WEBVTT 00:00:00.460 --> 00:00:06.040 The scripture reading comes from Revelation 22. Please follow along in your bulletin or on the screen. 00:00:07.940 --> 00:00:17.300 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, brightest crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. 00:00:18.219 --> 00:00:25.420 Also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. 00:00:25.420 --> 00:00:37.980 The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. 00:00:38.700 --> 00:00:44.719 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads, and night will be no more. 00:00:45.900 --> 00:00:54.040 They will need no light of the lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. 00:00:54.039 --> 00:00:56.019 And he said to me, 00:00:56.640 --> 00:01:06.480 These words are trustworthy and true, and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place. 00:01:07.260 --> 00:01:10.019 And behold, I am coming soon. 00:01:10.719 --> 00:01:14.599 Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. 00:01:15.599 --> 00:01:18.939 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. 00:01:18.939 --> 00:01:24.599 And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me. 00:01:25.120 --> 00:01:26.019 But he said to me, 00:01:26.480 --> 00:01:27.560 You must not do that. 00:01:28.079 --> 00:01:33.219 I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers of the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. 00:01:33.819 --> 00:01:34.620 Worship God. 00:01:34.620 --> 00:01:36.540 And he said to me, 00:01:36.540 --> 00:01:41.320 Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. 00:01:41.880 --> 00:01:50.640 Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy. 00:01:52.080 --> 00:01:59.820 Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. 00:01:59.819 --> 00:02:07.000 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. 00:02:08.060 --> 00:02:15.759 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and that they may enter the city by the gates. 00:02:16.719 --> 00:02:26.060 Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers, and the sexually immoral, and murderers and adulterers, and everyone who loves the practices of falsehood. 00:02:26.060 --> 00:02:32.379 I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. 00:02:33.120 --> 00:02:37.439 I am the roots and the descendant of David, the bright morning star. 00:02:38.259 --> 00:02:40.680 The spirit and the bride say, come. 00:02:41.400 --> 00:02:44.280 And let the one who hears say, come. 00:02:44.840 --> 00:02:46.860 And let the one who is thirsty come. 00:02:47.420 --> 00:02:51.120 Let the one who desires take the water of life without price. 00:02:51.120 --> 00:02:56.159 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book. 00:02:56.560 --> 00:03:01.420 If anyone adds to them, God will add to them the plagues described in this book. 00:03:02.080 --> 00:03:05.939 And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, 00:03:06.640 --> 00:03:12.340 God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. 00:03:12.340 --> 00:03:19.680 He who testifies to these things says, surely I am coming soon. 00:03:20.340 --> 00:03:20.719 Amen. 00:03:21.099 --> 00:03:22.180 Come, Lord Jesus. 00:03:22.599 --> 00:03:24.699 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. 00:03:25.159 --> 00:03:25.400 Amen. 00:03:25.860 --> 00:03:26.920 This is the word of God. 00:03:27.599 --> 00:03:28.080 Great. 00:03:28.180 --> 00:03:28.699 Thanks, Justin. 00:03:29.080 --> 00:03:32.460 Let's just pray very briefly before we dive in. 00:03:32.580 --> 00:03:38.599 Heavenly Father, as we come to your word this morning, we want to hear from you, God. 00:03:38.599 --> 00:03:44.099 We are not interested in the opinions of man, not even my opinions, count for anything, God. 00:03:44.180 --> 00:03:48.579 And so I pray, Lord, if anything that I say is not of you, I pray to fall in deaf ears. 00:03:49.340 --> 00:03:51.519 I pray it will take no root in our lives, God. 00:03:51.560 --> 00:03:52.379 May it just fall away. 00:03:52.579 --> 00:03:56.560 But Christ, as we look at your word, we pray that your word will speak to us. 00:03:56.620 --> 00:04:02.400 And so, Holy Spirit, we ask you to come and take the words in these pages and the words from the sermon, God. 00:04:02.519 --> 00:04:05.799 And what is of you planted deep in our hearts, God. 00:04:05.800 --> 00:04:11.280 I pray it won't just be an interesting talk that goes in one ear and comes out the other. 00:04:11.360 --> 00:04:13.100 But Christ, we want to encounter you in your word. 00:04:13.200 --> 00:04:15.480 And so we ask you to come and speak to us from your word. 00:04:16.120 --> 00:04:17.040 We want to encounter you. 00:04:17.680 --> 00:04:24.060 We want you, God, to conform us to your image and to put your hope of the gospel in our hearts. 00:04:24.379 --> 00:04:27.100 So we ask you to do that in your wonderful and powerful name. 00:04:27.620 --> 00:04:27.879 Amen. 00:04:28.600 --> 00:04:28.900 Amen. 00:04:29.660 --> 00:04:30.019 Okay. 00:04:30.199 --> 00:04:31.780 If you don't know me, my name is Kevin. 00:04:31.779 --> 00:04:37.159 And we, for 14 weeks, have been working through the book of Revelation. 00:04:37.479 --> 00:04:43.199 And we are on the final chapter and the final chapter of the entire Bible, which is quite amazing. 00:04:43.699 --> 00:04:46.179 And very grateful to be here. 00:04:46.279 --> 00:04:48.779 So well done for sticking out this time. 00:04:49.099 --> 00:04:51.339 I think for some of us it may have been tough. 00:04:51.479 --> 00:04:54.379 But I hope it's also been good and encouraging in some ways. 00:04:54.379 --> 00:05:11.040 Now, remember, the book of Revelation is not some mystical secret code book about how the end of the world is all going to happen, telling us the certain events of what's going to take place here and there and the signs and presidents, etc. 00:05:11.199 --> 00:05:13.519 That's not what the book of Revelation is about. 00:05:13.519 --> 00:05:33.240 But the book of Revelation, 90% of it is actually an encouragement to the first century believers, as well as to us, to live lives that are fixed and focused on Jesus, to endure hardship and difficulty and persecution for the sake of Christ, and to keep our eyes on Him. 00:05:33.240 --> 00:05:40.659 It is an encouragement about how to face opposition and live lives of faith in the midst of a broken world. 00:05:40.660 --> 00:05:55.740 And so in Revelation, Jesus calls us to live with Him and for Him in this period between His first coming and His second coming, between the cross of Christ and the throne of Christ, in this period of the already and the not yet. 00:05:56.160 --> 00:06:01.720 And only right at the end, chapters 20 and 21, do we get to kind of the end times stuff. 00:06:02.100 --> 00:06:09.800 And so last week we looked at chapter 21, which is one of the best pictures we have of glory, of what the world to come will be like. 00:06:09.800 --> 00:06:15.040 And if you'll remember, we said there are four things about the world to come, our heavenly home. 00:06:15.420 --> 00:06:17.020 We said it's going to be a physical world. 00:06:17.360 --> 00:06:23.139 We're not just going to be disembodied spirits floating on clouds, playing harps with cheesy smiles. 00:06:23.500 --> 00:06:29.420 We will be physical bodies in a physical world with work to do and activity and culture and music and life. 00:06:29.620 --> 00:06:36.699 We said that in our world to come, all of the wonderful promises of the scripture will find their final fulfillment. 