Dear Christian friends,

When N.A.S.A. intends to launch a rocket into space, they begin a countdown several hours before the lift off. If something is not working correctly during the countdown, they have a hold, stop counting until the wrong is righted.

We have a countdown also, and our countdown has begun. This Sunday is the Third-Last Sunday in the Church Year. This Sunday is also the end of the Fourth Phase of HIS LOVE - OUR RESPONSE. You and I have come here today to dedicate our RESPONSE CARDS for the Lord's work through our congregation, District and Synod. Really our countdown has begun.

When we begin a countdown, we know that not much time is left. We must be ready. Our text reminds us of the most important countdown - Jesus' return, There will be no holds in this countdown. N.A.S.A. often halts the countdown of a rocket launch, but there is no hold in God's countdown. Jesus is coming, ready or not!

Are we ready for Jesus' return? Are we prepared to meet and greet Jesus when He returns? “May God's Spirit lead our thoughts today so that we all can answer, "YES, WE ARE READY!"

I. Many people are not aware of God's countdown on Jesus' return.

A. In the first part of our text Jesus prophesies about the destruction of Jerusalem, The countdown to Jerusalem's destruction had begun. However, the people did not believe it although the signs were there.

B. The people who live on the earth today are also blind to God's countdown on the end of the world.

1. The signs of Jesus' return and the end of the world are all around us. What signs? The shameful, terrible wickedness of our people are the signs. Our world and our nation now is proud of its wrong use of sex (sexual perversions). Many people are praising the decision of the Supreme Court to allow killing babies in the womb, abortion. Our world now accepts gays and lesbians, Gays and lesbians are no more ashamed of their perversions. They even have parades! Couples who live together and not married are increasing. Few today respect the Sixth Commandment or any of the Ten Commandments. These are signs that God's countdown has begun!

2. When we see these signs, we should wake up and know that the time is short, Jesus can come at any time now. And we need to be ready for Him.

3.You know that any time now we can have a very strong earthquake, 7 or 8 on the Richter scale, Our government officials are preparing for the BIG ONE, and they are warning us to be prepared at home also. As we prepare for the Big One, same we should prepare for Jesus return on the Last Day.

4. Now is not the time for us Christians to be playing around, wasting our time, talents and money. We need to be prepared for Jesus' return, and we need to preach to others and warn them that Jesus will come any time now to judge.

II. The last days of the earth means much trouble, also for us Christians, Jesus warns in verse 21, but Jesus also promises to help us Christians live through those terrible days.

A. The first promise Jesus gives us is that He is watching over those He has chosen.

1. We read verse 22: "If God does not make those days short, then no people will get saved. But because of His people, God will make those days shortened." We Christians should not fear the end and the destruction of this earth because we know who is coming, although we don't know when He will come. Jesus is coming. And He is coming to take us to be with Him in glory.

2. We know that Jesus is coming to judge, but we also know that, “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1)

3. Through our faith in Jesus who came to our earth once before to live and die for us, we are prepared to meet Him. In Jesus Christ we have forgiveness of sins. In Christ we have received forgiveness and love.

4. John wrote "There is no fear in love. But perfect love forces away fear, because fear is joined with punishment." (1 John 4:18) We Christians do not fear Jesus' return, but we wait for it eagerly. We know that Jesus will not punish us. He has already, on the Cross, suffered our punishment for us!

5. Jesus promises us that He will keep our faith strong during these last days of this world. Near the end time there will be many false religions and false preachers. (vv.23-28) Some of these false preachers will do wonderful things and deceive many. But Jesus will not let His chosen people be deceived. His people know the true Gospel of forgiveness through faith without good works! Those who preach salvation through good works are liars and false! Jesus promises to keep us in the true faith inspite of many false preachers.

III. Really, Jesus loves us so much, He has done so much for us and He promises to do much, much more for us that we can be saved and go with Him into heaven's glory. How shall we respond to Jesus' wonderful love? What can we promise to Jesus? What can we do for Him? The time is short and the days are very evil. The end is near. The countdown has begun!

A. We can be working fast and hard to preach the Gospel here at Pilgrim to save one another. Than we should be zealous to warn other deaf that the time is short. Tell them, “Jesus is coming any time now to judge!" And then ask them: "Are you ready to meet and greet Jesus when He comes?" Then tell them how to get ready for Jesus if they do not know. You know! Don't say you do not know! Don't say that you first need training! You don't need training; you need to get up and get going!

B. Today we are dedicating our RESPONSE CARDS. We are promising our Lord that we will support His work here at Pilgrim, in the District and in the Synod during 1988. This is the most important way that we can respond to His love, Please do not misunderstand. What we do here today is most important, perhaps more important than you realize. When we give our money for church and missions, we are putting treasure in heaven as Jesus has commanded us to do. When we arrive in heaven, the only thing we will find there from this earth will be be people, people who have heard the Gospel either through us or others, Our new cars, our big screen T.V.'s, our computers, our VCR's will not be there.

God's countdown has begun: Jesus is coming again; We have a great future, not because of what we have done, but because of what God has done for us. Let us respond with love.

Amen