Sermon: Because History Has a Destination by Randy Roberts

Part 9: Why I’m an Adventist...

Pastoral Welcome: Rob Mohr

Baptism: Christine Dukes, Renita Lashawn Dukes - Calvin Thomsen 

Madison Ashley Field, Carigan Camille Grino - Randy Roberts

Children’s Feature: Jackie Bishop

Responsive Reading Christ’s Second Coming (Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal #747) - Ricardo Peverini and Kathy Lau-Peverini

Note: Baptisms are in the extras section of the DVD

INTRODUCTION TO THE SERMON Is history going somewhere, or are we merely caught in an endless round of cycles which has no ultimate, positive end? Are we just holding on until something sets the spark off, and we are all blown away? For the Christian, “the blessed hope”—the second coming of Christ—is the focus and aim of history. It is the destination toward which history is moving. Here’s how Paul writes about that blessed hope in Titus 2:11–14: “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good” (TNIV emphasis added). Even though Paul calls it “the blessed hope,” and even though it is the focus of human history, and even though Christians look forward to reunion with their Lord, Savior and Friend, Jesus Christ, too many Christians dread the event. Why is that the case? There are, no doubt, various reasons. One is that we get more focused on the trouble that is coming on the world than we do on the reunion that Jesus promises to have with us. Another is the fear of not being ready—even though Jesus promises us that through his name, we can have free and abundant entrance into life eternal (John 3:16 and 1 John 5:11–13). A third reason for our fear is that we envision it more as a time when God is angry and eager to punish wrongdoers than a time for what it really is—a time when God is eager to reunite with his loved ones. The truth is, we can anticipate the coming of Jesus with joy! After all, don’t you typically joyfully anticipate a reunion with a loved one from whom you have been separated for some time? That is the way in which we can anticipate the coming of Christ. And a focus on his return is a key reason why I’m an Adventist. That is, after all, what the word adventist means—it is one who is focused on the advent of Christ. And so I say with John the Revelator, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20). God bless you.

Randy Roberts

Senior Pastor

MEDITATION The coming again of Jesus Christ and the end of the age occupies some 1,845 Scriptural verses. – John Wesley White The Spirit in the heart of the true believer says with earnest desire, Come, Lord Jesus. – John Wesley

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