Keep Watching! Keep Hoping!
Introduction
There seems to be a lot of fear, anxiety and worry going around these days. When we look at the world, and everything that is happening all around us, then it is easy to lose hope. In the midst of all that is going on, we may wonder and ask, “Where is the Lord Jesus?” Is he still in control? Is he really coming back? He seems to be taking an awfully long time in coming back. Some may even ask, Did he really come into the world 2,000 years ago? Is Jesus even for real? Isn’t this all just one big fairy tale?
I hope to show today you that these are not bedtime stories to make us feel good. They are real. God is for real! Jesus is for real! He came, and he is coming back for real! Really, he is! So we must keep watching! Keep hoping! So that we are ready to stand before him when he comes.
1. A Sinful, Rebellious Nation
In Isaiah God called Israel a sinful and rebellious nation. Israel practiced a fake religion, a hypocritical religion as we see in Is 1:8-15. Israel never stopped worshipping YHWH. They brought their sacrifices faithfully to the temple. They celebrated the days and festivals as God told them to do. But they did not worship him with a sincere heart, with sincere faith and devotion. They were unfaithful in their hearts and lives. They did not walk in the ways of the Lord. Their worship didn’t translate into changed lives. They did not live holy as God’s people. “Your hands are full of blood,” said the Lord (Is 1:15). Israel placed more faith in the rituals and ceremonies, in the buildings and structures than in YHWH himself.
Israel practiced a false religion. YHWH was not enough for them. In addition to YHWH they worshipped idols, false gods (Is 1:27-31; 2:6,8). They did not worship YHWH alone, exclusively, as He demanded of them. “You shall have no other gods before me” (Ex 20:3). There is a good reason God gave this command. It is because he is the only true living God. There is no other.
The once faithful city became unfaithful. There were no justice and righteousness in her anymore. “Your rulers are rebels, partners with thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow’s case does not come before them” (Is 1:23).
Israel was filled with human pride and arrogance. They relied on their silver and gold, their horses and chariots (Is 2:7-8). They took pride in their achievements, and trusted in the power of their money and their military.
2. God Acts—God Will Come
In this hopeless situation God promised that he will act. “I will vent my wrath, and avenge myself … I will turn my hand against you. I will thoroughly purge away your dross and remove all your impurities. I will restore … “ (Is 1:24-26)
How will God act? He will come! He will come in the last days. On that day God will establish his presence clearly, visibly, for real, among his people. The Lord’s mountain will be exalted as the highest of the hills and mountains. His fearful presence and the splendor of his majesty will humble the arrogant, and bring down the proud. All that is exalted by humans will be humbled. (Is 2:10-17) The Lord alone will be exalted on that day. People will flee and hide before his fearful presence and the splendor of his majesty. They will run, and throw away their idols (Is 2:10,17-21). Therefore, we should not trust in mere humans who have but a breath in their nostrils (Is 2:22). Do not trust in things created by humans! Trust in God alone who is real, who is faithful, who promised that he will come, and he came!
3. God Came
God promised that he will come. He will be with his people. He will be exalted. His rule and his influence will go out from his mountain, from Zion and Jerusalem. All the nations and many peoples will stream there. They will not go in dribs and drabs. It will be like a river in flood. Because there, the Lord will teach his Law, his Word, his ways, so that the peoples can walk in his paths. His rule will be a rule of justice, righteousness, and peace. He will judge and settle disputes. There will be no more wars and conflicts.
God promised that he will come. And he did come! God is real. God is faithful. We can believe in God, and we can believe God’s promises. This is no a fairy tale. This promise was fulfilled. Jesus, the Son of God, God himself came. In the last days Jesus came into the world. Yes, with Jesus’ coming into the world, the last days have begun. We are now living in the last days. Jesus, the Word of God, came and lived with his people. Jesus brought God’s kingdom into the world. Jesus taught God’s Word, God’s ways, and people streamed to him. With signs and wonders he showed that God’s kingdom has arrived.
In Jerusalem Jesus was raised high on the cross. The Prince of Peace settled the matter of sin and our debt. His blood, his death washed us white as snow (Is 1:18). He made peace between God and humankind. He reconciled us with God. He settled the dispute God had with us. He made peace between peoples, and created a new humanity. And peace is now possible between peoples and nations if they would just follow God’s ways, his command to love.
Jesus was raised up from the dead. And gave us new, eternal life. Jesus ascended to heaven, was seated at God’s right hand, and he was exalted above all rule and authority, power and dominion (Eph 1:20-23). All power and all authority have been given to him.
