God’s Promise for Redemption

Sermon, December 1, 2024

Luke 21:25-36

God’s Promise for Redemption

Pastor Fred Okello

Last Sunday, I mentioned two Greek words for time: Chronos and Kairos. Today, as we consider Jesus' statements in Luke 21:25-36 about the indications of the end times, these two notions of time will help us better grasp how to live as His disciples—ready, faithful, and hopeful.

Chronos depicts the normal passage of time: seconds, minutes, hours, and days. It is the time that we measure with clocks and calendars. Chronos is where we live our daily lives, with habits, timetables, and seasons following one another. For example, Jesus mentions the fig tree producing leaves, indicating the change of seasons (Luke 21:29-30). That's Chronos: time moves steadily and reliably.

However, in this passage, Jesus also refers to Kairos—those divinely appointed moments when God's purposes manifest in powerful ways. When He adds, “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28), He is inviting us to identify the Kairos moment—God's perfect timing in carrying out His purpose.

Why is this distinction crucial to us today? Because Jesus’ teachings in Luke 21 remind us that we exist in both Chronos and Kairos. In Chronos, we live faithfully day after day, maturing in preparation for His return. In Kairos, we detect and act in accordance with God's timetable, seizing chances to spread His Kingdom and bring hope to a watching world. This brings us to three important calls to action: readiness and faithfulness, mission and evangelism, and hope for Christ’s return.

In Luke 21:34, Jesus advises us not to be weighed down by life's troubles. Today, we frequently feel overwhelmed because we interpret God’s timing through our own human calendars. Wars, diseases, natural disasters, and church divides can all shake us up, yet Jesus encourages us to remain calm.
• Trust that God is in control, even during tumultuous times.
• Avoid emotional reactions. Shocking occurrences will occur, but our responses should be based on faith and trust rather than fear or impulsiveness.
• Trust God's timing. Give up the responsibility of controlling what only God can. His plan comes together flawlessly in His time.

In Luke 21:13, Jesus describes the end times as an opportunity to evangelize (Mission and Evangelism). As the world becomes concerned about signs in the sky and earth, we are urged to spread the good news of salvation. Kairos moments in history—times of upheaval and uncertainty—are frequently when people are most receptive to hearing about Christ's hope and peace.

Let us take a time to meditate on these questions.

What practical steps are we taking as a church to seize God’s time today?

Are we committing to prayer, fasting, Bible study, and Spirit-led worship in accordance with God's will?

Are we serving the neighborhood, supporting worldwide missions, and fostering personal witness to spread Christ’s love?

Are we using intentional ministries to promote reconciliation, care for the underprivileged, and assist those in need?

Are we campaigning for justice, using digital platforms for evangelism, and preparing believers to live their religion practically?

Are we looking for God’s opportunities and responding boldly with prayerful, Spirit-led leadership?

Illustration: During seminary, we met a man named Jehovah Wanyonyi, who claimed to be God. He responded to questions about his “divinity” with religious analogies, even claiming to be omnipresent. Before departing, one student prayed for journey mercies, to which Jehovah humorously interrupted with, “Yes, I have done it!”

This recalls Jesus’ warning in Mark 13:6 regarding false messiahs in the latter times. It emphasizes the significance of remaining attentive, distinguishing truth from falsehood, and putting our trust alone in Christ, the genuine God.

Finally, Jesus encourages us, saying, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Luke 21:33). Even while the world experiences sorrow and uncertainty, we have unwavering faith in Christ. His coming is not a threat, but rather a promise of atonement and restoration. We can face the future with confidence because we know God's plan is unfolding in perfect timing.

So, as we reflect on this chapter today, remember that we live in the day-to-day of Chronos, but we must also be on the lookout for divine chances in Kairos. Let us be prepared and loyal, seizing every opportunity to share the gospel, and being steadfast in our trust in Christ's second coming. “When you see these things happening, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28–29).