Churches

Good day dear hearts, I love you. Last week we left off speaking of false prophets. In our world the false teacher is the one who tells us there are many ways to eternal life, that there are many ways to heaven and all that one needs to do is live a good life, whatever that means. That one has a belief in a higher power, again whatever that means.

Here we pick up in the second half of Matthew chapter 24 where Jesus gets into the meat of His Discourse. He tells the people, "like a flash of lightning you will see the Son of Man." He describes some of the events that will occur, and those events have been happening for some time now, including the abominations we witness every day that we are told are going to get worse before we see Jesus coming out of the clouds in His glory. Jesus' last words in chapter 24 are, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." In other words, heaven and earth will pass away and we are told, in the book of Revelation, there will be a new city of Jerusalem coming down from heaven and God will live with us.

In the remaining part of chapter 24 and all of chapter 25 Jesus speaks to us about being watchful and ready. He tells us only the Father knows when the time of the Second Coming will arrive. Jesus explains it like the people in the days of Noah who were too busy partying and were not prepared for the flood, so will many people not be aware of the return of Jesus. He touches a little on the rapture in vs. 40-41 where he talks about two men working in a field when one will be taken the other left behind. He continues to speak of two women grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken away, the other left behind. According to the book of Revelation, the ones left behind are the non-believers. All will be given the opportunity to be saved, but many choose to go against God and pay a mighty price.

Christ's second coming will be swift and sudden. There will be no opportunity for last-minute repentance or bargaining. The choice we will have already made will be our eternal destiny. Jesus' purpose in talking about His return is not to stimulate calculations and predictions about the date, but to warn us and be prepared. Will you be ready?

In chapter 25 are all the words of Jesus. He starts off with 2 parables. The first, Jesus tells the parables of the Ten Virgins. Space doesn't allow a detailed account of things but here is the long and short of it. Take the time to read chapter 25 again. The ten virgins were waiting to join the procession and they hoped to take part in the wedding banquet. But when the groom didn't come at the expected time, five of them were out of lamp oil. By the time they had purchased extra oil, it was too late to join the feast. When Jesus returns to bring His people to heaven, we must be ready. Spiritual preparation cannot be bought or borrowed at the last minute. Our relationship with God must be on our own. The second parable, titled the Parable of the Loaned Money, teaches us that the talents spoken of here are any kind of resource God has given us. God gives us time, gifts of talent and other resources according to our ability, and He expects us to wisely use them until He returns. We are responsible to use well what God has given us. God wants us to use these gifts to glorify Him, not glorify us.

Jesus finishes His Discourse in chapter 25, using the parable of the sheep and the goats. Sheep and goats often grazed together but they are separated from the flock when it comes time to shear the sheep. God will separate His obedient followers from the pretenders and the unbeliever. The real evidence of our belief is the way we act. To treat all we encounter as if they are Jesus is no easy task. What we do for others demonstrates what we really think about Jesus' words to us, feed the hungry, look after the sick and so forth. Let's slow it down for a minute, am I saying it is works that will give us salvation? No way! What I'm saying is it is our faith in God, our desire to follow Jesus which gives us the desire, not the require to do the things of God.

The last Words of Jesus in His Discourse are, "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." The Second Coming will be the final and eternal state of the wicked after the resurrection and the final judgement. Conversely, for the believer this time brings joy and eternal life. The Olivet Discourse is the culmination of thousands of years of prophecies, works and miracles to give us God's truth. God Bless.

Join us Sunday, May 19th starting at 10:00am with a "Biker's" Worship service followed by a free BBQ. Lord, watch over our community. Bless our children. Heal the sick and broken-hearted. Let your Spirit hover over our community. Amen.

Contact me anytime. Pastor Vince Chiaramonte, 570-853-3988, Susquehanna Christian Community Church, 1361 Main Street, or email clearmountain2158@gmail.