00:06:36.699 --> 00:06:43.000 All the good things that Jesus talks about, we'll taste in reality in our heavenly home to come. 00:06:43.379 --> 00:06:50.699 There'll be no more tears, no more heartache, no more pain, no more anger and fighting and misunderstanding. 00:06:51.240 --> 00:06:52.620 What a glorious world it'll be. 00:06:53.000 --> 00:06:59.379 And then we saw that one of the greatest promises in the scripture is that Christ will flood us with His love. 00:06:59.719 --> 00:07:04.980 Like a bridegroom floods His bride, His wife, with His love. 00:07:04.980 --> 00:07:07.400 Jesus will love us in that way. 00:07:07.500 --> 00:07:11.220 And we will experience and know true intimacy and true love. 00:07:12.060 --> 00:07:17.439 And that day, the longings of our hearts will be fully fulfilled in Jesus. 00:07:17.720 --> 00:07:19.520 And what a glorious day that will be. 00:07:20.040 --> 00:07:29.200 And then we saw finally last week that the most essential and precious and important and wonderful and glorious and majestic, 00:07:29.199 --> 00:07:34.979 and every other adjective you can think of about heaven is the fact that God is going to be there. 00:07:34.979 --> 00:07:37.079 And not just in a corner somewhere. 00:07:37.860 --> 00:07:49.659 God's all majestic power and His presence and His infinite glory and His infinite worth and His beauty is going to be all pervasive over all of heaven. 00:07:49.660 --> 00:08:03.580 There is not one square inch of all of heaven in which God's majestic beauty is not going to be all pervasive and touching and healing and radiating. 00:08:03.960 --> 00:08:09.340 As one theologian said, it's not in heaven that we find God, but in God that we find heaven. 00:08:09.940 --> 00:08:15.760 And so heaven is going to be glorious not because of what's there or what's not there, but because of who's there. 00:08:15.759 --> 00:08:18.579 Because Christ is going to be all pervasive. 00:08:19.159 --> 00:08:20.459 Okay, so that was last week. 00:08:21.000 --> 00:08:28.519 Now today, in the first section of chapter 22 that Justin read to us, is another part about our eternal home. 00:08:29.000 --> 00:08:31.379 And we're actually just not going to have time to get there. 00:08:31.459 --> 00:08:33.519 So I encourage you to read it and enjoy it. 00:08:33.620 --> 00:08:37.519 Read about the river of life and the fact that there's no more curses there. 00:08:37.899 --> 00:08:39.580 And we'll see God face to face. 00:08:39.960 --> 00:08:43.240 But today I want us to focus on verses 6 to the end. 00:08:43.240 --> 00:08:48.580 And in many ways, John is bringing this whole revelation into land. 00:08:49.600 --> 00:08:51.000 Do you know what that phrase means? 00:08:51.080 --> 00:08:52.100 Is that a South African phrase? 00:08:52.480 --> 00:08:55.139 If you bring something into land, it means you're coming to the end. 00:08:55.200 --> 00:08:56.940 Like an airplane is coming into land. 00:08:57.460 --> 00:08:59.560 John is bringing revelation into land. 00:08:59.779 --> 00:09:01.539 Okay, I don't know if that makes sense to anybody here. 00:09:02.120 --> 00:09:02.840 But there you go. 00:09:03.259 --> 00:09:03.879 John is doing that. 00:09:03.940 --> 00:09:05.779 He's taken us on this incredible journey. 00:09:06.200 --> 00:09:07.879 And we've seen some amazing things. 00:09:08.139 --> 00:09:10.159 The curtain has been peeled back. 00:09:10.159 --> 00:09:13.179 We've looked at our lives from heaven's perspective. 00:09:13.459 --> 00:09:16.740 We've looked at the world from eternity's perspective. 00:09:17.459 --> 00:09:22.219 And we have seen that Jesus calls us to a cruciform life. 00:09:22.319 --> 00:09:27.699 Which means that the shape and the form of our lives should take the shape and the form of the cross. 00:09:28.120 --> 00:09:29.659 That through death leads to life. 00:09:30.360 --> 00:09:33.559 Suffering leads to triumphantism. 00:09:33.860 --> 00:09:34.659 Or triumph. 00:09:34.919 --> 00:09:36.360 It's probably a better way of saying it. 00:09:36.360 --> 00:09:42.620 But we've seen that those who suffer because they follow Jesus are raised to life. 00:09:43.220 --> 00:09:45.360 Jesus calls us to a cruciform life. 00:09:45.820 --> 00:09:47.580 We've seen that there is a devil, Satan. 00:09:47.720 --> 00:09:48.240 He's real. 00:09:48.620 --> 00:09:51.060 He wants to kill the faith of those that follow Jesus. 00:09:51.300 --> 00:09:53.779 But we've also seen that he's a defeated foe. 00:09:54.300 --> 00:09:56.659 Jesus died and disarmed him on the cross. 00:09:57.080 --> 00:09:58.200 Jesus defanged him. 00:09:58.200 --> 00:10:02.860 And coming soon, Jesus will cast him into the lake of fire for all eternity. 00:10:03.259 --> 00:10:04.980 He is a defeated foe. 00:10:04.980 --> 00:10:06.940 So we've seen that judgment day is coming. 00:10:07.420 --> 00:10:10.039 And we'll all be held accountable for the lives that we've lived. 00:10:11.480 --> 00:10:15.899 Jesus has shown us that we live in this already and not yet stage of life. 00:10:16.379 --> 00:10:18.019 Jesus' kingdom has already come. 00:10:18.240 --> 00:10:19.720 But it hasn't yet fully come. 00:10:19.779 --> 00:10:21.899 It's the overlap of these two realities. 00:10:22.560 --> 00:10:24.060 Satan has already been defeated. 00:10:24.360 --> 00:10:26.460 But he hasn't fully been put away. 00:10:26.840 --> 00:10:29.440 We live in this already and the not yet stage. 00:10:29.440 --> 00:10:35.640 And so in light of all this, Jesus has called us again and again throughout Revelation to be those that endure. 00:10:36.040 --> 00:10:36.800 Those that overcome. 00:10:37.400 --> 00:10:40.960 Those that conquer by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. 00:10:41.920 --> 00:10:45.800 And now John is going to bring this whole journey into land. 00:10:46.040 --> 00:10:46.720 There we have it again. 00:10:46.960 --> 00:10:47.060 Okay. 00:10:47.860 --> 00:10:49.800 Now, where does this leave us? 00:10:50.580 --> 00:10:52.500 Well, Jesus has one last thing to say. 00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:54.380 He says, look at verse 7. 00:10:54.960 --> 00:10:56.919 Behold, I'm coming soon. 00:10:57.899 --> 00:10:58.879 I'm coming soon. 00:10:58.960 --> 00:11:00.399 In fact, Jesus says it three times. 00:11:01.019 --> 00:11:01.480 Verse 7. 00:11:01.559 --> 00:11:02.720 Behold, I'm coming soon. 00:11:03.159 --> 00:11:03.840 Verse 12. 00:11:04.139 --> 00:11:05.620 Behold, I'm coming soon. 00:11:05.939 --> 00:11:06.559 Verse 20. 00:11:06.879 --> 00:11:09.700 Yes, surely I am coming soon. 00:11:13.899 --> 00:11:21.559 I'm sure we've all had multiple experiences when something you're really looking forward to just seems to take a long time to come. 00:11:22.439 --> 00:11:27.679 I don't know if you, maybe you've planned for or saved up for this amazing holiday. 00:11:28.479 --> 00:11:29.759 And you can't wait for it to come. 00:11:29.819 --> 00:11:30.779 And it's a few months away. 00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:32.859 And it just feels like it's never coming. 00:11:33.019 --> 00:11:33.779 You ever experienced that? 00:11:34.339 --> 00:11:36.000 I don't know those of you that are in high school. 00:11:36.559 --> 00:11:40.819 In the final year of high school, it feels like high school is just never going to end. 00:11:40.939 --> 00:11:41.139 Right? 00:11:41.399 --> 00:11:43.939 And those exams just, they are looming. 00:11:44.319 --> 00:11:46.619 They're coming quickly, but they're also coming so slowly. 00:11:47.719 --> 00:11:51.099 And just the final graduation just seems like it's never coming. 00:11:51.559 --> 00:11:56.659 I remember when we were in Cape Town, the previous church we were involved in, we had some good friends. 