Thursday, December 13, 2012

GOSPEL: Luke 21:25-36

Reading:
And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;   Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.   And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.   And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.   And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;   When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.   So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.   Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.   Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.   And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.   For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.   Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Commentary:
When nature itself is in upheaval, when there are tornadoes, tsunamis, hurricanes, eruptions, etc., such are God's warning signs the world will soon come to an end. They are also a foretaste of His wrath upon the impenitent, yet meant only to help bring about repentance.  If Christ returns and we are found living wickedly in impenitence and unbelief, the Last Day will truly take us like a snare, unexpectedly.  Yet we need not fear this Last Day if we put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Romans 8:1 says, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."  The Gospel teaches us that by the cross God reconciled Himself unto the whole world "not imputing their trespasses unto them."  "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man."

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