March 30, 2016
ALREADY BUT NOT YET -- LIVING WITH THE END IN MIND
Matthew 24:3–14
Jeff Ward
Central Truth
As believers, we know the "end of the story"—that Jesus will return in victory and finally redeem and restore everything—and so we can live in the present with joy and peace in what God has done already as we wait for Jesus’ return.
Key Verse | Matthew 24:14
"And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:14)
Matthew 24:3–14
Signs of the End of the Age
3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
9 Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then many will fall away 1 24:10 Or stumble and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Dive Deeper | Matthew 24:3–14
I love to go to the bookstore with my wife. It’s fun just to watch her peruse the books on the shelves. She will pause and look at a book, flip to the end, read for a few seconds, and then either buy the book or move on. Here’s the point. She wants to know, before she invests the time and money, that the book ends well. It seems funny but is so true – don’t we all want to have the assurance that it all works out well in the end? Especially when we read passages like this in Matthew?
Wars and rumors of war? Check. Famines? Check. Earthquakes? Check. It’s enough to cause more than a little anxiety. But here’s the thing, as believers in Jesus Christ, we can take heart. We know the end of the story. Jesus defeated sin on the cross when He came the first time. And when He returns, He will finish the work of redeeming our world.
Some people call this time period in which we live the "already, but not yet"—already, we have experienced His redemption, bringing freedom to our souls and abundant, joyful, lives . . . but not completely. We experience sin, disease, death, loneliness, conflict, pain, pride, poverty, tears, and we wait. We wait for the day when Jesus returns to finish the job, to bring final healing and restoration, and to kick sin to the curb for good. We wait for the final chapter on this earth and eternity with Him. And while we wait, we remember Paul's words in Philippians 2:10-11—that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father! That is some serious hope as we head out for the day!
Discussion Questions
1. When you read bible passages like this, how do they make you feel? Anxious? Hopeful? Listen to this Real Truth. Real Quick., and be sure you’re ready! http://realtruthrealquick.com/when-is-the-world-going-to-end/
2. Because you know the “end of the story,” does this make you more of a play-it-safe person or a risktaker when it comes to investing your time, talent, and gifts in kingdom purposes? How might God be calling you to change?
3. Does the idea of Jesus’ return cause you to be more or less active in sharing your faith? How can you become better equipped to share your faith with boldness, clarity, and courage? Consider jumping in on an Unashamed weekend and sharing your faith here in Dallas. Visit http://www.watermark.org/ministries/unashamed for details.
4. If you die before Jesus’ return, how will people sum up your life? How can you live with an “already—not yet” mindset, making the most of every opportunity?