 |
||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
Tune
in to Grace Radio 24 hours a day!
Luke 21 "When Will This Be?"
"And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said, "Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had." Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, "These things which you see-- the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down."
I was once invited to a rich man's house in the United
States. It was a beautiful house with a row of tall white columns along
the front and a large entryway. However, when my wife and I went inside
we were very surprised because the whole house was not very much bigger
than the entranceway. From the street it gave the appearance of being
much larger than it really was. I often have been surprised by Japanese
houses that do not look like much from the outside but are very beautiful
on the inside. Jesus had the ability to see through the outside display
to the reality of the heart.
As human beings we are impressed with a big display. It gets our attention.
This is why advertising works. All those flashing lights and blaring
speakers and tissues in our faces at the stations gets our attention.
I must confess to you that if I walk around a corner and a pretty woman
walks by wearing flashy colors and jewelry, "displaying" her
beauty, it gets my attention. But it cannot hold my attention. Why?
Because I have learned to see through the outside display to the reality
of the heart. And often I have found that the bigger the outward display
the emptier the inside is.
Jesus pointed out that the tiny gift of the widow, was more important
than the large gifts of the rich. Because the rich were only giving
out of what they had no need for themselves. They were giving the "leftovers"
to God. But the widow was giving her best to God. In her case, all she
had. In their hearts the rich were concerned about what people saw.
In her heart the widow was only concerned with what God saw. Even though
people would ridicule her for only putting in two coins, she went ahead
and gave anyway. In their hearts the rich were trusting in their wealth,
they thought, "So what if I give 50,000 yen, I have got a lot more
where that came from!" In her heart the widow was trusting in God,
thinking, "Father, this is all I have, but I am trusting that You
will give me this day my daily bread."
Jesus said that the widow had given more than the others, but the people
started to defend themselves, saying, look at this beautiful temple
that gives glory to God. If rich people did not give, then the temple
would not be filled with beautiful stones and donations! If rich people
did not give then this ministry would fail. Be reasonable Jesus! The
reality of life is that everything costs money. Widow's mites are fine,
but what really excites us are those big donations. Jesus again looks
past the outward display and tells the admirers of the temple some sobering
news. "These things which you see-- the days will come in which
not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down."
But this is the TEMPLE! This is the house of God! This is the center
of the Jewish religion. Jesus prayed there, Jesus called it "My
house". All this is going to be destroyed? Yep, not one stone left
upon another.
Folks, we have just finished purchasing and remodeling a building in
Machida for our church. The dedication is next Sunday. It is a great
building! We are so thankful to God for it. But please consider with
me what Jesus is saying. What is more important? The outward display
or the inward reality? What are the things that last. Buildings? Ministries?
Programs? Just like that impressive temple that the Jews were looking
at, all of these things will one day be gone. They are just the outward
shell of our church. What really lasts? The true riches are those things
that are everlasting. What will last forever are the people who we have
introduced to Jesus Christ, the friendships that we have made with each
other, the love, joy and peace that we have shared as God has knit us
together into His own body. Look around right now to people that are
sitting by you on either side, front or back. Folks, this is what will
last forever!
So they asked Him, saying, "Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?" And He said: "Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am he,' and, 'The time has drawn near.' Therefore do not go after them. But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come too but the end will not come immediately." Then He said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But not a hair of your head shall be lost. By your patience possess your souls." But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. 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. For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 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. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations.
Now up unto this point Jesus was talking about Jerusalem, and the destruction of the temple. About 40 years after Jesus died and rose again, Jerusalem was surrounded by armies. The Romans, tired of the continuous rebellion in Judea, sent the general Titus to destroy Jerusalem. The Jews chose to make their last stand in the temple itself. This was a good choice because the temple was a veritable fortress. In fact the stones of the temple building were larger than any castle that the Romans had fought against. When the Romans brought their machines up against it, they could not batter their way through because each stone was immense. Even though they had taken the rest of the city, the Romans usually did not destroy temples, especially one as great as the the temple in Jerusalem. But because the Jews were using it as a fortress, Titus gave the order to set it on fire. And when the last of the Jewish rebels had been killed, the temple was demolished completely so that no other rebellions could ever make use of it again. Jesus prophecied these events 40 years before they took place. No one could believe that the huge stones of the temple could ever be moved, let alone totally dismantled. But that is exactly what happened. But Jesus did not stop His prophecy there, He continued,
And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress on nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectations of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."
