WILL YOU BE ABLE TO SAY…?

MIKE CUNNINGHAM

AUGUST 2, 2009

One of the most uplifting kinds of feedback I receive about my sermons are those such as a recent one from a man named Ed a long time friend and former co-worker at the old Fanny Allen Hospital. “Mike, Enjoyed the sermon! Your sermons always drive me to my Bible to find answers but, as I said, sometimes you just have to trust His Word. Ed…” Ed’s remark, “Your sermons always drive me to my bible” is music to my ears. Starting at our Sunday evening Bible studies with my four children in the early seventies and continuing to the present; I’ve been reminding folks I’m not infallible in what I teach. I constantly advise everyone to search the scriptures on their own to confirm whether or not what I’m teaching is in fact true. In my last two messages I’ve been emphasizing the importance of taking that suggestion.

This morning I’m going to continue with the interaction between the members of my fictional family and an old bible teacher. Charlie’s new meds seem to have brought his temper tantrums and blood pressure pretty much under control. Although his memory was failing, he increasingly experienced difficulty concentrating; Charlie did his best to read his bible throughout the week, especially the footnotes referencing various verses of scripture. He recorded some of them to bring to the study.

Although the mood in their home was relatively peaceful during the past week, it was a very difficult one for Martha. The more she thought about her husband and his health issues and the more she read and reread the numerous passages of scripture their son had quoted at the two previous Bible studies, the more she struggled not to lose her faith or worry herself sick. After all, if Jesus and the men who wrote the Bible were wrong about when Christ was returning, how could a anxious person like herself trust anything they said, especially the promises such as the following which Martha desperately wanted to trust in ?

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life,” John 3:16 (ESV). “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, “John 11:25 (ESV). “But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one,”2 Thessalonians 3:3 (ESV). “…if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself,” 2 Timothy 2:13 (ESV).“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world,” John 16:33 (KJV). “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you,” John 15:7 (ESV).

Their son continued studying his two new study Bibles as well as his almost worn out pocket New Testament that was falling apart from reading it so much over the past nine or ten months. He also made many notes which he looked forward to sharing at today’s study. The more he studied the scriptures, the more the boy was increasingly convinced his assessment was correct. Jesus and the others didn’t know what they were talking about. They were nice men who were mistaken! Furthermore, he believed the authors of his study bibles deliberately changed the meaning of a certain word to make it mean exactly what they wanted it to mean in order to persuade people to accept their point of view, which incidentally would get Jesus and the others off the hook. Ordinarily, the boy would have been pleased with himself for making people look foolish for something they said or by exposing someone’s deception. However, the truth of the matter was that in this case he wanted it to be proven that he was wrong. That’s how much he wanted to believe in Jesus. And it wasn’t only for the forgiveness of his sins and the gift of salvation through what Jesus accomplished on His cross or him experiencing an eternity of indescribable happiness by being in the Lords presence. At this point in his life, the boy wanted to be able to believe in all the promises and especially these two.

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it,”1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV).“For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,” 2 Corinthians 4:17 (ESV).

During the week the teacher had been lifting each of his students up in passionate prayer, asking the Lord to help them discover the truth for themselves. After welcoming everyone back, he asked if they had been able to study their bibles during the week and if there was anything anyone wanted to share. The boy was the first to respond. “I have, teacher!” “Does anyone object?” “Nah! Let him go,” Charlie answered, while Martha silently nodded her head in consent. “Go ahead, young man.” “Cool! First off, do you remember how last week I said Jesus spoke the word generation about thirty seven different times” Well He didn’t. I forgot how many there were but I do know the word generation is used thirty three times in the whole New Testament and it never meant what those study bible guys are trying to make it mean in Matthew 24:34. This is only time they changed the meaning of the word generation and got millions of people fooled. Here’s another time they didn’t monkey with it. Do you remember about how the first book in the New Testament mentions all that genealogy stuff about Jesus all the way from Abraham up to David and then Jesus? Look at what it says.

“So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations,” Matthew 1:17 (ESV).

