Find Comfort in These Closing Words!

7th Sunday of Easter, 5/29/22 Revelation 22:12-17, 20 Find Comfort in These Closing Words! I. Words of assurance II. Words of invitation III. Words of petition When a loved one is no longer with you, their final words to you before they leave are often words that are inscribed in your memory. Many of you here this morning have had the experience of a military deployment or a temporary duty at a location far removed from your spouse and children. The final words spoken right before your departure are words that you replay countless times. “I love you. I’ll be thinking about you. It won’t be long, and I’ll be back.” Those words aren’t spoken as mere formalities; they’re heartfelt, full of intention. Those words not only reflect a wish, they also state the plan. The plan is for the loved one to return. Final words are words that we remember. So also with the words of Jesus. This past Thursday, the Christian Church on earth observed the ascension of Jesus into heaven. Repeatedly before Jesus visibly ascended and was hidden by clouds, he promised all his followers that he would return. He will come back in glory on the Last Day. Christians around the world wait for that day to occur. Those words are inscribed in our minds. It’s no accident, then, that the final words of the Bible contain those same words and the reaction to them by Christians here on earth as they wait for Jesus to return. We hold onto them, especially when the events of this world leave us confused, concerned, and crushed by the evil that assaults us. And the tragic events of this past week cause us to wonder how much more we can take and when Jesus will return in glory. Could you use some comfort? I’m sure you could. Then turn your attention to these final words of Scripture. Find your comfort in these closing words. May the Holy Spirit, the divine Comforter, bring us the comfort that only he can give as we focus on these words! I. As I just mentioned, when loved ones part, there is almost always the spoken promise that the departing loved one will return. That’s what fills the loved ones with hope and comfort. It’s difficult for me to think of a more crushing departure than one which is made with the certainty that they will never see each other again. Can you imagine such a thing? We know that Jesus ascended into heaven with the promise to return visibly on the Last Day. And in the closing words of the Bible, he repeats that promise. Listen to that promise once again, “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” Perhaps you noticed that Jesus speaks more than simply a promise to return. Let’s unpack his words for a moment. Notice first how he refers to himself. He calls himself the Alpha and the Omega, the First and Last, the Beginning and the End. Just what does he mean? He’s referring to the fact that he is the Lord of all history. By him all things were created beginning with the first second of time and by his power all things in this world will end at the last second of time. He enfolds all of history. That’s comforting given how upside down our world seems to be. What’s more, he is the world’s Savior. Jesus refers to himself as the Root and Offspring of David and the bright Morning Star. Jesus is true man, a descendant of King David, just as God promised. But he is also true God, the bright Morning Star. As true God and true man Jesus is certainly our Savior, the world’s Savior. His resurrection and his ascension assure us of it. “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.” But he is also the world’s judge. “Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” If you are living and breathing right now, you are weary and burdened. Evil abounds. Mass murders. Immorality of every kind. People who make lying a way of life. When will it end? When Jesus returns and condemns those who reject him in unbelief. Finally, an end to evil! In Jesus and only in Jesus we find our rest! He will return as he promised. Find comfort in these closing words, words of assurance. Parting words between two human beings are meant to be comforting, but can ring hollow when expectations are unmet. For instance, the separation may extend longer than expected. Or, early in the separation communication is frequent and appreciated, but as time wears on, that becomes less and less. And then commitment and devotion to each other are called into question. Jesus spoke these words more than 2,000 years ago. He promised to return as Savior and Judge of all. And we hold to his promise, but we’re weary. Life for us here isn’t getting any better; it’s not even staying the same. It’s getting worse. Jesus knows that and he cares about each one of us. He loves us. But how can we be sure of that? Look to his cross. That’s where he showed a love for you that far exceeds all others. He died for you so that you could live with him. And his resurrection guarantees it. In fact, if he promised to rise again and kept that promise, he will surely keep every promise he has ever made, including his promise to return. Find your comfort in these closing words, words of assurance. II. When two loved ones speak parting words, they do so with the expectation that their loved one will do as he or she has promised. They will call or Facetime regularly. They will keep their loved one in their mind and on their heart every day. They’ll eagerly anticipate their reunion. Before Jesus departed, he gave his Church its marching orders. He stated clearly what he expected Christians to be doing between his ascension into heaven and his return on the Last Day. He commanded his Church to go and make disciples of all nations. And that’s exactly what the Church has been doing and is doing. Listen to these closing words, “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come!’ Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.” On the Day of Pentecost, the Lord Jesus poured out the Holy Spirit on his believers. Ever since that day, the Holy Spirit has continued to enter the hearts of people through the good news about Jesus as the Savior from sin. And he uses the Bride of Christ, the Church, to do that work. Jesus is no longer proclaiming his saving word to others. He’s using his Church—you and me—to do that work. What a high calling! We’re the ones who tell others to come, believe the good news about Jesus as your Savior from sin. And as we do so, we are extending God saving grace to others. These final words declare, “Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.” The water of eternal life is a free gift. It’s all by God’s grace. We can do nothing to earn or deserve eternal life with Jesus in his kingdom. Jesus uses us who are comforted by his word to share that comfort with others. Find comfort in these closing words, words of invitation. What’s your reaction to the truth that Jesus uses you to share his saving word with others? Do you consider it to be a privilege or an unwanted duty? And what’s your attitude towards the lost—those who don’t know Jesus as their Savior? Are you passionate about doing whatever it takes to share the message of Jesus with them, or do you wish Jesus would give unbelievers what they have coming to them? The fact is, the Church on earth has never done a perfect job of sharing Jesus with others. But there’s our comfort. In the Church we have complete forgiveness for all our sins. As forgiven sinners, we’re uniquely qualified to share with others the comfort and joy that forgiveness in Christ gives us. Let it be said of us, that those who know Christ make it their highest priority to share Christ. Find your comfort in these closing words, words of invitation. III. Sharing Jesus with others. That’s one mark of a Christian. Another is prayer. Christians pray. They pray about all things at all times. And that’s what we hear Christians doing in these closing words. “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” Jesus began these closing words promising to return soon. He repeats that promise in the penultimate verse of the Bible. And how do God’s people respond? “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” Just as we have invited others to come to Jesus, now we implore Jesus to come to us, to return in glory on the Last Day. On that day he will reveal his Church visibly to all people, and you’ll be standing before him in glory. Without a doubt, it will be the best day of your life by far. It will mark the beginning of your eternal life with soul and body. And nothing can stop that day from occurring, not even a world full of evil and the heartache evil causes. Find your comfort in these closing words, words of petition. These closing words of Scripture are words of comfort for those who are weary and are concerned about the future of the Church on earth. If that describes you, then the Lord Jesus offers you this comfort: He will return soon. Pray, Christians, pray! Offer him your petitions to strengthen his Church, to bless its efforts to spread the gospel, and to return soon as he has promised. In a world full of trouble, find your comfort in these closing words! Amen.