Read: v1-10
Most of us are familiar with the story of Zacchaeus if for no other reason, at least for the children's song about a wee little man. He was a man who was "little of stature" or today we would call him 'vertically challenged'. There are a number of other things we learn about him from our passage: he was wealthy, he was a tax-collector, and, most importantly, he desired to see Jesus.
I would like for us to focus on one phrase in our text this morning. Note verse 5, "And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house." Did you catch that? Jesus said, ' to day I must abide at thy house." In the words of my childhood it would be this, "Ready or not here I come!" Jesus tells Zacchaeus to come down from the tree, because He was coming to visit his house. We aren't really told why Jesus said this, but we do know that Jesus went home with Zacchaeus that day, and his life was never the same. May I interject this morning that if Jesus comes to your house, so to speak, your life will never be the same again! Perhaps you have heard this poem before. It asks the question, what if Jesus came to your house today?
[2] If Jesus came to your house to spend a day or two If He came unexpectedly, I wonder what you'd do
I know you'd give your nicest room, to such an honored guest And the food that you serve Him, Would be the very best
You'd keep assuring Him, you're glad to have Him there That serving Him in your own house, is joy beyond compare
But when you saw Him coming, would you meet Him at the door With arms outstretched in welcome to your Heavenly Visitor?
Would you have to change your clothes before you let Him in? Or hide some magazines, and put the Bible where they'd been?
Would you hide your worldly music and put some hymn books out? Could you let Jesus walk right in, or would you rush about?
And I wonder...if the Savior spent a day or two with you, Would you go right on doing the things you always do?
Would you go right on saying the things you always say? Or would life for you continue as it does from day to day? [3]
Would you take Jesus with you everywhere you go? Or would you maybe change your plans for just a day or so?
Would you be glad to have Him meet your closest friends? Or would you hope they stay away until His visit ends?
Would you be glad to have Him stay forever on and on? Or would you sigh with great relief when he at last was gone?
It might be interesting to know, the things that you would do, If Jesus came in person, to spend some time with you.
What if Jesus came today? Have you thought about that? If Jesus came today, let me share some thoughts from the Scripture about what would happen.
I. First of all, Jesus is Coming Back!
A. Who: Jesus
Ac 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.
B. When: Soon
[4]
Re 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. C. How: Literally
1Th 4:16 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:
D. Why: He Promised
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
E. What is taking so long?
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
II. What if Jesus Came Back Today?
A. The dead in Christ will be raised.
1Th 4:16 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: [5]
1. Note the phrase 'dead in Christ'.
2. Paul is talking about those who have accepted Christ and then pass away.
3. For the believer, death is only a passing from this world to be with God.
2Co 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
4. The grave for the believer is not a place of despair…it is a place of hope.
5. When the Lord returns, He will resurrect all those who are the 'dead in Christ'.
B. Living believers will escape death.
1Th 4:17 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.
1. Methuselah, the oldest man in the Bible, lived 929 years…but he didn't escape death.
2. Solomon, the wisest man in the Bible, but he wasn't smart enough to escape death.
3. Samson, the strongest man in the Bible, but he wasn't strong enough to escape death.
4. Only two people, Elijah and Enoch, were taken to heaven before they died.
5. But the Bible teaches us that those who are alive when Jesus returns at the rapture will be changed…transformed…without death!
1Co 15:51-52 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
C. Unbelievers will be lost forever.
1. That is a sobering thought…as death finds us, so shall eternity.
2. Many jokes about dying and then negotiating with St. Peter about entering into heaven.
3. But the truth is…there will be no hope for those who die without Christ.
4. And there will be no hope for those who are unbelievers, when Jesus comes.
2Th 2:11-12, "…God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."
5. No second chances for those who have heard the truth and rejected it.
6. That is why it is so important this morning to place your faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ.
7. If you have never trusted Christ as your Savior…do not delay!
Jesus told Zacchaeus that He was coming to his house. Note his response…
Lu 19:6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
Folks, Jesus is coming…will we do as Zacchaeus and joyfully receive Him? Come today.
Christian, are we ready for the Lord to return? Is our life and walk with God what it needs to be? Come today.