Matthew 24 is a chapter that directs our thoughts to the last days. When we compare the events around us to what is prophesied, we should be excited about the soon coming of our Lord.
The chapter actually talks of two last days: the days before AD 70 when the temple was destroyed and the days before the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The division comes out clearly in Luke 21:24. The events before the phrase “until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” are events that focus on AD 70. When we read through verses 25 to 31 of Luke 21, we can easily see our times described. “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.”
Sea and waves roaring
Political and religious leaders are battered about by an ever more informed, empowered, and cynical populace, the sea and waves of scripture. I will never forget watching a freedom rally in East Germany in 1989; the camera scanned the huge crowd in the town square as it rolled back and forth like waves in the ocean.
How ironic in a day of incredible advances in medicine and technology that the hearts of men are gripped with fear. In a time when mankind has available answers to many of its problems, the specter of a nuclear conflict, world economic collapse, crime, depletion of the earth’s natural resources, environmental decay, society’s moral nose-dive and other fears cause a “distress of nations with perplexity…men’s hearts failing them for fear” (Luke 21:25-26).
Of course the greatest sign was the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948 and even more important, the 1967 war that put all of Jerusalem in Jewish hands for the first time in almost 1900 years (cp. the fig tree prophecy in Luke 21:29-31).
Exhortations to ourselves in the last days
How are we faring in the face of all these signs? The Lord exhorts us: “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth” (Luke 21:34-35).
Think of the picture painted for us here. Imagine an unsuspecting deer on a stroll down a forest path. Then suddenly, from what appeared to be familiar and comfortable surroundings, a deadly trap is sprung from which there is no escape. Is this the trial of the last days? Are we being lulled asleep? Are the cares of this life absorbing all our time and energy? Has our love for our brothers and sisters waxed cold? Are we losing focus?
Maintaining focus
Let’s compare the walk in the Truth to a professional athlete, as Paul does on more than one occasion. To reach the highest level in any sport one must stay focused on the goal. Hours of practice every day will hone the body and mind to reach that goal. To succeed, nothing can break the focus on the goal. The concentration before the big game is at a level that most could not even comprehend.
As we sit through an exhortation on Sunday what level of focus do we have? It is probably normal to have many occasions when our thoughts wander far from the reason we gather together. While this is all too normal on a personal level, is it also true about the ecclesial mindset in general?
A Laodicean condition?
The threat we face in the ecclesia in this country today is not that we fear being hauled off to prison, it is not even losing the basics of the Truth outlined in our statement of faith. It is the lack of a spirited application of Godly principles in our life. The threat we face is knowing the Truth but not using it in our lives.
Many feel, and I think rightfully, that the words to the Laodicean ecclesia in Revelation 3 can be applied to the ecclesias in this country. The words starting in verse 14 should send a chill down our spine:
“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; these things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
“So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent” (Rev. 3:14-19).
Can we see ourselves?
Surely we can see ourselves in these words. The wealth and ease of our modern society has sapped us of our focus. Why do we need God when we already have so much?
Since the fall of the Soviet Union, events should help us identify the real enemy of the society in which we live. The great danger is not from some communist force engulfing nation after nation, it is from the Babylonian thought system which encourages us to indulge in all the desires of the flesh. We are encouraged to focus all our efforts on the three keys in life — ME, ME and ME.
How to re-focus
What can we do to encourage ourselves to re-focus? How can we strengthen ourselves in the face of today’s threat? What is the weapon with which God has equipped us? It is, of course, His word, the Bible.
When we drink from God’s word we will be renewed and refreshed. Our focus will be redirected down the only path that doesn’t lead to death. What better place is there to go in this wonderful book than the Psalms to be reminded of this? Open to the center of your Bible and you will likely open to Psalm 119. The power of our Father’s word is emphasized in almost every verse, all 176 of them!
Starting at verse 97: “O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me. How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.”
Another beautiful passage is found in Psalm 42 starting at verse one: “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall! come and appear before God?” Does this describe us when we are away from our Bible for an extended period?
Does our throat become dry? Do our hands shake? Do our steps seem uncertain? Does our vision become blurry?
The best goal
Surely we want to be in the kingdom; even now we want to glorify our Father’s name. This must be more enticing to us than the pleasures of the world. Yet the only way we can have such a heart and mind is to read our Bible and then to read it some more. We should study it by ourselves and with our spouse. We should study it with our family and with our brothers and sisters — on Sunday, at midweek class and every day in between.
How much time do we have left? How are we going to use the time we have left? The judgment seat is not the time to regain our focus; now is the time. There will be no magic wand at the judgment seat that will change our heart. Now is the time to prepare, as we know that day will soon be here.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One