You can sense the end of the “church year” is in sight. You can tell that the celebration of “Christ the King” is right around the corner. Christ the King is coming… “A National Day of Thanksgiving” is looming and that means that “Advent” cannot be far behind.
The lessons sound “a bit foreboding.” When the language of the gospel switches and changes to talk about nation against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, earthquakes, famines, plagues and dreadful portents in the heavens above, you know that something (Biblically speaking) is up!
Calamities happen.
And for the record, “No,” this has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the events of this last week, no matter what your political bent is.
Luke’s gospel was being written somewhere between 80-85 of the Common Era. …Or, about 50 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth…
The reference here is to the destruction of Jerusalem and the total annihilation of the second Temple. As you well know, it was wiped out by the Romans in the year 70 CE.
It seems to me that Jesus is the originator of the ubiquitous mantra, “keep calm and carry on…”
There is a teaching here, worthy of noting…and a teaching that we still hear being taught to this very day!
“Stay calm!” even if it seems that the sky is falling…
Jesus says, “No matter what, do not be terrified!”
No big deal. Just go about your day as usual, while darting through war-torn streets filled with revolutionaries and sick people…
Just live your life as normal as you can…live your life as usual. Don’t be afraid, do not give it…
And he says this with good reason – because of his belief and his knowledge that “God is in control.”
Everything happens for a reason.
There is a time for everything. There is a season for everything. The pendulum swings back and forth…to the right and to the left. It always has.
Life is not always a bed of roses. The unthinkable and the unimaginable does happen…it does sometimes occur.
We know that Jesus’ words refer to events that have already occurred, but the truth of the matter is that we’re still surrounded by threats, and we are still people who listen to and follow Jesus.
Life is not always pleasant. We get that!
Have some faith. Even the smallest amount is enough. Everything you need will be provided…
And of course, we know what people do with scripture like this:
They blow them all out of proportion…they get all whacked out!
They start hoarding canned goods. They build up their personal arsenals. They create their survival kits and their get-away packs…they stockpile necessities…all in preparation for whatever is to come…
There was no command by Jesus to build a fallout shelter or a bomb shelter, no command to build an ark.
Just “three” rather “straight-forward” and “simple commands”…
Do not be led astray.
Do not be terrified.
Do not prepare a defense.
It almost sounds like – Jesus’ own words to himself as he faced the cross and crucifixion in Jerusalem.
Luke was not written primarily for the 21st century Christians anxious about their future…but instead…was written for some first century Christians who were a beleaguered and persecuted minority under the thumb of Rome.
Luke says the answer is seen in Jesus. Trust God as he did. Take things as they come. Do not blow them out of proportion. Stop getting all wigged out!
God is in control and always has been.
He’s got this!
There is nothing for us to be concerned about…nothing for us to be worried about…nothing for us to do.
Except, to trust and have faith.
My God is bigger than your immediate crisis. Don’t fret this. Do not be terrified or scared!
My God has got this. My God is in control. I have faith. I trust.
We will get through this together. My God and me!