:30:57.919 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. 00:30:57.920 --> 00:31:06.560 So why does Jesus just throw this random, it seems at times, verse where he says, hey, by the way, remember Lot's wife. 00:31:07.580 --> 00:31:10.200 Here's what he's showing, and it really ties into the next verse. 00:31:11.039 --> 00:31:13.580 Yes, Lot's wife physically left Sodom. 00:31:14.620 --> 00:31:19.700 But when she looked back, she revealed her heart was still there. 00:31:21.860 --> 00:31:24.180 And it wasn't just the wickedness. 00:31:24.660 --> 00:31:25.779 That was her life. 00:31:26.200 --> 00:31:26.900 That was her home. 00:31:26.900 --> 00:31:30.340 There was family members that were still there, and understandably so. 00:31:30.980 --> 00:31:34.660 But she was still connected, and she was still tied in. 00:31:34.900 --> 00:31:37.019 And she really wasn't looking at all the things. 00:31:37.200 --> 00:31:38.400 She wasn't looking at the bigger picture. 00:31:38.620 --> 00:31:42.080 She becomes so focused on life that she really missed what God had for her. 00:31:42.220 --> 00:31:45.820 And because of that, Jesus says, remember Lot's wife. 00:31:46.960 --> 00:31:50.800 And Jesus is reminding us of this truth, that when he calls us to follow him, 00:31:50.920 --> 00:31:53.580 when we choose him and trust him as Savior, 00:31:53.580 --> 00:31:56.680 he isn't asking us to just make him an addition to our life. 00:31:56.900 --> 00:31:58.640 No, we are to follow him completely. 00:31:59.900 --> 00:32:01.400 He calls for complete surrender. 00:32:01.540 --> 00:32:05.180 Verse 33, whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it, 00:32:05.340 --> 00:32:08.880 and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. 00:32:09.720 --> 00:32:11.580 Here's what Jesus is calling us to do. 00:32:11.920 --> 00:32:13.860 Surrender our life completely. 00:32:14.920 --> 00:32:16.860 We're not to hold tightly to this world. 00:32:16.859 --> 00:32:18.699 No, we're to cling to Christ. 00:32:18.919 --> 00:32:20.939 He said it another way in Luke 9, 24, 00:32:21.279 --> 00:32:23.500 for whosoever shall save his life shall lose it, 00:32:23.699 --> 00:32:27.279 but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall save it. 00:32:28.079 --> 00:32:29.419 That's what he wants us to do. 00:32:29.679 --> 00:32:34.039 Listen, Jesus, what he's doing, he is returning once again to the heart of discipleship. 00:32:34.039 --> 00:32:39.659 Jesus, following Christ, is not adding him to your busy schedule. 00:32:40.399 --> 00:32:44.299 It is surrendering everything in your life to him. 00:32:44.879 --> 00:32:47.200 Listen, you cannot cling tightly to Christ 00:32:47.200 --> 00:32:52.519 while simultaneously clinging tightly to everything the world offers. 00:32:55.139 --> 00:32:56.359 Let me ask you this. 00:32:56.359 --> 00:33:02.199 What do you consider to be too valuable to surrender to him? 00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:05.839 At first you think, well, nothing. 00:33:07.119 --> 00:33:08.059 No, really think about it. 00:33:08.919 --> 00:33:11.159 There's probably something in your life that you're holding on to. 00:33:11.419 --> 00:33:12.059 You know how I know that? 00:33:12.399 --> 00:33:13.139 Because I am. 00:33:14.459 --> 00:33:15.240 I'll just be honest. 00:33:15.979 --> 00:33:18.519 And the Lord just kind of worked me over on this verse. 00:33:19.119 --> 00:33:21.959 And it's not bad things, but I feel like it's very important. 