PODCAST
The return of Jesus is the source of our hope. Yet, thinking about crises, prophecies, and the trials to come can also trigger fear. What sustains us when the world becomes more turbulent? Not a complete understanding of the end times, but a life deeply rooted in Christ.
Recording of a sermon by Reimund Kisser
The Most Important Question Regarding the End Times
We are Seventh-day Adventists. We look forward to the fulfillment of biblical prophecies—and above all, we look forward to the return of Jesus. We carry this hope in our hearts: Jesus Christ will return.
But sometimes a quiet concern creeps into this anticipation: Am I ready? Will I make it through? Do I know enough about the end times? Do I know all the prophecies? Have I correctly interpreted the coming events?
I knew a woman who was so afraid of the end times that she would have preferred not to live through that period at all. Her life has since changed completely. Yet what she said back then shows just how oppressive looking toward the future can become when fear takes center stage.
We live in a time full of crises. We see images of earthquakes, tsunamis, and other natural disasters. We experience political and religious tensions. When we talk about the end times, we encounter topics such as persecution, the mark of the beast, and the final test.
All of this can imperceptibly shift our focus. Then Jesus is no longer at the center—information is. It is no longer the relationship that counts, but knowledge.
The crucial question, however, is not:How much do I know about the end times?The crucial question is:How deeply am I rooted in Christ?
People will endure in the last days not because they know every event in advance. They will endure because they are firmly connected to Jesus. That is why the theme of this sermon is: Deeply Rooted—Standing Firm in the Time of the Second Coming.
The Image of Roots
When I think of roots, I naturally think of trees. I spend a lot of time biking in the woods. There, large roots can become a real obstacle. You ride over them, your bike slips—and suddenly you’re on the ground. But it is precisely these roots that also show just how firmly a tree can be anchored.
In nature, we distinguish, among other things, between shallow-rooted and deep-rooted trees. The term “shallow-rooted” is sometimes even used derisively to describe a superficial or shallow person. In nature, however, a shallow-rooted tree is by no means inferior. Spruce, birch, and willow, for example, are among the trees whose roots tend to spread close to the surface.
The Strength of Shallow Roots
Shallow roots can quickly absorb rainwater. Many nutrients are also initially found in the upper soil layers. On rocky or flat ground, the roots can spread out widely, even if they do not reach deep into the ground. Such trees often grow quickly.
Furthermore, they rarely stand alone. Their roots spread out side by side and form a network with the roots of other trees. The stronger this connection is, the more support the trees can provide for one another.
But shallow roots also have a weakness: During long dry spells, they cannot reach the deeper water reserves. When the soil dries out and a storm hits, such trees are more likely to topple.
The Stability of Deep Roots
Deep-rooted trees such as oak, pine, and walnut send their roots far into the ground. There they find water and nutrients that have long since become inaccessible at the surface. This gives them resilience during times of drought. When a storm hits, their deep anchorage provides them with a firm hold.
Faith Grows in Two Directions
Which image better describes a person of faith—the shallow-rooted tree or the deep-rooted tree? I believe we need both.
We need a faith that grows deep. This is the vertical dimension of our faith: personal prayer, Bible study, devotion, and fellowship with Christ. It is the direct connection between God and us.
But we also need a faith that grows outward. This is its horizontal dimension: the church, our ministry, our witness, love for our neighbor, and fellowship with other believers. A lived-out faith does not remain confined to ourselves. It connects us with others and draws them in.
Depth and breadth belong together: our personal rootedness in Christ and the supportive fellowship with other people.
Five Truths for Turbulent Times
1. Trust runs deeper than knowledge
In Jeremiah 17, a person who trusts in God is compared to a tree by the water:
“Blessed is the person who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is in the Lord. He is like a tree planted by the water, sending out its roots toward the stream. When the heat comes, he is not afraid; his leaves remain green. Even in a year of drought, he is not worried, but continues to bear fruit.”
