Weekly Pastoral Message prepared by Rev. Murray Adamthwaite
for Sunday 20th December 1998

From the Pastor: Christ has Come and is Coming III

"Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him ... Even so, Amen." Revelation 1:7 What a wonderful piece of technology television is, especially with instant satellite transmission all over the globe! News pictures which a generation ago would have taken several days to reach us here in Australia now come virtually as they happen. We can sit down in the evening and watch the soccer World Cup, as many did a couple of months ago, or watch the cricket, in each case live: what you haven't seen hasn't happened yet. Politicians and others talk now about the "global village", because this sort of communications capability has shrunk the world. We may marvel at instant and global mass communications but it still needs a welter of highly complex electronic equipment to make it possible, both here on the ground and in orbit around the earth. However, the text above announces to us that when Christ returns people all over the world will see Him, and that without any of the electronic gadgetry from the transmission end, nor will there be any need of a television monitor at the reception end. Absolutely everyone will see Him and a round earth will constitute no barrier (which, by the way, both the Bible writers and the ancients generally were well aware of - they had even made some reasonable measurements of the earth's circumference!). And the sight of Him will be one they will "have to have": turning off the switch will not be an option! For many this will be a most unpleasant experience, and it won't get any better. The One Who comes in glory will declare to those who find this advent unwelcome, "Depart from Me!". However, to many others it will be an advent they have longed for during their lives and await in death: it will be a glorious reunion never to be severed. This Christmas, as multitudes are preparing for their annual party, prepare instead for this glorious event, whenever it may come, and be among those who will welcome Him.