Ever Ready When the final Gavel falls.

This weekend is easter many will be celebrating for different reasons. It is interesting I have 2 boys staying with us at the moment. They don’t know God and its interesting the conversation we are having.

From Christmas to Easter and why did Adam and Eve sin? To What is sin?

Let me tell you its exciting as we explain different things and they get a clearer understanding.

I hope that you have enjoyed this series just as much as I have in bring it to you.

Have you ever noticed that it is the little things that count. They add up to be big things.

Let me say this, and I have to ask if you would agree. Little things can make a big difference? Maybe you have reached the end of the week and think well i have not achieved much but you can see all the little things that you did.

For me it is doing a few visits and bible studies. spending some time with family.

Maybe for you it is the little things completed around the house or some time spent in study every chance you get.

Chinese proverb says 1000 miles begin with a single step. Let me add the rest is made up of many little steps.

But what about relationships? It is the little things that help it along.

It is amazing how important and big little things make relationships grow. For example picking up clothes off the floor is small but it makes a big difference. same with making the bed.

Little things are important and help with the growth of a relationship and friendship.

This helps us understand the parable that we will be looking at today.

It is the final of the 4 parables from it I have heard that there will be 3 surprises in heaven, The first one is I am here.

The second is your here.

The third one is where is Johnny or Mary.

Not sure if it is true but there is a surprise in the passage that we will read today.

This is an important part of living that ever ready life.

We have been looking at that and it is a few weeks since we have looked at this section of scripture.

Can anyone tell me what we have been talking about in scripture? Living an ever ready life but also the parables in Matthew 24 & 25 what it means to be ready for the return of the king.

So lets have a look at the last parable in Matthew 25 and we will look at what it means to be ready. Lets look for the surprise.

Matthew 25:31 NIV

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.

Matthew 25:32 NIV

All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

Matthew 25:33 NIV

He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

There is the surprise and what comes next in verse 46.

Matthew 25:46 ESV

And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Here we get a glimpse of the judgment. and what it means to be ready.

but here is a question

What is it that draws a line of distinction?

It is found in the little things. The surprise and that is found in the parable.

Lets read the parable and see who is surprised.

Matthew 25:34–45 NIV

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

Notice the surprise to the sheep and the goats. The surprise doesn’t come from the destination or the destiny.

The Goats are there and their saying but I thought I was a sheep.

The sheep are saying few that was close I thought I was in the goat camp.

Now that is not a surprise what is a surprise is the reason for which they end up in the sheep and goat camp.

What is a surprise is the reason for which they end up there.

The reason is how they treated the least of these. The lost, lonely, the widows, the homeless, the sick, the weak, the list goes on.

How they were treated and how they interacted with them.

The king is saying you did that to them you helped them you did it to me.

Both are surprised and maybe the king is onto something here. Maybe it shows how you really feel about someone.

Lets suppose you take that persons identity away and you didn’t know them would you help them?

Sometimes in competing judge make decision without knowing who is the person entered. Teachers cover names of students test to grade them so that they are not influenced by who the person is.

Sam was on his way home one night he saw a car parked on the side of the road. He kept driving a bit further down the road he passed a guy running. But instead of stopping he kept driving. He was home about half an hour or so and his brother came into the house all hot and sweeting.

Straight to Sam who do you think you are you go flying past me.

My car was broken down the road, paying no attention to me what is wrong with you.

Sam apologising hey if I knew it was you I would have stopped.

How often we go through life not paying attention to what is happening around us. This story has a familiar ring to the parable.

What about the story of the Vietnam vet.

coming home after having fought in Vietnam. He called his parents from San Francisco. “Mom and Dad, I’m coming home, but I’ve a favour to ask. I have a friend I’d like to bring home with me.”

“Sure,” they replied, “we’d love to meet him.”

“There’s something you should know” the son continued, “he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mine and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live.”

“No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us.”

“Son,” said the father, “you don’t know what you’re asking.

Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can’t let something like this interfere with our lives.

I think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He’ll find a way to live on his own.”