00:11:57.319 --> 00:11:59.419 And they got engaged to be married. 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:00.879 Exciting times. 00:12:01.159 --> 00:12:02.879 And they wanted to get married very quickly. 00:12:03.039 --> 00:12:03.699 Three months. 00:12:04.139 --> 00:12:05.000 They'd got the venue. 00:12:05.259 --> 00:12:06.059 They'd got the pastor. 00:12:06.599 --> 00:12:08.099 Three months they wanted to get married. 00:12:08.599 --> 00:12:09.519 But there was a problem. 00:12:09.519 --> 00:12:14.100 The groom's brother was on some expedition to Antarctic. 00:12:15.699 --> 00:12:19.000 And some geological thing or something or other. 00:12:19.360 --> 00:12:22.039 And there was no ship coming back for the next four months. 00:12:22.600 --> 00:12:24.139 And so he couldn't return. 00:12:24.819 --> 00:12:29.000 And so the groom's family were very upset about this quick wedding. 00:12:29.159 --> 00:12:29.319 Right? 00:12:29.700 --> 00:12:32.780 And they were saying, you've got to wait for your brother to come back. 00:12:33.379 --> 00:12:35.180 And so this young couple were very upset. 00:12:35.320 --> 00:12:38.460 And they came to see me, the pastor, and said, what should we do? 00:12:38.560 --> 00:12:40.180 How do we respond to our family? 00:12:40.840 --> 00:12:43.060 And I said, I think your family's right. 00:12:43.600 --> 00:12:49.340 I said, in 10 years' time, your relationship with your brother is going to be more important than the fact that, you know, 00:12:49.840 --> 00:12:52.660 you got married in three months as opposed to six months. 00:12:52.660 --> 00:12:54.320 Just wait an extra three months. 00:12:54.320 --> 00:12:55.480 So it's not going to be the end of the world. 00:12:56.260 --> 00:12:59.560 And this couple looked at me as if I had just destroyed their whole wedding. 00:12:59.720 --> 00:13:01.780 I'd just torn it up and thrown it in the bin. 00:13:02.520 --> 00:13:02.840 Why? 00:13:02.920 --> 00:13:04.800 Because they were so looking forward to that day. 00:13:04.879 --> 00:13:07.460 And an extra three months felt like, what's the point? 00:13:07.520 --> 00:13:08.879 You might as well not even get married. 00:13:09.300 --> 00:13:11.180 You've just ruined the whole thing for us. 00:13:12.840 --> 00:13:16.300 Sometimes when we're looking forward to something like that, it can feel like that. 00:13:16.540 --> 00:13:18.600 Again, I don't know if this happens in Hong Kong. 00:13:19.260 --> 00:13:23.380 In most countries of the world, when you go on holiday, you actually drive on holiday. 00:13:23.379 --> 00:13:25.139 I know in Hong Kong we generally fly there. 00:13:25.639 --> 00:13:28.779 But in many countries, you drive to go on holiday. 00:13:29.299 --> 00:13:33.500 And if you've ever experienced that, you're driving on holiday with young kids. 00:13:34.120 --> 00:13:35.080 And it's a long journey. 00:13:35.500 --> 00:13:37.559 What do the kids in the back always say? 00:13:38.539 --> 00:13:39.720 Are we there yet? 00:13:39.759 --> 00:13:40.299 That's right. 00:13:40.460 --> 00:13:42.460 See, this is a worldwide phenomenon, right? 00:13:43.000 --> 00:13:44.639 All the countries of the world experiences. 00:13:44.980 --> 00:13:46.039 How much longer? 00:13:46.519 --> 00:13:47.960 Are we there yet? 00:13:48.960 --> 00:13:52.340 I remember as a kid going on holiday, we used to drive to the coast every Christmas. 00:13:52.340 --> 00:13:53.780 It was a 10-hour drive. 00:13:54.120 --> 00:13:55.139 My grandparents lived there. 00:13:55.420 --> 00:13:56.960 And five minutes into the journey. 00:13:57.100 --> 00:14:00.660 Mom and Dad, how much longer are we there yet? 00:14:02.600 --> 00:14:05.759 Last week we spoke about the glories of this renewed heaven and earth. 00:14:05.879 --> 00:14:08.780 This place where the majestic presence of God is everywhere. 00:14:08.980 --> 00:14:09.960 There are no more tears. 00:14:10.600 --> 00:14:11.480 No more pain. 00:14:12.180 --> 00:14:13.019 No more heartache. 00:14:13.080 --> 00:14:13.899 No more anger. 00:14:13.899 --> 00:14:19.059 No more stalemate because two sides can't seem to reconcile. 00:14:19.939 --> 00:14:21.000 No more disappointment. 00:14:21.699 --> 00:14:22.659 No more agony. 00:14:23.480 --> 00:14:25.500 And Jesus says here, he's coming soon. 00:14:26.279 --> 00:14:28.860 He's coming to bring us there, to take us to a home. 00:14:28.959 --> 00:14:33.279 And sometimes it can feel like a 10-hour car trip to a three-year-old. 00:14:33.379 --> 00:14:35.159 It can feel like, God, when's it ever going to happen? 00:14:35.159 --> 00:14:41.740 And we look back in the last 2,000 years since Jesus died and rose again, and we can feel like it's never happening. 00:14:42.299 --> 00:14:43.620 God, when are you ever coming? 00:14:43.839 --> 00:14:47.519 And Jesus looks us in the eye and he says, I know it feels like it's taking long. 00:14:47.919 --> 00:14:50.039 I know it feels like it's forever. 00:14:50.240 --> 00:14:51.120 Behold, sit up. 00:14:51.199 --> 00:14:51.659 Take note. 00:14:52.059 --> 00:14:52.959 I'm coming soon. 00:14:53.419 --> 00:14:55.139 Behold, I'm coming soon. 00:14:56.419 --> 00:14:58.539 Now, why should we trust him? 00:14:59.480 --> 00:15:00.500 Why should we trust him? 00:15:00.500 --> 00:15:02.019 Well, look at what he says in verse 6. 00:15:02.559 --> 00:15:06.200 In verse 6, the angel says, these words are trustworthy and true. 00:15:06.559 --> 00:15:10.419 We've actually heard that phrase five or six times as we've gone through the book of Revelation. 00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:13.519 Jesus' words are trustworthy and true. 00:15:13.960 --> 00:15:22.720 And the reason is because his words correspond, or Jesus is the one in whom everything corresponds to ultimate reality. 00:15:23.639 --> 00:15:26.360 What Jesus says is true is ultimately true. 00:15:26.580 --> 00:15:29.259 Everything about him corresponds to reality. 00:15:29.259 --> 00:15:31.419 You can bank your life in what he says. 00:15:31.679 --> 00:15:34.379 These are not just the words of a political pundit. 00:15:34.840 --> 00:15:37.720 These are not just the words of a New York Times columnist. 00:15:37.860 --> 00:15:39.439 These are not just the market commentary. 00:15:39.899 --> 00:15:44.399 These are the words of the one who later on says, I'm the alpha and the omega. 00:15:44.559 --> 00:15:45.980 The first and the last. 00:15:46.120 --> 00:15:47.539 The beginning and the end. 00:15:47.980 --> 00:15:49.759 You know, alpha is the Greek letter A. 00:15:49.939 --> 00:15:51.179 Omega is the Greek letter Z. 00:15:51.600 --> 00:15:52.620 I'm the whole thing. 00:15:52.700 --> 00:15:53.319 The A to Z. 00:15:53.539 --> 00:15:57.139 I'm the one who sees the entire perspective of the whole world. 00:15:57.819 --> 00:15:58.899 You can trust me. 00:15:59.259 --> 00:16:02.559 These words are trustworthy and true. 00:16:04.039 --> 00:16:05.399 And so Jesus says, I'm coming. 00:16:06.100 --> 00:16:07.220 I'm coming soon. 00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:10.500 And let that shape our lives, the lives that we live. 00:16:10.919 --> 00:16:14.340 You might remember the prayer that Moses prays in Psalm 90. 00:16:14.879 --> 00:16:15.879 He prays this amazing prayer. 00:16:16.059 --> 00:16:22.240 He says, God, teach us to number our days carefully that we may develop wisdom in our hearts. 00:16:22.240 --> 00:16:27.159 In other words, God, teach us not to be presumptuous that we have all the time in the world. 00:16:27.700 --> 00:16:30.399 Teach us not just to think, oh, I've got this world covered. 