THE WORD 4 ev 1

Today’s reading is Luke 21 (click here for link).

We’ve discussed similar texts before on this blog—the parallel texts, Matthew 24 and Mark 13. All of them record these “end time” predictions that Jesus made shortly before his crucifixion. But what exactly is the “end” he is predicting?

Blended together here are two endings separated by 2000 years of time and still counting. The first end was 7O A.D. when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and permanently dispersed the Jews to the ends of the Earth. Merged into this vision of the end of Jerusalem, Jesus also speaks of an even greater end time, one that is still to come—His second coming and the end of the world as we know it.

Jesus words tell us nothing that experience hasn’t already taught us. There are certain things that we cannot avoid in this life and “endings” are one of them. All things that begin in this life will end in this life. It is inevitable. But the Christian embraces the Easter reality that life is not followed by end, but by more life—new life. In that certainty we persevere even when the “endings” of life come.

In this world we will never “feel” like doing anything, for the devil will always dangle the end time visions before our eyes. It will be tempting to say, “Why bother with marriage counseling?” “Why bother with a struggling ministry in a struggling church?” Why bother forgiving that repeat offender in my life?” “Why bother helping do…?” Why bother with…?” It won’t matter much if I don’t…”

In a world that crucifies everything that smacks of Christ, it is easy to see the end before we even begin and wonder “why bother?” But the answer to those questions is not sitting around and wondering “why”? Never pray about the “why.” Only pray “Lord let me do…”

I think Oswald Chambers put it best:

“There are certain things we must not pray about - moods, for instance. Moods never go by praying, moods go by kicking. A mood nearly always has its seat in the physical condition, not in the moral. It is a continual effort not to listen to the moods which arise from a physical condition, never submit to them for a second. We have to take ourselves by the scruff of the neck and shake ourselves, and we will find that we can do what we said we could not. The curse with most of us is that we won't.”

“By standing firm you will gain life”--Luke 21:19 The Christian life that perseveres till the end is one of incarnate spiritual nerve. Jesus says don’t worry about the end. Just seek after new beginnings. Seek ways to bring the beginnings of forgiveness, love, and eternal life into this world. In the end, with that as our goal, the end won’t matter.

Pastor Aaron