Good morning, friends.
I want to start this morning by telling you what I did not do this week. I did not sleep well. And it’s not because of anything happening in my house. It’s because of everything happening in the world.
Let me just walk you through a few headlines from this past week, and I want you to feel the weight of them the way I did.
On September 14th, the Secretary of the Air Force stood up at the Air, Space & Cyber Conference and publicly acknowledged — for the first time — that the United States has deployed what he called “on-orbit space control weapons.” Weapons in space. Not theoretical. Deployed.
President Trump addressed the United Nations General Assembly this week and proposed that we officially rebrand artificial intelligence as “super intelligence.” And the truth is, AI has taken the forefront of technology and interest in our world, and there are real worries that it may overtake mankind.
The Pentagon is releasing its fourth batch of information on UFOs — more than 40 videos. And people are asking questions. Are these angelic beings? Are they demons? Are they secret weapons from China or from somewhere else entirely?
Iran. The President, defending an ongoing seven-month conflict, said he faces a “big decision,” and he explicitly threatened to annihilate the Islamic Republic if they do not abandon their nuclear ambitions.
Greenland. There are plans to establish a permanent, large military presence there.
And then there’s the price of things. Diesel is at six dollars. Gas is over four. Heating oil is near six. Groceries are sky high. And scientists tell us we are entering a super El Niño weather pattern that will change all the records.
And this week, Russia sent drones into NATO countries — pushing the limits, testing what they can get away with.
The Secretary-General of the United Nations stood up and said that the world has entered, in his words, “an era of profound uncertainty,” driven by fragmentation, massive technological disruption, and unchecked military conflict.
Now, I didn’t give you that list to depress you. I gave you that list because I want you to feel what I felt this week. These are the things that drive the news. These are the things that top our headlines. These are the things we scroll through on our tablets and our phones.
And we have a word for what we do with that now. We call it doomscrolling. Doomscrolling is that compulsive habit of endlessly scrolling through negative, distressing, alarming news and social media — even when it makes us anxious, angry, or depressed. And here’s why we do it: your brain naturally pays closer attention to potential threats and negative information. It’s wired to keep you prepared for danger.
And so we become increasingly concerned about the material and bodily dangers of all this. How will our world change? How will the price of gas affect me? How will I get along without my medicine, without my coffee, without my internet? What’s going to happen to the price of groceries?
We are living in a changing and increasingly dangerous world. And millions of people — especially young people — are trying to find a purpose and a meaning for their lives. We suffer. We struggle. We wonder, “Who am I? Why am I on this earth? I know there’s coming a day when I’m going to die.” And many people ask the question that sits underneath all the other questions: “What is the point?”
Now, I want you to hold that question in your mind this morning, because Jesus is going to answer it. But He’s not going to answer it the way the news answers it. He’s going to answer it the way only He can.
Turn with me to Luke chapter 21. Luke chapter 21, beginning at verse 25.
Jesus says this: “And there will be strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides. People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, for the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with power and great glory. So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!”
Now, I want to slow down on this, because Jesus is talking about the end of the age — the end of this present system that is so dominated by evil. And He uses two words here that I want you to hear. He says there will be “distress of nations, with perplexity.”
The word “distress” that He used means to be pressed from all sides. And “perplexity” means no way out. In other words, there’s going to come a time when we’re going to be so pressed from all sides, we’re not going to find a way out.
Does that sound familiar? Does that sound like this week?
Now, I want to walk you through three areas where we are seeing this playing out right now. And then I want to show you what Jesus says to do about it.
First, this is a period of social change. Forty-three percent of Americans now have a positive view of socialism. Socialism — an early form of communism — is taking hold in our cities. Homelessness is rampant. Economic issues weigh on us — the debts that people and nations owe, drug and alcohol use. The United States now owes over forty trillion dollars. Partisan gridlock is normal in our capitals — political cooperation is a thing of the past. There is a push to force gender change on our children, to push gay rights and abortion into our constitution, and to force their way into the lives of Bible-believing Christians. And underneath all of it, there is a great loneliness. Many people may be in a crowd, but they are profoundly alone.
Second, this is a period of great scientific change. Your grandfather and mine never dreamed of the scientific achievements that we take for granted today. The world operates at a faster pace than ever before, and it is mind-numbing. We can’t keep up. Everyone carries a computer with them which can and will direct their every moment if they let it.
Third, this is a period of religious change. We’ve seen upheavals in every area of religious life, and we’re seeing it all over the world. There are now more people who identify as “nones” — no religious affiliation — than any single religious denomination. And Jesus asked the question, “Will there be any faith at all when I come back?” He asked it in Luke chapter 18, verse 8.
Now, friends, here is where the sermon turns. Because in the midst of all of these changes, certain things never change. And that is our hope.
First, Jesus is interested in our material needs. He promises to meet our needs according to His riches in glory. Second, Jesus is also interested in our physical needs. He went about doing good and healing all those who were oppressed by the devil. But His primary interest — His purpose in coming to this earth — was for our spiritual needs. It was and is to show you the way to repentance. He told us and He showed us the only way to God.
Now, let me give you an illustration. Back in the 1980s there was a television commercial for a brokerage house called E.F. Hutton. And the commercial would show people in a large gathering — a crowded room, lots of noise, everyone talking at once. And two of them would be chatting about their stocks. And one would say, “My broker is E.F. Hutton.” And then he’d say, “And E.F. Hutton says…” And the whole room would freeze. Everything would go silent. Everyone would lean in to hear what E.F. Hutton said.
The tag line was: “When E.F. Hutton talks, everyone listens.”
Friends, today the world should be quiet and listen to what Jesus said.
And what did Jesus say? Turn with me to John chapter 14. John 14, verse 1.
Jesus said: “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.”
