Eschatology, the study of the end times.

Good morning, church family! I trust everyone is well. Let me kick-start today's sermon with a bit of humor. 

One day a boy asked his father, "Dad, what will the end of the world be like?" His father, a known prankster, replied, "Well son, it will be just like the beginning. There will be a lot of noise, lots of fire and brimstone, and then poof - darkness!" The boy, a little bit confused, asked, "So, it will be like your cooking?" The congregation burst into laughter. 

Now that we've shared a little laughter, let's get into the word of God. Our scripture reading today comes from the book of Matthew, Chapter 24, Verse 36, "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." 

That verse, dear friends, introduces us to our topic for today - Eschatology, the study of the end times. We are often intrigued and sometimes scared by the thought of the end times, aren't we? However, the Bible assures us that even though we do not know the day or the hour, we can trust in God's sovereignty and perfect timing. 

One of the best-known eschatological passages is the Olivet Discourse, Jesus' private briefing to his disciples about the end times in Matthew 24. In this passage, Jesus talks about the many signs preceding His second coming – wars, rumors of wars, false prophets, the abomination of desolation, and the gospel preached in all the world. Jesus, however, warned His disciples not to be alarmed by these events, but to remain steadfast in faith.

C.S. Lewis once wisely stated, "The doctrine of the Second Coming teaches us that we do not and cannot know when the world drama will end. The curtain may be rung down at any moment... this seems to some an incitement to worldliness and sin... It ought to be the opposite." This is our call as Christians. To not live in fear, but in anticipation, and let this anticipation guide our actions.

Our eschatological understanding shouldn't bring fear, but rather, hope and motivation. The Apostle Peter spoke about this in his second letter, 2 Peter 3:11-13, "Since everything will be destroyed in this way, 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. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells."

Dear brothers and sisters, we are called to live righteous lives as we anticipate the day of the Lord. This means loving our neighbors, sharing the Gospel, and growing in our relationship with Christ. 

Remember, Eschatology isn't about promoting fear or speculation, but fostering hope, watchfulness, and living a life that glorifies God. Even as we long for Christ's return, let's remember the words of Jesus in John 9:4: "As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work."

So, let's pray: "Lord, help us to live each day in light of Your return. May we be faithful stewards of the time and gifts you have given us. Prepare our hearts, O God, and make us ready for Your coming. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Thank you for listening, and may God's peace be with you as we live in hopeful anticipation