- Today we share with you a 3-minute read on how Jesus asked us to prepare for the end times.
- Aren’t we glad Jesus didn’t leave us unprepared for tough times? Let’s dig in:
And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them.
But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.” ~ Luke 21:8-9
- Dear friend, Jesus did not leave His disciples (including you and me) unprepared for the difficult years ahead.
- He warned about a few things: deceptions (v8), false messiahs (v8), wars & commotions (v9)…
- World wars (v10), great earthquakes, famines, pestilence (deadly diseases that cause epidemics or pandemics), fearful sights, and great signs from heaven (v11).
- In the end, Jesus also promised that He would return with power and great glory to redeem them (v25-28).
- These warnings and promises to the disciples also apply to us as we look forward to Jesus’ return.
- How do we then prepare through these warnings and how do we wait for His promised return?
“But be on guard, so that your hearts are not weighed down and depressed with the giddiness of debauchery and the nausea of self-indulgence and the worldly worries of life, and then that day [when the Messiah returns] will not come on you suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon all those who live on the face of all the earth. (Luke 21:34-35)
- Jesus said we should be on guard (alert and ready to respond to possible danger, threats, problems, etc.)
- Why? He says that if we are not on guard, our hearts will get weighed down and we will get depressed. [Currently, ~5% of the world’s population suffers from depression].
- Tragedy always produces strong emotions (eg. depression); and people resort to drinking and self-indulgence (pleasure-seeking habits) to escape this depression.
I have met and counselled many who are depressed about these worries of life. And I’m not talking about just unbelievers, Christians are included. Please don’t joke with depression.
- You see, Jesus said this is a trap that will come to ALL who live on the surface of the earth.
- The thing about a trap is that if you are not watching out to avoid it, you will be caught in it.
- So He says that being attentive, having self-control and praying for strength and ability, will keep us free from worry and being weighed down.
But keep alert at all times [be attentive and ready], praying that you may have the strength and ability [to be found worthy and] to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man [at His coming].” (v36)
- Jesus said we have to keep constant watch for His return by these methods.
- Although 2,000 years have passed since He spoke these words, their truth remains: Jesus is coming again, and we need to watch and be spiritually fit. (Please check Watch and Pray!)
This will also mean working faithfully at the tasks God has given us (Preparation Or Calculation – what do we do?). Dear friend, let’s not allow our minds and spirits to be dulled by careless living or the foolish pursuit of pleasure.
- Let us not let the cares of this life weigh us down (Read Matt 6:33-34)
- Be alert, exercise self-control, be in prayer and be ready to move at God’s command.
Interestingly, a few days after telling the disciples to watch and pray that they might escape persecution (v36), Jesus Himself asked the Father to spare Him the agonies of the cross, if that was God’s will (22:41-42).
Dear friend, it is not normal to want to suffer, but as Jesus’ disciples, we must be willing to suffer if by doing so we can help build God’s Kingdom.
Losing, suffering, sacrificing and dying are appointments for the disciple of Jesus. It is like receiving an appointment letter of what your job entails. These four things are in every Christian’s appointment letter.
- We can’t exhaust this in detail, but we have two wonderful promises to help us as and when we suffer for God’s sake:
- (1) God will always be with us (Matthew 28:20), and
- (2) He will one day rescue us and give us eternal life (Revelation 21:1-4). Heyy… you’re blessed!
