(Interrupting the Sermon hymn) Stop, stop the music! Stop! I have to tell you something! Jesus is coming!

Yes, Jesus is coming! No, I don't have any special new insights about when He is coming, but He is coming. I know it. You know it. The Apostle Paul says so right here in our 2nd lesson. Jesus himself says it in our Gospel. He will come again in the clouds, with power and great glory.

You may be asking yourself "Pastor, why couldn't you have waited until we had finished the song? Why did you have to upset the routine and startle us so?" That's the point I'm trying to make both with my words and with my actions. I had told only one other person about my plans to start the sermon this way, Lesa, the organist. And I didn't tell her specifically when I would do it. Lesa, you were probably feeling pretty alert and ready for my interruption weren't you? But the rest of you, not even my wife, knew of my plans. You were surprised. Your routine was upset. You were not alerted about this possibility.

Many people in this world will be surprised by Jesus return. That day will come upon them like a thief in the night. "While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly� But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light." We who trust in Christ need not be surprised about his return. Our routine need not be shocked, because Jesus has told us of his return, just like I had told Lesa to be alert. Before I go on, let's finish singing the last two verses of our hymn, letting its words encourage us to be alert, to watch and pray for Christ's return. (Verses 3-4 of Hymn 302) (Interruption idea came from Rev. Jason Rensner in Concordia Pulpit Resource, 2002)

Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He came once to save us by the cross. He is coming again to take us to be with Him. The text on which this morning's message is based comes from our Epistle lesson (1 Thessalonians 5: 1-11).

You, brothers, are not in darkness so that the (day of the Lord) should surprise you like a thief. � 5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.

Are you feeling pretty alert right now?

The unofficial creed in the American homeland war on terrorism is this: 'Be alert, be watchful, be prepared'. Be vigilant in matters of security, whether at an airport, a government institution or in the back sorting room of the post office. Be watchful for signs of terrorism: a back-pack left unattended, a strange request for chemicals at a fertilizer plant, a white powder in the mail or unusual behavior by a neighbor down the street. Be prepared to call the police or FBI. Be prepared to evacuate a building. Be prepared to take defensive measures when your life or the lives of others is threatened. Be alert, be vigilant, be watchful, be prepared. It's a good motto; I like it because it is the same motto Paul is encouraging the Thessalonians to live by: "Be alert and self-controlled". It is the same motto that Jesus wants His disciples to 'catch' here in Matthew 24 � Be alert. (Modified from Phil Gunther, "Ready, Set, Go?")

Whenever we get into a routine, we grow to expect certain actions. We can become complacent, docile, even apathetic. That is the way the world is about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. When people are saying "Oh, that won't happen, at least not any time soon" -- He will return. And while His first coming was full of grace and patience and love, His Second Coming will be in judgement. Those who are spiritually asleep, who have refused to acknowledge the presence of the Son of God Jesus Christ in the world and in their lives will be surprised out of their apathy, their worldly peace.

But to those of us who know this Jesus, who trust Him for our lives, who continually acknowledge our sin and our need for His salvation, we need not be surprised by His coming. We can look forward to it with wonderful anticipation, "For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." Our Lord will come again in judgement, but for us who trust in him we can look forward to judgement. Judgement is a negative thing only for those who are guilty. But for those who know they have been declared innocent because of what Jesus did for them on the cross, we know that His judgement for us will be "Innocent" and "Righteous." Josh McDowell, Christian speaker and author, tells about an executive "headhunter" who recruits corporate executives for large firms. This headhunter once told McDowell that when he interviews an executive, he likes to disarm him. "I offer him a drink," said the headhunter, "take off my coat, undo my tie, throw up my feet and talk about baseball, football, family, whatever, until he's all relaxed. Then, when I think I've got him relaxed, I lean over, look him square in the eye and say, 'What's your purpose in life?' It's amazing how top executives fall apart at that question." Then he told about interviewing one fellow recently. He had him all disarmed, had his feet up on his desk, talking about football. Then the headhunter leaned over and said, "What's your purpose in life, Bob?" And the executive said, without blinking an eye, "To go to heaven and take as many people with me as I can." "For the first time in my career," said the headhunter, "I was speechless." No wonder. He had encountered someone who was prepared. He was ready. His purpose, "To go to heaven and take as many people with me as I can." (from Dr. Gary Nicolosi, Sermons: "Preparing for the End Time")

Our Lord Jesus Christ came down from heaven and his goal truly was to take as many people back with him as He could. Jesus, fully God and fully man, gave up his own life on the cross to ransom us from our sin. He rose again from the dead to assure us of His power over death for us as well. He returned to heaven but promised to be with us here and then to return again in power and glory. Right now He is being patient, "not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3: 9)

What would you do if you knew this was the last day of normal existence and tomorrow was the "Last Day?" What would you do with your family? Would you spend some special time with each other, assuring each other of your love and faith in Christ? Would you spend time hugging your children and spouse and let them know how deeply you love them? Would you go and, to the best of your ability, share God's Word and try to be certain that every member of your family had a saving trust in Jesus Christ? Would you assure them that Christ had died for them and that He was risen again from the grave to be the first of the resurrected ones? (modified from Rensner, 2002, Concordia Pulpit Resources).

If you knew that today was the day before the Last Day, what would you do with people against whom you held a grudge or who held a grudge against you? Would you go to them and seek reconciliation and forgiveness, as we pray in the Lord's Prayer? Would you tell them that in the scope of eternity, your mutual differences were minor, petty in comparison? Would you tell others of his imminent plans to return, encouraging them to turn to him in repentance and trust? When I was younger and I heard some friend use Christ's name in vain, I didn't chastise them harshly.

I simply looked up, startled, and said "Where? Where?" They knew that I was expecting Christ's return and gave me an opportunity to share that expectation with them.

What would you do if you knew this was the last day of normal existence and tomorrow was the "Last Day?" Today may be that day before the Last Day. Today may be the Last Day. We don't know. The point is we are to be alert, ready. This morning I interrupted our normal routine by interrupting the hymn, and you were all surprised. Some day soon, on the Last Day, Jesus will interrupt our routine here on earth, but we need not be surprised. He has told us ahead of time. The world will be surprised, all those who do not believe in Christ's resurrection or Lordship. They will be shocked and frightened and not escape his wrath. But we know of his love for us, shown in His first coming.

We need not fear His Second coming because He died for us so that we may live together with Him. He has told us ahead of time. Be prepared. Be alert. Alleluia.

And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4: 7)