At that point, the son hung up the phone.

The parents heard nothing more from him. A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco police. Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. The police believed it was suicide.

The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son.

They recognised him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn’t know, their son had only one arm and one leg.

If they had only known they would have acted differently.

But what this passage is saying is I don’t want you to act differently based on knowing that it is me.

The true disciple is living a life filled he grace and love willing to act regardless of if they know them or not.

What we see here in this parable is both groups didn’t know. The sheep are saying that is just what we did and are gracious about it. The Goats are saying if you had of told us it was you we would have done it differently.

Remember what Jesus is doing in this chapter he is talking about readiness for his coming. He came 2000 years ago and died for us.

Remember this is the last parable Jesus says before we move into Matthew 26 and you would think that this would be like the final like when a comedian is finishing up.

Or that this is the final point I have to make and this is of extreme importance And you would think Jesus would say something really important about being ready.

You would expect something more along the lines of theology, or the 2300 days or other prophecy. Or even how one should clearly live.

But it is not there.

Or even more information about Daniel or which churches books do your name appears in please.

Instead the question is asked please share with me

What you did about the human need?

This is not some grand act of missionary work some great evangelistic campaign.

It is simple basic little things. It is amazing how the little things mean so much.

A cup of cold milk to a hungry child. Sweater to the girl in the class that has holes in hers. Or visiting the neighbour in hospital. Or the neighbours son in jail.

This should not be a big surprise as the Bible is full of God’s heart beating with a passion for the under privileged it starts in Exodus and Leviticus love your neighbour as your self.

Even in the prophets Isaiah talks about coming to the lord having all that you need and doing nothing about it.

Isaiah is more blunt then that, he says that God hates your worship don’t even come and worship anymore when you leave the human needs left unanswered.

Micah Talks about God wants love, justice mercy and to walk humbly with God. But it doesn’t end in the old testament. James talks about it.

James 1:27 ESV

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

John says

1 John 4:20 KJV 1900

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

Jesus himself elevated it to another level.

John 13:34–35 ESV

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Jesus himself put his arms around the marginalised and he drew them in.

the bottom line is that he will look us in the face and us the question.

For me Matthew

What did you do about the human needs of the people that crossed your path?

The question one could ask is if you were to have a conversation with God what would it look like.

Would the question he ask you is what are you doing about those around you?

One might not be satisfied with the answer we get and say Jesus what must I do to live an ever ready life?

Maybe Jesus will reply what are you doing about the human needs?

This might be sobering to you and it should be. but the bottomline is in living an ever ready life we should be looking to help those that come across our path each day.

As a church we can help you, we have here an Op shop we have food, We have mealtime on Milton.

Church there are families in this church that need help.

I know of those that need things done , I know of a lady right now that needs a fridge and washing machine.

There are others that need other odd jobs done around the home.

The first part of 2024 is over, But we can start to make a difference now today with the little things.

I want to challenge you to seek God, if your saying well Matt I don’t know where to start try your neighbours.

If not I will have a sign up sheet with me at the door. You will be able to put what you can do to help.

Church Jesus came and died for everyone that no one should be lost.

You want help we will help you. There is a surprise at the end when Jesus comes. Make sure it is not if I had of known it was you.

But rather Lord that was you it wasn’t a big deal even if it was you I would have done it. My life changed because of you. I gave you my heart.

As we conclude today, I invite you to reflect on the significance of the small acts of faith and commitment in our lives. These seemingly insignificant gestures often carry immense weight in the eyes of our Lord.

If you feel called to embrace these small but meaningful actions, I encourage you to stand with me now.

Are you longing to be present when our Savior, Jesus Christ, returns? If this desire burns within your heart, I invite you to join me in standing as a symbol of your readiness and eagerness to welcome His glorious return.

Let us reaffirm our dedication to the path of righteousness, knowing that every step we take in faith brings us closer to the divine presence of our Lord.

Thank you for your willingness to stand and affirm your commitment to the journey of faith. May God's grace continue to guide us as we walk this path together. Amen.

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