Persevere (Luke 21:34-38)
Luke’s record of Jesus’ teaching about the future ends in a way the other evangelists don’t. Where Mark and Matthew record stories and parables, in Luke Jesus simply gives a stern warning.
“Watch yourselves!” “Stay awake!” “Pray (for) strength… to stand!” The end will be a big deal. But we also know (and Luke seems to stress this uniquely) that it will take time. The danger for the believer has always been complacency. This is why the New Testament continually stresses the need to persevere. When Jesus tarries, we need to make all the more effort to stand firm in the faith. To not give in to the idea that we have time to take God seriously later, and to enjoy our own agendas until then.
The truth is, that while the end of time could come unexpectedly, it is even more ture that our own individual ends are even more unannounced. Jesus speaks of signs that will warn believers that the end is near, but each of us stand on eternity’s threshold individually. The fool in Jesus’ parable thought he had many years to enjoy God’s blessings, but little did he know that his life would end that very night.
More than any other aspect of the Olivette Discourse, we need to heed Jesus’ final statements. Remain awake in the reality that we live for Jesus every day.
“Watch yourselves!” “Stay awake!” “Pray (for) strength… to stand!” The end will be a big deal. But we also know (and Luke seems to stress this uniquely) that it will take time. The danger for the believer has always been complacency. This is why the New Testament continually stresses the need to persevere. When Jesus tarries, we need to make all the more effort to stand firm in the faith. To not give in to the idea that we have time to take God seriously later, and to enjoy our own agendas until then.
The truth is, that while the end of time could come unexpectedly, it is even more ture that our own individual ends are even more unannounced. Jesus speaks of signs that will warn believers that the end is near, but each of us stand on eternity’s threshold individually. The fool in Jesus’ parable thought he had many years to enjoy God’s blessings, but little did he know that his life would end that very night.
More than any other aspect of the Olivette Discourse, we need to heed Jesus’ final statements. Remain awake in the reality that we live for Jesus every day.
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