00:16:30.480 --> 00:16:31.480 I know how life works. 00:16:31.980 --> 00:16:40.480 God, teach us to number our days, to have the right perspective on our lives, that we can develop wisdom in our hearts and know how to make wise decisions. 00:16:40.480 --> 00:16:44.500 And that's why Jesus says, behold, I'm coming soon. 00:16:45.300 --> 00:16:46.639 Behold, I'm coming soon. 00:16:47.320 --> 00:16:49.220 Yes, surely I'm coming soon. 00:16:49.220 --> 00:16:54.580 Now, in the first century, the followers of Jesus really believed that Jesus was coming soon. 00:16:55.060 --> 00:16:57.180 Many of them believed that he was coming in their lifetime. 00:16:57.740 --> 00:17:04.799 In Philippians chapter 3, Paul writes, and he says, there are a bunch of followers of Jesus who once loved him and trusted him and obeyed him. 00:17:05.160 --> 00:17:06.180 But then something happened. 00:17:06.279 --> 00:17:09.259 Something went wrong and their faith got derailed. 00:17:09.440 --> 00:17:10.299 And look at what he says. 00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:12.299 He says, their end is destruction. 00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:17.559 Their God is their belly or their appetites, their desires. 00:17:17.559 --> 00:17:20.099 They've set their minds on earthly things. 00:17:20.740 --> 00:17:33.240 But, says Paul, for us, our citizenship is in heaven from which we eagerly await our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will come and transform our lowly bodies into his glorious resurrection body. 00:17:34.299 --> 00:17:35.579 See, there's two ways to think. 00:17:35.799 --> 00:17:36.960 Our citizenship is in heaven. 00:17:37.139 --> 00:17:37.980 Jesus is coming. 00:17:38.039 --> 00:17:38.960 He's going to take us home. 00:17:39.460 --> 00:17:40.819 Well, actually, this world is our home. 00:17:41.319 --> 00:17:44.200 And when we think this world is our home, what happens? 00:17:44.200 --> 00:17:48.340 We get seduced by the appetites and the desires and the things of this world. 00:17:48.819 --> 00:17:57.220 Or in Titus 2, Paul writes, and he says, because of the gospel, we are learning to live self-controlled, upright, godly lives in this present age. 00:17:57.900 --> 00:18:06.799 Our lives in this world reflect heaven because we await our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great Savior, Jesus Christ. 00:18:07.360 --> 00:18:11.120 And so the first century Christians, for many of them, they lived with this anticipation. 00:18:11.119 --> 00:18:13.139 Jesus is coming soon. 00:18:13.519 --> 00:18:15.539 And that meant they lived lives of wisdom. 00:18:15.919 --> 00:18:17.699 They knew how to rightly order their lives. 00:18:17.799 --> 00:18:25.279 They weren't seduced by tangents, but they could follow Jesus and trust him, knowing that he's coming soon and his words are faithful and true. 00:18:25.859 --> 00:18:28.019 And so that's what Revelation 22 is all about. 00:18:28.939 --> 00:18:31.000 Now, how does that shape our lives? 00:18:31.479 --> 00:18:35.399 In light of Christ's imminent return, what should we do with our lives? 00:18:36.059 --> 00:18:37.699 Well, I'm so glad you've asked that question. 00:18:37.979 --> 00:18:40.039 Revelation tells us three things. 00:18:40.039 --> 00:18:41.079 Three things. 00:18:41.159 --> 00:18:47.960 Now, I must confess, firstly, it tells us to keep faithful to Jesus in light of his imminent return. 00:18:48.259 --> 00:18:49.299 Keep worshiping Jesus. 00:18:49.960 --> 00:18:51.740 Secondly, keep witnessing for Jesus. 00:18:52.420 --> 00:18:56.079 Thirdly, keep trusting in Jesus' good gospel or the gospel of grace. 00:18:56.559 --> 00:19:03.319 Now, on the bus, on the way here this morning, or in the bus on the way here this morning, I decided to turn two and three around. 00:19:03.319 --> 00:19:04.859 So we're going to go with number two first. 00:19:05.159 --> 00:19:05.980 I mean two and one. 00:19:06.179 --> 00:19:08.359 Number two first, then one, and then three. 00:19:08.519 --> 00:19:08.659 Okay? 00:19:08.700 --> 00:19:10.379 So if you're confused, I'm sorry. 00:19:11.059 --> 00:19:12.240 That's how we're going to do it. 00:19:12.299 --> 00:19:12.419 Okay? 00:19:12.480 --> 00:19:13.779 So let's look at number two. 00:19:14.279 --> 00:19:18.159 In light of Jesus' imminent return, keep witnessing for Jesus. 00:19:18.399 --> 00:19:20.019 Look at verse 10 with me here. 00:19:21.139 --> 00:19:26.179 Verse 10 and 11 are actually a direct quote from the Old Testament book of Daniel. 00:19:26.180 --> 00:19:27.820 And verse 10 says this. 00:19:28.440 --> 00:19:34.440 He said to me, do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. 00:19:35.080 --> 00:19:40.400 Now, the Old Testament book of Daniel is, the second half is very similar to the book of Revelation. 00:19:40.620 --> 00:19:41.420 It's apocalyptic. 00:19:43.480 --> 00:19:46.640 It's full of signs and wonders and beasts with horns. 00:19:47.080 --> 00:19:50.140 And much of Revelation is actually taken from the book of Daniel. 00:19:50.140 --> 00:19:56.280 And what happens here is towards the end of the Revelation, Daniel is told this. 00:19:57.020 --> 00:19:58.300 Seal up the words. 00:19:59.080 --> 00:20:00.320 Shut up the book. 00:20:00.580 --> 00:20:00.720 Okay? 00:20:00.740 --> 00:20:01.680 He doesn't say shut up. 00:20:01.780 --> 00:20:03.580 He's saying close up the book. 00:20:04.080 --> 00:20:07.259 Seal up the words until the end has come. 00:20:07.800 --> 00:20:11.060 So Daniel's given this revelation about how the world is going to end. 00:20:11.540 --> 00:20:13.320 The evil kingdoms are going to be brought down. 00:20:13.520 --> 00:20:15.780 God is going to establish a kingdom of righteousness. 00:20:16.200 --> 00:20:19.980 And God shows him how it's all going to happen. 00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:25.060 But Daniel doesn't understand precisely how or when it's going to happen. 00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:25.560 Okay? 00:20:25.660 --> 00:20:30.120 So Daniel's got some kind of insight, but it's vague in some ways. 00:20:31.020 --> 00:20:34.060 And so God tells Daniel, seal up what I've shown you. 00:20:35.060 --> 00:20:40.000 Don't reveal it because there's some things that need to happen between now and that end time. 00:20:40.400 --> 00:20:41.400 And what needs to happen? 00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:42.980 Jesus needs to come. 00:20:43.320 --> 00:20:49.100 Jesus needs to come and bring his kingdom, die on the cross, rise again, and establish his kingdom. 00:20:49.099 --> 00:20:51.639 But Daniel doesn't really get that. 00:20:52.099 --> 00:20:55.359 And so the revelation that Daniel's got, it's half fulfilled. 00:20:55.459 --> 00:20:56.980 It's not fully revealed to him. 00:20:57.119 --> 00:20:58.879 And so God says, seal it up. 00:20:59.099 --> 00:20:59.679 Hide it up. 00:20:59.959 --> 00:21:03.819 Don't tell people, listen, the end is about to come because it's not about to come. 00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:05.359 Jesus still needs to come. 00:21:06.500 --> 00:21:07.799 I don't know if that makes any sense. 00:21:08.559 --> 00:21:11.179 Now in Revelation, Jesus has come. 00:21:11.619 --> 00:21:12.659 He's died on the cross. 00:21:12.899 --> 00:21:13.480 He's risen. 00:21:13.480 --> 00:21:14.920 He's defanged Satan. 00:21:15.140 --> 00:21:17.400 He's defeated death on the cross. 00:21:17.839 --> 00:21:19.440 Now the end is ready to come. 00:21:19.579 --> 00:21:21.160 And so what does Jesus say to John? 00:21:21.599 --> 00:21:23.740 He tells him the opposite of what he said to Daniel. 