Message (03/16/08)

Matthew 24:14
(cf., vv. 4-14)

When the Sun Set!

Introduction: When the sun sets, we pack up everything in hurry, and ready, to go home. It's the time to put all things an end for that day. Even so-called unintelligent animals know this. When the sun sets, they're also ready for home/manger. We're living at the final brink of human history. Everything is consuming itself into its final end. Ever growing environmental crisis, unpredictable global wars against terrorism, unsolved political unrests, worldwide economic downfalls, and the likes, are the sign of the time that the Son of Man is at hand to take us back home. So, what should we hurry pack up and finish to get ready for home?
Response to the Urgent Call of the Gospel (v. 14a cf., 14d): It's the time to hurry response to the Gospel-call, less everyone might be perished, for the end is soon coming. However, thing worth to note here is that we don't do hurry just to end, but we do hurry because it's ending. No more better time is left for another chance! The sun is setting down now, so we're hurrying up to bring the gospel to everyone and everywhere, in our workplace, school, home. Whatever our profession is, we should all response to this urgent call of the gospel to reach our own neighbors before getting dark. All things should be done before the Master's return!
Adopt a Global Perspective (v. 14b): In the original language of the Bible, the word for the "world" is a combination of two words that imply "a house where people abide together," meaning that we're people living together under one roof. Further, the word "whole" also implies one single wholeness of the world in need of the gospel. Yes, we're one single family in God's original creation, and also we're the same kindred in similar need of the gospel. In fact, it's the time to adopt a global perspective. It's not the time anymore for busy fighting that I belong to that and you belong to this. It's no more a time for busy defending this is "my" not "your". Time's running out very fast. We don't have another better time to marginalize within ourselves. So, it's the time to stand together on the ground "we" and "our" toward proclaiming the gospel. We need a global proclamation of the gospel now! John Wesley once said, "The world is my perish." It's the time to adopt the whole world as our mission-field and all nationalities as our target people-group! We aim at all nations!
Live a Martyr-Lifestyle Again (v. 14c): Here, a special word was used in original language, from which we get English word "martyr". The time has come for Christians to live a martyr-lifestyle again. However, martyr-lifestyle does not necessarily mean to always go under persecution and to ever seek suffering and poverty as a chance. It is about our attitude—attitude that is ever ready for God and for the gospel of Jesus Christ to do anything and give everything if needed (needed). So, while being successful businessmen, promising community leaders, home-staying housewives, or even while being a student, we can still live this life-style. We live this lifestyle with an opened eye always seeking a chance to reach our neighbors (in business, family, school, etc.) with the gospel and bring them to church, and serve God in our own capacity. So, we call it EVER-READY LIFE-STYLE!
Personal Application:

• During this week, how many times had I missed to witness Christ to my neighboring friend in office, apartment, school, etc? (Confess it!)
• So, why don't I try to bring at least one new friend to church next Sunday? (Make a decision and pray to God to give you best season)