One of the things the Jews continually demanded of Jesus was “a sign”… “If you are really the Messiah, show us a sign… Prove to us you are Who you say you are.” 

Jesus’ response was…
“Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah.” (Matt 12:39, NLT)
          The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ are all we need as a sign. 

 Now, today people might say, “If Jesus is really coming back soon, show us a sign.” The truth is you don’t need a sign. Jesus Himself told us He would return at a time you would not expect Him so we must always be watching and ready for His return. Jesus’s words should be enough for true believers. Yet over the years Christians have placed an overemphasis upon signs like identifying the antichrist or figuring out what the mark of the beast might be. This led to presumptions concerning everything from barcodes to the vaccines. These “signs” will continue to come and go and change from year to year. But one thing we must always stay focused upon is looking for Jesus. We are watching and waiting for Him, not the antichrist. And as we wait for Him, we are also to watch our own lives and attitudes that He might find us living properly when He returns.  

Again, we are not to be looking for the antichrist or the mark of the beast. But if you enjoy speculating about these things, have fun. Just know that these are not to be our primary focus. We are to be eagerly awaiting our Savior. Our focus is Jesus!

But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.” (Philippians 3:20, NLT)

Today’s text

 
“Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.” Every day Jesus went to the Temple to teach, and each evening he returned to spend the night on the Mount of Olives. The crowds gathered at the Temple early each morning to hear him.” (Luke 21:34–38, NLT)

May we each develop a reputation like the church of Thessalonica…
And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.” (1 Thes 1:10, NLT)

Pastor Mike