Jesus prophecied that Jerusalem would remain in Gentile
hands until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. And we know that
there was no nation of Israel from the time of the last Jewish rebellion
until 1947, when Jerusalem was finally given back to the Jews, and the
modern nation of Israel was born. All during that time from AD 70 until
1947, different foreign powers had controlled Jerusalem but now the
Jews themselves are governing their own city. Folks, please listen carefully.
I can't give you a date, but Jesus said, "When these things begin
to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws
near." What things? First, that Jerusalem would come back into
the hands of the Jews. Second, astronomical signs. I read in a National
Geographic magazine a few months ago that astronomers have announced
that we are now entering into an age of comets. More comets visible
to the naked eye will pass near us this century than in all the other
centuries combined. Third, distress on nations. Our century has seen
more bloodshed and war, more mass violence than all of the other centuries
combined. Fourth, with perplexity. This word is based on a word that
means to continue one's journey, however it adds a negative to mean,
"to not continue one's journey" I translate it is having "no
direction" or "not knowing where to go." If there is
anything that describes our world today, it is this word, "perplexity"
Noone knows where they are going. Certainly not the world leaders! Even
something as simple as setting the dates on our computers to the year
2000 is going to cost billions of dollars. How do we expect to solve
the other crisis of the world? Fifth, the sea and the waves roaring,
men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectations of those things
which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be
shaken. Man, I have to tell you that I was perplexed about the meaning
of this one. "The sea and the waves roaring?" "Things
coming on the earth?" "the powers of the heavens shaken?"
What can this mean? I did not have a clue, but then I saw an advertisement
for a new movie on TV. This summer's blockbuster "Deep Impact"
is a disaster film about a comet that strikes the ocean off the Atlantic
coast of the United States and the resulting tsunami that wipes out
New York City. I am not saying that this is what Jesus prophecied. But
the big news last year was of comet that struck the planet Jupiter and
just this March astronomers were worried that a mile wide asteroid could
hit the earth. Another group of scientists state that because of global
warming the seas are already rising and that within our lifetimes, lowlying
nations such as Bangladesh and the Netherlands will be under water.
As a kid growing up during the Cold War I often imagined that the end
of the world would be a nuclear holocaust, but there are even larger
threats that we have absolutely no control over. With the hole in the
ozone, and increased levels of cosmic radiation reaching the earth,
the fear of what is "coming on the earth" is great indeed.
So what does this mean? Does it mean that we are in trouble? Is the
end of the world coming? What can we do? Well, Jesus told the people
a parable to help them understand what they should do.
"Then He spoke to them a parable; "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near."
It is not a question of being able to calculate the day.
Instead we are to watch for the season. Matthew wrote down another saying
of Jesus regarding the end times. Jesus said there that these things
are the beginning of sorrows. The word means the pain of childbirth.
Folks, my wife has been having pains for months now! How do we know
when the season has arrived for this child to be born? When the pains
come stronger and more often. When Jesus told these things to the people
in Jerusalem, they thought to themselves, perhaps it will happen soon.
When the disciples were persecuted and the early Christians martyred
by the Romans, they thought to themselves, perhaps it will happen soon.
One thousand years ago, at the turn of the millenium, people thought
to themselves, perhaps it will happen soon. Now, we look at the mess
that our world is in and we also think, perhaps it will happen soon.
But my question for you is this; do you look upon that day with fear?
Or are you looking forward to it? Listen to the words of Jesus,
Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."
It will surely come, just as surely as the Romans came to burn down the temple. But Jesus says that there is a way that we can be ready. Most people will be caught by surprise, but we are to watch and pray. We should always have one eye on the heavens folks, and not become so concerned with this life that we forget the things of God. Because if we pray we can be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass. How can you escape? When all these things happen, there will be another great event at the same time. The Son of Man, Jesus Christ will come again in a cloud with power and great glory. At that time will you be able to stand before the Son of Man? There is one way to know. On that day, noone will be able to stand except for the righteous, whose sins have been forgiven. Perhaps it will happen soon. Are you ready for it? There is one way to get ready, receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and then watch and pray.
| I have a question... | I want to receive Jesus Christ! | I want to confess sin... |
| I need prayer... | I want to come to church... | I want to be a prayer partner |