“Do you see what I’m getting at, teacher?” “I do, young man but the others probably don’t. Why don’t you explain?” “Cool!” Well, from where I come from 14X3 means 42 generations of people.” “Well, whoop-de-do! My kid can multiply. So what!” “I’ll tell you what, pal” “Please! I want both of you to calm down and be respectful of each other.” “I’m sorry, teacher.” So am I,” said Charlie. And so was Martha as she silently sat there hoping and praying these latest outbursts wouldn’t do a number on her ulcer. “Like I said last week those pal’s of yours who wrote those study bibles claim:

“-Generation: No one living when Jesus spoke these words lived to see “all these things” come to pass. However, the Greek word can mean “race” or “family,” which makes good sense here; i.e., the Jewish race will be preserved, in spite of terrible persecution, until the Lord comes.”—Ryrie Study Notes.”

“The other guy says pretty much the same thing. As I started to say before I was interrupted; in their notes they don’t say anything about race or family anyplace else in the Bible. Do you want to know why I think they didn’t, teacher?” “Why don’t you share your opinion with us, young man?” “OK! I’ll tell you why. Because everybody would think they were a bunch of stupid idiots, that’s why. I mean like, they would make the sentence say 42 different races or families of Jews that were descendents of Abraham. No one would let them get away with that kind of stuff. Just like I said last week; they never tried to pull that kind of wool over people’s eyes with the word generation all the other times except this one time here in Matthew 24:34.”

”Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Matthew 24:34 (ESV)

You would think that on such an important matter as Him coming back to rescue his disciples and other Christians before he zapped the world out of existence and that all those who didn’t follow him went right into hell; you would think he would want to be really sure they understood what he was telling them, wouldn’t you, teacher? I mean like, Jesus wouldn’t want them to misunderstand him anymore than I would want people I loved to not understand what I was hollering to them to get out of the water they were swimming in right away because I just heard on my cell phone that there was a big school of man-eating sharks headed their way. Jesus expected those guys to understand Him teacher. Look at this:

“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), ¹⁶ then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. ¹⁷ Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, ¹⁸ and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. ¹⁹ And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! ²⁰ Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. ²¹ For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. ²² And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. ²³ Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. ²⁴ For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. ²⁵ See, I have told you beforehand. ²⁶ So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. ²⁷ For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. ²⁸ Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. ²⁹ “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ³⁰ Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. ³¹ And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. ³² “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. ³³ So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. ³⁴ Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. ³⁵ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. ³⁶ “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. ³⁷ As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. ³⁸ For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, ³⁹ and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. ⁴⁰ Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. ⁴¹ Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. ⁴² Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. ⁴³ But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴ Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Matthew 24:15-44 (ESV)

“I do real good in biology. Even if they didn’t teach it when you were a kid, I bet you know that when the eight month is almost over and you heard about certain “signs” that indicated the woman’s baby was coming real soon, even if you didn’t know the exact date and hour; you would do your best to talk her and her husband into not going on a deep-ser fishing trip, teacher. And I bet you wouldn’t stop warning them or leave them alone unless you were really sure they understood exactly what you meant. If there was a chance Jesus’ disciples would become confused when he told them, “Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place,” Matthew 24:34 (ESV). “Jesus would have done the same thing as you would teacher. I mean like, Jesus already knew they knew and understood what He was warning them about.” Charlie responded with his usual sarcasm; “Yeah and how did He know all that pal?” “Because Jesus knew that they were paying attention and listening closely about all the bad stuff that was going to happen before they all died.” Charley came back with a loud: “Show us, pal!” The teacher was pleased with the respect the boy showed his father this time when he politely answered, “Ok! I’ll say it again, but let’s everyone read it along with me in your own bible and look carefully at what I’m reading.” “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), ¹⁶ then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. ¹⁷ Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, ¹⁸ and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak,” Matthew 24:15-18 (ESV). “So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates,” Matthew 24:33 (ESV).

“Thank you, young man. I’ve been meaning to ask how you arrived at the conclusion that Jesus is going to destroy the world when he returns.” “People all over are expecting him to, teacher. Christians everywhere are praying for him to come back and snatch them off the earth before he destroys it.” “Is it in the bible, young man?”

“It’s in these two study bibles of mine, teacher. Listen to this. O man; I must have left that note at home. I’M SORRY! It was one of those two guys who gave me that idea. The only thing I can find in the Bible about the world coming to an end is in those study Bible notes. As far as the actual Bible goes it seems to be saying the world isn’t going to end, but a lot of Christians believe it will.” Charlie responded with a sarcastic, “Is that so,” to which the boy said:” “I think it does.” “Charlie shot back with another sarcastic; “Show us, kid,” which was followed by a courteous “OK” from the boy. “Here‘s what I found.”