00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:25.500 Do not seal up the words. 00:21:25.860 --> 00:21:26.720 Don't shut it up. 00:21:27.019 --> 00:21:27.940 Don't hide it up. 00:21:28.319 --> 00:21:29.259 Make it known. 00:21:29.980 --> 00:21:32.860 Previously, he says to Daniel, listen, the end's not ready yet. 00:21:33.019 --> 00:21:33.620 Seal it up. 00:21:33.720 --> 00:21:34.220 Hide it up. 00:21:34.279 --> 00:21:35.660 It's not time to reveal it. 00:21:36.120 --> 00:21:39.019 But now is the time, says Jesus, to make it known. 00:21:39.019 --> 00:21:51.079 Let all the nations of the world, all the cities of the world, wherever you go, the furthest corners of the globe, let them know that Christ is coming and that the day of Jesus is soon. 00:21:52.019 --> 00:21:58.539 Friends, Jesus calls us in light of his imminent return to keep witnessing to the wonder and the beauty of Jesus. 00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:03.059 This may be a new concept for some of us. 00:22:03.740 --> 00:22:06.500 You may feel like it's the super Christians, right? 00:22:06.599 --> 00:22:07.980 They get to witness for Jesus. 00:22:07.980 --> 00:22:11.759 It's the pastors and those that work for the church and maybe the elders. 00:22:12.099 --> 00:22:13.980 Their job is to witness and evangelize. 00:22:14.440 --> 00:22:20.140 But for me, who's just an ordinary Christian, my job is just to not make their job harder, right? 00:22:20.200 --> 00:22:27.420 I've got to be a good Christian, hopefully be a good advert, and not try and mess up their job by being a lousy Christian. 00:22:28.360 --> 00:22:29.180 But friends, no, no, no. 00:22:29.180 --> 00:22:48.400 However, Jesus says throughout Revelation, the whole church, male and female, black, white, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, educated, uneducated, wealthy, not wealthy, the church are his witnesses, those that bear testimony to the wonder of Jesus. 00:22:49.080 --> 00:22:52.120 Friends, throughout Revelation, God has called his church to do that. 00:22:52.140 --> 00:22:52.920 And how does it happen? 00:22:52.920 --> 00:22:54.820 One, it's not through the professional pastors. 00:22:55.320 --> 00:22:57.980 It's not through those that work for the church. 00:22:58.080 --> 00:23:04.759 It's through the lives of the saints who have come to see Jesus and love him and had their lives turned around about him. 00:23:05.259 --> 00:23:06.480 And this is what Jesus is saying. 00:23:06.580 --> 00:23:09.300 In light of my imminent return, don't seal up the gospel. 00:23:09.740 --> 00:23:10.980 Don't hide it any longer. 00:23:10.980 --> 00:23:12.559 Let it be made known. 00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:17.120 In your office places, let it be known that you're a Christian, that you love and follow Jesus. 00:23:17.900 --> 00:23:24.099 In your student housing, let it be known that Jesus is the hope for you in the midst of this chaotic time in the universities. 00:23:24.799 --> 00:23:31.960 Friends, when there's conversations around protests and what's happening in our city, let people know your hope is in Jesus and his perfect justice. 00:23:32.380 --> 00:23:40.059 With your family and your friends, let them know that sin is a reality, that you're taking sin in your life seriously, but Jesus doesn't condemn you. 00:23:40.059 --> 00:23:41.200 He's given you hope. 00:23:41.879 --> 00:23:45.000 Let your word go out that Jesus is our hope. 00:23:45.559 --> 00:23:46.539 And then look at verse 11. 00:23:46.659 --> 00:23:48.200 It says something very strange. 00:23:48.379 --> 00:23:51.460 It says, I don't know if you picked this up when Justin read. 00:23:51.960 --> 00:23:54.339 It says, let the evildoer still do evil. 00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:56.480 Let the filthy still be filthy. 00:23:57.119 --> 00:23:59.099 Let the righteous still do what's right. 00:23:59.200 --> 00:24:00.960 And let the holy ones still be holy. 00:24:01.500 --> 00:24:02.599 What on earth is going on here? 00:24:02.599 --> 00:24:10.559 Essentially, Jesus is saying that how we respond to the gospel has eternal and unchangeable consequences. 00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:13.299 Right now, there's a period of amnesty and offer. 00:24:13.679 --> 00:24:19.679 There's a time when as you take the gospel forward, people can still respond to Jesus and have their lives turned around. 00:24:20.199 --> 00:24:21.839 But friends, that won't be the case forever. 00:24:22.519 --> 00:24:26.879 The way that people respond to the truth of the gospel determines their eternal destiny. 00:24:26.880 --> 00:24:32.200 To the one who hears and responds and rejects it, he's fixed in that. 00:24:32.520 --> 00:24:37.700 To the one who hears the gospel and rejects it and continues in his sin, he's fixed in that. 00:24:38.060 --> 00:24:43.380 To those who hear the gospel and respond in righteousness, they're fixed in righteousness and fixed in holiness. 00:24:44.120 --> 00:24:47.460 And so Jesus says, for those of us that are followers, he's coming soon. 00:24:47.460 --> 00:24:53.980 But in the meantime, in light of his imminent return, let's keep witnessing to the wonder and the beauty of Jesus. 00:24:54.900 --> 00:24:56.360 Okay, so that was point two. 00:24:56.600 --> 00:24:57.579 That was actually point one. 00:24:57.840 --> 00:24:58.840 Now we're going to go to point one. 00:24:58.900 --> 00:24:59.779 That's actually point two. 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:00.779 Are you tracking with me? 00:25:01.500 --> 00:25:02.400 Okay, great. 00:25:02.900 --> 00:25:04.319 Let's see if we can make sense of this. 00:25:04.460 --> 00:25:10.779 Secondly, or firstly, somehow, in light of his imminent return, keep faithful to Jesus. 00:25:10.960 --> 00:25:12.100 Keep worshiping Jesus. 00:25:13.299 --> 00:25:15.039 Look at what Jesus says here in verse seven. 00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:16.559 Behold, I'm coming soon. 00:25:17.240 --> 00:25:20.680 Blessed is the one who keeps the words of this book. 00:25:21.279 --> 00:25:22.019 Behold, I'm coming. 00:25:22.200 --> 00:25:23.079 Keep my words. 00:25:23.420 --> 00:25:24.599 Keep hold onto my words. 00:25:25.039 --> 00:25:32.500 I remember when I was a kid, I would come home from school and say 2.30 in the afternoon or so. 00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:38.139 And from time to time, my mom would have to go run some errand, drop off something, pick up something. 00:25:38.519 --> 00:25:41.000 And she'd say to me, I'm going out. 00:25:41.420 --> 00:25:43.339 I'm coming back in an hour or two. 00:25:43.339 --> 00:25:48.919 Make sure you feed the dog, clean up your room, clean up the lounge. 00:25:49.000 --> 00:25:52.639 We've got some guests coming this evening, whatever it is, right? 00:25:53.119 --> 00:25:54.559 And I would say, yes, mom. 00:25:54.819 --> 00:25:55.779 No problem, mom. 00:25:55.899 --> 00:25:56.779 Sure thing, mom. 00:25:57.939 --> 00:25:59.500 And what would happen? 00:26:00.359 --> 00:26:07.019 One minute in, I would find some soccer ball or a cricket ball or a rugby ball or a tennis ball, something around. 00:26:07.019 --> 00:26:09.379 And that would seduce me. 00:26:09.700 --> 00:26:12.619 And I was drawn to this round phenomenon. 00:26:12.980 --> 00:26:18.440 And would end up spending time kicking the ball or throwing the ball or doing something, right? 