00:33:22.059 --> 00:33:24.259 It's my job, and it's my thing, and I've got to take care of this, 00:33:24.259 --> 00:33:25.259 and I'm the man of the house, 00:33:25.259 --> 00:33:27.440 and I've got all these excuses why I've got to do it. 00:33:27.619 --> 00:33:28.319 No, here's what the Lord says. 00:33:28.460 --> 00:33:29.279 You need to trust me. 00:33:30.339 --> 00:33:31.460 You need to live for me. 00:33:32.440 --> 00:33:34.160 See, Jesus does not say here, 00:33:34.240 --> 00:33:36.660 do not misunderstand, that possessions are evil. 00:33:36.960 --> 00:33:38.900 The issue isn't whether you have things. 00:33:39.039 --> 00:33:40.960 The issue is whether things have you. 00:33:42.039 --> 00:33:43.319 That's a big difference there. 00:33:44.779 --> 00:33:45.859 Money can be a tool. 00:33:46.480 --> 00:33:48.119 A career can be used for God's glory. 00:33:48.339 --> 00:33:51.740 But none of those things can be the defining thing about us. 00:33:51.920 --> 00:33:53.259 Because you know what eventually happens? 00:33:53.879 --> 00:33:54.700 You leave it all. 00:33:55.259 --> 00:33:56.180 It's gone. 00:33:56.779 --> 00:33:57.920 It's not there anymore. 00:33:58.799 --> 00:33:59.960 But your soul is eternal. 00:34:00.700 --> 00:34:02.279 Your children's soul is eternal. 00:34:03.000 --> 00:34:04.700 Your neighbor's soul is eternal. 00:34:06.420 --> 00:34:10.159 You see, real faith looks back at what Christ has already done. 00:34:11.119 --> 00:34:15.219 And because of that, looks forward to what Christ has promised to do, 00:34:15.599 --> 00:34:16.760 and then lives accordingly. 00:34:17.579 --> 00:34:18.739 That's what Jesus says. 00:34:19.699 --> 00:34:23.239 That's the exact tension I think we're all living in today if we know Christ. 00:34:23.919 --> 00:34:24.699 We know He's come. 00:34:25.099 --> 00:34:25.939 We celebrate it. 00:34:26.139 --> 00:34:27.299 We celebrate His birth at Christmas. 00:34:27.439 --> 00:34:28.979 We celebrate His resurrection at Easter. 00:34:29.219 --> 00:34:31.779 We celebrate His life and all the things He's helped us do. 00:34:31.939 --> 00:34:32.959 And we're thankful for it. 00:34:33.079 --> 00:34:34.619 But we also know He's coming again. 00:34:35.119 --> 00:34:37.799 And between those two realities, here's what He's called us to do. 00:34:38.019 --> 00:34:39.299 Walk and live by faith. 00:34:40.139 --> 00:34:41.739 The just shall live by faith. 00:34:42.659 --> 00:34:43.299 And how do we do that? 00:34:43.339 --> 00:34:44.719 We hold this world loosely. 00:34:45.519 --> 00:34:47.899 And we cling to Christ tightly. 00:34:47.900 --> 00:34:54.720 So if Jesus came today, what would you have trouble leaving behind? 00:34:56.880 --> 00:34:59.860 Hopefully the things you have trouble leaving behind are the things you're actually taking with you. 00:35:00.720 --> 00:35:01.480 Your family. 00:35:02.340 --> 00:35:02.980 Your friends. 00:35:03.840 --> 00:35:05.539 You know, the really important things in life. 00:35:06.720 --> 00:35:11.720 See, the Christian life is not saying about how much of this world we can hold on to while still following Jesus. 00:35:12.059 --> 00:35:15.860 It's about realizing that we have Christ, and that's all we really needed anyways. 00:35:15.860 --> 00:35:18.400 He's going to take care of everything else. 00:35:19.079 --> 00:35:23.200 Sermon on the Mount, He says, hey, listen, don't worry about what you're going to eat, what you're going to wear, what you're going to do. 00:35:23.840 --> 00:35:24.840 I'll take care of that. 00:35:25.460 --> 00:35:26.280 Here's what I want you to do. 00:35:26.579 --> 00:35:29.980 Seek ye first the kingdom of God. 00:35:30.579 --> 00:35:32.640 He's not saying, looking for this, you know what the kingdom of God is? 00:35:32.980 --> 00:35:33.300 Jesus. 