It will lead to an opportunity

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Scripture

And He said, “See to it that you are not misled; for many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not go after them.
(Luke 21:8 NASB)
“When you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately.”
(Luke 21:9 NASB)
“It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony.
(Luke 21:13 NASB)

Observation

Don't we all love opportunities? It sounds like something really good that may be in store for us, but when Jesus describes the opportunity, it may drive people away. What he is saying here is in stark contrast with what many believers would like to think will happen in the future. Jesus is talking about times when things are difficult. He is saying that there will be those who try to divert peoples' attention away from him. They will try to have us believe that they are the Messiah, or that they are pointing the way to him who will return. There will be many false prophets, and we have experienced those in our day. He also says there will be all kinds of major world-wide disturbances in the forms of wars, earthquakes, etc. However, here is part of the message. He says that it is necessary for these things to happen but that does not mean that the end is going to happen immediately. Rather, they are just signs but hang on there's a reason for all of this. The reasons are not so that we can calculate a day or time when we are going to be removed from the earth, but rather, that we have an opportunity to share our testimony. Adversity leads to opportunity!

Application

The message here is powerful for followers of Jesus Christ. Yes, we have the hope of a future with him, but at the same time, we are messengers in the kingdom of God which is already here on this earth. Our hope is not to wait around to be removed from this earth, but rather, to engage in what is happening here on this earth. Yes, to engage in the results of wars, famines, and earthquakes, for these are opportunities for us to share our witness and our testimony about him. Too often our focus is on ourselves. We want to leave this place and we are longing for something better. Yes, that will happen, but our longing should be to be able to be his messengers and servants here in his kingdom. We are his foot soldiers and we are to march into the adversarial situations bathed in prayer so that God would give us the very words of testimony which he wants us to speak in those circumstances.

Prayer

Lord, please help me to make the most of every opportunity that I have to share you with this world around me. Amen.

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