Proper Balance

Proper Balance Michael Morse / General CrossFit / Eschatology; Kingdom of God; Second Coming; Second Coming; Rapture; Judgment Introduction Balance can be an often overlooked and underestimated strength to possess. Better body balance makes it easier to move and helps prevent injury. It is a perishable skill though, meaning its a use or lose it type deal. The fact that this skill is perishable makes it important to practice and maintain balance at all ages and fitness levels. It leads to to kinesthetic awareness - otherwise known as the ability to know where your body parts are in three dimensional space, which is required for every move we make. Balance must be practiced and maintained in the life of a disciple also, not only balance in the day to day but a balance of our theological understanding. To be unbalanced in one or more areas can cause us to with great intentions and motives veer far off the path Jesus desires us to be on. We require kinesthetic awareness as we walk with Jesus - we must know where our body is working within the dimensional space we occupy - for every move we make and everything that we do for Christ. Balance is necessary for those who seek to be CrossFit. Specifically a balance with theology toward prophecy and the future - more specifically Jesus' Second Coming and the kingdom He is bringing. Remember balance is what makes it easier to move and prevents injury. Lets see this discourse Luke records from Jesus and the Pharisees and Disciples to learn how to maintain balance prevent injury and move for Christ within the space we occupy. Luke 17:20-22 CSB 20 When he was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, "The kingdom of God is not coming with something observable; 21 no one will say, 'See here!' or 'There!' For you see, the kingdom of God is in your midst." 22 Then he told the disciples, "The days are coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you won't see it. Luke 17:23-26 CSB 23 They will say to you, 'See there!' or 'See here!' Don't follow or run after them. 24 For as the lightning flashes from horizon to horizon and lights up the sky, so the Son of Man will be in his day. 25 But first it is necessary that he suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. 26 "Just as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be in the days of the Son of Man: Luke 17:27-29 CSB 27 People went on eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage until the day Noah boarded the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 It will be the same as it was in the days of Lot: People went on eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building. 29 But on the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all. Luke 17:30-33 CSB 30 It will be like that on the day the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day, a man on the housetop, whose belongings are in the house, must not come down to get them. Likewise the man who is in the field must not turn back. 32 Remember Lot's wife! 33 Whoever tries to make his life secure will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. Luke 17:34-37 CSB 34 I tell you, on that night two will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left. 35 Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left." 37 "Where, Lord?" they asked him. He said to them, "Where the corpse is, there also the vultures will be gathered." The Kingdom of God The Present Kingdom Luke 17:20-21 CSB 20 When he was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, "The kingdom of God is not coming with something observable; 21 no one will say, 'See here!' or 'There!' For you see, the kingdom of God is in your midst." The Pharisees again ask a question of Jesus - when will the kingdom of God come? This question is in a sense a challenge to Jesus claims to be the Messiah. Jesus answers this question peculiarly by saying the kingdom of God is not coming with something observable. Observable - parateresis - watch closely - like watching the symptoms of disease or in the sense of close astronomical observations. Jesus is saying to them close watching of external phenomena will not reveal the signs of the kingdom of God. They entertained hopes of a kingdom which would be ushered in with a great display of power and glory. They were looking for outward signs and political upheavals. The present kingdom did not come with outward show Jesus says no one will say "See here" or "There". The present kingdom of God is not here or there in the sense of a present localized display that one can point to. Jesus then says the kingdom of God is in your midst or is among you. Now in one sense Jesus may have been speaking to the Pharisees that He Jesus the Messiah was the Messiah their King and in their midst presently and therefore the kingdom is within their grasp or reach. In another sense though the word in your midst - in the Greek is the single word entos - meaning inside or within - so some translations read the kingdom of God is within you. Colossians 1:27 CSB 27 God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Christ in you - Christ the king within you - I believe Jesus was saying something important for all ages whether Christ was alive and before them physically or Christ is alive and before us spiritually but not present before us physically (although He is alive physically also!). It is this truth Messiah was within their midst and to see the kingdom present they needed to acknowledge Jesus as Messiah. He was the rightful king of Israel and had performed miracles and presented credentials and evidence for all to see. Jesus the discerner of hearts knowing the true problem being the Pharisees has no desire to receive Christ. So the kingdom has presented itself but remained completely unacknowledged and noticed by them. The Pharisees although