Introduction: When is Jesus coming to earth again? How near are we to this magnificent event that will consummate human history as we know it and usher in the Kingdom of God in all its fullness? Although we don’t know the precise answers to these questions, the indications are that the day is drawing near. Whenever this may take place, we can be sure that this incident from the life of Jesus tells us exactly what we are to be busy doing until He does come!
While we await Jesus’ Second Coming:
I. WE MUST VISUALIZE
a. Matthew tells us that Jesus “saw” the multitude.
b. This means much more than making visual contact – it means to perceive and to understand the soul.
c. We must “see” what is around us.
II. WE MUST AGONIZE
a. Jesus was emotionally affected by what He saw.
b. The lostness of those around us must be viewed as simply intolerable.
III. WE MUST EVANGELIZE
a. There is no shortage of work to do.
b. There is a shortage of workers to do the work!
IV. WE MUST STRATEGIZE
a. This means we will have to organize, mobilize and utilize.
b. To fail to plan is to plan to fail!
Supplemental Scriptures:
Luke 19:41 Matthew 23:37-38 Romans 9:3
Matthew 28:18-20 Acts 1:8 1 Peter 3:15
II Corinthians 5:14