Wednesday-Day 21
When we study the Second Coming, we realize that there are some themes that important to remember. These themes help us to understand what we need to be aware of and to do so that we will not miss the Lord's Coming.
The Olivet Discourse was a crucial teaching time of the Lord to His disciples concerning His return and the end of the age. This event is spoke of in the Synoptic Gospels in Mark 13, Matthew 24 and Luke 21. The following reading of Mark 13:32-37 has an important truth for us to understand. Notice the underlined words in the text:
Mark 13:32-37 ESV
Vs. 32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Vs. 33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.
Vs. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake.
Vs. 35 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning—
Vs. 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep.
Vs. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”
When we study the Word of God and notice a word or phrase that is repeated a number of times it sends the reader the message that this is an important attitude to have or action to do. Here the repeated phrase is STAY AWAKE! This is used by Jesus four times in these five short verses! The importance of the phrase should not be underestimated!.
Also connected to the phrase is "Be on guard" and "Don't be found asleep when the Master of the house returns." The command is to Stay Wake, yet this also includes the instruction to be on guard that you will not fall asleep.
What happens to us when we fall asleep? We become unconscious of the surrounding environment that we are in and do not recognize the actions that are happening around us! We do not know the time neither realize that we are missing an important appointment.
What can cause us to "fall asleep" spiritually during the last days? Luke gives three things that can cause us to be captured by the trap of not focusing on the Lord's coming.
Luke 21: 34-36 ESV
Vs. 34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.
Vs. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Vs. 35 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Here the danger is a condition of the heart. A weighed down heart. What is this? The word for "heart" in the Greek is καρδία kardía. This is a noun and is defined by Strong's as the seat and center of human life, that is the seat of desires, feelings, affections, passions, impulses, that is, the heart or mind. In the NT, used only figuratively. [1] A weighed down or "overcharged" (King James Version) heart is a heart that is defined as being oppressed, dull, stupid.[2] Dissipation is κραιπάλη kraipálē. This is a headache, or a hangover, a shooting pain or confusion in the head arising from intemperance in wine or strong liquors. Translated in Luke 21:34 as “surfeiting (King James Version),” the sense of disgust and loathing from an overindulgence in wine and carousing.[3] Drunkenness is "milled wine."
When addressing the cares of this life notice the thought that it is about this present life, time period or in other words the physical life on this earth that we are living in. The New International Version stresses that the cares of life are the anxieties of the present life. These three nouns of dissipation, drunkenness, and cares of this life are the means by which a heart (mind) becomes dull, not sharp, or concerned with being able to watch and see that the coming of the Lord is upon them! Luke frequently warns against preoccupation with, and unwillingness to part with, the goods of this life.[4]
Luke lets us know that these three things are a trap! A trap immobilizes the animal that they are not able to have liberty and leave! It controls their focus and limits their future! For the people of God, they must focus on things that are connected to the Lord above (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). A lack of focus on their Spiritual life because of their present anxieties and concerns with the "stuff" of this world will cause them to be weighed down that they will be unconscious of the sin of the world that surrounds them. They must have liberty because their hope is to leave this earth and returns and enter into the Heavenly!
What must they do? Stay awake at all times! This speaks of the uncertainty of the date of the return of the Master or Lord Jesus Christ! At no time in our lives can we take the chance that we will miss the return of the Lord! We "stay awake" when we are of conscience of the importance of God being the center of their life! Luke gives the instruction of the needed actions when you are awake looking for the coming of the Lord! Pray (21:35)! Is there someone or something I should pray for? Pray for strength to be able to escape this world and its temptations!
Luke concludes that we also need to pray that we are able to stand before the Lord! This is not depicting standing before the Lord in judgment but in deliverance. We have made it to heaven! We are finally secure in completing our salvation by going with the Lord Jesus at His return! We did it!
Your Response
How can we keep the Lord, His work and His will as our focus? To keep my focused on the Lord, I need to hear preaching and/or teaching on regular bases. Just as Israel had to be reminded when they journeyed from Egypt to the Promised land we too, need to be reminded! It is in the times I'm at church for services on Sunday AM, PM and Wednesday night that my spiritual eyes are brought back into focus. Someone said: If you go to church only on Sunday AM you love the preacher! If you go Sunday AM & PM you love the church! If you go Sunday AM & PM & Midweek Bible Study you love the Lord! I want to love the Lord and to keep my focus on Him by attending every church event whatever it may be!
Secondly get in a ministry! When we minister, it helps us focus on the Lord and His work! When I teach a Bible study not only does the student grow but I personally see new revelations and develop! Doing ministry keeps me focused on what's important.
Thirdly we need to pray daily! We need to pray His will (Matthew 6:9-13). When we enter into prayer with thanksgiving for the goodness of the Lord and what He has done for us already it causes me to think not about myself but Him! Prayer helps me keep the right perspective in all the daily duties of life. My primary mission is to do the Will of the Lord!
[1] Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament, electronic ed. (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000).
[2] Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament, electronic ed. (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000).
[3] Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament, electronic ed. (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000).
[4] John Nolland, Luke 18:35–24:53, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1998). 1012.
No comments:
Post a Comment