claiming to want the kingdom of God to come rejected the King. Jesus is not saying the kingdom is inside everyone already - He was saying the kingdom of God begins on the inside by believing in Jesus first. You cannot want the Kingdom and reject the King. You must believe in Jesus first - it begins inside of you The Coming Kingdom Luke 17:22-24 CSB 22 Then he told the disciples, "The days are coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you won't see it. 23 They will say to you, 'See there!' or 'See here!' Don't follow or run after them. 24 For as the lightning flashes from horizon to horizon and lights up the sky, so the Son of Man will be in his day. Jesus then turns His attention to His disciples the days are coming where you will long to see ONE of the days of the Son of Man. The time and season is coming where you will desire and long to see a day of the Son of Man - but you wont see it. As Jesus speaks of the kingdom to the Pharisees He turns His attention to His disciples because He just told the Pharisees the kingdom of God is in their midst, but now seems to be telling the disciples the kingdom is not yet. Jesus does this that they might maintain the proper balance that the time for the kingdom physically is not yet. They may long for it - the disciples too had ideas that Messiah would come and set things right and end the rule of Rome over the Jews. If you are here this morning and are in Christ Jesus or rather He is within you then you are a disciple of His and His words are for you as well. Know that the time is coming that you long to see ONE of the days of the Son of Man. What are the days of the Son of Man? Son of Man is the title derived from Daniel chapter 7 Daniel 7:13 CSB 13 I continued watching in the night visions, and suddenly one like a son of man was coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him. Daniel 7:14 CSB 14 He was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed. One of the days of the Son of Man is one of those days of the kingdom spoken of in Daniel 7:14. This kingdom is described in Revelation - the Millennial Reign of Christ - the Millenial Reign comes at the Second Coming of Jesus Revelation 20:1-2 CSB 1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven holding the key to the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. Revelation 20:3 CSB 3 He threw him into the abyss, closed it, and put a seal on it so that he would no longer deceive the nations until the thousand years were completed. After that, he must be released for a short time. Revelation 20:4 CSB 4 Then I saw thrones, and people seated on them who were given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and who had not accepted the mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. One of those days would be one day with a legit King, a righteous Ruler, a loving King. Its hard to imagine the perfect King over us - those who govern us now are corrupted to the core and have 0 interest in our well being - over their own well being. This from Jesus is being fulfilled today isnt it? Dont we long for the Return of Jesus? Jesus said such tough days are ahead that you will be longing for the days of the Son of Man - but you wont see it. Jesus desires for His disciples to maintain balance when it comes to His Return. Dont be so obsessed with His return that you see it in everything. Many are obsessed with prophecy and in no way are we not supposed to be looking for the signs of His return Luke 21:29-31 CSB 29 Then he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 As soon as they put out leaves you can see for yourselves and recognize that summer is already near. 31 In the same way, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near. Luke 21:25-26 CSB 25 "Then there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and there will be anguish on the earth among nations bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26 People will faint from fear and expectation of the things that are coming on the world, because the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Luke 21:27-28 CSB 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 But when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift your heads, because your redemption is near." We must be balanced with it or we will be deceived. Many will come claiming to be the Messiah or claiming that they alone have the key, date or other to knowing when and where. Luke 21:8 CSB 8 Then he said, "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is near.' Don't follow them. Matthew 24:23-24 CSB 23 "If anyone tells you then, 'See, here is the Messiah!' or, 'Over here!' do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Mark 13:21 CSB 21 "Then if anyone tells you, 'See, here is the Messiah! See, there!' do not believe it. Dr. Charles Feinberg, a noted Jewish-Christian scholar, said that in the course of Israel's history since the time of Jesus, sixty-four different individuals have appeared claiming to be the Messiah. In the not very distant past, men like David Koresh, Jim Jones, Sun Myung Moon, and many, many others have all claimed to be the Messiah. Many Orthodox Jews thought (and still think) that a Brooklyn Rabbi named Mendel Schneerson was the Messiah. Even more have been regard as messiah in some sense without necessarily being in the Judeo-Christian framework (such as Stalin or Mao). Jesus then tells His disciples (us included) though the wait is long, though the times are trying and though I said I am coming - you dont have to rely on anyone else to tell you when and you dont have to fear that you will somehow miss it. The return of Jesus is not something that can or will be missed As the lightning flashes in a dark sky lighting everything up - so too with the return of Christ "light up the sky". As the lightning goes from horizon to