Isaiah 11: 1-4a, 5-7, 9-10; Matthew 24: 26-44

A Sermon by Dr. Richard A. Wing, Co-Pastor, December 1, 2019

INTRODUCTION: The Bible is about people longing for a future better than the present moment – Why? —because, with few exceptions in the Bible,  the present was the pits!  In Isaiah there is LONGING for a Peaceable Kingdom. “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion . . . . . and a little child shall lead them.  ”Someone said:  “The wolf shall lie down with the lamb but the Lamb won’t get much sleep”  Our New Testament text has Jesus talking to people who are LONGING for better times. Jesus is telling of the in-breaking of God JESUS DOES NOT mean that the world as you know it will stop/explode/evaporate. HE MEANS, WE ARE ABOUT TO SEE THE END OF THE WAY THE PRESENT WORLD DOES BUSINESS! AND THE NEW ORDER WILL BE MORE JUST, MORE LOVING, AND MORE KIND.  I observe two things as we think about such in breaking moments.

I. THE PROBLEM OF PERPLEXITY: Daniel Boone was asked once: “Ever been lost?” He said, “No, but I have been perplexed for several days in a row.”

My friend Bill McNabb was with some church friends delivering a medical van to a remote place in Africa.  Bill had a very sketch map. He stopped asking for directions and a man gave him many warnings about rivers, animals and dangerous crossings. Bill looked very perplexed. Finally, the man seeking to help, without even notifying his family said, “Forget my directions. I will go with you and show you how to get there.”

We DON’T KNOW OUR WAY IN THIS WORLD MOST OF THE TIME. BUT CHRIST KNOWS OUR FINAL DESTINY AND IS WILLING TO GO WITH US THROUGH ALL OF LIFE’S PERPLEXITY.  GOD IN JESUS DOES NOT TAKE YOU AWAY FROM ANYTHING IN THIS WORLD, BUT PROMISES TO GO WITH YOU THROUGH ALL THINGS. 

David Livingston was about to explore the continent of Africa in the 19^th century. He called for people “to go with him.” People asked, “but where are the roads.”  He answered that there are none and that he needs people willing to go where there are no roads.”

What is being announced by Isaiah and Jesus in our texts?  NOT an army, NOT a 10 point plan, NOT a map——–but a COMPANION to go with us through all the chapters of life.  In our perplexity we have a companion who knows our destiny. He has blazed every trail before us; he takes away our fear, including our fear of death. God is the companion trustworthy in the midst of our perplexity. 

II. THE SPIRIT OF PROXIMITY: On that night in Bethlehem there was no big fuss/a cow feeder for a bed—-If you were there, it would appear that nothing happened. Eventually we discovered that night to be earth shattering. GOD CAME NEAR! – We received the “spirit of Proximity” We are most often unaware when the spirit comes near.  I owe my life to those individuals who “brought God near” at the very time I was perplexed, anxious and fearful of failure. God has so chosen to bless the human family through other human beings.  Name those in your life who brought God near.  “In those days, a decree went out . . .” no big deal. It turned out to be EARTH-SHATTERING!

CONCLUSION: We long for a future we cannot know much about. We hanker for earth-shattering events. In time we discover that what we really needed was not knowledge or earth shaking moments, BUT THE RENEWAL OF OUR HEARTS AND THE IMPROVEMENT OF OUR EYE SIGHT. “IT IS ONLY WITH THE HEART THAT WE CAN SEE RIGHTLY” said the Little Prince. This whole sermon is summarized in one sentence by Alice Walker: “To the extent that it is possible you must live in the world today as you wish everyone to live in the world to come, otherwise the world you want will never be formed.” AMEN.

PRAYER: Eternal God, teach us to number our days that we might pass beyond the fear of perplexity, to faith in your constant proximity.  Amen. 

• THE WORDS OF ISAIAH
• Is. 11:1   A green Shoot will sprout from Jesse’s stump, from his roots a budding Branch.
• ² The life-giving Spirit of GOD will hover over him,  the Spirit that brings wisdom and understanding, the Spirit that gives direction and builds strength, the Spirit that instills knowledge and Fear-of-GOD.
• ³ He won’t judge by appearances, won’t decide on the basis of hearsay.
• ⁴ He’ll judge the needy by what is right, render decisions on earth’s poor with justice.  His words will bring everyone to awed attention. A mere breath from his lips will topple the wicked.
• ⁵ Each morning he’ll pull on sturdy work clothes and boots, and build righteousness and faithfulness in the land.
• Is. 11:6   The wolf will romp with the lamb, the leopard sleep with the kid. Calf and lion will eat from the same trough, and a little child will tend them.
• ⁷ Cow and bear will graze the same pasture, their calves and cubs grow up together, and the lion eat straw like the ox.
• Is. 11:9 Neither animal nor human will hurt or kill on my holy mountain.  The whole earth will be rimming with knowing God-Alive, a living knowledge of God ocean-deep, ocean-wide.
• Is. 11:10   On that day, Jesse’s Root will be raised high, posted as a rallying banner for the peoples. The nations will all come to him. His headquarters will be glorious.
• THE WORDS OF JESUS:
• Matt. 24:26   ²⁷ The Arrival of the Son of Man isn’t something you go to see. He comes like swift lightning to you! 
• Matt. 24: BE AWAKE! Don’t take this lightly. This age continues until all these things (I have said) take place. ³⁵ Sky and earth will wear out; my words won’t wear out.
• Matt. 24:36   “But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven’s angels, not even the Son. Only the Father knows.
• So stay awake, alert. You have no idea what day your Master will show up. ^{————44} Be vigilant!. You have no idea when the Son of Man is going to show up.