We have God on our side

But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

“Therefore, keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back – whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.   What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’” – Mark 13:32-37

Sunday past, we ushered in the season of Advent, which is the beginning of the liturgical church year. The word Advent is a derivative of the Latin word adventus, which means coming, translated from the Greek word parousia.

In the Christian church, the season of Advent is that period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Christ. Advent begins on the Sunday closest to November 30, or the Sunday after Thanksgiving. This year, Advent began on Sunday, November 29 and ends on December 24, Christmas eve.

During the season of Advent, while the Christian church looks back to the birth of our Lord, we also look forward to his second coming. We look and wait in anticipation to his coming when he will come to collect his church.

In the text, our Lord tells us to be on guard, be alert. When he says this, he is telling us to hold to his word and to share his gospel with the world. He wants us to make a difference in the lives of the people around us.

He wants us to emulate his life and through our living, others will come to know him as savior. Yes, the way we live helps others to come to know Christ as their Savior.

Our enemy, the devil, takes us down some dark and destructive paths. That is why we need Jesus in our life. He helps us negotiate our way out of the devil’s path and saves us from

being slaughtered like sheep.

Therefore, we cling to Christ, our savior. He will keep us strong to the very end. He said, “I will be with you always, to the very end of the age.” Remain grounded in God’s word. Keep your focus upon the cross.

Do not let satan silence you. Do not let satan take a foot hold in your life and deprive you of eternal life. Continue and remain faithful until Christ’s return. Satan will not and cannot silence the church.

As we await our Lord’s return, we must not become lax and unconcerned. As guards, we focus on the cross and stay active in our savior’s work until he returns. We are the watchmen for the kingdom.

Yes, in this world of pain and woe, we will struggle. We will be tested. In doing the Lord’s work, we will have our good days and our bad days. The evil one will challenge us at our post.

He will cause us to doubt our faith and our resolve. He will cause us to doubt what God says in his word. Notwithstanding this, he cannot win because we have God on our side and God is true to His word.

Our God makes mountains tremble before Him. There is no other God besides Him. He will strengthen us and give us a firm stance when we are tested. Therefore, we continue to be steadfast. Amen.

 
• Rev. Samuel M. Boodle, pastor at the Lutheran Church of Nassau, 119 John F. Kennedy Drive, can be reached at P.O. Box N 4794, Nassau, Bahamas; or telephone: 426-9084; E-mail: lutheranchurch@coralwave.com; website: www.nassaulutheranchurch.org.  

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