PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Mark 13:24-27
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“People will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.” (Mark 13:26)
This is a vision of how this stage of human history will end.
There will be a climax of evil, when the whole universe will seem to collapse.
Which means, we haven’t seen anything yet; things will slowly go from bad to worse.
It seems we are seeing signs of it now already… so fasten your seatbelts.
But Jesus is urging his followers to keep looking up, to keep waiting for him.
This is like The Lord of the Rings, when Gandalf leaves before the battle of Helms Deep.
He gives them hope: ‘at first light, on the fifth day, at dawn… look to the east!’
Gandalf comes to the rescue, and evil is routed, and the king’s people are saved.
The angels gather the elect “from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.” (Mark 13:27)
This means the living and the dead, those that survived but also all those that died.
The victory of Jesus at the end is not too late for those who have died.
Jesus, the humble son of man (Daniel 7:1-14) will beat all evil, including death.
For those who know and feel the weight of evil and darkness, this is a great hope.
Through all times of distress, ‘look to the east’, this Jesus will come!
PRAYER
Lord, right now I am feeling the distress rising – with this pandemic, with the coming of winter, with concerns relating to mental health and the struggling economy, and with political tensions and polarization… help me to keep looking for you!
The day will come when Jesus returns in all his glory. The universe will be shaken – as Jesus enters end and shakes up everything – and establishes the new heaven and earth. There have been times when I’ve that now would be a good time! But you know better Lord. Hold me until that day – I’m looking!
This world is in a mess.
Fear, a new normal, rumours and more rumours.
Dark times.
Yet all is not lost. God is in charge and He will redeem His creation.
Today God is first as He is every day. One day He will redeem and restore His people and His world. I just need to keep my eyes on Jesus this day and every day until He comes.
O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
2
Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
O’er us sin no more hath dominion
For more than conqu’rors we are!
3
His Word shall not fail you, He promised;
Believe Him and all will be well;
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!