The law and the word of the Lord will go out from Zion and Jerusalem. Jesus is the Word. Jesus fulfilled the law. Jesus gave us the old but new commandment — love one another, love your enemies (1 Jn 2:7-8; Mt 5:43-48). And from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth the good news have gone out, is going out, and spreading to the whole world — the good news that God came. God the Son came to save the world. Jesus is the Christ. He is the Lord and Savior of the world. God came again in God the Holy Spirit. And even now, God is with us, because God the Son is living in us through God the Holy Spirit.
God came. The promise of Isaiah 2 was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. But God’s mission is not yet finished. That promise is not yet completely fulfilled.
4. God Will Come Back Again!
God will come again. Jesus will come back. Jesus came. And because he came, we can know, and have a firm hope that he will come back. Isaiah 2 will be fulfilled again and fully when Jesus comes again. Jesus promised. This will happen! This is for real. This is no abstract idea, a nice spiritual thought, to comfort us and help us survive during these difficult times. Of course this promise gives us hope and encourages us. But, I am wondering if we have not become complacent about the Lord’s return. What are your beliefs, your expectations about Jesus’ return? Perhaps you are thinking, Yeah, he is coming back, one day. Soon, in my lifetime, I don’t think so. Have we become comfortable with the idea that our Lord may not come soon? We need to wake up and keep watch! Jesus is coming for real. And it can be anytime! Sooner than you expect.
Jesus told us to watch out. There will be many signs, real signs. And these signs warn us that we are living in the last days, and that the end is near. These signs are not there to give us the date and time of his return. We cannot predict when our Lord will come. We simply don’t know. That day will come like a thief in the night. It will close on us suddenly like a trap. Only the Lord knows. The question is not when He is coming back. The fact, the reality is, He is coming and he is coming back any moment, any day, any year. He is coming!
And this time he is not coming as a small baby. This time he will not be riding on a donkey. This time he will come in his full glory and with all his power, and all the nations and all the peoples, all the inhabitants on the face of the earth will experience his coming. It will be an awesome, glorious, fearful appearance — because he will appear as who he is — the Lord and Creator of the Universe. He will come in his full glory as King of kings, Lord of lords, and not even our best imaginations can foretell, predict, or describe what and how that will be.
What will be our response? Will we run away, flee to the caves and caverns in the rocks, to the overhanging crags, will we hide in the ground? (Is 2:10,19,21) Or will we run towards the Lord, will we run into his open arms of love, fall down in worship, and experience overwhelming peace and joy?
When we look and see the signs around us, we must not fear. We must not become anxious. Instead we should stand up, lift up our heads, and be filled with joy, because we know that the reign of justice and peace which Isaiah 2 promised, the kingdom of God, is very near. When the world seems to be falling apart we should not give up and lose hope. We must keep hoping. How will we keep hoping? Keep watching. Jesus told us to keep watching in the following ways. All the words used have to do with being on the lookout, to watch out, to keep watching.
First, look out, watch for, and read the signs. Because when these things are happening, as they are, then we will now that his return is immanent. Our redemption and the kingdom is near.
Second, be careful, look out, keep watch over our hearts and how we live. Fear, despair, anxiety, should not cause us to give up, and to give in to the ways of the world. Do not think, ah, I have time, I can first enjoy my life, and taste the fruits of the world. I will take this seriously later. He is coming back anytime. How will he find us? Will we be ready to stand before him?
Then, always be on the watch, be vigilant, and pray. If there is any sin, any idols, or any wrong in our lives, we should confess and repent. We must turn back to the Lord. We must walk in his ways, so that we will be ready to stand before the Son of Man. He is coming back from heaven to judge the living and the dead. How will he find us? Don’t be fooled. This is not fiction. Our Lord is coming back. Are you ready?
We must make sure that he will not found us to be like Israel. Each one of us must examine our hearts and ask ourselves — Are we practicing a fake religion? Are we practicing a false religion, worshipping idols? Are we arrogant and proud, trusting material, worldly things like our church structures, money, our political systems, military power? Are we giving in to the ways and pleasures of the world? Pleasures which never satisfy and do not bring joy.
Do not fear! Do not live in anxiety and worries! Do not give in! Do not give up! Keep living the kingdom life, the deeper life. Keep doing kingdom work! Keep loving! Be ready all the time! Keep watching! Keep hoping! Keep praying! So that we can stand before the Son of Man.