Dear Christian friends:

Today many of you are troubled about the bus strike. How will I go to work? How will I come to church? To the Voters Meeting on Friday? I know you will find a way to go to work. You will not let the bus strike interrupt your daily job.

But many may be tempted to give up going to Church Bible class, Choir practice, and say, "Bus strike I can't go to church." Well, God does not let that strike happen so we give up church and church work.

God is testing us and testing our faith. He wants us to think and figure how to conquer that problem. Our church bulletin suggests some ways for you to solve the bus problem.

This Sunday we should not worry about the bus strike. It is not Bus Strike Sunday. It is the second Sunday in Advent or the Second Coming Sunday.

The gospel lesson for this Sunday tells about Jesus, our Lord's coming again. Signs of His coming and the warning to be prepared and not be caught asleep in sin. Our text shows us:


Because our Lord will return and take us to another world we are very foolish when we seek and love the things joined to this world! They will all be destroyed when He comes.

In our text Paul says we should not get behind in any gift. He doesn't mean Christmas gifts. He is talking about spiritual gifts. In verses four and six of our text He thanks God because of the grace given them by Jesus Christ that in everything they are enriched.

Not rich in money and furniture and houses and cars, but rich in God's grace, spiritual riches, and spiritual gifts. He names two "utterances" and "all knowledge." Knowing God's love in Jesus and then the courage and wisdom to speak it with love in a winning way.

These are real riches and true Christmas gifts. Christmas gifts that won't break or wear out. True riches that thieves cannot steal and moths and rust cannot destroy or war and earthquakes collapse.

If we believe in Jesus Christ that He will come again and take us to His everlasting kingdom, then we must seek the gifts and riches that will be precious in that Kingdom. Those gifts and riches which are everlasting. Wait for your Lord's coming by seeking the true riches of His grace that are found in Jesus Christ.

Remember Jesus says, "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew 7:21-23) Let's wait for Jesus with true and honest faith. Preparing and laying much treasure in heaven.

And while we do this let us trust our faithful God unto the end. As that day of our Lord comes near there will be terrible times on earth. The gospel lesson tells of these days. “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Matthew 21:25-28)

We now have great trouble with Russia. What if the Third World War started. There would be terrible destruction. Whole cities would be destroyed at once. Women and children too. We think about that and say where is God? How can He let such terrible things happen? We will be tempted to give up our faith in God. Give up the Bible! Give up the church.

Or as we near old age or begin to die from sickness or accidents, Satan will tempt us to doubt God's love for us. He will say, "See God doesn't love you. If He loved you and forgave you He wouldn't let you suffer so much. God can't love you. You sin too much! See, He lets you die."

As these last terrible days of the world come near as we near the end of our life on earth let us not give up Jesus Christ. Paul gives strong support and comfort for our faith in verses eight and nine. "He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."

"God is faithful (does not lie), by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord." (1 Corinthians 1:9) By His Word in the Bible; by His promise in Baptism and the Lord's Supper God forgives you and accepts you into the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ.

He will not break His promises to you. He if faithful. Peter says, "For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For,

“All people are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of the Lord endures forever.”

And this is the word that was preached to you." (1 Peter 1:23-25)

In these last days as we approach the end of the world or the end of our life it may not appear that God loves us and forgives us. Mockers, troubles, war, sickness and death, on our right and left! Don't give attention to that, but hurry to God's Word and promises in the Bible: John 3:16; Mark 16:16; "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12:32) "When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:28)

Yes, the Lord is coming and the end is near. The world is doomed! We are doomed! Your house is doomed! America is doomed! Are you seeking riches for heaven or are you laying up treasures on earth? Heaven will last forever earth will not!

Terrible days are now and will continue unto the end. Are you staying in God's Word so you will know and remember His precious promises in the hour of trouble and temptation? Is your faith strong enough to live through mockery, war and death?

Some of you can't even live through the Every Member Visit, (E.M.V.) test. You failed that test. How about the bus strike test? Will you fail that or pass it? Better hurry to God's Word and search for support for your faith. Bible "Portal of Prayer", Wednesday Bible Hour, "Journey Through the Bible."

May God be merciful and gracious unto us and help us live with victorious faith through these last days of the world.

Amen.