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“Christ the Kind Sunday” by Pastor Steve Sommerer Last Sunday of the Church Year Nov. 24th, 2019

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Christ the King is coming! God warns us and promises us it’s true. So be ready! Be watchful and diligent! Be prayerful and focus on things heavenly! Share the Good News of Jesus as you live out your calling… He’s coming, so get ready and keep watch. Revelation 1 says, “Behold He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of Him.” That the world spends zero time thinking about Christ’s return isn’t a shock. What’s surprising is how little we speak of it in Church. Is it fair to say people would rather have tips for living in this world than be told how to prepare for the new heavens and the new earth? Even we become so fixated on our daily lives we forget this life and this world is not our end. Probably why Jesus said, “Don’t store up treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” Your child may not be the next great football, basketball or volleyball player, you should consider putting in some effort into making them Christian men and women. “Faith comes through hearing the Word,” Paul said. Christ the King Sunday re-orients our thoughts to Jesus’ coming. 2 Peter 3 says, “We are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.” There are two extremes here to be avoided. We’ve mentioned the first – living and planning as though this world is the be-all and end-all. The other is as bad… Some churches and pastors sensationalize the Last Days with years-long series on the book of Revelation, getting so turned around trying to read the front-page headlines back into Scripture, they forget Jesus said, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.” The book of Hebrews gives good guidance for us as Christians living in the Last Days in the 11th chapter, it says: “All these [great heroes of old] were living by faith when they died… They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth… They were longing for a better country - a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” St. Paul said, “For me to live is Christ – to die is gain… I desire to depart and be with Christ which is better by far… Our citizenship is in heaven; and we eagerly await a Savior from there, our Lord Jesus Christ.” So where do we begin to restructure our thinking on life here and now – in light of eternity. Repentance is a good start. You and I have miserably lost focus of what’s important. It’s what we do. Jesus said, “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” We foolishly and faddishly devote huge portions of our lives and attention to lesser things. It’s not that the other things aren’t legitimate, but sometimes they swell in our 2 lives till they eclipse Christ. We’ve chased the world and toys and pleasures and power and popularity. Jesus said, “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and yet forfeits his soul.” Repent the hours wasted dreaming of earthly treasures, while neglecting true heavenly treasures. Repent opportunities squandered to share Jesus, keeping the saving truth of Christ shut away as though it were taboo – not to be discussed outside of church. Repent the laziness that builds our homes and families on the shifting sands of a dying world, while Christ the Rock is the only solid footing for us and our children. Repent. Now, hear the words of Revelation 1: “[Jesus] loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve [our] God and Father.” The holy, precious blood and innocent sufferings and death of Christ our King is God’s answer for our lives. Hebrews says, “Fix your eyes on Jesus the Author and Perfecter of our faith.” Our lives of repentance don’t end with worthless navel gazing – we look to Jesus. His perfect life, death and resurrection is God’s victorious vow that “as far as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west – so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Washed in God’s Baptismal promises, we can speak of something sure and solid - a certain, living hope in the midst of an uncertain world. “God has rescued us from the dominion of darkness,” our Epistle says, “and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves in whom we have redemption.” Christ the King died that you can live – here and now living a truly joy-filled life – but really that you can live forever. That’s God’s promise, and He doesn’t lie. Here’s hope for you and your home and loved ones. Christ the King who died to wash you in His blood holds the reins of human history and “works all things for the good” of His beloved Church, His blood-bought people. Since this is God’s promise and God doesn’t lie, we consider Christ’s return in a new light. St. Peter wrote: “Since everything will be destroyed in [fire], what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.” Today is your day to serve God as you serve your neighbor. If you are alive, you are alive to serve God as his baptized son or daughter saved by grace. Whether you are very young, a student and child, or more mature and graying at the edges, there is nothing accidental about where you are. You are who and where you are to be saved by grace and render God’s service – with complete joy and certainty – that you know how this game of life ends. Because Christ is King you can joyfully live your life echoing Job, “I know that my Redeemer lives and that in the end He will stand upon the earth; and after my skin has been destroyed I will see God, I myself will see Him with my own eyes… I and not another. How my heart yearns within me.” Can you remember a time and what it felt like to be homesick? You’re not home, yet. “We are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.” Jesus is coming again – our King will take His Church home. Keep the lamp of faith burning. Be watchful, prayerful, expectant. Get busy living for Jesus the King. God’s grace has prepared for you and eternal home. Amen. And now may the peace of God which surpasses human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.