Weekly Pastoral Message prepared by Rev. Murray Adamthwaite
for Sunday 6th December 1998

From the Pastor: Christ has Come and is Coming I

"For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost." Luke 19:10 A notice in a church paper once announced "Christ is coming", and urged their people to prepare for the coming of Christ (i.e. on 25th December). No, He didn't come then, nor has He since, and He certainly doesn't come every 25th December, which was the impression the notice tended to convey. However, had the notice intended to use the Christmas season to focus on our need to prepare for His glorious Second Coming it would have been quite proper, and indeed, necessary. Our Lord constantly urged "watchfulness" in regard to that great event, and it is proper to do so, particularly at this time of year. "Beware" is a familiar sight on signs and in verbal warnings from radio or TV. We can be told to "Beware of trains" at a railway crossing; or to watch out for an accident on X Street which is blocking traffic. In the same way Christ warned us to "watch out", "beware" lest the day of His return catch you unawares (Matthew 24:42; 25:13; Luke 21:36). Why so? Because we do not know the time, either in specific terms or even in general terms, hence we must be ready at all times. Lest anyone object that 2000 years have passed and nothing has happened, Peter reminds us that with God a thousand years are as a day and the other way around (2 Peter 3:8). It is significant that he talks in terms of a thousand years. As the year 2000 approaches such watchfulness needs to be enforced more than ever. What then is it to be "on the alert", "watchful" etc.? What it does not mean is to be involved with date speculation. Far too many have gone down that track and finished up with egg on their faces. Instead, it is simply that we flee the corruptions of the world around us, keep praying and pursue holiness in the fear of God, so that when He does come we may have every reason to be joyful and unashamed. If we die in the meantime this does not lessen the need one whit. So then, as Christmas 1998 approaches let us sidestep the jollity in favour of the joy in anticipating His appearing in glory.