Good morning!
Text: Luke 19-21; Ecclesiastes 4
Have you ever met someone who’s favorite pastime is to play “ain’t it awful”? Every bit of news or encounter with life is declared to prove that things are “awful.” In Luke 21, Jesus describes conditions as they will develop on the eve of His return. It is a time of great troubles – wars, earthquakes, diseases and famines. It is also a time of intensifying persecution of His Church. Much of what He says sounds like the news we read every day. Finally, Jesus Himself will appear, “coming in a cloud with great power and glory.” In 21:28, Jesus says,
“Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
It is easy to take the current trends in our nation, our state, our neighbors and in the Church and think, “Ain’t it awful?” And that would be true. But to be discouraged would not be the right response. The signs around us serve as a reminder that the great and glorious day of the Lord is getting ever more near. That day will be wonderful! And this day, we ought to hear His voice as He tells us to “straighten up and raise your heads.” Rather than “Ain’t it awful?” the cry of our hearts should be, “He will be here soon and it will be wonderful!”
in Him, Mike