“What to Expect When You Are Expecting:  Day and Hour Unknown”

Open your Bibles to Matthew 24:36-44.

This morning marks the beginning of the season in the life of the church when we fix our eyes on one of the greatest miracles of all—the coming of Christ.  Today is the first Sunday of Advent—Advent means “coming.”  Advent is the four week season when the church joyfully remembers the coming Christmas and eagerly anticipates the coming of Christ again.  It is a time that we celebrate the hope, love, joy and peace that is offered to us by God’s grace through Jesus Christ.

This year, during Advent, I want to invite you to engage the idea of “What to Expect When You Are Expecting.”  Let’s read the word of God and then I will attempt to explain what I mean.

“What to Expect When You Are Expecting.”  If you have ever had a child then odds are pretty high that you have at least heard of this book written by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel. In fact, many of you moms have probably read the book.  I know when Leslie was pregnant, particularly with our first child, she faithfully read every page. 

The book informs the mother of what to expect even before she becomes pregnant and then leads her through the 36-40 weeks of pregnancy.  What to eat and what not to eat.  What to drink and what not to drink.  What the baby is doing each month for the nine months of pregnancy.  But also, the book informs the mother of what she may be feeling and why.  What she should be aware of with the changing of her body and how to best care for herself and the baby.  The first eighteen chapters of the book—talk all about the mother and the baby—wonderful book.

But here is my question—where is the book for expectant dads?  Where is the book that tells us how to prepare for the emotional meltdowns that occur when you simply say to the pregnant wife, “That big shirt looks really pretty on you.”  It wasn’t until Chapter 19 of “What to Expect When You Are Expecting” that there was anything for dads.  The baby had already been born for crying out loud—and then there was something for the dads.  It would have been helpful for me to know that I would be tempted to eat as much for myself as Leslie was eating for two.  It would have been helpful for me have a little heads up about the emotional land mines that were strategically placed throughout the house.  It would have been useful to know that this little bundle of joy that we were expecting would cause such stress and chaos for nine months until it arrived.  Then again, the stress and chaos doesn’t end with the birth does it??

What to expect when you are expecting.  Whether we have experienced the miracle of pregnancy and child birth or not—we have all experienced the emotions of expecting. Expectations are intriguing.  Expectations are energizing.  Expectations are hopeful.  Expectations have a way of sustaining us.  But also, expectations have a way of preparing us.  In fact, many of you experienced this first hand this past week—you were expecting your family to join you for Thanksgiving and so you prepared—you got the house in order; you prepared the food; you made the tea; you made sure the television worked—your expectation motivated you.

In our text this morning we gain a little insight into the expectations of the disciples.  Jesus had said to them, “Do you see all these things?  I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; everyone will be thrown down.”  And as Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, “the disciples came to him privately.”  They said to him, “Tell us, when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the ages” (24:2-3).

Interestingly enough, Jesus does not define their expectations—instead, He warns them to watch out for people claiming to be Christ; He speaks of wars; He talks about famines and earthquakes—and He just continues to say things that will occur prior to His coming—it’s as if Jesus was the original author of “What to Expect When You Are Expecting!” 

But then, later, He says, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (24:36).

The Father knows—I don’t know; the preacher down the street doesn’t know; the evangelist on television doesn’t know; no one knows about the day or hour but the Father!

That’s a little different then it was when Leslie was pregnant with Layne and Luke.  Apparently the Doctor knew.  After all, we had a “due date.”  The due date is what kept us energized and at times, tired.  But we trusted the Doctor—and we told our family and friends to get ready—because in May there was a baby coming.  And then a few years later we told them with great excitement to get ready again—because in December there was another baby coming.  And now, here we are on the 28^th of November anticipating the due date—we are getting prepared for the celebration of the arrival of a baby—due December 25. 

“Yeah, but preacher, that is the first due date—we want to know the second due date.  We know how to prepare for Christmas—we know how to shop, we know how to wrap presents, we know how to sing carols—but what about the second coming?” 

And I say:  “I don’t know—I am just a Pastor—I am not the Father.”

But here is my question:  “Are you ready?”

Jesus said:  “Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come” (24:42). 

I must admit—yesterday was a day I knew would come.  It was the day I knew I would have to say goodbye to my family—I knew me and my immediate family would be the first to head home from the holidays.  It is always hard—even though I am thankful for the time we had together—I hate to see it end.

But, on the bright side—before we left, my mother packed up four gallon sized Ziploc bags full of leftovers!  One of the bonuses of leaving first—you get the biggest portions of leftovers.  But here is my thought on leftovers—is that something that everyone is really in a hurry to get?  Honestly, by the time it comes to give the leftovers—aren’t we kind of over it?  We have such good intentions with the leftovers—we will make them last; after a little zap in the microwave we will enjoy them just as much as the first time—but in reality, the leftovers are never the same—they are never quite as fulfilling; the presentation is never as beautiful—it is a little different taking a warm piece of turkey off of a beautiful silver tray and grabbing a cold chunk of meat out of a Ziploc!   

You may think there is no hurry—you may think that giving your life to Jesus Christ is something you can do after you have partied a little more; after you have made a little more money; after you have grown a little older; after you have done a few more things for yourself; after you get out of high school; after you get married and have children of your own; after your kids have grown up and you are not so busy with them.  When we think this way—we are basically giving Jesus the leftovers!

Surely—if we were sincerely expecting Jesus to come—we would give Him our first.  Surely—if we were expecting Him to come by the house today—we would prepare our very best. Surely—if we were expecting the King we would lay our own crowns down.  Surely—if we were expecting—we would get ready.

26 shopping days until Christmas—are you ready?

The day and the hour of Jesus’ coming are unknown—are you ready? 

Friends, the Word of God is the book that all of us should read to find out “What to Expect When We Are Expecting.” 

Why wait to give your heart to Jesus Christ?  Why wait another day to live your life for the One who gave His for you and who will come again.  Why wait for a sign; why wait for tomorrow; why wait for a due date—let your expectations energize you to get prepared for His arrival!

Let me close with this:  When I found out Leslie was pregnant—in both cases—I had a longing for; a want; a desire; even a craving for those little babies to get here.  I was filled with such expectation of what they would be like—what they would look like—what their first word would be—what I was going to do with them and for them.

Jesus is coming—that’s His promise.

What are you expecting? 

Amen.