Peace

Are We There Yet?  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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Life is filled with many different journeys and is a journey in its self. Life is the only journey that we do not have a choose to participate in but all the journeys we partake in throughout our lives begin with the question “Should I go or not?” We have an option to partake in these smaller journeys in life. Sometimes we say we will go and other times we say no, I stay here. A lot of these journeys come with unknowns and fears which might bring change in our lives and thus we say no. Some of these journeys are well planned out, routes have been set with a destination in sight. You know how long it will take and plan your gas, food, and restroom breaks. Snacks will be packed and you know the needed supplies to pack away. While others come up out of no where. There is no chance to plan or understand the final destination.
For us planners, the unplanned trip seems crazy. We want to know everything about the journey and what will happen when we arrive. There should be an agenda and order set for each day and not a fly by the seat of your pants. For me, I want to know where we are going on the journey and don’t really care what happens once we are there. This is pretty opposite of Amy. She wants to know all the details and the agendas for each day and almost each hour of each day.
Every journey that we participate in brings about a change and challenge for us. Visiting family is always a challenge because of the dynamics found within each family. There always seems to be that one family member that we worry about when our journey crosses their path. Now, I’ve got you thinking about that family member. But, what does journeying have to do with our sermon for the day and our text found in Isaiah and the Gospel of Matthew. Well, let’s turn to the Gospel text to begin our journey today. Turn with me to Matthew chapter 24 verses 36-44.
Matthew 24:36–44 CEB
“But nobody knows when that day or hour will come, not the heavenly angels and not the Son. Only the Father knows. As it was in the time of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Human One.In those days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark. They didn’t know what was happening until the flood came and swept them all away. The coming of the Human One will be like that. At that time there will be two men in the field. One will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill. One will be taken and the other left. Therefore, stay alert! You don’t know what day the Lord is coming. But you understand that if the head of the house knew at what time the thief would come, he would keep alert and wouldn’t allow the thief to break into his house. Therefore, you also should be prepared, because the Human One will come at a time you don’t know.
Here we are, at the beginning of another Christian Year. We have arrived at the first Sunday of Advent and preparing for a journey to the celebration of Christ’s birth. It is a journey through a season of preparation and anticipation. Many of us have already turned toward the celebration and are ready for that but there needs to be preparation. We need to prepare for the celebration first. I believe last year I compared the preparation to the likes of a birthday party. While you can have a birthday party at the last minute it is not going to have the same reaction of success as on that is planned out and prepared for with anticipation. And this year is no different. We begin our journey today with a new sermon series, “Are We There Yet?”. How many of you have heard that on a journey? How bout said that? The driver gets annoyed after hearing the question a couple times. Without realizing it, many of us will ask that question throughout this journey. Are we there yet? Is it Christmas day? I cannot wait…The sayings go on and on.
Sometimes we do not recognize the need for a journey because we get caught up in the things happening around us. This is what happened in Noah’s time. Noah gave warning to all that a flood was coming. They laughed at him and continued their debauchery. They did not prepare for what was to come and when it did they were left behind to deal with the rising waters that engulfed them. They had an opportunity to prepare and anticipate the event but they choose not to. They choose to stay verses going on the journey.
While the Matthew text is an odd text to begin our Advent Journey, it is one that talks about the importance of being prepared for what is to come. In verse 44, Jesus says, “Therefore, you also should be prepared, because the Human One will come at a time you don’t know.” We do not know when Christ will return but we know he will. While we wait we need to prepare for his return. We must choose to make a journey of preparation and anticipation of his return. This is what Advent is for us. It is a reminder of Christ’s return and how we must choose this journey of preparation. We cannot sit idly and say we are ready. No, there are still things that we need to do in order to be ready. Matthew choose wrote this for his community to remind them of the importance of not just resting on what they are doing but continuing to grow.
Isaiah’s prophecy talks about this preparation. We will face a judgement in that time that we must prepare ourselves for and to be ready for. But, Isaiah is also saying we must prepare ourselves for a time of peace. As swords and spears will no longer used as tools of war but as tools of agriculture. This means nations will not choose war any more. This means nations will be at peace with each other. They will care for each other and help each other out of love and not hate.
We have to begin to prepare for a time like this because it is one that we do not truly understand. Nations of today understand war better than they understand peace. If you look around, almost every nation in the world is involved with some type of war today. This makes it hard for humanity to understand peace the way we will experience it when Christ comes again. Friends, we can sit here and continue on the same journey we are on now. Or we can choose a different journey, one that Advent calls us to. We can begin to experience peace today by walking a path of peace that will bring about change in us and thus help to transform the world.
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