Snippet from Sunday's Message, November 17, 2013

A Snippet from Sunday's Message 11/17/13

Luke 21:5-19

            Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, "As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down."

            "Teacher," they asked, "when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?"

              He replied: "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not follow them. When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away."

              Then he said to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.  But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name.  This will result in your being witnesses to them.

              But 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.

              You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death.  All men will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. By standing firm you will gain life.

          In ancient China, the people wanted security against the barbaric hordes to the north, so they built the Great Wall.  It was so high they believed no one could climb over it and thought nothing could break it down. They settled back to enjoy their security.  During the first hundred years of the wall's existence, China was invaded three times.  Not once did the barbaric hordes break down the wall or climb over it. Each time, they bribed a gatekeeper and then marched right through the gates.  The Chinese were so busy relying on walls of stone they forgot to teach integrity.

          There is a way to secure our future, but it won't be from what we can build or prepare for ourselves.  The Great Wall of China is a magnificent structure, but it was a cause for misplaced trust.  In Luke chapter 21 the disciples marvel at the Temple's magnificence, but Jesus tells them there will be a day when it will topple.  That was unimaginable to them, yet in 70 AD Jerusalem was decimated and the temple destroyed by Roman soldiers. 

          The disciples asked what would be the signs of the end times.  Every generation, at some time in its history, has thought its time was the end of time.  Jesus said there would be signs, but much would happen before the end actually arrived.  There is a way to prepare for the future, but doomsday-prepping (a la the Discovery Channel) is not the answer. It would be misplaced faith.  Jesus tells us that we must be alert and prayerful.  There will be false prophets and deception causing even more misplaced faith.  We must know what we believe and who we have our faith in. 

          We are not to rely on our genius either.  Jesus says that when, not if, we are taken before authorities we should not rely on our own wisdom but are to trust the Holy Spirit to give us the words to speak.  In such a way we will be witnesses for God.

          Chapter 13 of the Gospel of Mark has the more full account of Jesus' sermon on this topic.  Luke's version, however, has its own instructive emphasis.  Neither gospel writer sugarcoats the cataclysmic events that will befall the people of God, but Luke highlights these catastrophes as opportunities for witnessing. 

          Paul Benjamin writes, "After Dwight Eisenhower graduated from West Point, his commanding officer wanted to give him a commission in the Coast Artillery. Eisenhower refused the commission because, he said, it 'provided a numbing series of routine chores,' taking care of 16-inch-guns which 'had never been fired against an invading force.' I often think we keep spending our days and weeks in the church, polishing big guns that are never fired."  (The Vision Splendid. Book Two: Being, pg. 98).  Let's be alert.  Let's be ready.  Your faith in God will not be misplaced.  He will use his people to bear witness to the truth of what shall stand the test of time. 

          Make up your mind not to worry.  By standing firm you will gain life.