First Sunday in Advent December 1, 2024
“Perfect Timing” Luke 21:25-36
Rev. John R. Larson Ascension Lutheran Church Littleton, Colorado
This reading that we had from Luke 21 has a strange directive in it. That directive is, “At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Verses 27-28)
“Stand up, lift up your heads” are words of anticipation, excitement and confidence. But the whole context of Luke 21 is about the destruction of Jerusalem and the horrific end of the world. Earlier in the chapter Jesus said, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.” (Luke 21:10-11) In our reading it says, “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.” (Luke 21:25-26) Paul, when speaking to Timothy, didn’t exaggerate when he said, “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.” (II Timothy 3:1)
But we are told, as believers in the one who holds all things in His hands, “Stand up and lift up your heads.” No fearfulness. No shielding the eyes. No running away looking for someplace to hide. Why not? I mean, this is big stuff. This is stuff, when we think how it will impact the world and everyone living, this would cause our hearts to race and skip a beat. But we are told to stand erect and yearn for what comes next.
Why? The events in the world and in our lives are in God’s hands. This is part of His perfect timing. Have you ever experienced God’s perfect timing? Have you looked back and just knew that God had His hand not just in what happened but even when it happened? You were going down the wrong path, you had made too many sinful and wrong choices, and God shook up life. He wasn’t going to let you waste or wreck your life. Someone spoke a word of correction or discipline to you and that word took hold. Thank God that you had no other route to go than back to God.
Maybe you saw God’s perfect timing when something in life became clear to you. It didn’t happen by your insight but through God’s word and the work of the Holy Spirit. You, at the right time, had an “ah-ha!” moment. Finally you got it. It all made sense.
God’s perfect timing comes to you when the great salvation of Jesus becomes very personal to you. You suddenly have a clear understanding that every sin has been paid for by Jesus. You are certain that God truly loves you and has worked to bring His grace into your life.
In Psalm 46 the same confidence of God’s hand, His faithfulness, who at the right moment gives strength, is recorded. “Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” Why wouldn’t one live in terror at such things? One reason – “The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” (Psalm 46:2-3, 11)
Do you ever question God’s timing in things? Yeah. Me, too. Sometimes we get disgusted with all the evil and catastrophes and the wars and the suffering all over the globe. Why doesn’t God end it all? Or maybe, personally, life has gotten a little too hard for us. We really don’t see the purpose of us living any more on earth. We know we are going to heaven. What is this thing about God’s perfect timing either for us individually or in the history of the world? Why hasn’t He already come back?
The Bible addresses this, “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (II Peter 3:8-9) That reminds me of a joke: A guy was praying, ‘Lord, please give me a million dollars.’ And God said, ‘Sure, just give me a second.’
It isn’t just the timing that God is so concerned about in bringing things to their fullness in this world, and in our lives, but also where our lives find their strength and hope. Notice how the warning that Jesus gives is followed by His answer, “Be careful, or your hearts will be weigheddown with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:34-36)
Michael Ziegler is an excellent communicator of the truth of God’s word. He is the speaker on the radio broadcast, The Lutheran Hour. In September he was talking about the TV show, “How I Met Your Mother.” The narrator in the show, a 50-year-old father of two teenage children, who is named Ted, is telling their story. Through this long story you really get to know Ted. He is a hopeless romantic, quite idealistic and intelligent. He is also deeply spiritual, with his abiding faith in the universe.
Ted has the chance to speak to his children, “Kids, I’ve been telling you the story of how I met your mother. And while there are many things to learn from this story, this may be the biggest. You see, kids, the universe has a plan, and that plan is always in motion. All these little parts of the machine constantly working, making sure you end up exactly where you’re supposed to be, exactly when you’re supposed to be there, the right place at the right time.” In the 200 episodes of the situation-comedy show there are prayers to the universe, supposed signs from the universe, praises and laments about the universe.
Isn’t that silly? Thinking that an unnamed, generic force controls our life is of no comfort to me. I don’t know if that force is good or bad. I don’t know if that force is benevolent or cruel, wise or foolish. Like Ted, we believe there is a plan, but not from the universe, but from our Creator. And that Creator had a plan, all with perfect timing – “When the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.” (Galatians 4:4) Now God is not a “force” but a person. This person, Jesus, came to pay the penalty for our sins, to grant us forgiveness and new life. This person knows each of our names and already has a place prepared for us in heaven.
St. John, in his first letter says, “Dear children, this is the last hour.” (I John 2:18). Soon, whatever God means by soon, Jesus Christ is going to return to earth. Whatever day that is, it will be the perfect hour. While we wait we fight against the lies and temptations of the devil with full spiritual strength. Paul in Ephesians 6 says, “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:13)
Don’t you marvel when things come out just as they should be? Don’t you stand amazed that you are so important to God that He is concerned about what He gives you and when He gives it to you? With His perfect timing, this great event awaits us, “At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Amen!!