00:35:34.340 --> 00:35:35.559 Every kingdom has a ruler. 00:35:35.940 --> 00:35:37.740 Seek ye first me. 00:35:38.200 --> 00:35:44.280 And all these things we're worrying about, all these things we have to have, all these things will be added unto you. 00:35:44.280 --> 00:35:47.560 So, that's the point of Jesus' message right there. 00:35:47.780 --> 00:35:48.700 But He isn't finished. 00:35:49.660 --> 00:35:53.519 Because His return will do more than expose what we value. 00:35:53.780 --> 00:35:55.480 It's going to reveal something much more serious. 00:35:55.740 --> 00:35:58.140 Here's what it's going to reveal, whether we truly belong to Him or not. 00:35:59.280 --> 00:36:00.500 So, lastly, we see this. 00:36:00.760 --> 00:36:03.720 We should make sure that we're ready. 00:36:03.719 --> 00:36:10.139 I mean, we've seen this theme over and over again, especially in the last four or five chapters here in Luke's Gospel. 00:36:11.459 --> 00:36:17.119 So, Jesus really takes this conversation He's having and He boils it down to something deeply personal. 00:36:18.359 --> 00:36:21.500 When you read verse 34 to 36, it kind of seems weird. 00:36:21.619 --> 00:36:22.980 Like, what's He talking about? 00:36:24.000 --> 00:36:26.819 That two people are there in one bed and one shall be taken to the other left. 00:36:26.899 --> 00:36:29.059 Two shall be grinding and the other taking the other. 00:36:29.139 --> 00:36:30.019 Two men in the field. 00:36:30.019 --> 00:36:32.920 Here's what Jesus is doing. 00:36:33.699 --> 00:36:42.019 He's painting a picture of two people in the same place, doing the same activity, in the same moment. 00:36:42.759 --> 00:36:50.179 But when Jesus comes, when judgment comes, they experience completely different outcomes. 00:36:51.360 --> 00:36:52.820 That's what He's showing here. 00:36:53.920 --> 00:36:54.739 Think about it like this. 00:36:54.739 --> 00:36:59.359 This outward proximity does not equal inward readiness. 00:37:00.459 --> 00:37:02.579 Because we can all look the same on the outside. 00:37:03.379 --> 00:37:04.799 But here's what Jesus wants us to know. 00:37:05.179 --> 00:37:06.579 In our heart, do we know Christ? 00:37:07.639 --> 00:37:09.279 What's the inside look like? 00:37:09.819 --> 00:37:14.079 Sometimes we're so worried and we're saying about, you know, we come to church, we want to say the right things and dress the right way. 00:37:14.279 --> 00:37:17.379 Listen, that's not what matters to Christ. 00:37:18.079 --> 00:37:19.239 Does He have your heart? 00:37:19.679 --> 00:37:20.619 Do you know Him? 00:37:20.819 --> 00:37:22.619 Have you placed your faith and trust in Him? 00:37:22.619 --> 00:37:24.599 Because two people can be under the same roof. 00:37:24.819 --> 00:37:26.219 They can sit on the same church pew. 00:37:26.460 --> 00:37:29.000 They can hear the same sermons, know the same Bible verses. 00:37:29.279 --> 00:37:34.079 They can look almost identical outwardly but have completely different relationships with God. 00:37:35.199 --> 00:37:38.259 And He says there's coming a day where it will all be made known. 00:37:39.279 --> 00:37:43.779 You can't hide from the Lord because ultimately God knows the heart. 00:37:43.780 --> 00:37:50.320 And when Christ returns, there's going to be no confusion or mistakes, no hiding behind somebody else's faith. 