The End - Luke 21
Jesus was in Jerusalem every day the week prior to his crucifixion. He would leave town at evening, spend the night in the Garden of Gethsemane and then return to teach the gathered crowds each day. In this passage Jesus was talking to them about signs of the end of the age. He told them about wars, natural disasters like earthquakes, famines and humanity filled with fear and anxiety. He told His followers that they would be hunted down like dogs by religious people, betrayed by family and friends and some of them would die because of it. "All men will hate you because of Me."
And yet these troubling times would be reason to rejoice and celebrate. These "signs" would be indicators that "the Kingdom of God is near." In other words, when things got worse than ever before, then they could be sure that their deliverance was near. The darkness is always darkest right before the dawn.
I think that is true on an eternal scale. I do think that global crises will envelope humanity to the point where only GOD will be able to rescue us. Are we on that road? I have no idea. It sure looks that way to me.
But I also think this is true on a personal level. When life becomes unbearably difficult, that is the moment to look upward and know that my Deliverer is near. And so I learn to endure and wait until His promise comes true. And it always comes true.
A powerful message Jesus was presenting to His followers then & to us, His followers now, is simple - Don't get comfortable in this world. It's not home. GOD created you & me to live in eternity. Everything in this world is far, far, far, far short of the best that GOD offers us. And one day, His best will become a reality for us.