Luke 21:20-28
'When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.'
The day of the Lord's return rests in the hand of Father God, it's not something that any man would now. That doesn't mean, however, we are not responsible for anything, so the Lord told us here that our responsibility is to go and see, which means to be watchful. As we live in the end time, we must pay attention to the trend of the time. Renowned evangelist Billy Graham said that when he had Bible on one hand and newspaper on the other, he was awed with joy; he was awed because the rapidly deteriorating state of world politics, just like what the Bible prophesied; however, he was joyful because he knew that the day of the Lord's return is near.
Not only should we pay attention to world affairs, we also need to study the Bible diligently, and not be a confused Christian. The more you read the Bible, the less you will be anxious about the deterioration of world affairs, and you will be more open and accepting towards suffering and death. Staying alert help us to prepare to meet the Lord anytime; we need such alertness because we need the power of the Lord. As we face this devious generation, we often feel powerless and we feel that the authority of the world is chasing after us. We want to be closer to God but we are too weak to do it; we want to overcome temptation, but our body often gives in. We need to come before God, to pray earnestly and stay alert, so that we can bind all the work of the devil on us.
1 John 4:4 says that "the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." Only by the authority of the Lord can be overcome the authority of the world. The more we pray, the more power we will have, and the less we pray the less power we will have. The more I serve the Lord, the more I discover how true this is. When I don't pray, I really feel powerless. May the Lord help us to stay alert and pray in this end time as we wait for the Lord's return. Before He returns in glory, let us fill this land with His mercy, so that we may experience His omnipotence. Let us also pray together, like how Apostle John prayed, Lord, come!
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