I suppose it is true at many big companies, but it was certainly true where I used to work. In the filing cabinet right inside my office door was a copy of the company SOP. It was a big four-inch binder containing our “Standard Operations Procedures.” It was ridiculously complex, describing what the employees were supposed to do in a thousand different situations. I was expected to know what company SOP expected of me, the office manager.
I hesitate to make such a crude comparison, but there are some similarities between the Bible and that book. This is our “Standard Operations Procedure” – this is our rule for faith and practice. Despite being written so many years ago, the Bible is still practical and up-to-date. The explanation of course is that its Author is not some lawyer or real estate developer. Rather, “all scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and is therefore profitable (and practical) for doctrine, for reproof, for instruction in righteousness.” “The prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by Holy Ghost.” Just as it was required of me to read the J.P. Realty “SOP,” you and I, as Christians, should read, re-read, and re-re-read our “Rule for Faith and Practice.”
Our scripture this morning could not possibly be more contemporary. Oh, someone might say that the language is a little out-dated – but I would quarrel with that. And even if we grant the necessity for a dictionary, because our level of education is so low – the theme, problems and solutions are without doubt a Twenty-First Century. And to my feeble mind, there is only one possible way to interpret the words of this morning’s scripture. The Lord Jesus Christ is returning to this earth someday – in all His glory. He will be coming to right the wrongs, correct problems and remove the curse of sin from His creation. He will be coming to gather His sheep into His heavenly fold. And as was pointed out in one of our hymns last Wednesday, He will come to “satisfy” things.
As the disciples watched Jesus ascend into Heaven following His resurrection… “Behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” As we learn elsewhere, first He will return mysteriously, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” Then seven years later, Jesus Christ “will return in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The “parousia” of the Lord, the Advent, or presence, or return of the Lord, is one of the cords that binds together the scriptures. Job said, “I know that my redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.” The return of the Lord, puts energy into all of our other doctrines. When the Son of Man cometh in glory it will be to reward every man – He will execute judgment upon all. And of course we must be ready “for in an hour that we think not, the Lord will come” – Matthew 24:44. We must occupy until He comes – Luke 19:13. We must seek to be blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ – I Thessalonians 5:23. Jesus is coming again – so we should prepare.
The context of Luke 12 hits us right where we live. Do you ever fret about not having all the things that your worldly neighbors have? Remember, the Lord is coming – and coming soon. What need will you have of these things when you are taken? Do you worry about not having everything that you think that you MUST have? Remember that the Lord knows what things you need, and that Jesus is coming soon. You will always have the things that the Lord determines that you MUST have.
I wonder how many of us thought even for a moment this morning that this might be that great day? Remember that “the Son of Man cometh at an hour when you think not. ” When Jesus spoke those words, He wasn’t talking to unbelievers; it was to disciples. Even disciples forget things; even disciples get distracted; even disciples misplace their faith. And then there are the “Lazarus saints” – those who have gone before us. Do you suppose that man was listening for the voice of His Saviour? “Lazarus come forth.” Even for us, it us unlikely we’ll be awaiting the Lord’s call. Be ye therefore ready at all times – verse 40. What sort of things should we do in order to be ready?
Verse 35 says that we should gird up our loins.
Most Sunday School kids can picture the way that people dressed back in Jesus’ day. Many of them wore robes, unless they had uniforms for specific responsibilities – like soldiers. Depending on the work, sometimes they would have to fix those robes in a certain way, not to interfere with what had to be done. Those who were not ashamed of work, were also not ashamed to expose their ankles, and sometimes even their knees. The runner, the rider, maybe a woodcutter or stone mason, would tighten his belt and pull his robe up a little bit so as not to interfere with his feet. When Christ washed the disciples’ feet, He girded a towel around his waist. When Peter was in prison, facing certain death, an angel came and set him free, saying, “Get up, get ready, tie up your sandals and gird yourself.”
When Christ speaks about girding ourselves, here in Luke, He’s speaking somewhat figuratively. But it is not too difficult to grasp His meaning. There are a thousand things in our lives which are harmless in themselves. In fact, many of those things are necessary to some degree or other. It is necessary that we have food to eat and clothes to wear. But it is NOT necessary that we eat Lobster and New York Steak at every other meal. It is not necessary that we wear Italian suits, and perfume at $300 an ounce. In the light of the soon return of Christ, pull back, tighten up and condense. Don’t strip yourself of that robe, but just gird it up and get ready.
I Peter 1 begins with thoughts about the return of the Lord Jesus. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” Then he says, “that you might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” Then later in the same context he says, “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind” – verse 13.
This world is filled with things which have a high tripability factor. And some of those things aren’t physical objects. They are items of the mind and of the heart. Like anxiety, worry, unbelief, animosity, ambition, pride and so on, surround and indwell us. In the light of the second advent, the “parousia,” gird up the loins of your mind and soul.
Can you picture a teenager, who has been given the run of house, while parents are away on business. He is not sure when they will be back, but he has a guess, and plans to clean up just before arrive. But they come back before he anticipated. He hears the car come into the drive-way. He runs to the window and sees the head-lights. He turns around to start cleaning-up, but trips and falls over some of the junk he has scattered around. That is so typically us. But Jesus says, “In the light of My potential immediate return, let your loins be girded about.”
And let your lamp be burning.
