This weeks Sabbath School thoughts are brought to us by ABCs own Pastor Carl McRoy. Please enjoy and share! THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST - Lesson 13 (CHRIST’S SECOND COMING SERMON APPEALS) Can you believe we’re already in the last week of the quarter? Indeed, “All good things must come to an end” in this world. Thankfully, Jesus will soon usher in a New Era, with New Heavens and a New Earth. That world will be without end (Ephesians 3:21). Our future glory will then overshadow our light affliction and good things will never come to an end! One of the good things that I find comes to an end too soon is the lesson study at church on Sabbath morning. It’s usually a miraculous event when your teacher ushers you as far as Thursday before the bell rings, announcing that it’s time for closing remarks, offering, etc. That’s why I’m going to do what Stephen Covey recommends in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and “begin with the end in mind.” As we move toward the end of this week’s study, let me pose a question, “Have you noticed that the toughest questions in the Sabbath School lesson are the ones the author poses at the bottom of a particular day’s study?” The primary reason that they’re the toughest questions is because the author doesn’t and can’t answer them for us. The earlier questions supply Bible references to look up, along with the author’s explanation of those texts. Not so with the closing questions of the day. These questions are designed for self-examination. They’re most often intended to lead us to repentance and a renewed commitment to grow in grace by applying the truth we’ve learned or reviewed. One of this week’s most thought provoking series of questions, on a very practical level, is at the bottom of Thursday’s lesson. “How much do you think about the Second Coming? How much of its reality impacts your life? How do we strike the right balance in going about our daily work and yet living in anticipation of Christ’s return?” After rereading and typing these questions, I was prompted by the Holy Spirit to write them on a piece of paper and put it in my wallet. I need to carry these questions with me where I can read them until they’re written on my heart. As I think about how to answer these questions for myself, I’m reminded that Jesus gave us guidance on how the Second Coming should impact our daily lives. It may come as a surprise to some, but Christs discourse on last day events didn’t end in Matthew 24. Every good sermon needs an appeal. Most successful evangelists make 3 appeals. This Second Coming sermon was so essential that Jesus provides 8 appeals, beginning in Matthew 24:32 and not concluding until the end of Matthew 25. All of the parables, short and long, deal with how we ought to prepare for Jesus’ return. In their progression, they move from cryptically profound to clear and practical. 1) Parable of the fig tree (24:32-33, Jesus teaches us to watch for clues that His return is near.) 2) Noah parable (24:37-39, Jesus teaches that people will be so wicked and self-absorbed that they will be completely oblivious to all the warnings that He’s coming soon.) 3) Left behind (24:40-42, Jesus teaches that people will be from the same walks of life and have the same opportunity for preparation, but some will be ready, while others won’t. Preparation is an individual matter. You can’t depend on whether someone else seems to be ready or not.) 4) Thief in the night (24:43-44) Jesus teaches that just as you don’t wait for the thief to invade your home to secure the building, you must remain ready at all times. You know He’s coming, it’s just a matter of time. 5) Drunken servant (24:45-51) Jesus teaches that keeping the nearness of His coming in mind will result in us being diligent in our work and considerate of our co-workers. A poor work ethic and slack morals indicate that you don’t believe your Master’s soon return and that He won’t be able to figure out what’s been going on in His absence. 6) 10 virgins (25:1-13) Jesus teaches that we must have a deep experience with Him that allows our lamps to keep burning during the darkest times of Earth’s history. If we haven’t been nurturing that kind of relationship, we can’t expect to develop it in times of crisis or borrow from the experience of others. 7) Talents (25:14-30) Jesus teaches that we are to develop all of the opportunities and abilities that God has graciously entrusted us with. If we don’t treasure the tokens of grace that God gives us here, then we won’t appreciate the riches of His heavenly kingdom. 8) Sheep and goats (25:31-46) Jesus teaches that we don’t need to wait for His return to have a sense of His presence. Nor do we need to take a tour of Galilee and Jerusalem to walk in His steps. We have the opportunity to fellowship with Him when ministering to the sick, imprisoned, and poor. By neglecting these opportunities, we are failing to develop the Christ like characters essential for appreciating the spirit of sacrificial love and service that pervades heaven. I challenge you to rehearse the following questions, with Christ’s 8 appeals in mind. May we all be ready for His glorious appearing and may our ethics and relationships show it. “How much do you think about the Second Coming? How much of its reality impacts your life? How do we strike the right balance in going about our daily work and yet living in anticipation of Christ’s return?” Pastor Carl McRoy writes from Atlanta, GA where he serves as Publishing Director of the South Atlantic Conference of SDA.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Sep 2014 18:29:36 +0000
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