Word@Work 158 - Mark 13:24-27
Published: Thu, 07/03/08
Word@Work from BeaconLight
Read Mark 13:24-27 "But in those days, following that distress, " 'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.' "At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens. (NIV)
It is a common mistake to think that everything will continue as it always has. Global warming is slightly shaking that assumption, but many think it will not really make much difference ... and so they continue as before. But God has the right to do whatever He chooses, and that will include the way the night sky will undergo sudden change, and the sun (on which we depend for so much) will be switched off. Everything we think of as the 'natural world' will not continue in autopilot indefinitely: When God intervenes, the change will be as radical as His creative masterstrokes in Genesis Ch.1.
Not only will the visible creation undergo change, but God's invisible creation (the angels) will have a new task - to bring in the harvest of His own people. Both the living and the dead in Christ will be brought together to greet the Lord Jesus: as the the bridegroom finally comes for His bride (the church). Coming after such dreadful predictions about the future (vv.11-23), Jesus is explaining the 'hope' of the Christian - certain confidence that (despite whatever may happen) Jesus will come to claim His own ... and nothing will stop Him!
From the earliest days of the church, the Christian's 'hope' has been the essential ingredient to survive and thrive in hardship. Today, more Christians are suffering because of their faith than at any other time in history. But there will come a day when Jesus returns and every right-thinking believer longs for that day.
Prayer: Father God. Thank you that there will be an end point to this corrupt world and that Jesus will return for all His people, including me! Help me to see how pathetic this world is compared to the splendour of meeting Jesus: may I eagerly long for that day. In the difficult times, help me to hold onto that 'hope' that You are coming for me. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
It is a common mistake to think that everything will continue as it always has. Global warming is slightly shaking that assumption, but many think it will not really make much difference ... and so they continue as before. But God has the right to do whatever He chooses, and that will include the way the night sky will undergo sudden change, and the sun (on which we depend for so much) will be switched off. Everything we think of as the 'natural world' will not continue in autopilot indefinitely: When God intervenes, the change will be as radical as His creative masterstrokes in Genesis Ch.1.
Not only will the visible creation undergo change, but God's invisible creation (the angels) will have a new task - to bring in the harvest of His own people. Both the living and the dead in Christ will be brought together to greet the Lord Jesus: as the the bridegroom finally comes for His bride (the church). Coming after such dreadful predictions about the future (vv.11-23), Jesus is explaining the 'hope' of the Christian - certain confidence that (despite whatever may happen) Jesus will come to claim His own ... and nothing will stop Him!
From the earliest days of the church, the Christian's 'hope' has been the essential ingredient to survive and thrive in hardship. Today, more Christians are suffering because of their faith than at any other time in history. But there will come a day when Jesus returns and every right-thinking believer longs for that day.
Prayer: Father God. Thank you that there will be an end point to this corrupt world and that Jesus will return for all His people, including me! Help me to see how pathetic this world is compared to the splendour of meeting Jesus: may I eagerly long for that day. In the difficult times, help me to hold onto that 'hope' that You are coming for me. In Jesus' Name. 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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