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A recent Time Magazine cover reads "Why We Worry About the Wrong Things." In the article it says: "We pride ourselves on being the only species that understands the concept of risk, yet we have a confounding habit of worry about mere possibilities while ignoring probabilities, building barricades against perceived dangers while leaving ourselves exposed to real ones."
In news I call this "fire alarm syndrome." The news tells us the sky is falling and so we live our lives in constant fear. Fear could be defined as the "irrational anticipation of harm from possibilities in the future." The problem, as Time points out, is that we focus on the possibilities while ignoring the probabilities.
How does that work in the life of a Christian? We worry about how we are going to make it, instead of realizing God said He would take care of our needs and focusing on asking Him; we worry about the evil in the world while ignoring the flesh in our own lives; we get all anxious about the coming disasters on the whole world that it paralyzes us from affecting our own world with the gospel.
So in Luke 21 Jesus tells His disciples a bit about both the near and far future-but in the midst of it sets them on a particular course of mind, heart, and action to quell fear and instill bold trust in Him and His plan for them and for us. We can learn valuable lessons about fighting the fear of the future in our own lives as well.
In chapter 21, Jesus gives some clues about incredible change that will happen soon in Israel, and a long way off to the earth. And with the change He gives warnings and encouragements-saying two things: "I am with you, and I am in control." Those are words we all need to hear when unexpected or even expected change happens to us.
One thing we need to realize as we make our way through this chapter, much of which is prophecy, is that with prophecy God has near and far future events often mixed together. It can even be in the midst of one verse. So here in this chapter Jesus talks about both the destruction of Jerusalem, which happened in 70 A.D. and the times approaching His second coming.
We begin really at the tail end of Chapter 20. The subject is giving. Jesus is comparing the money grubbing Scribes who have the outward appearance of righteousness but by their actions reveal their inward character-so debauched that they would steal a widow’s only source of support to line their own pockets. Now compare that with the widow that Jesus watches in her giving:
Verses 1- 4
In the Temple there were seven containers. One was for the Temple tax, and the other six were for freewill offerings. Much money came into the Temple treasury during Passover. Jesus watches as the rich come and make a big show with the loud clinking of coins dropping into the offering. Then along comes this widow. Luke doesn’t reveal how Jesus knew-whether by her dress or a revelation from the Spirit.
She drops in two coins-two Lepta. It was about 1/8 of a penny each, or 1 100th of a days wage. It wasn’t the size of the gift that Jesus marveled at, but the size of the hole it left in this woman’s life. You see, it’s not so much how much you give but how much you have left after you give that matters. This woman trusted God so much that she gave everything she had to live on, trusting that God would provide for her. It showed the depth of her love and commitment.
Are you committed so much to God that you will give to Him until you feel it? I don’t share often on giving, and we here at the Fellowship trust that God will provide our needs too, so we don’t emphasize it or demand that people give. But I will share with you that I think giving is an important part of your maturing as a Christian. While there is no law of tithing in the New Covenant, there is ample evidence of giving in the church. Our tithe check is the first thing we set aside each month and even when money is tight, that tithe belongs to God and it goes no matter what else happens. Do we do it so we get financially blessed? No. We do it because we love God and trust Him to take care of us. And giving isn’t confined to just mean financial giving either.
This sets the stage for the balance of the chapter, which is all about trusting God in circumstances where your comfort, your means of support, has been ripped away. It might not be money, but it still challenges you whether you trust God as much as this woman. You may be bankrupt in the world’s economy, but if you put your faith in God to provide, you are extremely wealthy in God’s economy. The scene is as Jesus and His disciples admiring the Temple.
Verses 5 - 9
Many people believed the Temple was too well built and too well supported by the presence of God to be destroyed. In fact, some of the original foundation stones are believed to still exist at the Temple Mount. This Temple was actually rebuilt and expanded from the one Ezra built after the Solomon’s Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians. It was incredible in size, covering 1/6th of ancient Jerusalem.
