Delivered Dec. 2, 2007
by Pastor Eric Henderson
The professor had graciously given us a study guide. I studied most of it except for memorizing the contents of a chart which I was certain wouldn't be on a college test. Memorizing is a basic level of learning-surely we would be tested at a higher level! Guess what was on the test?
If I had only known, I could have gotten a better grade!
When I got back to the dorm, I did a little whining to an upper class student who had taken several classes with the professor.
I lamented, "If I had only known blah, blah, blah," to which he replied, "I could have told you. He likes charts." So I left saying something like, "If I had only asked, I would have known."
Following the unexpected death of a loved one, some lament, If I had only known, I would have told them I loved them more often, or not let them do this or that.
Following a flood, hurricane, or another type of disaster some lament, If I had only known my insurance didn't cover that, I would have purchased coverage and have been ready.
I've listened to newly weds lament, If I had only known what they were really like, I might not have married them.
Most of us prepare for the expected future such as planning for Christmas with decorations, presents, food. We prepare for the expenses of living by earning money to pay for the necessities of life. We prepare for the expected future. Many also prepare for the unexpected so we won't find ourselves lamenting, If I had only known.
We prepare for the future in many ways. The scripture today begs the question, are we prepared for the coming of JC or will we lament at his coming If I had only known?
God has continually prepared people for the future. Micah, Joel and Isaiah the prophets announced,
In days to come the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say, "Come let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths."
People were called to prepare for God's desired future by heeding the instruction of God and living accordingly. Listeners of the prophets could not legitimately say, If I had only known because God tried to prepare them for the future.
Jesus prepared the disciples for his future death when he told them,
We are going to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!
A few days later the disciples found themselves in Jerusalem. Jesus continued to teach about the kingdom of heaven but the disciples wanted specifics about the end of the age. So Jesus told them,
But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner 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. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.
Jesus hammered home the need for readiness for his second coming. He hit the disciples with a reminder of the unprepared of Noah's day. He hit them again with the illustration of two working together and one being prepared another lamenting, If I had only known. He hit them a third whack with the illustration of the homeowner needing to always be ready for a robbery. Jesus didn't want any disciple to lament, If I had only known about your coming, I would have been ready.
God speaks again about preparation for the future through the book of Romans. There are more specifics of what to do so that we don't need to lament, If I had only known.
it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
If a person lives in a perpetual stupor, in the continual noise of wild parties, in illicit sex, in repeated quarrels and on-going jealousy that person will lament when faced with Jesus If I had only known.
The prophets, Jesus, Paul speak the good news that we can be prepared for Jesus to return, even thought we don't know the specifics. We prepare by living daily as followers of Jesus Christ. We prepare for the unexpected joys and challenges of life by living daily as followers of Jesus Christ. We are prepared to share in the unexpected grief that Terry and Monique are feeling following a miscarriage and the death of dreams and hopes. We are prepared to share love and hope because we have been putting on Christ. The pain of the loss may overwhelm at times, but we believe that our faith in Christ will help us deal with the loss rather than be totally debilitated by it.
We can prepare for the expected and unexpected facets of life by living as followers of Jesus We can prepare to meet Jesus by asking questions like Marilyn prepared for us last week. We test ourselves for readiness so that we won't lament, If I had only known.
Years ago in Readers Digest someone submitted a story of a child who struggled with tests because they were so hard. The parent suggested preparation by studying. So the parent and student did some preparation for the test. Following the test the parent asked how the test went. The student responded, If I had only known how easy it was, I wouldn't have studied.
Preparation makes all the difference.
Jesus said, be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.
We can prepare for Advent 2007 and the remainder of our life on earth, even though we don't know the specifics, by simply asking:
In the morning:
What will I do today to receive and pass on Jesus' love?
Before sleep ask:
What did I do today to receive and pass on Jesus' love?
Let us prepare for Jesus by opening ourselves to receive and pass on the love of Jesus as we pray in silence.
Petitcodiac Mennonite Church