{Prayer}
As we draw closer to the end of the church year, you might have noticed that our readings take a turn toward the end times, to that “Day of the Lord” as Amos put it in our Old Testament reading. Well, you all know how my mind likes to wander at times. So as I was preparing this service and looking at the readings, the last verse of our gospel lesson got me thinking. Ah! Stop it! Stop it! I can see it in your eyes. You’re like “Oh no! What did he think of now?”
Listen again to these closing words from our gospel reading where Jesus says, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour” (Matt. 25:13).
When I read those words, my mind instantly went to a Disney movie which came out in 1994. Like with any animated Disney movie made in the last 25 years, there are a whole hosts of songs spread throughout them. Well this movie has a song in it which has the same title as our sermon this morning. For anyone who is a fan of Disney movies, those of you in your 30’s or those of you who have young kids … do you want to take a venture at the movie which came to mind?
The movie which came to mind is … “The Lion King.”
In The Lion King, Mufasa is the king of the Pride Lands. Mufasa has a son named Simba. Much to the disgruntledness of Mufasa’s brother Scar, who has made himself to be a bit of an outcast by living with the scavenging hyenas instead of with the other lions … Scar knows that it is only at the death of Mufasa and Mufasa’s son Simba that he would become king. Well, you can probably tell where this is going to go. Scar wants to get out from under the shadows of his brother and nephew and be king which means, Mufasa and Simba would need to die.
So while Scar is sulking with the hyenas, he develops a plan. A plan which involves the overthrowing of Mufasa and Simba. In that song, he tells the hyenas to be prepared. Be prepared for they will get move up the animal social ladder and be with the lions.
As I was thinking through this, there are multiple stories in the Scriptures which came to mind. The story of Cain and Abel came to mind. Remember, Cain didn’t like being in the shadow of Abel as it seemed that the Lord favored Abel’s offering over Cain’s. So out of a rage of jealousy, Cain kills Abel. Isaac and Ishmael come to mind. Sarah was jealous that Ishmael was the first born to Abraham so she makes Abraham send Tamar and Ishmael away so Isaac can be the favored son.
I also got to thinking about this in the sense of God and Satan. You see, Satan was originally created as a good angel. As a good angel, he would have served God right alongside the likes of Michael and the other angels. But Satan was not pleased with being an angel, with being a creature. So he rebelled against God in order to take over.
After a great battle recorded in Revelation 12, Satan was thrown out of the presence of God to roam the earth. As Satan roams the earth, he causes nothing but chaos and catastrophes. Satan roams trying to disrupt the balance, the circle of life which God created. The disciple Peter tells us “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:18).
In order to restore this kingdom which Satan has tarnished, God sent His son Jesus. Through Jesus’ perfect life, his excruciating suffering and suffocating death on the cross, and then by his victorious resurrection, Jesus has put Satan within his place.
However, Satan is still free to roam. Satan is still free to stir things up and try to unbalance things. Satan and his little hyenas cause havoc on the lives of Christians. Satan tries to make people believe that he is in charge and that there is no God. Satan tries to put doubt into the minds of Christians about the existence of God and about the end times. He wants everyone to believe that the world will never come to an end and there will be no final judgment.
This is exactly what Scar does in The Lion King. Scar manages to get the king, to get his older brother Mufasa killed. Scar manages to take over the Pride Lands as king and raises up the hyenas on the animal social ladder because he convinces Simba that his dad’s death was his fault and the best thing he could do is run far far away. As Simba is running away, the hyenas chase Simba off into the desert where they figure he is as good as dead.
If you have seen the movie you know, Simba doesn’t die. He is rescued by a crazy meerkat and kind hearted warthog. Simba grows up and lives happily with them.
However, back in the Pride Lands … everything has gone to pot. There is no food, there is no water. The land under Mufasa was flourishing with life but now under Scar … it is a dark, dry, and dreadful place to live. Even though things are rather hellish, Scar is kicking back and thinking that everything is fine. Scar believes he will rule forever. Remember, he thinks Simba is dead and would never return.
Sadly, that is how many people live their life today. If God does exist, He’s just kicking back in His lazy boy recliner watching the world go by. If God is going to come back, many Christians don’t believe Jesus will return during their lifetime. The way people live their lives is definitely proof of that.
But the thing is, both the Old and New Testament talk about the great day of the Lord. Those references tell people that not only is going to happen, to some it will not be what they think it will be, and it will come suddenly. Peter in his letter says, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night” (2 Peter 3:10a). Last time I checked, thieves don’t call you up and ask what your schedule is like so they can come rob you. Paul in our epistle lesson says “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet call of God” (1 Thess. 4:16). Think of your alarm clock going off. It suddenly awakens you from the depths of your sleep and says “Hey! Wake up!” The trumpet sound of God when Christ returns will be the same way. Jesus also says in the last line of our gospel reading, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour” (Matt. 25:13). We don’t know when Jesus will return and there is no way of knowing, thus we need to be ready, we need to be prepared.
In The Lion King, Simba unexpectedly comes back. Scar is startled and deceitfully tries to pin the blame of Mufasa’s death on Simba. However, to paraphrase Jesus, “if you know the truth, the truth will set you free.” Simba discovers the truth of Scar’s deceitfulness and forces Scar to reveal the truth. Once the truth is revealed, there is this great battle, Scar is defeated and Simba takes his rightful spot as the king of the Pride Lands. As king, the Pride Lands are restored and peace is restored.
When Christ the Lamb of God returns, he is going to unexpectedly return as the Lion of Judah, as the Savior of His people. Those who don’t believe in Jesus as the Christ, will be in for a sudden shock. And I believe that even we who do believe in Jesus as our Savior will be in for a sudden shock. But this is why we need to be prepared. We need to remain in God’s Word. We need to keep coming to God’s house to be fed and nourished not only by His Word and His Sacraments but also by the fellowship and support which we provide for each other. We need to be prepared for that great day of the Lord and as God’s children, we need to reach out and help others be prepared so that they will be ready for the day in which Christ returns to ultimately restore you and this creation to a godly perfection. On that day of his return, just as Simba defeated Scar, Jesus will once and for all put sin, death, and Satan himself away forever. Amen.
The peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus our Lord, now and forever. Amen.
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