00:26:18.440 --> 00:26:24.900 And lo and behold, an hour later, I would hear the gate opening or the keys in the front door. 00:26:25.600 --> 00:26:27.559 And suddenly, my mom was back. 00:26:28.660 --> 00:26:40.980 And in three flat seconds, I would run around trying to fix whatever I had broken or clean up the lounge or clean up the room or feed the dog or run around trying to put right what I had forgotten to do. 00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:42.380 Does that sound familiar? 00:26:42.380 --> 00:26:46.440 Now, these days, a strange phenomenon. 00:26:46.780 --> 00:26:49.040 Not much has changed, except it's not my mom. 00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:51.060 It's my wife, right? 00:26:51.760 --> 00:26:53.420 Claire will say, I'm going for a run. 00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:55.360 Barth the kids. 00:26:55.640 --> 00:26:58.300 And don't forget the chicken in the oven, right? 00:26:58.360 --> 00:27:00.200 It's got to come out in 20 minutes' time. 00:27:00.920 --> 00:27:01.540 Yes, love. 00:27:01.640 --> 00:27:02.200 Sure, love. 00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:02.920 I've got it. 00:27:03.360 --> 00:27:04.500 And you know what happens, right? 00:27:04.620 --> 00:27:06.980 Now, wives, don't nudge your husbands, okay? 00:27:07.440 --> 00:27:08.240 It's not them. 00:27:08.300 --> 00:27:08.840 It's only me. 00:27:08.920 --> 00:27:11.480 I'm sure your husbands have never done that before. 00:27:13.380 --> 00:27:14.900 Look at what Jesus says here. 00:27:15.300 --> 00:27:16.540 He says, I'm coming soon. 00:27:17.040 --> 00:27:18.520 Take note of my words. 00:27:19.240 --> 00:27:19.860 Keep my words. 00:27:19.980 --> 00:27:21.140 Listen to what I've said. 00:27:21.440 --> 00:27:22.800 Pay attention to my words. 00:27:23.320 --> 00:27:28.640 In chapter 1, Jesus said, blessed are those that hear these words and read the words of Revelation. 00:27:29.300 --> 00:27:32.740 Here, he says, not just blessed are those that hear it or read it. 00:27:32.840 --> 00:27:34.220 Blessed are those that keep it. 00:27:35.080 --> 00:27:38.980 Friends, it's one thing to listen to the book of Revelation or listen to sermons about it. 00:27:38.980 --> 00:27:41.820 But Jesus wants us to keep the words that he says here. 00:27:41.819 --> 00:27:43.119 Blessed are those who keep them. 00:27:43.339 --> 00:27:44.339 And what are these words? 00:27:44.399 --> 00:27:45.139 What have we seen? 00:27:45.639 --> 00:27:47.599 Well, we've seen that Jesus is the one true God. 00:27:47.919 --> 00:27:49.460 We've seen that he's worthy of our worship. 00:27:50.059 --> 00:27:58.299 We've seen that Satan is doing everything he can to pull us away from Jesus through false teaching and seduction and persecution and opposition. 00:27:59.019 --> 00:28:05.059 We've seen that those that are faithful to Jesus receive a rich reward, even though it appears like they're suffering. 00:28:05.559 --> 00:28:07.319 We've seen that they're martyred, but they rule. 00:28:07.539 --> 00:28:08.879 They suffer, but they rejoice. 00:28:08.880 --> 00:28:10.840 They're persecuted, but they are triumphant. 00:28:11.600 --> 00:28:12.900 But then something happens here. 00:28:12.940 --> 00:28:13.700 Look at verse 8. 00:28:14.320 --> 00:28:15.260 Look what happens here. 00:28:16.060 --> 00:28:20.920 John shows us how easy it is to get seduced by good things that are not ultimate things. 00:28:21.020 --> 00:28:21.580 Look at verse 8. 00:28:21.660 --> 00:28:22.020 He says, 00:28:22.019 --> 00:28:43.400 Friends, even some of the good things in life, even God's good gifts to us, the blessings of God. 00:28:43.400 --> 00:28:47.019 It could be our job, education, our children's education. 00:28:47.380 --> 00:28:49.519 It could be the spiritual gifts that he gives us. 00:28:50.000 --> 00:28:50.980 It could be our children. 00:28:51.500 --> 00:28:53.000 It could be their promotion at work. 00:28:53.480 --> 00:28:55.200 Even things like an angel. 00:28:55.820 --> 00:29:01.300 Good things have a way of taking our eyes off of the ultimate thing, off of who Jesus is. 00:29:01.920 --> 00:29:03.060 And God comes to us and says, 00:29:03.059 --> 00:29:06.819 In light of my imminent return, fix your eyes on Jesus. 00:29:06.919 --> 00:29:08.519 Not on the good gifts that I've given you. 00:29:08.899 --> 00:29:12.099 Let those things point you towards the wonder of Jesus. 00:29:12.579 --> 00:29:17.220 Let Jesus be your delight and your joy and your object of worship and fascination. 00:29:17.940 --> 00:29:22.299 Friends, it's very tempting to even look to religion or spirituality to save you. 00:29:22.779 --> 00:29:23.379 Some people say, 00:29:23.460 --> 00:29:24.720 Yes, I'm a very spiritual person. 00:29:25.079 --> 00:29:25.639 I pray. 00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:26.279 I meditate. 00:29:26.700 --> 00:29:27.919 I go on retreats. 00:29:28.220 --> 00:29:29.839 I'm in touch with my spirituality. 00:29:29.839 --> 00:29:34.199 Friends, those things won't help you in the day that Jesus returns. 00:29:34.919 --> 00:29:35.819 Look to Jesus. 00:29:36.659 --> 00:29:37.259 Worship him. 00:29:38.139 --> 00:29:39.799 Friends, are you looking to Jesus this morning? 00:29:41.059 --> 00:29:42.919 Friends, if you're a follower of Jesus this morning, 00:29:43.000 --> 00:29:46.740 is it possible that maybe like the Christians in Philippi, 00:29:47.419 --> 00:29:51.319 that our desires, our appetites have become our God? 00:29:52.079 --> 00:29:54.500 They've become more important to us than who Christ is. 00:29:55.359 --> 00:29:58.699 Friends, is it possible that we might have set our minds on earthly things? 00:29:58.700 --> 00:30:01.940 Rather than being drawn to worship God, 00:30:02.980 --> 00:30:07.660 is it possible we're worshiping the good gifts that he's given us rather than Christ himself? 00:30:08.600 --> 00:30:09.660 Friends, look to Jesus. 00:30:10.259 --> 00:30:11.100 Hope in Jesus. 00:30:11.700 --> 00:30:13.380 Turn to him in repentance if you need to. 00:30:13.620 --> 00:30:15.080 Confess your sin and adultery. 00:30:15.660 --> 00:30:17.500 And then delight in his amazing grace. 00:30:18.440 --> 00:30:19.759 Now, how do we do that? 00:30:20.180 --> 00:30:22.819 How do we make sure that we keep Jesus forefront of our minds? 00:30:22.880 --> 00:30:24.779 Well, that brings us to our third and final thing. 00:30:25.440 --> 00:30:26.420 And that is this. 00:30:26.420 --> 00:30:31.740 In light of his imminent return, keep looking to the gospel of grace. 00:30:31.880 --> 00:30:33.980 Look at verse 12 and 14 with me. 00:30:35.500 --> 00:30:36.380 Jesus says this, 00:30:36.460 --> 00:30:37.660 Behold, I'm coming soon. 00:30:38.080 --> 00:30:42.740 I'm bringing my reward with me to repay each one for what he's done. 00:30:43.380 --> 00:30:43.539 Okay? 00:30:43.660 --> 00:30:50.660 So Jesus tells us that he's coming and he's going to reward those that have been faithful to follow him in this lifetime. 00:30:50.980 --> 00:30:54.440 Those that have suffered with him and endured with him, he will reward us. 00:30:54.440 --> 00:30:57.059 Remember in chapter 20, two weeks ago, said the same thing. 00:30:57.480 --> 00:31:02.259 He is going to hold us accountable for the lives we've lived and he will reward those that have been faithful. 00:31:03.299 --> 00:31:14.940 But the problem is that shouldn't lead us to self-righteousness or pride because the gospel tells us it's God's grace that enables us to be faithful in the first place. 00:31:14.940 --> 00:31:20.799 So God comes and he rewards faithfulness, but it's his grace that helps us to be faithful anyway. 00:31:21.380 --> 00:31:23.740 And think of how Paul writes this in Corinthians. 