What Will Replace What We Have Become Accustomed To?
Good Morning Friends,
We kind of get attached to earthly things and ways but scripture suggest that this is not a good thing for they will all rust or turn to dust. Even our places of worship will change. And that brings us to today’s question about what will happen if things go from bad to worse. What Will Replace What We Have Become Accustomed To?
Scripture: The Lord said to me, “See, I have begun to give Sihon and his land over to you. Begin now to take possession of his land.” So when Sihon came out against us, he and all his people for battle at Jahaz, the Lord our God gave him over to us; and we struck him down, along with his offspring and all his people. At that time we captured all his towns, and in each town we utterly destroyed men, women, and children. We left not a single survivor. Only the livestock we kept as spoil for ourselves, as well as the plunder of the towns that we had captured. From Aroer on the edge of the Wadi Arnon (including the town that is in the wadi itself) as far as Gilead, there was no citadel too high for us. The Lord our God gave everything to us. You did not encroach, however, on the land of the Ammonites, avoiding the whole upper region of the Wadi Jabbok as well as the towns of the hill country, just as the Lord our God had charged.
Deuteronomy 2:31-45 (NRSV)
When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.” They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them. “When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.
Luke 21:5-11 (NRSV)
Message: I suppose things could get better but there is a brick wall we can run into. For every so often we are confronted with all the uncertainty that arises from slap up the side of the head. And even though we have had some successes what looms has the look to be the most evil of days. One hundred years ago people wondered if the fierce battles of World War One represented the Apocalyptic Armageddon. Then came World War Two. Now we are in another century with new failures and conquests and an unleashing of terrorism where we least expect it. We think that maybe the end is near, but Jesus tells us in a reassuring voice that the timing is up to the Father. Yes, sometimes the world seems to be falling apart and somehow God pulls it back together again. Some things last and others do not. It depends on the internal integrity more so than outward appearances. We need to be optimistic but honest about the future. We need to be tending the Temple in each of us. Interestingly today’s Gospel text comes right after the story of the Widow’s mite. The picture is of the corruption of the Temple from the inside out. And forty years from its first telling most of Jerusalem would be destroyed. So, Jesus paints a picture of what his disciples would have to face and it is not a pretty picture. So too we today are to be obedient to Jesus’ instruction. We are not to be anxious. We are not to look for quick fixes. We are not to become defensive. We are to be ready to witness with our words and actions and life to what God has done and who we believe Jesus to be. We are to lay a firm foundation of our faith in our belief that Jesus is who he says he is…the love of God to save the world.
Pray we take heed of Jesus’ directives in preparation for difficult times even though we hope for the best. Pray we stand in the promise of God’s love no matter what the world has laid before us. Pray we not be led astray by false promises. Pray we not be terrified in the face of difficulties. Pray we prepare our defense in advance. Pray we believe in the sovereignty of God and not be fooled by false Messiahs. Pray we not be terrified even though the future is not always bright. Pray we realize that that though we try to recruit God for our battles that God reserves His strength for the obedient. Pray we have words of wisdom when facing difficult times. Pray we realize that it is not always easy being a Christian. Pray we risk to improve. Pray we realize that vengeance belongs to the Lord.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 