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A MAN FOR ALL TIME––THE INCOMPARABLE CHRIST

By Mark Finley of It Is Written Television (www.iiw.org)


Sermon 6 Outline

“A Fresh Breath of Hope”

INTRODUCTION
In 1991, when the former Soviet Union was falling apart, I was invited to give a series of
presentations in a small city of 25,000 people called “Pushna,” approximately 150 km
from Moscow. Pushna is a fascinating city. It was “off-limits” to all foreigners for years.

In the 1950’s during the time of Nikita Khrushchev, the city became a center for the
biological scientists. Thousands of biologists settled there from all over Russia. It was in
Pushna that the Soviets did their most sophisticated biological experiments. It was there
that the scientific geniuses of the nation assembled. When I arrived to speak that evening,
the scientists wanted to know—in a nuclear world where human beings have the capacity
to destroy themselves...is there hope?

I. The promise of His return.

One thing is for certain. The Bible is filled with promises of the second coming of Christ.
References to this event appear at least 1,500 times in Scripture—once in every 25 verses
in the New Testament.

“Our God shall come, and shall not keep silent; a fire shall devour before Him, and it
shall be very tempestuous all around Him.” (Psalms 50:3).

“The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the
archangel, and with the trump of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first.” (1
Thessalonians 4:16).

“Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is
taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go.”
(Acts 1:11).

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In my Father’s
house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place
for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto
Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:1-3).

II. The answer to loneliness.


The second coming of Christ is the ultimate answer to loneliness, low self-esteem,
hopelessness and despair. Deep within every human heart is the desire to love and be
loved––the desire for companionship. We were not made to be alone. Every one of us has
this longing to be loved unconditionally.

“Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall
be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.” (Revelation 21:3)

Looking toward a future that is bright with the promises of God, today I have a place to
belong, today I have hope in my despair.

III. The answer to the problem of pain.

The second coming of Christ is also the answer to the problem of pain, suffering, sorrow
and tears. It’s the only answer to the world’s agonizing pain, and it’s the only solution for
your tears as well.

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death,
neither sorrow, nor crying; neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are
passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)

One day Christ will give us new bodies that will pulsate with life and joy and health. He
will take us to a land where there is no suffering, heartache, sickness, sorrow or death.

IV. The answer to the problem of injustice.

The second coming of Jesus is the ultimate answer to the problem of injustice. In
Revelation 21:5, the Lord says, “I make all things new.”

This life is filled with injustice. It’s just not fair. But one day the King of Righteousness
will reign. Christ will sit upon His heavenly throne. We can hope again because this
earth is not the end of the road, and God ultimately will set all things right.

V. The answer to the problem of aging and death.

The second coming of Christ is the ultimate answer to the problems of aging and death.
No wrinkle-free cream will keep you from aging. No cosmetic surgery will stop the years
from marching by. Everyone in this life is born and dies. It is a reality.

Throughout history, Christians and non-Christians have faced death in different ways. In
the catacombs, the inscriptions in the pagan tombs read something like this: “Goodbye
until the morning.” Christians never meet for the last time.

“Behold, I shew you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a
moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump. For the trumpet shall sound, and the
dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed...then shall be brought to pass
the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’” (1 Corinthians 15:51, 54)

Have you ever lost a loved one? You don’t have to bear it alone. Jesus will carry it for
you today and point you to a future where it will be no more.

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