## The Lord Is Coming

## Matthew 24:42-44

How many here today believe that Jesus Christ is coming soon? How many believe that He is coming before the end of this year? How many believe He is coming before midnight tonight?

Read text: v42-44

The second coming of the Lord is as real as anything around us today. The Lord is coming, and our text is making the assumption that everyone knows He is coming. There is no effort or attempt made to prove His coming. That truth is a given fact. This passage of scripture is telling us what our reaction should be once we see the truth of His coming.

I. Be Watching

(Mat 24:42) "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come."

A. What Should We Be Watching For?

1. Some would lead us to believe that we should be watching for the Anti-Christ.

a. Why should we give any attention to the Anti-Christ?

b. Certainly there will be such a person, and he will be the leader of the world for a three and one-half year period.

c. He will be this world's answer to world peace.

d. But he will be defeated when Jesus comes again.

e. We are not told to be watching for the Anti-Christ.

2. Some would try to tell us that we should be looking for a new Bible.

a. Why would we need a new Bible?

b. My contention is that we don't need a new Bible, we just need to read and obey the one we have.

c. Some people say that they can't understand it…I did a check on my computer of John 3…it gave me a 7th grade readability rating.

d. The Bible isn't difficult to understand, if a person will just read it!

3. Some would say we should look for a new way of salvation.

a. The problem with that is there is no new way of salvation!

b. Jesus is the only way!

c. Note: recent community gathering of faiths…to promote prayer???

(Acts 4:12) "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

d. There is but one plan. God's plan.

e. Trust in His Son, Jesus Christ, and His shed blood on the Cross. His resurrection from the grave on that third morning is our guarantee that His promise of salvation is true and trustworthy.

f. Don't waste your time by looking for an alternate plan, there is none.

B. We are to be watching for the Lord to come back.

1. The angel told His disciples on the mount of ascension…

Acts 1:11 "Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."

2. Jesus tells us that same thing.

Mat 25:13 "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh."

3. Jesus is coming! Are we looking for Him?

a. When we are having someone come…

b. We make sure the house is clean…

c. We do all we can to prepare for their arrival…

d. Are we looking for Jesus to come?

e. What are we doing to prepare?

C. Note v37-38

1. How was it in the days of Noah?

2. People ignored the message of warning concerning the coming judgment of God.

3. Sounds a lot like what is happening today doesn't it?

II. Be Ready

Mat 24:44 "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh."

A. How can we be ready?

1. When a thief comes…he comes quietly and unannounced.

2. A thief comes with a plan and for a purpose…

3. That is the way Jesus will come in the rapture…the Bible tells us it will be in a moment.

4. Jesus is coming to take out all the believers…all the Christians.

(1 Th 4:16-17) "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: {17} Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

5. The only way to be prepared for His coming is to be saved!

B. What if we aren't ready?

1. We will be left behind.

a. Don't believe some novel you read no matter how popular it may be.

b. To be left behind means to be lost!

c. To be left behind means to spend eternity without Christ in a place called Hell!

d. To be left behind means to be without hope.

2. We will be subject to the wrath of God!

3. There will be no second chances!

(John 3:36) "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

(2 Th 2:11-12) "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: {12} That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

III. BE FAITHFUL

Mat 24:45 "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?"

A. Faithful means - "trustworthy"

1. A faithful and wise servant is one who is obedient to his Master's commands.

2. Not seeking his own, but doing the will of the Lord.

(Mat 24:46) "Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing."

B. Faithful service will bring reward.

1. Happiness at the Lord's return.

2. A commendation from the Master

(Rev 22:12) "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be."

We know for sure that the Lord is coming soon. Will the Lord find us faithful servants? Are we looking for Him to come today? Are we ready? If He comes today, will we go to be with Him, or will we be left behind?