00:31:23.940 --> 00:31:24.240 He says, 00:31:24.600 --> 00:31:26.400 By the grace of God, I am what I am. 00:31:26.600 --> 00:31:28.600 And his grace towards me was not in vain. 00:31:29.200 --> 00:31:33.000 Yes, I worked harder than all the other apostles, but actually it wasn't me. 00:31:33.039 --> 00:31:34.860 It was God's grace at work within me. 00:31:35.400 --> 00:31:37.279 Or think what he says in Philippians 2. 00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:37.899 He says, 00:31:39.039 --> 00:31:40.899 Work out your salvation with fear and trembling. 00:31:41.519 --> 00:31:47.639 Follow Jesus, for it is God who is at work in you to will and to act according to his good pleasure. 00:31:48.220 --> 00:31:49.339 Or in Titus, Paul says, 00:31:49.960 --> 00:31:59.000 God's grace teaches us to say no to ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live sensible, righteous, godly lives in this present age. 00:31:59.339 --> 00:32:01.740 So it's God's grace that helps us to do that. 00:32:02.259 --> 00:32:03.480 So Jesus comes and he says, 00:32:03.859 --> 00:32:06.259 Listen, one day I'm going to reward you for your faithfulness. 00:32:06.259 --> 00:32:07.740 And what will we do? 00:32:08.140 --> 00:32:09.379 Well, we actually sang about it earlier. 00:32:09.480 --> 00:32:10.900 I didn't know we were singing about that. 00:32:11.059 --> 00:32:12.339 But Revelation 4 says, 00:32:13.160 --> 00:32:15.980 The elders, in other words, all of God's people, 00:32:16.480 --> 00:32:17.779 take the crowns off their heads. 00:32:17.859 --> 00:32:19.180 The rewards that God gives them. 00:32:19.240 --> 00:32:21.379 And they lay them down at the feet of Jesus and say, 00:32:21.940 --> 00:32:23.240 Jesus, even these rewards, 00:32:23.680 --> 00:32:25.359 even the good things that I did in my lifetime, 00:32:25.859 --> 00:32:27.039 actually it is all your grace. 00:32:27.539 --> 00:32:28.839 It's all glory to you. 00:32:29.160 --> 00:32:30.839 All honor to you, God. 00:32:30.900 --> 00:32:31.980 I don't deserve the glory. 00:32:32.640 --> 00:32:34.119 Worthy are you, our God and King. 00:32:34.119 --> 00:32:38.299 In other words, friends, how do we become faithful followers of Jesus? 00:32:39.039 --> 00:32:41.539 We need to get the grace of God into our hearts. 00:32:41.639 --> 00:32:43.699 We need to be in awe of his gospel. 00:32:43.879 --> 00:32:46.839 We need to meditate on the truth that though we are sinners, 00:32:47.000 --> 00:32:48.759 Jesus loved us and died for us, 00:32:48.839 --> 00:32:51.839 and his grace needs to change us and transform us. 00:32:52.319 --> 00:32:53.259 And so that's the second thing. 00:32:53.339 --> 00:32:54.679 Look at what happens in verse 14. 00:32:54.680 --> 00:32:55.820 He says, 00:32:56.560 --> 00:33:05.960 What on earth is going on there? 00:33:07.080 --> 00:33:08.160 Remember in chapter 7, 00:33:09.019 --> 00:33:13.580 there's this vast multitude of people from every culture and language and tribe 00:33:13.580 --> 00:33:15.960 and nationality and black and white and Chinese, 00:33:16.160 --> 00:33:17.900 and we're all there before the throne. 00:33:18.460 --> 00:33:19.640 And an angel comes and says, 00:33:19.700 --> 00:33:20.700 Who are all these people? 00:33:20.700 --> 00:33:22.799 And then another angel says, 00:33:23.500 --> 00:33:26.240 These are the ones who are clothed in white, 00:33:26.480 --> 00:33:29.900 who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 00:33:30.580 --> 00:33:31.759 What's Jesus talking about? 00:33:32.140 --> 00:33:37.400 He's talking about those that have come to him with their stains of sin and shame and guilt 00:33:37.400 --> 00:33:42.299 and had the stain removed because they've been washed in Jesus' blood on his death on the cross. 00:33:42.960 --> 00:33:44.779 Friends, the way we remain faithful, 00:33:45.340 --> 00:33:48.299 the way we become the people that God's called us to be, 00:33:48.299 --> 00:33:50.039 is not just by trying harder. 00:33:50.619 --> 00:33:52.539 It's not just by trying to be good Christians. 00:33:53.039 --> 00:33:54.399 It's not just by saying, 00:33:54.539 --> 00:33:55.440 I must do better. 00:33:55.919 --> 00:34:00.879 It's by remembering the grace of Jesus that he died on the cross to wash us of our sin and our shame. 00:34:01.700 --> 00:34:03.619 There's an amazing verse in Romans chapter 2, 00:34:03.680 --> 00:34:04.460 and it says this, 00:34:04.899 --> 00:34:07.879 It is the kindness of God that leads us to repentance. 00:34:09.219 --> 00:34:11.119 Friends, when you've done something wrong, 00:34:11.679 --> 00:34:12.699 and you feel guilty, 00:34:12.699 --> 00:34:15.839 what is it that's going to lead you to come before Jesus 00:34:15.839 --> 00:34:19.579 and have that guilt washed away and your conscience atoned for? 00:34:20.000 --> 00:34:22.699 What's going to bring you to Jesus' throne once again? 00:34:23.139 --> 00:34:24.179 It's not his severity. 00:34:24.839 --> 00:34:26.299 It's not the fact that you think, 00:34:26.439 --> 00:34:27.679 I should be a better Christian. 00:34:28.179 --> 00:34:29.679 It's not your mom or dad saying, 00:34:29.899 --> 00:34:31.139 I can't believe you did this. 00:34:31.699 --> 00:34:32.379 You know what it is? 00:34:32.739 --> 00:34:34.299 It's the kindness of God. 00:34:34.639 --> 00:34:36.079 It's the grace of God. 00:34:36.079 --> 00:34:38.840 It's the patience of Jesus towards you, 00:34:39.179 --> 00:34:41.199 that though you and I don't deserve his grace, 00:34:41.279 --> 00:34:43.159 he lavishly extends it upon us. 00:34:43.519 --> 00:34:45.579 He washes us white in the blood of Jesus. 00:34:46.239 --> 00:34:47.619 That's what brings us to repentance. 00:34:48.199 --> 00:34:49.719 That's what brings us to faithfulness. 00:34:50.059 --> 00:34:51.779 That's what makes us the kind of people 00:34:51.779 --> 00:34:54.440 that are going to endure this life 00:34:54.440 --> 00:34:56.440 and become the people that he's called us to be. 00:34:56.900 --> 00:34:58.559 Friends, the entire gospel message, 00:34:58.659 --> 00:34:59.719 from the beginning to the end, 00:34:59.779 --> 00:35:00.759 the entire Bible, 00:35:00.920 --> 00:35:01.840 is that on our own, 00:35:01.900 --> 00:35:02.819 our sin condemns us. 00:35:02.900 --> 00:35:03.840 We stand accused, 00:35:04.239 --> 00:35:05.299 guilty as charged, 00:35:05.300 --> 00:35:07.019 and our only hope 00:35:07.019 --> 00:35:08.460 is to come to the hope 00:35:08.460 --> 00:35:10.600 and to place our hope and trust in Jesus 00:35:10.600 --> 00:35:11.740 and his death on the cross. 00:35:12.280 --> 00:35:13.140 Do you remember that old hymn? 00:35:13.600 --> 00:35:14.820 What could wash away our sin? 00:35:15.320 --> 00:35:16.620 Nothing but the blood of Jesus. 00:35:16.980 --> 00:35:18.600 What could make me whole again? 00:35:19.140 --> 00:35:20.539 Nothing but the blood of Jesus. 00:35:21.180 --> 00:35:22.900 Friends, the temptation in this life 00:35:22.900 --> 00:35:23.460 is to think, 00:35:23.900 --> 00:35:24.800 Jesus saved me 00:35:24.800 --> 00:35:26.260 and now I've got to work hard 00:35:26.260 --> 00:35:28.100 to make myself the person God's called me to be. 00:35:28.180 --> 00:35:28.720 No, no, no, no. 00:35:29.320 --> 00:35:30.880 You look to Jesus to save you 00:35:30.880 --> 00:35:32.720 and you look to Jesus to sanctify you. 00:35:32.720 --> 00:35:34.720 You look to Jesus to become a Christian. 00:35:34.719 --> 00:35:36.839 You look to Jesus to grow as a Christian. 00:35:37.579 --> 00:35:39.779 Friends, I'm not just justified today. 