11/10/24                                                                             Rentz

 

 

Adjust Your Vision!

Luke 21:28

 

Introduction—The election of this past week was definitely a defining moment for America.  Regardless of who is in charge of our government, Jesus is still Lord over all.  God has a plan and we are seeing the unfolding of events that will usher in the return of Jesus.  Let’s make sure that we are not so focused on the reported events around us that we fail to see that God still has a plan that will be fulfilled.

 

I. Understand the Present Reality—“When These Things

    Begin to Come to Pass”

                A. These things/what things?

                                1. False saviors (Lk.21:8)

                                2. Wars and commotions (Lk.21:9)

                                3. Natural disasters (Lk.21:11)

                B. Distress, perplexity, and fear will grip many hearts

                    (Lk.21:25-26)

                C. Apart from Jesus, mankind has no one to give

                    peace and confidence—not the UN, NATO, nor

                    any human politician

 

II. Grasp a Perspective of Rest—“Look Up!”

                A. If we look around us, we will despair (Ps.142:4)

                B. If we look down, we will fail to see our hope in

                    the Lord

                C. We must look up to the only One we can fully

                    trust (Ps.121:1-8)—in life or in death, God has His

                    children in His hand

 

III. Live with Purposeful Resolve—“Lift up Your Heads!”

                A. This is not the time for defeat (I Cor.15:57-58)

                B. This is not the time to be distracted—distractions

                    are very successful ploys of Satan

                                1. We can get distracted by circumstances

                                2. We can get distracted by people

                                3. We can get distracted by our own fleshly

                                    emotions

                C. This is the time to be faithful (I Cor.9:24-27)

 

IV. Claim a Passionate Reception—“Redemption Draweth

    Nigh!’

                A. It’s not a matter of “if” but “when”

                    (Acts 1:10-11)

                B. Believers will greet Jesus either through

                    resurrection or rapture

                C. Jesus is coming! (Heb.10:35-37)

                                1. Will you face Him as your Savior?

                                2. Will you face Him as your Judge?

                                3. Now is the time to be certain of your

                                    relationship with Jesus (II Cor.13:5)

 

Conclusion—It’s very easy for us to get distracted by the events that surround our lives on a daily basis.  Our flesh wants to live in anxiety and hopelessness.  The believer has the joy of knowing that there is more to our existence than those things which surround us.  The only way we can truly adjust our vision is to fix our eyes on Jesus in every circumstance.