A, Advent 1 - Matthew 24:36-44 "How is one ready?"
With all the cloud and wet weather around at the moment one might be reminded of the story when it had been pouring down rain for days and the river had broken its banks, seriously flooding the countryside. There was as old man in a house who was a faithful follower of God all his life! He was not afraid of the flood waters. He knew God would take care of him.
As the water came lapping up to his window sills, a man in a rowboat came paddling by. As he rowed by the house, he noticed the old man in the window, and sung out, "Would you like me to row you to dry land?" "No," the man confidently replied. "God will save me!" "Okay," responded the man in the row boat, and he went on looking for others he might be able to help.
The water continued to rise, and soon it was lapping at the second story window sills. By this time, dramatic rescue operations were in progress. The water was so deep that a large rescue boat was passing by. Seeing the old man now leaning from the second story window, they called to him: "You are in serious trouble - let us save you!" But the old man's faith in God had not diminished, and he called back, "No, God will save me!" "Well," they replied, "we don't have time to convince you -- others need to be saved, too." So they passed on by.
The water continued to rise. Soon, nearly the entire house was under water, with only the very top of the roof above the water. Perched on top of the house, the old man patiently sat when a helicopter came roaring by overhead. Through its loud speaker, the helicopter pilot boomed, "The water is still rising and your house is about to be swept away by the current. We'll throw out a rope and save you." Again, the old man shook his head replying, "No, God will save me!" The pilot said, "We can't be responsible for what happens to you if you don't let us save you!" But the old man was steadfast and would not allow them to save him.
As the water rose even more, the house was torn from its foundation and was swept away, breaking up in the raging torrent. The old man didn't have a chance and he drowned.
Now the old man finds himself standing before God. He is very dismayed, and says: "I've been a good person all my life. I've always trusted you, and indeed, you have saved me on many occasions. What have I done wrong? Why didn't you save me this time? I was ready and waiting for you the whole time!"
To this, God replied, "I don't really understand what the problem was. I sent two boats and a helicopter!"
You have probably heard this story or similar. The old man knew what was going on, yet he allowed himself to be swept away by the torrent. He thought he was ready to be delivered, but literally, he missed the boat, and everything else God sent to save him.
In the gospel Jesus reminds us of another flood where people were swept away unawares because they were not ready. But unlike the fellow in the story we’ve just heard, they were completely ignorant as to what was going on around them. They had turned their backs on God and were consumed by their own deeds and passions.
…concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
40Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. (Matthew 24:36-44 ESV)
So the question is: How must one be ready?
Should we stop all normal earthly activity, sit on a hill and wait for God to come? No! Just recently we heard from 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12, If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
There is nothing wrong with eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage, in themselves. However, when these things become gods, we turn these gifts, from God, into disorderly distractions, away from God.
So if we’re not meant to stop normal earthly activities, how are we meant to function if we are to be ready when Jesus commands? …stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. Every person needs sleep, it’s an orderly part of God’s created world! Even God rested on the seventh day!
God rested on the seventh day! Here is the clue to being ready! How must one be ready? We rest in God!
We do the every day deeds of regular life in God’s rest! Eat and drink, marry and be given in marriage, work in the day, sleep in the night, in God’s rest! Let all the benefits of God’s day of rest, God’s day of Sabbath, flow through the whole seven days of your life. In other words, when you leave this place, let Jesus come with you. Don’t hinder or stop the Holy Spirit’s work in making every day an advent of the Lord – a coming of your Saviour – the Rescuer of your life.
After all every day Jesus stands at the door of your heart and knocks. Hear what he says in Matthew and Revelation, Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7) Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (Revelation 3:19-22)
So open the door, sit down in the peace of God, repent and be forgiven, trust in the means God has sent to save you!
As the days of darkness and death descend on all of us, let us listen to the advice of Isaiah, O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord. (Isaiah 2:5 ESV) And again,
How must one be ready? Let us put on Christ, trust in him, and his way of saving us.
Are you ready for the coming of the Lord? He has already come to you through baptism, and he comes through his word, and he comes through bread and wine. He comes through these things forgiving you and rescuing you into his holy eternal rest and peace.
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation. (Revelation 3:14)
