Luke 21:20 "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. 22 For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. 24 And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. 25 "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."
Whenever a ball or other object is in the air, and someone is in danger of being hit, you call out, “Heads up!” It’s the quickest thing to say which properly allows the person to comprehend both imminent danger and to look out for something at the same time. (All of that communicated in one simple phrase.)
Jesus, similarly, has a warning for the church as He speaks of the end-times events in Luke 21. “Look up and lift up your heads, for your redemption draws near.”
What exactly does it mean for us to “look up?” Are we to be watching out for redemption to hit us over the head?
Not exactly. Jesus is telling us to live focused lives, especially in times like these…the end times. There is not much time left, and we need to be very careful and very aware of everything that is going on in the world, that we might likewise be prepared for what is going on in the spiritual realm.
I don’t know about you, but I have begun to “see these things happen.” What things? Oh, the upheaval in the world, the political instability and irritability, and the perplexity over how to solve the world’s problems – because in truth there are no solutions any more. The world seems to be spinning out of control, and it is only in knowing Jesus had predicted and prophesied exactly this do I find any comfort at all.
The world is being allowed to spin out of control that we, the Faithful, the True church, may see what time it is. And it is time to look up to the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To see He is literally at the door. To see His time to return for His church is at hand. To see that time is short, and that our lives and the lives we intend to save must be impacted now. “Heads up!”
- Pastor Bill
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