00:37:50.519 --> 00:37:52.620 You can't say, well, my mom and dad were Christians. 00:37:53.440 --> 00:37:54.700 I went to church. 00:37:55.080 --> 00:37:55.920 I got baptized. 00:37:56.540 --> 00:37:57.519 I'm on the roll. 00:37:57.780 --> 00:37:59.240 I've always tried to be a good person. 00:37:59.640 --> 00:38:05.040 This is why this passage isn't primarily about satisfying our curiosity about prophecy. 00:38:06.300 --> 00:38:10.620 No, Jesus tells us He's coming again so we can be ready. 00:38:10.619 --> 00:38:13.279 He wants us to be ready. 00:38:14.339 --> 00:38:17.900 He's not trying to pull the wool over our eyes and we've got to just guess. 00:38:17.980 --> 00:38:19.179 No, He's saying, just be ready. 00:38:20.259 --> 00:38:21.639 You know, my parents would go somewhere. 00:38:21.739 --> 00:38:23.880 I got a little bit older and I always say, hey, when are you coming home? 00:38:24.980 --> 00:38:29.639 Not because I cared when they were coming home so I could clean up the absolute disaster that I was about to make. 00:38:31.239 --> 00:38:31.579 You know. 00:38:32.639 --> 00:38:34.719 And they said, just, my dad said this, just be ready. 00:38:35.779 --> 00:38:36.739 Just do what you're supposed to. 00:38:36.739 --> 00:38:39.599 That's what Jesus is saying right here. 00:38:40.339 --> 00:38:41.159 Make sure you're ready. 00:38:42.179 --> 00:38:46.479 Because when the Son of Man is revealed, everything that's hidden right now is going to become clear. 00:38:48.339 --> 00:38:49.439 I love the disciples, though. 00:38:49.579 --> 00:38:52.379 He gives all this thing and they say, where, Lord? 00:38:52.839 --> 00:38:54.459 Verse 37. 00:38:55.699 --> 00:38:58.000 They're trying to be a little more, you know, spiritual about it. 00:38:58.019 --> 00:39:00.219 But they're basically saying the same thing that the Pharisees are saying. 00:39:00.699 --> 00:39:03.079 And exactly when and where is this going to happen? 00:39:03.619 --> 00:39:05.119 We just want to make sure we're on the same page. 00:39:05.119 --> 00:39:11.079 And Jesus' answer really seems kind of weird at the beginning. 00:39:11.980 --> 00:39:13.019 Seems unusual. 00:39:14.319 --> 00:39:22.319 They ask where, and he said, wheresoever the body is, thither will there be eagles be gathered together. 00:39:24.019 --> 00:39:25.480 You ever been driving in a car? 00:39:26.619 --> 00:39:28.460 Maybe out running on the road. 00:39:28.599 --> 00:39:30.259 You know, weirdos like me like to run. 00:39:30.260 --> 00:39:34.560 And you look up in the distance and you see a bunch of vultures. 00:39:35.080 --> 00:39:37.520 You see a bunch of birds just circling. 00:39:38.120 --> 00:39:39.760 You immediately know what that means. 00:39:40.500 --> 00:39:41.920 There's a dead body or something out there. 00:39:41.920 --> 00:39:42.520 There's roadkill. 00:39:42.900 --> 00:39:45.200 Now, it's bad when I'm out running and they start circling me. 00:39:46.180 --> 00:39:47.400 I'm like, I'm still alive. 00:39:47.760 --> 00:39:49.720 I know I don't look like it, but I'm still here. 00:39:49.719 --> 00:39:52.919 Here's what Jesus is saying in this verse. 00:39:53.619 --> 00:39:54.859 The evidence is obvious. 00:39:56.379 --> 00:39:58.559 You know, when they would look up, they would know what's happening. 00:39:59.399 --> 00:40:02.519 In the first century, they look up and they say, man, something died over there. 00:40:03.019 --> 00:40:04.139 Those birds are about to feast. 