Sign of the end of the age

Prayer Practice

Breath Prayer – Take 2-3 minutes today to pray a simple breath prayer. Get somewhere quiet and relaxing. Breathe in deeply, and then breathe out fully. As you breathe in, ask God to fill you with His presence, grace, love, peace, etc. Consider using the list of spiritual fruit in Galatians 5:22-23. As you breathe out, offer to God the things you need Him to take from you – sin, doubt, shame, anxiety, fear, etc. Pray this way for just a few minutes, trusting God to work, and then begin reading today’s Scripture.

DAILY READING

Luke 21

REFLECTION

Mystifying, Death-Defying Power

 by Kelsey Bacon

This teaching that Jesus gives on the destruction of the temple and the end times definitely provides us with a lot to digest, a lot to process. It's interesting to think about the disciples in this moment, listening to Jesus speak. No doubt they expected that all of this would happen within their lifetime. The destruction of the temple, which happened in 70 CE, did actually happen during the lifetime of some of Jesus' followers. And even the passage that talks about persecution and what the disciples will endure because of their faith--those things definitely happened during the disciples' lifetime. But imagine hearing these words about the end times, about the earthquakes and the famines and the plagues, about war and anguish, about heavenly signs, and thinking that all of that would take place soon and in some short years time, the Son of Man would return to Earth to redeem the world.

And now, here we are, 2000 years later, and Jesus hasn't yet returned. Have there been earthquakes and famines and plagues? Yes. War and anguish? Persecution for faith in Jesus? Yes. But the Son of Man hasn't come back yet. And if this passage wasn't written to warn us, or the disciples, of what would come in our lifetime, then what is it for? What can we glean from this?

There are many points you could take from this passage, many things to teach. But I want to focus on just two:

1. God is powerful. This passage depicts a lot of chaos and a lot of human power struggles, but over all of it is the power of God. He is the one who pulls the strings of destiny; he is the one who made and will remake the Earth; he is the one on whose time our world turns. Despite the struggle humankind has always had for power and control, God is the one truly in control. And the end times will demonstrate this infinite, awe-inspiring, mystifying, death-defying power.

2. We are powerful through Christ. At multiple points in this passage, Jesus gives power to those listening. We don't attain the power on our own, but we are given power through Christ to withstand the chaos and destruction that is to come. Jesus tells the disciples that, although persecution is coming, "you will bear testimony to me. Make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict" (v. 13-15). Jesus promises the power of testimony, the power of his Spirit in us to provide us the tools we need to stand firm in the faith and share that faith with the world. In verses 34-36, Jesus warns those listening to be on guard, to pray, to not let their hearts be weighed down by the anxieties of the world but put their hope in him. This is the power we have in Jesus, to resist the world and follow the only one who brings true life.

Though this passage depicts many horrible things, some that have already happened, some that are yet to come, I have hope because of the power of Jesus. Not just that I will live eternally with him, but also that I can endure what this world throws at me because I have him, and he is powerful.

Reflect Further: Pray and ask God to show you his power in your life. Reflect on God's power, not just in your life but also in the world, in the universe. Ask God to give you strength to endure the struggles of this world.

Watch.

Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.  Luke 21:36

I’ve never been one to get caught up in end-times speculation.  Jesus’ second coming and the terrible tribulations that precede it get closer with every passing day, of course, but believers historically have not done particularly well interpreting the seasons, let alone the dates.  That said, I look around at the world today and can’t help but wonder if we're feeling the early breezes of an apocalyptic front, the likes of which have never been.

One thing is for certain: Christ will return.  And as that day marches unstoppably toward us, it seems to me we need to avoid two errors.

Jesus specifically warned us not to go about in spiritual oblivion.  “Be careful,” he said, “or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxiety of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.”  His advice?  “Watch.” 

Conversely, it is thought that some in the early church had quit their jobs, idly passing time as they waited for Jesus’ second coming.  They were so focused on his return – and so convinced in its imminence – that they rendered themselves useless for their here and now. 

I think the wisdom of Nehemiah applies here.  Returning to Jerusalem from exile, his task at hand was to rebuild the wall around the city.  But facing forceful opposition, Nehemiah struck a healthy balance of diligence and preparedness.  Let’s read from his diary: “Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked.”

So we remain focused on our calling, even as we remain ready for Jesus’ return.  We don’t carry physical weapons, of course, so what does readiness look like for us?  In Luke 21, he has told us: “Watch out that you are not deceived ... Do not be frightened ... Make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves ... Be careful ... Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

Oh, and one more thing.  “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

[The daily reading is Luke 21:25-38.  To read Jesus’ discussion about the end times in Luke 21, click here.]