Day 21 of 24

 Today's passage: Luke 21

Today's focus: vs. 10-19

What are the signs that Jesus will be coming back soon? 

• Nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom (war)
• great earthquakes
• famines
• terrors and great signs from heaven
• "pestilence"

Let's talk a bit about pestilence. It is a plague/epidemic/pandemic-- an illness that greatly spreads and kills. Throughout Scripture, we see that widespread illness is one of the ways that God judges the world  (Deuteronomy 32:24; 1 Chronicles 21:12; Ezekiel 7:14–15). At the same time, we take comfort that that God is sovereign. Even this COVID19 is a puppy at His heels (Habakkuk 3:5).

But before any of this is to happen, listen to what must first come: "They will lay their hands on you and persecute you [...] you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake" (vs 12). A day is coming where charges will be brought against me and you for our belief in Jesus. The command here isn't to fight against it. Vs 13 tells us how we are to view this:

This will be your opportunity to bear witness.

There appears to be a contradiction as to what happens next. He says that "some of you they will put to death" (vs. 16). But at the same time, "not a hair of your head will perish" (vs 18). It's not a contradiction, but a continuation of thought. We may die for the name of Jesus, but we will not perish for eternally (John 3:16). 

As we watch the world panic about this virus and as we watch a political party come strongly against the belief of Christianity, may this passage remind us that "By your endurance you will gain your lives" (verse 19). 

Hang in there. Jesus will return soon. 

Personal note:

It is merely my humble opinion that this current pandemic is light compared for what is to come. Only 2.2% have died (although that still amounts to 1.7 million). At the time of this post 54,305,862 worldwide have recovered. There are other viruses such as Ebola where the death rate was 50%. If Covid19 had the same mortality rate, we would have 38,706,099 deaths instead of the 1.7 million. Please understand that I am NOT belittling this virus. I am comparing it to a historic scope and allowing the numbers to put it into perspective. A greater pestilence will come one day. The way we prepare for it is by repenting.

Historically, we've had wars, earthquakes, famine, terrible tyrants and dictators, mass persecution of Christians, and much much worse plagues. Each generation believed that Jesus would come back. We are in a very similar situation: political oppression against Christians, plague, war, famine, poverty, etc... so we feel like Jesus will return. Maybe He will! I hope so! but we may just be falling in line with the generations before us. The call isn't to pinpoint WHEN He returns. The call is to prepare for that Day through repentance and faithful preaching of His Word. May God grant us mercy.