STANDING FIRM

 

April 25, 2024

Matthew 24:6-14

You will hear of wars and rumors of wars but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.

9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

STANDING FIRM

In Matthew Chapter 24, Jesus was, as we have identified in previous devotions, thinking of wars and rumors of wars and he was open and honest about how difficult life on Earth could be. That sometimes what we know about the realities of life on our planet just doesn’t make sense.

Here's what Jesus said.

Then you followers of Jesus will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death. And you will be hated by all nations because of Me. At that time, many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and deceive many people because of the increase of wickedness. The love of most will grow cold.

“Thanks Pastor”, you might say, “real uplifting stuff!” What Jesus says here sounds bad, doesn't it?

He didn't say, well, someone might poke fun at you on social media. No, he said, persecuted, hand it over, put to death. Hated. Not by just one or two bad apples, but many will do this. Many false prophets will appear, the love of most will grow cold because of the increase of wickedness. This kind of message is alarming, isn’t it?

Now, before we are alarmed and before we panic at another terrible headline that doesn't make sense to us. I want to let Jesus finish the thought. Here's what he said “because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Jesus gave us this incredible promise, you might be living in a relationship right now or in a family right now that is overtaken by sin, or sorrow, or the pain of senselessness. You know the ones that make us ask Why? Why? Why?

We may feel like we are living in a culture right now or in a country right now, where wickedness seems to be increasing and people's love and patience and compassion seems to be decreasing. Perhaps, You are being persecuted or feel hated. You might describe things around you as a battle a war. But Jesus said, don't be alarmed. And don't panic. The one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

This is what the Saints of old used to sing about. Take the book of Psalms as an example, there we encounter King David, who was running for his life, who was hated, persecuted, hunted, being pursued to be put to death, yet, he would often find joy in the fact that he would be saved.

God was his refuge, and his strength, his tower, and his song, David would say things like if, if God is for me. What should I be afraid of? If God is on my side, If I can run to him, and my soul can be safe, what could humans possibly do to me?

6The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
7The Lord is with me; he is my helper.
I look in triumph on my enemies. 

Psalm 118

And Jesus, who is the son of David, wants you to think and believe, just like David. You might be hated. Your heart might be broken, but don't panic and don't lose your peace. The one who stands firm to the end? Will be saved.

What have been reading this week?

You will hear of wars and rumors of wars but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.

9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

We see the brokenness of this world, wars, rumors of wars, the persecution. But God has a plan to bless, believe me the Bible asserts this over and over again. In this world you will have trouble, Jesus said. But take heart (you are blessed) because he has overcome the world and all of you who stand firm to the end will be saved.