THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 24:32-35
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (Matthew 24:35)
What does Jesus mean that “heaven and earth will pass away”?
We understand ‘heaven’ as where God lives, but this is a modern misconception.
God created the heavens (the sky and space) and the earth, its all part of creation.
God does not exist within creation, He is at work in it, but is beyond it.
Jesus is saying that this universe is not eternal, it is finite, perishable, limited.
He has been describing how sin, death and hell will unravel life in this world.
He is urging His followers to listen to Him, because what He says will be forever true.
As a Jesus follower, in a sin-messed world, I need to cling to Jesus and His message.
Jesus’ message is love – God’s enduring love for us, and the hope of life in loving God and others.
Our world is unraveling, hatred and selfishness and violence are spinning out of control.
Political turmoil and folly, mass shootings, opioid crises, extremism, family dysfunctionality…
Do not despair; as a Jesus follower cling all the more to the grace and truth of Jesus’ words.
Love God, love people, and all the more when the world stops doing that.
May the tragedy of today’s news increase our hope in God’s love, and cause us to love even more!
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, I am restored, forgiven and free by Your love. This sin-messed world will not last forever, but Your love will. Help me to build bridges of love as people build walls of hate.