“…and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, Ephesians 3:9 (ESV)

“…to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:21 (ESV)

“I haven’t had time to look for it in the whole bible. Lots of people must have found it though.” “Is that so?” “Yes it is, dad! You even used to sing about the world never ending every time you dragged me to church.” An obviously bewildered Charlie asked: “I did?” “As a matter of fact, you did. Do you remember this one: “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it is in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end, A-men, A-men.” “All this is making me crazy.” “You mean crazier,” the boy silently said under his breath. “My head is starting to pound,” said Charlie. “Do you see what I mean, teacher? I’m all mixed up. Those Christians believed Jesus was going to come back and rescue the ones who didn’t die first and then he would obliterate the world. But everyone knows he didn’t come back. Now millions of Christians everywhere say the world is going to come to an end when Jesus returns. They’re praying and waiting for the Rapture. At the same time they’re all singing: “As it is in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end, A-men, A-man.” “Go figure! My dad’s got a point though, teacher. I can see why people who are looking real hard to find out the truth slam the Bibles shut after they read some of this stuff that’s in it or when they watch those sweaty prophecy experts ranting and raving on the TV screen. I have a hard time taking Jesus and the others seriously. I want to believe in him but It’s so hard to believe him, teacher. Everything I read about Him makes me like Him. And those other guys who wrote different parts of the Bible; I love the promises they wrote about. Here’s one I picked up on the internet in a story I would like to show my friend Rick. He hurts really big time. The doctor told him the other day he could live to a ripe old age. That’s another fifty to sixty years being paralyzed from the waist down. Anyway, the story mentions all the suffering those first Christians were going through. It tells about God’s “special” children and how He planned for them to suffer one thing or another for a really long time; some of them even for their whole life. And it was all because God was using their suffering to get them ready so they could enjoy a more intimate relationship with Him. Forever! Here’s how it was written in that Christmas story I read on the internet.”

“The old man learned on that memorable Christmas Eve that although it was light years away from anyone even coming close to experiencing the intensity of suffering Christ endured, their own suffering enabled them to have an intense appreciation for the magnitude of His love for His people. God had eternally planned on using their suffering to prepare them to experience what the Apostle Paul referred to as being “an eternal weight of glory,” (2 Cor. 4:17). In another place on that web site is this: “In other words, God was using the sufferings of these special children in order to prepare and enable them to be capable of rejoicing in the Lord Jesus forever, in a way the rest of His children can’t.” “Bottom line: The degree of happiness Christians will be able to enjoy in the hereafter will be in direct proportion to the degree of suffering they experience in the here and now, but only if they endure it with a courageous Christ-like patience. (A)

“I wish I could believe that. I really do. Suffering would make a whole lot of sense then, but I can’t believe it if He come back like He promised them. There’s a bunch of cool promises in the Bible. How can I take Him or those other guys who wrote those letters seriously and believe in Jesus if he broke this promise? Help me, teacher! Please help me!” I will young man. Lord willing, next week…”

The Lord expects you and me to search the scriptures for ourselves and look for answers to questions such as the boy’s., so we can convincingly share them with folk who are sincerely searching for the truth. A lot of people like my friend Ed apparently believe that although Jesus didn’t return; we won’t be able to understand why Jesus broke His promise on this side of eternity? Meanwhile let’s all live our lives like Ed is trying to. Listen to the rest of what he wrote. “At this point in my life I have given my life to him and know that when he wishes me to know the answer to something he will provide. I do know that he will touch my mind and heart to do the right thing every day and try to help me help my fellow man. Now that’s an insurance policy to have!” And to that comment I have to add a hearty AMEN! Some things such as the Trinity are mysterious. But do you think that answer about Jesus not coming back as he promised is going to cut it with a cautious biblical skeptic who is sincerely searching for the truth of the matter such as the boy in my story? The boy and biblical skeptics realize the first Christians clearly understood what was either spoken or written to them. There’s too much evidence throughout the New Testament to arrive at any other conclusion unless you change the obvious meaning of the word generation in Matthew 24:34.

In closing I would like to ask you folks this question. If something awful were to happen tomorrow and your whole world seemed to be falling apart, will you be able to say: I’m standing on the promises of God? And really mean it?

Lord willing, soon…

My sermon: Joy to The World http://s128601634.onlinehome.us/sermons/joy_to_the_world.htm

I wish to acknowledge my indebtedness to John Noe for some of the ideas I received from his very insightful book; “BEYOND THE END TIMES, The Rest of… The Greatest Story Ever Told.”