Endurance

The Nativity Scenes in our homes are more than holiday decorations.
They are reminders of the zeal of God for humanity.
We, in turn, respond with love for God and neighbor. 

Luke 21:25-37

We are called to endure. We are not called to suffer, though there is plenty of suffering in this world and is near impossible to avoid.

We are called to endure. Endurance, for a runner, its the ability to finish the race with strength. Endurance for the Christian is to finish this earthly life with spiritual strength, both take intentional training.

What gives you spiritual strength and endurance?

What do you do in your home to develop your spirit?

What do you do the rest of the time?

This is the first Sunday in Advent. This is the season we prepare our hearts, minds and spirits for the Christmas celebration on December 25^th. This is a time rich in tradition. We can largely expect things to go much the same as they always have because, as I have heard some of you say, “what did we do last year?” Or “How did we do this last year?” We begin this season of preparation walking the line between a historical remembrance of actual events and entering into the mystery of God where those events point to something for us know and experience.

As Christians we are not called to go with the flow. As Christians we are not called affirm the world as it is. We are not called to retreat from this world, we are not called to reject this world. Jesus came and He called us to proclaim the kingdom of God. We believe that God will redeem the brokenness of this world. We believe that God will use those who are faithful in the work of redemption. The redemption of the earth and of creation has been happening from the very beginning of time but it began in a special way in Bethlehem 2000 and some years ago. This is a historic event as well but more importantly this was spiritual event and a spiritual reality.

We remember and prepare for the event of the birth of Jesus, but we also prepare for the birth of Christ in our lives in a new or renewed way. But that's not all! As disciples of Jesus we read the words he said as recorded in the scriptures and one of the things that he made clear was that the he, the son of Man, was going to come back. There would be a second coming and we are to live in such a way that it will be a blessing and a benefit to us. This is a spiritual reality that Christians believe. But is it one that will be an eventual historic reality. You see this is a challenge for a lot of believing Christians. It's been 2000 years after all! Jesus followers of his day believed that the Jesus' second coming would be coming any day. Then as I have said before, there have been over the course of time many calculations and predictions of dates that have come and gone when these event were to take place. And still we remain!

It can cause one to doubt or to question whether these things will happen. But Jesus is clear. You will see signs.

There will be sings in the sun and moon and stars, (I'm not sure what that will be) and on earth nations will be in distress, anxious over the roaring of the sea and the surging waves (any nations in distress? Any anxiety over the roaring of the sea and the surging waves? Yes of course, but what's new?) “People will be fainting from fear and from the expectation of what is coming on the world, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man arriving in a cloud with power and great glory.” Shaken heavens and seeing the Son of man coming in the indescribable Glory of God? That's new.

You see, we wont miss it. It will happen for everybody on the face of the earth. The question is, will we be aware or will we be distracted?

Will we lift our heads or will we hang them low?

Will that day come like a trap or will it be the welcome culmination of the faithfully lived life?

Jesus say when these thing begin to happen, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near! The day of your rescue from the life of illusion and confusion you have created for yourself will arrive! That day will be obvious. What about preparing for that day?

When we come to the day of our redemption things will be different. The things that are of no value to God will go away. The things we do and say that do not glorify God...will go away. Our possessions that distract us will go away. The work we do that does not lead to the Kingdom of God will come to an end.

What if, on that day, you have grown accustomed, attached even fond of all your unprofitable attachments? Then suddenly they are taken away.

How many times in your life have you gone through the Advent and Christmas season and on December 26^th or so you say something like, “It just doesn't fell like we had Christmas,” Or “I cant believe its over already”? That's because sometimes we expect the season to just happen to us. We enter into all the distractions of the Holiday and ride them like a merry-go-'round and we end up going no where.

This is a dangerous and difficult world. The distractions that we choose to become addicted to, seemingly make this wold easier to tolerate. But in reality, they sap our strength. They disconnect us from the true source of peace and power. Our distractions move us further and further away from our devotion to Almighty God.

Jesus says “Be alert praying that you may ave the strength to escape all these things that will take place.”

Distractions of this world,drunkenness worries of this life are things that Jesus warns against not because they make God so angry but because they will distract us from the blessings and the promise of his presence and his coming.

The point of preparing for Christmas is preparing our hearts, minds and souls for an indwelling Jesus Christ in our lives. If we are truly prepared for Christ to enter our lives, we will live as though the kingdom has already come. We need to look inside and remove those things that we are attached to that are not glorifying to God.

If you have built a life full of distractions and suddenly those distractions are taken away it may well seem like your life has been taken away. It can be very uncomfortable and even painful. Just look at the pain and difficulty of the process of overcoming addiction to alcohol or other substances. But if we commit our lives, now, to loving God, when that day comes it will be a beautiful culmination of a faith fulled life.

Jesus is coming in a way that you cannot possibly expect. Be prepared. Be watchful.

So how is it with you today? We all have distractions that are not profitable to our spirits. As we enter into a time of communion with our God lets us begin with a time of confession, lifting to God those things we know that we need to let go. Lift to God, silently in your heart and mind, those things and ask God for forgiveness, and ask God for the freedom to love him more freely.