The End Is Coming... Do Not Be Terrified

The End Is Coming… Do Not Be Terrified

Jesus’ end time message to his disciples.

When Christ talks to his disciples about the end and the judgment what does he instruct them? “Do not be terrified.”

Welcome to the Light of Christ weekly podcast. Light of Christ Anglican Church is located in Georgetown, Texas at MLK and University Avenue. We are a modern expression of the ancient faith. You can learn more about us at lightofchristgeorgetown.org

Our morning meditation today comes from Luke chapter 21 beginning at verse five. "And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, as for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down. And they asked him, teacher, when will these things be and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place? And he said, see that you are not led astray for many will come in my name saying I am he and the time is at hand. Do not go after them. And when you hear of wars and turmoils do not be terrified for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.

Then he said to them, nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes and in various places, famine and pestilences. And there will be terrors in great signs from heaven. But before all this, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons and you will be brought before Kings and governors for my namesake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends and some of you will be put to death. You will be hated by all for my name's sake, but not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives."

As Jesus talks about the end, what should be our mindset as his disciples?

When I think of the end times, or especially when I was younger, I remember still Y2K and all of the craziness that swept through certain sectors of the evangelical community at that time. But if I were to describe it, I would say it was fueled by fear. Yet when Christ talks about the end or judgment and he's talking to his disciples, his followers, what does he instruct them?

This. Is he telling them about the end time so that they can freak out? No. It seems funny just to even say that, but verse nine he says, "You will hear of wars and turmoils." And he says, "Do not be terrified." Do not be terrified. Even in all of this, God is still in control. Even as he says that his followers are going to be persecuted by their own families and jailed and possibly put to death. He says, "Look at this as an opportunity to bear witness to my name and in fact, I'm even through the Holy Spirit going to give you the words to say in those times."

And he gives us this amazing promise in verse 18, "But not a hair of your head will perish but by your endurance you will gain your lives." It reminds me of another saying of Christ. "What is it if you gain the whole world but lose your soul?" See, in the end we know God and for the one who knows God, the one who is eternal without beginning, without end, who was in his hand, who knows that when everyone hates you or if people forget you, we know one who loves us, who will never forget us. His power and love is stronger than even death itself. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ and that, that there is the foundation of the Christian life that is not terrified but has peace.

Thank you for listening to the Light of Christ weekly podcast. Let us end our time together with a prayer from the Book of Common Prayer. You can find this prayer on page 622.

Stir up, O Lord, the wills of your faithful people, that bringing forth in abundance the fruit of good works, they may be abundantly rewarded when our Savior Jesus Christ comes to restore all things; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.