And Thomas — dear, honest Thomas — speaks up and asks the question that all of us have asked: “No, we don’t know, Lord. We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
And Jesus doesn’t give him a map. He doesn’t give him a list of turn-by-turn directions. He doesn’t say, “Well, there are several good routes — pick the one that feels right for you.”
No. Jesus says something absolutely stunning. Look at verse 6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”
Now, that is either the most arrogant statement ever spoken by a human being, or it is the truest thing anybody has ever said. There is no middle ground on that one, folks. And this morning, I want us to look at why we can trust that it’s the truest thing ever said — and then I want to equip you to actually go tell somebody about it this week.
First, the nature of God has not changed. In all these thousands upon millions and billions of years, God has not changed. He said, “I am the Lord, I do not change.” That’s Malachi 3:6. When the Bible says that God is “from everlasting to everlasting” — that’s Psalm 90:2 — I can’t comprehend that. My little brain cannot understand that God never had a beginning and has no end. I accept it by faith because the Bible declares it. There is “no variation or shadow of turning” with God, says James 1:17.
God is unchanging in His holiness. He is a holy God and a righteous God. “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come” — that’s Revelation 4:8. And in 1 Peter 1:16, God reminds us to be holy like Him: “Be ye holy, for I am holy.” The apostle Peter reminds Christians to shape their behavior after Christ — loving God and loving others.
God is unchanging in judgment. Yes, God is going to judge the world. There’s going to be a day when all of us will stand before Almighty God to give an account of our lives. We will give an account of what we did with His Son Jesus Christ. Did you accept Him, or did you reject Him? “The Lord will judge the ends of the earth” — 1 Samuel 2:10.
God is also unchanging in love. He knows all about you, and He loves you. “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” — Romans 5:8. God loves you. He has the hairs of your head numbered — Matthew 10:30.
And the Word of God has not changed. “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever” — Isaiah 40:8. This Book, I believe, was revealed by God to man. It is our guide. It is our compass through life. And God says His Word shall stand forever. “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven” — Psalm 119:89.
Now, do you remember the first question that the devil put to Eve in the Garden of Eden? He said, “Has God indeed said?” That’s Genesis 3:1. He was questioning the Word of God. And he’s been doing it ever since.
I’ll be honest with you. I don’t understand all that’s in the Bible. I was having a struggle with that many years ago. And I said, “Oh God, I don’t understand all that’s in this book, but I’m going to accept it by faith as Your holy Word.” I accepted it by faith, and from that moment on, I’ve never doubted. I know that this is the Word of God. I stake my life on it.
And the devil will do everything in his power to keep you from reading it, from studying it. Anything to keep you away from this book, because this book will change your life. Satan will do anything to distract you.
Now here’s the thing about our world today — we are not short on people offering directions. We are drowning in directions. Everybody’s got an app. Everybody’s got a philosophy. Everybody’s got a podcast, a self-help book. And spiritually speaking, it’s no different. Ask ten people how to get to heaven, how to find peace, how to find meaning, and you’ll get eleven answers. “All roads lead to the same place.” “Just be a good person.” “Find your truth.”
Friends, I don’t know about you, but my heart has led me astray more times than I can count. I would not trust my heart to navigate me out of a paper bag, let alone into eternity.
And human nature has not changed. Jeremiah the prophet once said, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” That’s Jeremiah 17:9. And the Gospel — and only the Gospel — meets the need of the human heart, when the human heart turns by faith to Christ.
The Bible says all of us have sinned; we’ve all come short of the glory of God. That’s Romans 3:23. Sin means that you’ve broken the moral laws of God. We’re all sinners, and sin comes between us and God. We’re separated from God. Yes, we all have broken the law, and we’re all sinners. We all need Christ.
And then the way of salvation has not changed. You ask, “How can I be saved? How can I have a change in my life?” The Scripture says, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” That’s Acts 4:12. No other name. No other way. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” — John 14:6.
There is only one way. It seems very narrow to say it, but the Bible teaches that there’s only one way, and that way is through Christ at the cross, where He shed His blood for us, died for our sins, and rose again. And the Bible says that He’s coming back, and the Kingdom of God is going to prevail.
In every generation, the only way to God is through Christ. He is the only One in history of whom it is written, “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” That’s John 3:36.
He will never change, but you must change. “Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” — Hebrews 13:8. And today He offers you salvation. He can come into your heart right now, at this minute, and change you.
The first thing you must do is repent of your sins. That means to change your mind, your way of living, your attitude. You can’t do that alone, but God can help you to change. “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out” — Acts 3:19. If you’re ever to get to heaven, if you’re ever to have your sins forgiven, if you’re ever to have assurance and peace and joy in Christ in this life, repentance has to take place.
And then you must believe. That word “believe” means much more than just a head belief. It means that you put your confidence in, and you put your whole weight of your thought in, Christ. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” — John 1:12.
So let me ask you: Have you been saved? Do you want to be saved? You may say, “I don’t even know what saved means.” It means that you’re saved from hell. It means you’re saved from the judgment. It means there’s a new joy and a new peace in your heart. There’s a new power in your life to face the problems of life. It means that when you die, you go to heaven.
I’m calling you to the person of Christ. Make sure today that Christ lives in your heart. Today is the day.
Let’s pray together….
Father, we come to You today with our heads full of headlines and our hearts full of worry. And we hear the voice of Jesus saying, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled.” Lord, we choose to trust You. You have not changed. Your Word has not changed. The way of salvation has not changed. And so we come — repenting, believing, receiving the Christ who is the way, the truth, and the life.
For anyone here this morning who has never trusted Him, I pray that today would be the day. And for all of us, I pray that we would leave this place not distracted, but fixed on Jesus.
We pray this in His name. Amen.
-Pastor Scott Gabrielson
