Our grandson drops his arms and ducks his chin. His despair comes from missing a soccer goal, a basketball shot gone wrong, or a race not won. His feet drag. He is disheartened. Unfortunately, I see myself in that dispirited droop of the shoulders, bowed head, and defeated shuffle of feet.
It’s not just myself, but in many ways it’s us. The body of Christ half-way giving up, half-way dragging itself off the court. While in the process, we take sides and blame one another.
“But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.” (Luke 21:34 NKJV)
Since Jesus left this earth, there have been rumblings of readiness. We await His return with a stage seeming so very ready. So close. “He’s coming,” we think. “It can’t be long now.” Life is rough. Times feel hard. Discouragements put us into a sulk. We long for relief, because the world is mad without Jesus, and we are ready to run.
Jesus talked about what would happen someday, after His death. The pre-birthed Church, needed to know what to expect. Followers of Christ, needed to know how to truly prepare. Jesus wanted them not to just get through the turmoil, but to persevere strong in faith to the end. He deeply desires that for us too.
“For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them.” (Luke 21:8 NKJV)
“Followings after” are everywhere. Especially in our media saturated world. They captivate attention and loyalty. We read books that promise inward change. We hear teachings which deviate from Scripture. We see pledges mimicking Truth but denying it.
“And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.” (Luke 21:9 ESV)
Nations and kingdoms will be in conflict. Natural disasters will be cataclysmic. People will suffer famine, terrifying signs will be in the sky, in the waters, and plagues will trouble the world. And the church, the body of Christ will suffer.
Jesus predicts all of these things, but in it, He says, “This will be your opportunity to bear witness.” (Luke 21:13 ESV)
We see the signs as time moves ahead. Troubles of the world bow the Church with heavy weight. Scandals rock the body, members deny the Savior they once claimed to worship, and we, the Church, are, oh so tempted, to slink off the court, curl up, and lick our wounds. Because this isn’t what we signed up for. This isn’t what we expected.
But, Jesus says, “Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:28 ESV)
The same word for “straighten up” was used in the story of the bent woman Jesus healed in Luke 13. Because of her infirmity, she could not “unbend herself.” Her eyes only took in the strip of ground under her.
The church at this time in history, needs to unbend itself. We need to look at the One who came and died for us because He loves us that much. We need to learn all we can about this Lover of our Souls from His Word so that our hearts burn to see Him, to look up with expectancy because we want to be with Him. Because our hearts long to worship Him.
We look up because there is a harvest of souls who don’t yet know the hope and love of Jesus. We need to unbend ourselves and focus on people all over this world desperate for a Savior not of this world but of another.
Throughout generations, Christians have faced “perilous times.” Surely during the reign of one ruler after another, in nation after nation, kingdom upon kingdom, Jesus followers have felt the end times upon them. They’ve cried out, “Come Jesus Come.”
Perhaps Jesus’ return will be in our lifetime, perhaps not. But today is our opportunity to “bear witness.” While the stage is being set, we can’t just slump off the field. He will return when the time is right. Now is “bear witness time.” There is work to do.
When life fills with darkness and sorrow, when we become weary of well-doing, when we begin to hear outside-angry voices shouting from within ourselves, we must stop and raise our heads. When the picture appears at our feet, small and dismal, Jesus calls to the Church, “Look upward.” “Square your shoulders.” “Bear Witness.” Redemption draws closer.
“Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” (Luke 21:27 NKJV)
My grandson, all bent out of shape, with his little head hanging low, saw the shuffle of his own little feet. Until he looked up.
Then, he met his father’s eyes, and they took on an entirely different view. His dad’s voice from the sideline encouraged with, “keep going, get in the game, you can do it.”
Every day closer.
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