Jeremiah 17:7–8
This text does not say: Blessed is the one who understands everything. Nor does it say: Blessed is the one who can explain every prophecy. The study of prophecy is important, but this passage says something else: Blessed is the one who trusts in God.
The tree does not remain green simply because there is no heat. The heat will come. Nor does it stand firm simply because there are no storms. The storms will come. The tree remains green and bears fruit because its roots reach the water.
The end times, too, will bring trials. We will have to endure pressure, and perhaps we will feel uncertain at times. But if our roots reach down to the source of life, we will receive the water we need. Christ Himself is that source. Whoever drinks the water He gives will never thirst again. That is what Jesus says in John 4:14.
2. Knowledge Alone Does Not Save
As Adventists, we value prophecy. We believe in the three angel messages, and we study Daniel and Revelation. This is good and important. But we must be careful: Prophetic knowledge is no substitute for a relationship with Jesus.
The Pharisees knew the Scriptures. They were waiting for the Messiah—and yet they did not recognize Jesus. Couldn’t this also be a warning for us?
We find another example in the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25. They all had lamps. All were waiting for the bridegroom. All fell asleep—not just five, but all ten. The decisive factor was whether there was enough oil. This oil represents the living connection with God through the Holy Spirit.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Apart from me you can do nothing.”
John 15:5
That is why for me, the most important question regarding the end times is: Am I connected to Christ every day—yes, every hour?
3. God’s Commandments Are the Fruit of Love
If the relationship with Jesus is so important, one might ask: What role, then, does God’s law still play?
It is precisely our love for Christ that leads us to obedience. Jesus says, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” The law, however, is not the root of our salvation. The root is love for Jesus. Obedience is the fruit of a living connection with Him.
A tree does not produce fruit through strenuous self-persuasion. It bears fruit because it is alive and nourished. Likewise, we do not keep God’s commandments in order to be saved. We keep them because we are united with Christ.
“Here is the patience of the saints, who keep God’s commandments and hold fast to the faith of Jesus.”
Revelation 14:12
Faith and the commandments are mentioned together here. It is neither a law without a relationship nor a relationship without obedience. Love and faithfulness go hand in hand.
If I love Jesus, I will not harm my neighbor. If I love God, I will not put other gods in His place nor misuse His name. The Sabbath becomes a special time of fellowship with Him. Obedience then arises not from fear or pressure, but from love.
4. Deep Roots Form Before the Storm
Anyone who has ever grown tomatoes knows this: The young plants start out growing in a protected space. When they are later transplanted outdoors, they already need roots to give them stability. Often, a stake is placed next to them to keep them from falling over at the first gust of wind.
A tree doesn’t start forming roots only when a hurricane strikes. Its roots grow beforehand. Likewise, strength of faith doesn’t arise only in a crisis.
Many ask:When the final test comes, will I be strong?Perhaps we should ask first:Am I deeply rooted today?
If prayer has no place in my life today, if God’s Word is given no space today, and if Christ is not at the center today—why should that suddenly change in a crisis?
Our daily lives shape our faithfulness in the end times. Small decisions build great steadfastness. The roots grow today, long before the storm begins.
5. Rooted and Grounded in Christ
“Just as you have accepted Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him: rooted and built up in him, established in the faith just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude.”
Colossians 2:6–7
Paul uses powerful imagery: rooted, established, and grounded. My desire is not to be firmly grounded someday in the future, but today. Not superficially, not just occasionally, and not just on the Sabbath, but every day. We don’t need to know every detail of Scripture. But we must know the One from whom Scripture comes.
Sometimes we jokingly refer to “submarine Adventists.” On the Sabbath, they surface. On Sunday, they dive back down, remain invisible throughout the week, and don’t resurface until the next Sabbath. This image is funny, but it also raises a serious question: Am I perhaps sometimes a “submarine Adventist” myself?
