Word@Work 152 - Mark 13:5-8
Published: Wed, 06/25/08
Word@Work from BeaconLight
Read Mark 13:5-8 Jesus said to them: "Watch out that no-one deceives you. Many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and will deceive many. When you hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth-pains. (NIV)
Church history is littered with deceivers - people who claim what is not true, about themselves, others, the Bible or God. The greatest deceit is to pretend to be Jesus. That is straight out of a Satanic masterclass. Ever since the Garden of Eden, he has always liked pretending to be the authoritative mouthpiece of God. But the true voice of God is never in conflict with His written Word; and that is our constantly reliable reference point.
A 'fallen' world with its disordered geology will produce earthquakes. Disordered ecology will see famines; and disordered societies will be fighting (often these two are seen together). And when neither is happening, people fear that they might! None of this was God's design, it is the consequence of sin in the world. Yet natural superstition and distorted religion likes to attribute them to God: they suggest that these horrible events demand God's personal intervention. But to assume that any of these must herald the return of Christ is fanciful (and wrong) thinking - although extreme suffering should make belivers long for eternity even more.
But a disrupted world with dislocated societies are a sign of the return of Jesus - or at least a sign that this world will never be heaven ... and that we should seek a Saviour who is to come. He will redress all wrongs and establish new heavens and a new earth which will be called 'a home of righteousness' (2 Peter 3:13). The unsatisfactory world with its frustrating and disappointing relationships should make us long for Jesus to come back and sort it all out! Until then, let not us (nor our friends) be fobbed off by any substitute saviour.
Prayer: Almighty God. Thank you, that You do not let this world glow so bright, that we stop desiring the return of Jesus. But please keep us alert to reject the substitutes that Satan would like to charm us with, and to alert our friends too. For the sake of our only Saviour, Jesus. Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
Church history is littered with deceivers - people who claim what is not true, about themselves, others, the Bible or God. The greatest deceit is to pretend to be Jesus. That is straight out of a Satanic masterclass. Ever since the Garden of Eden, he has always liked pretending to be the authoritative mouthpiece of God. But the true voice of God is never in conflict with His written Word; and that is our constantly reliable reference point.
A 'fallen' world with its disordered geology will produce earthquakes. Disordered ecology will see famines; and disordered societies will be fighting (often these two are seen together). And when neither is happening, people fear that they might! None of this was God's design, it is the consequence of sin in the world. Yet natural superstition and distorted religion likes to attribute them to God: they suggest that these horrible events demand God's personal intervention. But to assume that any of these must herald the return of Christ is fanciful (and wrong) thinking - although extreme suffering should make belivers long for eternity even more.
But a disrupted world with dislocated societies are a sign of the return of Jesus - or at least a sign that this world will never be heaven ... and that we should seek a Saviour who is to come. He will redress all wrongs and establish new heavens and a new earth which will be called 'a home of righteousness' (2 Peter 3:13). The unsatisfactory world with its frustrating and disappointing relationships should make us long for Jesus to come back and sort it all out! Until then, let not us (nor our friends) be fobbed off by any substitute saviour.
Prayer: Almighty God. Thank you, that You do not let this world glow so bright, that we stop desiring the return of Jesus. But please keep us alert to reject the substitutes that Satan would like to charm us with, and to alert our friends too. For the sake of our only Saviour, Jesus. Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
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