In 70AD the Roman legions came and destroyed the Temple and it happened just as Jesus said. Emperor Titus ordered that the entire city, including all the walls and the Temple, be leveled.
So the disciples wanted to know when that destruction would happen. Perhaps they thought that the removal of one Temple would make room for the building of another, even more glorious Temple. They also asked for what signs to look for. Jesus instead warns them not to look for signs or believe those who come and claim to be a Messiah. Apparently many such claims were made prior to the destruction of Jerusalem.
Not only spiritual deception, but also political upheaval would take place. Jesus says for them not to be afraid, He has not lost control of His plan. You know, when we look around our lives and see tumult and chaos, it is easy to think that God must have gone out for a coffee and forgot to leave the burglar alarm on so He’d know we are in trouble. It’s just not so. God knows what He is doing, and there will be much trouble before God sets up His kingdom. Your environment will change, but your God will not.
Verses 10 - 19
Wars, earthly natural disasters, disease, heavenly upheaval, and personal persecution are all part of the run up to Jesus’ return. But instead of focusing on that, Jesus wants His followers to focus on their part. When a world, or even a life, gets totally upset by a disaster, we tend to go into shock mode. We end up doing nothing. Jesus says that problems will be a part of living, but in the midst of it He wants to move through us. It’s a marvelous way to focus oneself on the fact that Jesus will give us what we need to say in that time - with words "none of your adversaries will be able to withstand."
Your security may be threatened, but God still controls your destiny.
Verses 20 - 24
This is not a prophecy about the end times, but about the destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD. When it happens, He says, there won’t be time to collect your things, just get out. So at the end of verse 24 we have the statement: "â�¦until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." So in that little part of a verse is all of human history from 70AD until now and on until Jesus returns. So then we switch to that end time in verse 25.
Verses 25 - 28
So if you thought Jerusalem’s destruction would be bad, its nothing compared to what happens as Jesus prepares the earth of His return. I won’t go into all of the details here, but Jesus did tell His disciples about signs-but nothing like they thought. The Bible, especially Revelation, is filled with the signs that will happen in the heavens and on earth as Jesus returns. No one will mistake the final sign-the coming of Jesus Himself. Revelation 1:6-7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
But what I want to notice is verse 28. We are not to panic and run screaming when terrible things happen. Our response is to straighten and look up for our redeemer to return. Your world may turn upside down, but you can always raise your head high!
Verses 29 - 33
Just as you can see branches budding forth with life after a long winter, seeing the signs of the end times should remind us that our flight out of here is getting ready to board and that no matter what anyone tells you, His promise of returning for you cannot and will not pass away, even if your entire universe dissolves, his love for you will never fail.
Verses 34 - 38
If we are not panicked or weighed down by fear, there is also the possibility that we’ll ignore the fact of Jesus’ soon return and be weighed down by doing evil, by sowing to the flesh. Jesus tells us not to either ignore Him or fall asleep. We have jobs to do.
Conclusions
So in the face of an uncertain future, how are we to live as Christians? Jesus gives us five concepts:
Do not be terrified :09 (Don’t be afraid, only believe - Luke 8:50)
Witness :13 (And you shall be my witnesses - Acts 1:8)
Endure :19 2 Tim 4:4-5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
Straighten up :28 John 14:1-4 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going."
Watch yourselves & stay awake :34 1 Peter 5:8-9Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
" You may be bankrupt in the world’s economy, but if you put your faith in God to provide, you are extremely wealthy in God’s economy
" Your environment will change, but your God will not.
" Your security may be threatened, but God still controls your destiny.
" Your world may turn upside down, but you can always raise your head high!
" His promise of returning for you cannot and will not pass away, even if your entire universe dissolves, his love for you will never fail.
" Instead of panicking or falling into evil, be aware of your self and your surroundings and put your full faith and trust in God, waiting patiently and actively for His return.