I remember away back in the olden days, when men were first being sent into space. We were first just trying to figure out how to get them out there and get them back safely. It was all so new and exciting, often spilling over into our own hearts. I remember that a few communities were trying to get all the home-owners to keep their porch lights on. They wanted their cities to be recognized from outer space. Let me assure you that the Lord Jesus doesn’t need any landing lights when He returns. So when He says, “Keep your lights burning,” that is NOT to what He refers.
In another place he said, “Ye are the light of the world… Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father.” I don’t know your opinion, but it appears to me that our society is growing constantly darker and blacker. “The god of this world is more and more blinding men’s eyes lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ should shine unto them.” More and more, our communities need to see the light of the Christ reflected through you and me. And if we hope to see lost people meet the Saviour, we are going to have to light the way by allowing our lives, our characters, our speech and our work to be illuminated from above. Our task is like that of the nurse assisting the eye doctor to “open mens eyes and to turn them from darkness to light from the power of Satan unto God.”
I read of a street preacher stood before a large crowd in an open square and preached about sin, righteous, judgment and the Saviour. When he was done, a man started ridiculing all that he had heard. He said that he had never seen heaven, an angel, God or even a sin. And he refused to believe anything which he hadn’t seen. After the second man began to talk another began to push his way forward. The poor gospel preacher just stood watching and listening. When the second man was finished the third man began. He said, “Friends, I hear that there is a river not far from here. They say that it has trees around it, beautiful grass, ducks and other water birds. But I refuse to believe it, because I have never seen it. Perhaps every single one of you have seen that river and the park beside, it but I haven’t because I was born blind.” Then he turned toward sound of the man who first interrupted the preacher and said, “Sir, You by your statements disprove nothing that the minister has said. The only thing you have proved is that you are blind, spiritually blind. That is why you don’t understand what many people here know to be true.”
In the light of the soon coming of the Lord, this is the kind of people that we need in this world. We need people who are reflections of Christ; little lights, with their little triple A batteries all charged. When the Saviour calls us all away, the world will be cast into a spiritual night it has never experienced before. You who are not in love with the Saviour this morning, are in all probability servants of sin and Satan. When the Redeemer returns you will be left to your world and your worldliness. But it will become a world black in a great many ways – even the sun will literally sputter and blink. You need the Saviour this very moment – before He returns.
A third thing Christians in which should be engaged is the solemn preparation of their own waiting hearts.
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” There are some people who believe that if they are not found ready, waiting and watching for Christ at His return, then they will be left behind for all or part of the trouble which will then befall this world. I do not believe that, basically because I believe that salvation is entirely by God’s grace. But I do believe that shortly after the Lord’s return, then will begin the great judgment. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” The Bible reveals that it is the condition of the heart which determines the quality of the work done by the hands. In other words, not only will we be judged for what we actually accomplish in Jesus’ name. But we will be rewarded or reprimanded for our attitude and outlook on the things of God. “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin,” even if the deed done is a relatively good thing.
What is the direction of your heart this morning? Let’s say that you have been invited to visit with some old friends, who live in a distant city. Let’s imagine that you have been e-mailing back and forth about this visit, and you’ve logged an hour or two on the telephone as well. Let’s say you’ve spent a few hundred dollars on air-plane tickets, new luggage and clothes for the trip. Now the day has finally arrived, and you’ve boarded the plane. After two hours in the airport and three hours in the air, on what you think must have been the bumpiest flight in history, you arrive. But there is no one to meet you, and you must take a taxi to your friend’s house. As you walk up to the front door you are surprised there are people home. You were afraid they were at the hospital or in the midst of some other emergency. When you ring the door-bell and see your friend for the first time in a couple years, you find that not only are they not prepared to have you visit, but that they are actually angry that you’ve dared to disrupted their lives by intruding upon them. How do you respond after all you’ve gone through? What is your reaction?
My friends, the Creator is returning to His creation, whether you like the idea or not. There will likely be many of God’s own people, who are put out at the Lord for disrupting their lives. Don’t be among them. I don’t care what plans you have made for this world, there is not one of them greater than the least of the plans which the Lord has for you. Who wouldn’t gladly cancel a trip to the dentist for an excursion to Glacier National Park or perhaps Banff. Even in these days of peace and prosperity, the children of God should yearn for their Saviour. And they should be striving to lay up treasure with Him even as we speak. “For where your treasure is there will your heart be also.”
Do you believe that the Lord is coming again? Really? Do you know exactly when He shall appear? Is it written on your calendar? It’s not? Then doesn’t it seem logical to be ready for His arrival this very day? For many of us that simply means some time in prayer today. A time for introspection, confession, resolution and surrender. A time to rekindle the fire that once burned in your heart to see the face of the One you loved you enough.
But for some of you, thoughts of Jesus’ return sends a chill through your soul. You know you are not prepared to face God. You have sin in your life, and not a drop of the blood or Christ or the Grace of God. The truth is that Jesus might pronounce the benediction of this morning’s service. And you are not a child of God. Your sins are unforgiven, and you are not ready to face eternity. So to you, I propose the cross of Calvary. The narrow road to the blessings of eternity and Heaven are through that blood-soaked cross. Christ, the soon-returning-King died on that cross to pay for the sins of tens of thousands of sinners like you. What He asks of you now, is not necessarily an excitement about His return, but an excitement about how and why He first departed. You need that sacrificial blood. You need the Lord’s sacrifice. Repent before God and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.