00:40:05.000 --> 00:40:05.739 It's clear. 00:40:05.819 --> 00:40:06.179 Everybody knows it. 00:40:06.199 --> 00:40:07.139 We understand the same truth. 00:40:07.139 --> 00:40:15.179 And what he's saying is in the same way, when the judgment Jesus describes arrives, when he comes back, you're not going to miss it. 00:40:15.940 --> 00:40:16.739 You're going to understand what it is. 00:40:16.799 --> 00:40:18.039 Like, oh, that's what it is. 00:40:18.619 --> 00:40:19.179 It's obvious. 00:40:19.279 --> 00:40:19.819 Everybody knows. 00:40:20.440 --> 00:40:22.139 It's been said over and over and over again. 00:40:22.440 --> 00:40:24.779 The idea is when the king comes, the world's going to know. 00:40:26.119 --> 00:40:27.319 Now, he's going to send a strong delusion. 00:40:27.460 --> 00:40:28.619 We're not going to get into all that. 00:40:28.679 --> 00:40:29.239 There's going to be things. 00:40:29.299 --> 00:40:30.259 They're going to try to explain it away. 00:40:30.619 --> 00:40:31.139 But here's what happened. 00:40:31.359 --> 00:40:31.960 Something happened. 00:40:33.000 --> 00:40:33.819 We're going to know what happened. 00:40:33.820 --> 00:40:38.480 And really, that brings us all the way back to where this conversation began. 00:40:40.500 --> 00:40:41.800 The Pharisees said, when? 00:40:43.620 --> 00:40:46.519 And really, verses 22 through 37 is this. 00:40:46.780 --> 00:40:49.200 Jesus answering, saying, hey, you're asking the wrong question. 00:40:50.720 --> 00:40:51.920 The question is not when. 00:40:52.600 --> 00:40:54.340 The question is, are you ready? 00:40:55.840 --> 00:40:56.559 Are you ready? 00:40:58.460 --> 00:41:01.640 That's really the message of verses 20 through 37. 00:41:02.519 --> 00:41:03.760 Yes, the kingdom has come. 00:41:04.780 --> 00:41:08.059 But there's still a day coming when Jesus is going to return in glory. 00:41:09.220 --> 00:41:11.600 He will come just like he went. 00:41:12.160 --> 00:41:13.280 The Bible tells us that in the book of Acts. 00:41:14.680 --> 00:41:20.240 And what he wants us to do and what he shows us here today is how to live between those two realities. 00:41:21.320 --> 00:41:23.519 That we need to recognize him. 00:41:24.519 --> 00:41:25.980 We need to expect him. 00:41:27.300 --> 00:41:29.900 We need to heed these warnings. 00:41:29.900 --> 00:41:34.320 Because here's the thought I want to leave you with today as we're done. 00:41:35.000 --> 00:41:36.340 Because the king has come. 00:41:37.440 --> 00:41:38.740 And he's coming again. 00:41:39.360 --> 00:41:44.380 We need to live today like his kingdom is the most important thing. 00:41:44.380 --> 00:41:46.059 Because it is. 00:41:46.780 --> 00:41:48.220 That's what our life should be about. 00:41:48.840 --> 00:41:51.460 Our life should be about Christ and making him known. 00:41:52.240 --> 00:41:55.760 And living for what matters most. 00:41:55.760 --> 00:42:01.220 There's nothing wrong with trying to look at some Bible prophecy. 00:42:01.540 --> 00:42:03.980 But every time you read Bible prophecy, here's what you need to be reminded of. 00:42:04.220 --> 00:42:06.720 I need to live better today because I know what's coming tomorrow. 00:42:07.760 --> 00:42:08.980 That's why Jesus told us this. 00:42:09.260 --> 00:42:10.440 That's why he gave us the book of Revelation. 00:42:10.800 --> 00:42:11.800 It wasn't to scare us. 00:42:12.539 --> 00:42:16.000 It was to help us to live for him like he's called us to live for him today. 00:42:16.080 --> 00:42:16.840 Will we stand with our heads?