Be On Guard

Baptism in Ukraine -- back in the day. 

Scripture:

Luke 21:29   Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; ³⁰ as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. ³¹ So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. ³² Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. ³³ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Luke 21:34   “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, ³⁵ like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Luke 21:37   Every day he was teaching in the temple, and at night he would go out and spend the night on the Mount of Olives, as it was called. ³⁸ And all the people would get up early in the morning to listen to him in the temple.

Observation:

The disciples would soon face incredible hardships and difficulties. While they may have seen the parable as predicting the imminent end to history, it may have meant something entirely different — “the dawning of the age of church” (Neale, NBBC). I. Howard Marshall encourages us “not to indulge in speculation or to give way to despair. Since the judgment day will mean disaster for people who have yielded to temptation and sin, the disciples must pray for strength to remain faithful to the end”(NBC). In other words, the challenge is for disciples to be willing to suffer persecution for the sake of others who are rejecting the gospel — to give them more time to respond! Therefore, the disciple perseveres in righteousness, and remains “always ready for the Master’s return” (Strauss, ZIBBCNT).

Application:

This passage has been on my computer, with the devotional thought partially completed for a month now. I’ve had a crazy-busy schedule, but that’s not a good excuse. I’ll also confess that I’ve always struggled with “end-time” types of passages and peoples’ desires to interpret the times. Then, as I was pondering, Mr. P’s war began. Having lived in that part of the world, all of this is very personal and painful for me. Daily, I’m watching what is happening in the lives of my friends. I feel guilty when I’m living in peace and I see them struggling to find shelter, get to a border, or simply rejoice over a mattress on which to sleep. 

We don’t like these passages because we have embraced a Christianity where we celebrate good things by saying we are “blessed.” Somehow, whether we think we have or not, we have adopted a gospel of prosperity. We anticipate that there will be good things that will happen to us if we follow Jesus Christ. Only, that’s not what Jesus promised. He actually predicted these seasons, and said that in the midst of them, we were to be alert at all times. He said that we were to pray for strength - to escape! That has new meaning these days as I watch friends trying to escape the daily poundings of their neighborhoods. Even the escape is a challenge as the journey itself has become dangerous. Far too many roadblocks, and hazardous corridors to travel. 

There is an older devotional written by FB Meyer, “Our Daily Homily.” Writing on this passage he has three reminders for us that help us through. We are to be on our guard and continually watching. 

* Watch in the season of festivity. We have seasons of life that are joyful. Enjoy them and celebrate, but don’t get drunk in this time, or you will not be able to be on guard. Be on guard. 

* Watch in hours of stress and anxiety. “These will come between the soul and Christ, oppressing us with anxious care, leading us to think too much of the things which are seen and transient, and filling our hearts with dismay, as though the future would find us orphans and homeless, because the storm had swept away some few gatherings of the earth’s perishable stores. When stocks are falling, business declining, competition increasing- Watch!” Take the opportunity to pray earnestly and continually — standing and pleading before God as a child who never gives up. 

* Watch in seasons of tender love. We may look like we are tough on the outside, but when we get inside the shelter of our homes and we let our guard down, we may weep. Sometimes we weep for joy, and at others we weep in pain. But even in the tenderness of our heart, we are to be on guard and never cease to stand before our Savior (FB Meyer, Our Daily Homily).

So, we remain on guard, day in and day out — in times of war and in times of peace. Only in this way are we ready for the moment when our dear Savior returns to this earth. We are alert, and we pray for strength for each and every day. We persevere so that others may come to know our Lord. 

Prayer:

Lord, may you lead and guide every day of my life. In hours of darkness and despair, I seek your face, and pray for your deliverance. Help me to e steadfast and to be found righteous at the time of your return. Amen.