horizon so the return of Christ will be seen from horizon to horizon. The return of Christ will not be a missed spectacle all will see and all will know. The coming kingdom will not be spiritual, inner, hidden or secret - it will be a kingdom known and visible to the whole world. First Things First Luke 17:25 CSB 25 But first it is necessary that he suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. In order to maintain balance Jesus then says but first - this must happen. Luke 19:11 CSB 11 As they were listening to this, he went on to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem, and they thought the kingdom of God was going to appear right away. Acts 1:6 CSB 6 So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?" He must suffer and be rejected. Without the cross there is no kingdom with God for there is no forgiveness from God. Hebrews 9:22 CSB 22 According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Leviticus 17:11 CSB 11 For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have appointed it to you to make atonement on the altar for your lives, since it is the lifeblood that makes atonement. Jesus has been explaining this to His disciples for some time now Luke 9:22 CSB 22 saying, "It is necessary that the Son of Man suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised the third day." His second coming to bring the kingdom physically would follow the cross. Second Coming Sudden Destruction Luke 17:26-27 CSB 26 "Just as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be in the days of the Son of Man: 27 People went on eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage until the day Noah boarded the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Luke 17:28-29 CSB 28 It will be the same as it was in the days of Lot: People went on eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building. 29 But on the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all. Luke 17:30-33 CSB 30 It will be like that on the day the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day, a man on the housetop, whose belongings are in the house, must not come down to get them. Likewise the man who is in the field must not turn back. 32 Remember Lot's wife! 33 Whoever tries to make his life secure will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. Jesus now describes what the days will be like for His return. The days of His return will look normal and life will carry on the same. There will not be some ominous sign that marks the specific day. Jesus tells the disciples just as it was int he days of Noah so it will be in the days of the Son of Man. People will go on eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage. The idea is that life will go on and be normal from all outside observation. Each day will look like the day before it. Until the day comes like when Noah boarded the ark. Genesis 6:7-9 CSB 7 Then the LORD said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I created, off the face of the earth, together with the animals, creatures that crawl, and birds of the sky-for I regret that I made them." 8 Noah, however, found favor with the LORD. 9 These are the family records of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among his contemporaries; Noah walked with God. Genesis 6:17-18 CSB 17 "Understand that I am bringing a flood-floodwaters on the earth to destroy every creature under heaven with the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. 18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark with your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives. Genesis 6:19-20 CSB 19 You are also to bring into the ark two of all the living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. 20 Two of everything-from the birds according to their kinds, from the livestock according to their kinds, and from the animals that crawl on the ground according to their kinds-will come to you so that you can keep them alive. Noah was given the heads up from God that the flood is coming - the flood would be God's judgment coming for the earth. It is assumed and hinted at that Noah was a preacher and warned or tried to warn the people of the coming flood waters. 2 Peter 2:5 CSB 5 and if he didn't spare the ancient world, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others, when he brought the flood on the world of the ungodly; Hebrews 11:7 CSB 7 By faith Noah, after he was warned about what was not yet seen and motivated by godly fear, built an ark to deliver his family. By faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. For 120 years Noah built the Ark and preached the coming judgment to the world. The point of describing the days is to show the indifference of the people to the coming judgment day. Genesis 7:21-22 CSB 21 Every creature perished-those that crawl on the earth, birds, livestock, wildlife, and those that swarm on the earth, as well as all mankind. 22 Everything with the breath of the spirit of life in its nostrils-everything on dry land died. Genesis 7:23 CSB 23 He wiped out every living thing that was on the face of the earth, from mankind to livestock, to creatures that crawl, to the birds of the sky, and they were wiped off the earth. Only Noah was left, and those that were with him in the ark. The day Noah boarded the ark - the Lord shut the door and the flood came and destroyed them Jesus gives them another example of the days - it will be like the days of Lot. People went on eating and drinking, buying selling planting and building. Again life as usual nothing out of the ordinary, each looking just like the last until the day Lot left the city. Genesis 19:12-13 CSB 12 Then the angels said to Lot, "Do you have anyone else here: a son-in-law, your sons and daughters, or anyone else in the city who belongs to you? Get them out of this place, 13 for we are