Chapter 24
3As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately.
“Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your
coming and of the end of the age?”
4Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in
my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6You will hear of
wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must
happen, but the end is still to come. 7Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom
against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8All
these are the beginning of birth pains.
9”Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be
hated by all nations because of me. 10At that time many will turn away from the
faith and will betray and hate each other, 11and many false prophets will appear
and deceive many people. 12Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of
most will grow cold, 13but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14And
this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to
all nations, and then the end will come.
Meditation:
1. Think about the fact that Jesus Christ will return to this earth. Does this
promise make me happy? Or is it like a danger to me? Make a list of what I
might lose on that great day. Then make a list of what I will gain. Why is it
hard for some Christians to believe that Jesus will return?
2. Imagine that Jesus will return in a month’s time. What would be different in
my church? What would I do?
3. Let this question linger in my heart for a while. Wait for God to show me
how I may get ready for Jesus’ coming.
Personal Note:
Jesus Christ's coming is imminent (He will and must come back, but the time is unknown to all). Our death is imminent too. Everyone on earth will have to give an account to God for the lives we lived. There are dangers, nations against nations, war, famines, false prophets. Jesus Christ's return is to restore creation to God's good design. I feel afraid because there would be tough trials and persecutions before Jesus Christ's 2nd coming. I know that we will gain eternal life for those who put their faith in Jesus Christ. If I have not accepted Jesus Christ as personal Lord and savior, I would lose out on being with God forever. Following God has a cost though, I would lose out on worldly things.
If Jesus is to return very soon, how would my church be different? Personally, I am going to do the things I am already doing. I expect Jesus Christ coming any minute and I am to prepare myself by sharing the love of Christ to people around us.
How may I get ready for Jesus Christ's second coming?
As a believer of Christ, the 2nd coming of Jesus is the greatest event I look forward to. I would have to confess that this is something that seems remote and abstract. I would imagine this is like preparing for my wedding day later this year (this is just as a personal comparison and Jesus coming again is beyond comparison).
For our wedding, we pray, plan, count the cost, read and learn about married life, gather people to help, pray, seek counsel, dream about what that day is like...
For preparation of seeing Jesus Christ, we pray and cultivate relationship as guided by the Spirit, plan for growth in discipleship, count the cost of discipleship, read and learn God's Word, fellowship and seek brothers and sisters for support and encouragement, pray more, seek mentors and guides, and meditate on what's like to be with Jesus Christ forever
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