00:35:40.199 --> 00:35:41.619 Because of the blood of Jesus, 00:35:41.699 --> 00:35:42.779 I'm forgiven today 00:35:42.779 --> 00:35:43.919 and tomorrow 00:35:43.919 --> 00:35:45.639 and loved this week 00:35:45.639 --> 00:35:47.519 and until I commit my next sin 00:35:47.519 --> 00:35:48.379 and thereafter 00:35:48.379 --> 00:35:50.279 and for all eternity, 00:35:50.599 --> 00:35:52.899 I am saved, forgiven, loved 00:35:52.899 --> 00:35:55.199 because Jesus died on the cross for me. 00:35:55.859 --> 00:35:57.000 Friends, look to Jesus. 00:35:57.619 --> 00:35:58.480 Look to his death. 00:35:59.199 --> 00:36:00.659 Look to his bloodstained hands. 00:36:01.259 --> 00:36:03.079 Find your hope and confidence in him. 00:36:03.940 --> 00:36:05.019 Friends, what's going to make us 00:36:05.019 --> 00:36:05.719 the kind of people 00:36:05.719 --> 00:36:07.139 that are faithful to the end? 00:36:07.219 --> 00:36:09.199 In light of Jesus' imminent return, 00:36:09.779 --> 00:36:10.319 look to him. 00:36:10.900 --> 00:36:12.799 Look to him who died to cover your sin, 00:36:13.039 --> 00:36:14.340 past, present and future. 00:36:14.980 --> 00:36:16.579 Look to Jesus who welcomed those 00:36:16.579 --> 00:36:18.319 that society and religious crowd 00:36:18.319 --> 00:36:19.380 thought were too sinful, 00:36:19.659 --> 00:36:20.400 too far gone. 00:36:21.159 --> 00:36:22.059 Friends, look to Jesus, 00:36:22.159 --> 00:36:22.900 the one who said, 00:36:23.059 --> 00:36:24.239 anyone that comes to me, 00:36:24.299 --> 00:36:25.719 I will never cast out. 00:36:26.420 --> 00:36:27.279 Friends, look to Jesus, 00:36:27.380 --> 00:36:28.159 the perfect lamb 00:36:28.159 --> 00:36:29.759 who died so that the guilty 00:36:29.760 --> 00:36:30.720 could be pardoned. 00:36:31.260 --> 00:36:32.140 Friends, look to Jesus 00:36:32.140 --> 00:36:33.220 so that in this life 00:36:33.220 --> 00:36:34.740 you can be free from striving, 00:36:34.960 --> 00:36:36.220 free from religious guilt, 00:36:36.660 --> 00:36:37.760 free from needing to earn 00:36:37.760 --> 00:36:38.780 his love or acceptance, 00:36:39.340 --> 00:36:40.600 free from religious baggage. 00:36:41.440 --> 00:36:42.420 Friends, look to Jesus 00:36:42.420 --> 00:36:43.760 who took your sin 00:36:43.760 --> 00:36:45.120 and your shame 00:36:45.120 --> 00:36:46.880 and your guilt upon himself 00:36:46.880 --> 00:36:48.060 so that you and I 00:36:48.060 --> 00:36:48.800 can be clothed 00:36:48.800 --> 00:36:50.100 in his robes of righteousness. 00:36:51.480 --> 00:36:52.560 Friends, this very week, 00:36:52.660 --> 00:36:53.840 today, tomorrow, 00:36:54.280 --> 00:36:55.240 Wednesday, Friday, 00:36:55.460 --> 00:36:56.180 each one of us 00:36:56.180 --> 00:36:56.800 are going to be tempted 00:36:56.800 --> 00:36:57.820 to look to ourselves 00:36:57.820 --> 00:36:59.060 for our justification 00:36:59.060 --> 00:37:00.180 and our self-worth 00:37:00.180 --> 00:37:02.019 and that is a dead-end street. 00:37:02.140 --> 00:37:03.180 That's taking your self-worth 00:37:03.180 --> 00:37:04.320 and driving it off the cliff. 00:37:04.940 --> 00:37:05.760 You have a good week, 00:37:05.980 --> 00:37:06.980 you make that deal, 00:37:07.440 --> 00:37:08.320 you sign the deal, 00:37:08.560 --> 00:37:09.300 you get a promotion, 00:37:09.500 --> 00:37:10.140 you get a bonus 00:37:10.140 --> 00:37:10.880 and you're going to feel 00:37:10.880 --> 00:37:11.740 on top of the world. 00:37:12.300 --> 00:37:13.140 The next week comes, 00:37:13.200 --> 00:37:14.160 you have a lousy week 00:37:14.160 --> 00:37:15.300 and you're going to feel 00:37:15.300 --> 00:37:17.880 like depressed and rubbish. 00:37:18.460 --> 00:37:19.539 Friends, don't look to yourself. 00:37:20.160 --> 00:37:20.940 Look to Jesus. 00:37:21.740 --> 00:37:22.360 Look to him. 00:37:23.240 --> 00:37:24.080 Book of Revelation 00:37:24.080 --> 00:37:25.240 ends with these words. 00:37:25.239 --> 00:37:26.819 He who testifies 00:37:26.819 --> 00:37:27.759 about these things 00:37:27.759 --> 00:37:29.539 says, yes, I'm coming soon. 00:37:30.219 --> 00:37:30.519 Amen. 00:37:31.039 --> 00:37:32.559 Come, Lord Jesus, come. 00:37:33.039 --> 00:37:34.719 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ 00:37:34.719 --> 00:37:36.039 be with everyone. 00:37:36.739 --> 00:37:36.979 Amen. 00:37:37.639 --> 00:37:37.899 Amen. 00:37:38.000 --> 00:37:38.799 Let's close in prayer. 00:37:43.159 --> 00:37:43.839 Lord Jesus, 00:37:44.479 --> 00:37:45.919 we confess, God, 00:37:45.979 --> 00:37:47.839 that we see you 00:37:47.839 --> 00:37:49.359 very dimly. 00:37:49.979 --> 00:37:51.119 Like Paul says, God, 00:37:51.159 --> 00:37:52.239 it's like looking through 00:37:52.239 --> 00:37:54.519 a dirty glass window 00:37:54.519 --> 00:37:55.599 and we can sort of 00:37:55.599 --> 00:37:56.320 make you out 00:37:56.320 --> 00:37:57.659 but God, 00:37:57.739 --> 00:37:58.619 we look forward to that day 00:37:58.619 --> 00:38:00.019 where we see you face to face. 00:38:00.800 --> 00:38:01.199 Oh God, 00:38:01.239 --> 00:38:02.280 we look forward to that day 00:38:02.280 --> 00:38:03.719 when you Christ return 00:38:03.719 --> 00:38:05.119 and you take us 00:38:05.119 --> 00:38:05.800 to be with you 00:38:05.800 --> 00:38:06.780 in the renewed heavens 00:38:06.780 --> 00:38:07.519 and new earth. 00:38:08.179 --> 00:38:08.579 God, 00:38:08.659 --> 00:38:09.159 where we are, 00:38:09.460 --> 00:38:10.380 we know you 00:38:10.380 --> 00:38:11.280 and we love you. 00:38:11.820 --> 00:38:12.480 Oh Jesus, 00:38:12.639 --> 00:38:12.860 come. 00:38:13.759 --> 00:38:14.480 Come Jesus 00:38:14.480 --> 00:38:15.820 and heal our broken world. 00:38:16.500 --> 00:38:16.679 God, 00:38:16.739 --> 00:38:17.300 come and heal 00:38:17.300 --> 00:38:17.900 the aching 00:38:17.900 --> 00:38:18.400 and the agony 00:38:18.400 --> 00:38:19.079 in our hearts. 00:38:19.719 --> 00:38:20.460 Come, Lord Jesus, 00:38:20.519 --> 00:38:21.599 and remove the anger 00:38:21.599 --> 00:38:22.320 and the pain, 00:38:22.420 --> 00:38:22.759 Lord God. 00:38:22.760 --> 00:38:23.720 Come and wipe away 00:38:23.720 --> 00:38:24.540 our tears, God. 00:38:24.600 --> 00:38:25.740 Come and deal 00:38:25.740 --> 00:38:26.600 with our grieving 00:38:26.600 --> 00:38:27.400 and our mourning 00:38:27.400 --> 00:38:28.220 and our loss. 00:38:29.020 --> 00:38:29.300 Jesus, 00:38:29.460 --> 00:38:30.180 come we pray. 00:38:30.920 --> 00:38:31.640 Come we pray. 00:38:31.720 --> 00:38:32.020 But God, 00:38:32.060 --> 00:38:33.060 until that day I pray, 00:38:33.260 --> 00:38:34.460 teach us as a church 00:38:34.460 --> 00:38:35.660 what it means 00:38:35.660 --> 00:38:36.580 to live wisely. 00:38:37.480 --> 00:38:38.300 Teach us to number 00:38:38.300 --> 00:38:38.980 our days 00:38:38.980 --> 00:38:40.180 that we may gain 00:38:40.180 --> 00:38:40.920 a heart of wisdom. 00:38:41.820 --> 00:38:42.080 Jesus, 00:38:42.240 --> 00:38:43.060 teach us to live 00:38:43.060 --> 00:38:43.760 in light of your 00:38:43.760 --> 00:38:44.620 imminent return. 00:38:45.140 --> 00:38:46.140 To worship you 00:38:46.140 --> 00:38:46.780 and trust you, 00:38:46.840 --> 00:38:47.580 not the good gifts 00:38:47.580 --> 00:38:48.360 that you give us. 00:38:48.840 --> 00:38:50.060 To be faithful witnesses 00:38:50.059 --> 00:38:51.320 to your goodness 00:38:51.320 --> 00:38:52.000 and your grace 00:38:52.000 --> 00:38:53.440 and to trust 00:38:53.440 --> 00:38:54.460 your gospel, 00:38:54.619 --> 00:38:54.960 we pray. 00:38:55.480 --> 00:38:56.380 We pray these things 00:38:56.380 --> 00:38:56.980 in your wonderful 00:38:56.980 --> 00:38:58.179 and your powerful name. 00:38:58.900 --> 00:38:59.199 Amen. 00:39:00.360 --> 00:39:00.759 Amen. 00:39:00.759 --> 00:39:00.920 Amen.