First Sunday in Advent

Dec. 2, 2007

TEXT: Isaiah 2:1-6, Rom. 13:11-14, Matt. 24:37-44

IF only We had known!

If only we had known about the terrorist attack on September 10^th, we could have possible taken steps to prevent it from happening.  Or those who lost their lives could have changed their plans for that day.  

There is that frustrating aspect of life that assumes that Aif@ a person knew certain things in advance of their happening we could change the outcome.  Or, if we could not change it, we would respond or act differently.

AIf only we had known how well Microsoft was going to do back in the early 80's we would have invested in it.@ AIf only people would have known the future of ENRON they wouldn’t not have lost their fortunes.   

AIF ONLY...@

In the Christmas Classic of Charles Dickens, Scrooge, was given a second chance to live his life in a different manner.  He Respond!  Scrooge changed his behavior based upon what he now knew, based upon what had been revealed to him. 

There are also many, who have asked God for a second chance too, and they like Scrooge have given their lives to Christ. But the percentage, unfortunately that change, are few in number for Jesus says:

"For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it. ( Matt. 7:14)

AIF only we had known@ continues to echo throughout the centuries of human history.

Well today, December 2, 2007, You’ re going to know!  

What You Choose to Do with This Knowledge Remains to Be Seen, BUT YOU WILL Know!  You Will have the opportunity to reaffirm your priority in life being Christ.  OR, you will have the opportunity to change your Life based upon what you will be told.

You Will be given information that on a scale of 1 to 10 is a 10!  10 being the highest number.

- - - - - - - - - -

In today’s Old Testament text from Isaiah the children of Israel were told about a day to come in which there would be No More Wars!  Did they believe it?  Some did and some didn’t.  Isaiah says,

They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.  Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.  (Is. 2:4).

Of course, God is the one who is giving us this information about a Day to Come in the Future.  And because God is the source of this information we should believe it and know that it is reliable. 

John writes in his gospel these words:

These things have been written that you might know the Jesus is the Christ, and t hat believing you might have life in His Name.  (John 20:31)

Paul tells us that God’s Word is for all times, so that not only those who first heard his words, but also you and I might be wise unto salvation.

God is saying that He’s Coming Back to Judge the world!

This is spoken of throughout the Bible, and it is Promised by God.

Most religions in the world also believe in some type of Judgment or Day of Accountability.  In fact ALL religions in the world base that Judgment on the bases of one’s life here on earth.   Whether it’s Islam, Mormonism, or any of the Eastern Religions, they all teach and believe that one’s future is based upon ones life in the here and now.  Whether he/she has lead a good life, was kind to others, and basically was a good person.  ALL BUT ONE: Christianity.

It’s not your good life that saves you or your bad life the condemns you! 

Does that surprise any of you? 

Let me say it again.  It’s not your good life that saves you Or your bad life that condemns you.  The Church is a gathering place for sinners, who confess their sins expecting nothing, but getting everything!

Christianity teaches that IF you and I or anyone else thinks that he/she can stand before God’s Judgment based upon our good lives we are forgetting one all important fact: SIN!

God’s says this:

AFor ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God... Rom 3:23

AND: on the bases of works NO flesh will be justified.@...Rom 3:27

Christianity is the ONLY Religion in the world that offers Hope. 

Christianity is the ONLY Religion in the world that offers a Way Out for you and me!

God devised a Plan that would meet His just requirements of an eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth in the birth of His Son to die for the sins of the world.   Jesus is God’s Son.  Jesus is God come in the flesh.  He comes not to Judge Us but to save us from a fate worse than death: HELL!

The people whom St. Paul is addressing in today’s text believed in the coming of Jesus to save them from their sins.  They believed that Jesus was God’s Son.   They believed that, not only in His birth, but also in His death on the cross that God was NOW APPEASED!  God was NOW SATISFIED with the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross for their sins and those of the entire world.

That’s is were the Roman Christians were.  They believed in Jesus as God’s long awaited answer to the dilemma of sin and judgment.  They knew that now IF they would continue to believe in Jesus they would be Saved from Judgment and be given Eternal Life not base upon their miserable lives, but based upon faith in Jesus Christ.  

Paul states that being a believe also meant a change in their life style and their behavior.  Not that this change in behavior was now a good work which saved them, that had already been accomplished in the death and resurrection of Jesus, but their lives that they lived in the flesh were a response and evidence that their faith was more than just talk!

It was real! 

When things become real to us it affects us in ways that can be seen.

On Judgment Day There Will Be Many People, who once again will echo this same lament: AIF Only we had known about Jesus!@  IF someone would have told us!@  IF only the cares of the world would not have been so important to us.   IF only we would have listened and believed, we would not be in HELL today!

Paul reminds the Roman Christians and Us of What We Know about This World and it attempts to drag us back down with it; and that if we allow it to do so, we will be sorry.  Sorry like no other sorrow we have known.  IF Only we would have been faithful to the end!  IF Only we would have listen to God’s warning for my own good.

Paul says, Aour salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.@

Whether Paul is alluding to the fact that some were near death and being encouraged to hang on that they were almost home and would receive their reward, OR, he is alluding to the fact that time has past since they believed and so Christ’s Second Coming is nearer than what it was, the point is still  ADon’t Give Up.@ And don’t succumb to the evil ways of this world which will draw you away from Christ.

Jesus too in today’s Gospel reminds us that AIF the People in Noah day and age would have only known there was going to be a flood that was going to destroy them, they would have acted differently.

God says to ALL of us here today that He is Coming Back Again C Soon!  And Knowing that DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

This information is greater than any tip you might receive on the stock market.  This inside information is greater because it will Change Your Life Forever!

How many things change your life forever?

Most of the things that we consider important are only for the moment.  But the celebration which You and I are preparing for once again, and the celebration of the coming of God in the flesh is the most important message of our  lives.

The first Sunday in Advent is the Sunday of HOPE and the candle we light signifies that our hope is in none other than Jesus Christ.  Only Jesus could rescue You and Me from Judgment Day.  Only Jesus could solve the problem of sin and death once and for all who turn to Him for their salvation.

Jesus is our only HOPE when we hear the words: Terminal.  Jesus is our only HOPE to all of the unjust things that happen to us in this fallen world.  Jesus is the only thing that makes sense, and brings peace into our lives when death call home a loved one, and the message that we will see them again in the resurrection. 

Don’t you think that is why the angel announced to the shepherd that night:

APeace on earth good will toward men@

Let it be know that NO ONE has to face Judgment Day IF ONLY He or She is found to be in Jesus Christ. 

YOU and I have listened.  You have responded to not only the call to believe, but also the call to continue to be faithful, for we know what awaits those whose hope is build on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness.  LIFE EVERLASTING

Aren’t You Glad you will never have to say: AIF ONLY I HAD KNOWN ABOUT JESUS!@

AMEN.