about to destroy this place because the outcry against its people is so great before the LORD, that the LORD has sent us to destroy it." Genesis 19:14 CSB 14 So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were going to marry his daughters. "Get up," he said. "Get out of this place, for the LORD is about to destroy the city!" But his sons-in-law thought he was joking. Lot warned the coming judgment - the people thought him joking - carried on because each day look the same and none looked ominous. Indifference to coming judgment doesnt make you immune to it, it makes you numb to it. Genesis 19:15-16 CSB 15 At daybreak the angels urged Lot on: "Get up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away in the punishment of the city." 16 But he hesitated. Because of the LORD's compassion for him, the men grabbed his hand, his wife's hand, and the hands of his two daughters. They brought him out and left him outside the city. Genesis 19:23-25 CSB 23 The sun had risen over the land when Lot reached Zoar. 24 Then out of the sky the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah burning sulfur from the LORD. 25 He demolished these cities, the entire plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and whatever grew on the ground. There will be a sense of normalcy in the world on the day when Jesus is revealed. Everything will carry on until the Son of Man appears and brings in the Day of the Lord. These two events reveal the approaching and coming judgment will seem sudden and the destruction will complete. Balance is found by being prepared BEFORE the DAY arrives. There will be no time to prepare on that day. On that day it will be too late and you will be destroyed. Jesus says the man on the rooftop must not go down for his belongings and the one in field must not turn back. Remember Lot's wife. Genesis 19:26 CSB 26 But Lot's wife looked back and became a pillar of salt. Spurgeon remembered a further tragedy regarding Lot's wife: she almost made it. "Doom befell her at the gates of Zoar. Oh, if I must be damned, let it be with the mass of the ungodly, having always been one of them; but to get up to the very gates of heaven, and to perish there, will be a most awful thing!" Whoever tries to save their life will lose it and whoever loses their life will preserve it - save it alive or save it intact. Balance is understanding this life in temporary and there is coming a judgment. To lose your life for the right reason and in the right way ensures you will save it Deuteronomy 30:19 CSB 19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, Sure Separation Luke 17:34-37 CSB 34 I tell you, on that night two will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left. 35 Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left." 37 "Where, Lord?" they asked him. He said to them, "Where the corpse is, there also the vultures will be gathered." Now some take these next verses to describe the Rapture and some take these verses to describe judgment. I want to say it can be either or but the main point is notice the sure separation. Balance is found when you understand God is faithful and just. No one will be saved by accident and no one will be lost by accident. Two will be in one bed and one will be taken and the other left. Two women grinding out grain one left and one taken. No this doesnt mean only 50% will be saved - this is a picture showing that though everything else being equal Jesus at His coming will separate the righteous from the unrighteous. No matter how close two may be the judgment may separate them. Matthew 25:31-32 CSB 31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. Matthew 25:33-34 CSB 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. There will be no mistakes for the separation will be made by God. Outward appearances count for nothing; God will judge the heart and look for the king and the kingdom within. The fact night and day are both on display also indicates that this will be a worldwide event - something that will happen to everyone in the world. Where Lord? Where the corpse is there also the vultures will be gathered. When the conditions are right - it will happen. Whether this is Rapture or Judgment - both are a separation of the righteous from the unrighteous. The main point isnt on what is occuring but that there will be a separation. Balance is comes from knowing that there will be a permanent and total separation. Conclusion We must find balance - understanding that the kingdom is both now and coming. Knowing the kingdom is now means we can receive the king now. Knowing that the kingdom is coming tells us not to be dissuaded or discouraged by the events - its not our kingdom and His kingdom isnt here - we are still longing for it - but it is coming. Though the coming is delayed - it is coming and the day it comes will happen suddenly. Understand it is coming and be working and preparing for the time to prepare is now. Balance by taking this time to be ready for when it comes. It will be unexpected and people will be unprepared The coming kingdom begins in you - right now - by acknowledging Jesus as King When you give your life to Jesus, He promises to get you through to the end. Toward the end of his life, Peter's world was getting kind of scary. It was quite dangerous to be a Christian, and there was much persecution. Peter reminded his readers about the days of Noah and Lot, and how God not only judged the wicked, but He also saved the righteous. 2 Peter 2:9 CSB 9 then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, You and I are going to be seeing many more things reminding us that Jesus is coming soon. Don't be afraid. Be balanced in understanding - It means the kingdom is not now and Jesus is coming - lets be balanced ready. Page . Exported from Logos Bible Software, 7:26 PM January 9, 2021.