Faith is not a weekly appointment. It is a life that remains constantly rooted in Christ.
Seven Ways to Grow Deeper Roots
How can our roots grow deeper in everyday life? The following steps aren’t new. We’re probably all familiar with them. But in the daily grind, it’s precisely the simple things that are easily forgotten.
1. Spend time with Jesus
A few minutes of genuine fellowship can be more valuable than a great deal of knowledge gained from reading.
My alarm clock rings very early in the morning. I’ve even bought an alarm clock with a snooze button that gives me ten extra minutes. And then I press it: ten more minutes, ten more minutes, ten more minutes. Eventually, time runs out because I have to get to work on time.
What I don’t want to skip, however, is my morning prayer. It’s essential for me before I walk out the door—even if it’s brief. Sometimes I just pick up the Bible, read a single passage, and reflect on it briefly. Often, that one verse is more valuable to me than an entire page I would have just skimmed over.
It’s not the quantity that matters most. What’s crucial is a genuine encounter with Jesus.
2. Taking God’s Word to Heart
The Bible is not just meant to be studied, but to be taken to heart. As we read, we can ask ourselves: What does this passage reveal to me about Jesus? How does it change my life? What is God calling me to do today?
God’s Word isn’t meant to merely fill our minds. It’s meant to reach our hearts and shape our lives.
3. Prayer as Connection, Not as a Duty
Prayer is not a performance. If someone prays for three or five hours, that can be wonderful. But the length of time does not make one person better than another.
Jesus tells the story of the tax collector who beats his breast in the temple and simply prays, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Standing next to him is the Pharisee, who lists his good deeds and compares himself to others. An honest, humble prayer leads deeper than religious pride.
Of course, a set time for prayer can be helpful. A good habit sometimes takes effort to establish until it becomes second nature. But we do not pray just to check a box. We pray to be connected to God. Every sincere prayer helps our roots grow deeper.
4. Living God’s Will Out of Love
We obey not out of fear or under pressure, but because Christ dwells in our hearts. Love changes our attitude. God’s will is then not a burden imposed on us from the outside, but a path we want to walk with Jesus.
5. Seeking a Supportive Community
A single tree rarely stands alone. A forest protects one another. In the church, too, there are people who, like strong trees, shield others from the wind and provide support.
Fellowship sometimes requires sacrifice. On Sabbath afternoons, after lunch, I’d sometimes rather take a nap than visit someone or go out again. But when we spend time with fellow believers, come home, and say, “What a wonderful Sabbath,” we recognize the value of this fellowship. We would not have experienced this blessing on our own.
Church life, fellow believers, and mutual encouragement help us form roots that are both deep and far-reaching.
6. Be Faithful in Small Things
Standing firm in the last days begins today: in our daily lives, in our words, and in our interactions with our neighbors, our family, and our spouse.
We can also make even our most ordinary decisions together with God. For example, if I want to buy something for my hobby, I can ask: Do I really need this? Does this purchase make sense? Or am I driven by selfishness, pride, or the desire to own something special?
It’s not about denying ourselves necessary or helpful things. The question is: Do I make my decisions together with God, or do I decide solely based on what I currently like and what seems practical?
Faithfulness grows through small, everyday decisions.
7. Awaiting the Second Coming with Hope
Our daily prayer may be:Lord Jesus, keep me close to You.
In the end, what matters will not be how much I knew, but to whom I was connected. Anticipating the Second Coming should therefore not fill us with fear. It should draw us closer to Jesus and fill our hearts with hope.
It Is Not the Storm That Decides
Dear brothers and sisters, storms will come. The world is becoming more turbulent, and prophecies are being fulfilled. God calls us to grow deeper roots.
If Christ is our source, if His Word is our nourishment, and if our trust grows deeper, then let the winds of the end times come—we will stand firm.
For it is not the storm that decides. The roots decide.
That is my prayer for all of us.
Amen.
