Reflecting on Luke 21:7-9“For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.” (Luke 21:8)
I have never met someone who actually claimed to be Jesus or the Messiah.
(But I do know of one who just posted a picture of themself as Jesus).
And too often people follow human leaders as if they were a kind of Messiah.
Jesus knows this will happen, and pleads with people not to fall for it.
I have met many people who insisted that ‘the time is near!’
In fairness, it has been 2000 years since Jesus first came, so it could be near.
But I am old enough to have lived through several predicted world endings.
And people who think our world is bad now do not know human history.
Comparatively, we are living in a bubble of comfort, at least here where I am.
When I see what is happening in places like Haiti, or Gaza, or Iran, or _______.
I can imagine these people desperately praying for the end to be near.
Though Jesus was speaking about that time specifically, His words still speak.
I hear Him saying to expect things to get worse, and to stay focused on Him.
Don’t look for other political or religious saviours: keep your eyes on Jesus!
Focus on and follow Jesus, ESPECIALLY when the world is falling apart.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, right now I feel our world is falling apart, and I see the church as messed up as the world. Now more than ever we need to spend time focusing on You, and following Your way of being and living and loving in a messed up world!