DEVOTION – DAY 330

Matthew 24:6-8 “End Times”

Matthew 24:6-8 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. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.

Jesus’ disciples asked Him privately when the temple in Jerusalem would be destroyed and what would be signs of the end of the age and when Jesus would return. Jesus’ reply was recorded in Matthew 24-25. In the above verses, Jesus told His disciples that there would be wars and rumors of wars. Nations would rise against nations. There would be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these were birth pains but the end would not be at hand yet. In ancient times, birth pains were seen as sufferings. Thus, Jesus was telling His disciples that sufferings of various kinds would precede His return.

As we look at history and current world events, we see the truth of these verses. There have been wars and rumors of wars, but the end is still to come. Even today, there is a war in Ukraine. There are rumors of war whenever North Korea tests missiles. There are famines in North Korea and Afghanistan. There were earthquakes recently in Turkey and Vanuatu. These are all sufferings that the world should expect before the Lord Jesus returns. The important thing to do is not to speculate when Jesus would be coming back, but rather to spend the time we have in readiness for His return. We should be having an urgency to share the gospel while there is still time before the Lord returns. We should be actively serving the Lord and building up His Kingdom while there is still time.

In the US, a controversial cult called the Branch Davidians claimed that the apocalypse was near and that Jesus’ return was imminent. The cult leaders claimed that Jesus would return in 1959. They urged their members to sell their possessions and gather at their headquarters in Texas. When the apocalypse failed to happen, there was a change in leadership and the cult continued to lead a reclusive existence in a ranch compound 13 miles northeast of Waco, Texas. In 1993, due to allegations of child abuse and statutory rape of minors by its leader, David Koresh, the authorities surrounded the compound. It started a siege that lasted more than 50 days. It ended in violence and the compound was burnt, killing 76 cult members and its leader. Sadly, these people had focused on the wrong things. Instead of serving the Lord and building His kingdom as they await His return, they chose to retreat into a shell and follow a false leader.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, as we await your return, please help us to use our time wisely and purposefully to extend your Kingdom and for your glory. We pray this in the glorious name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Questions

  1. Why do people want to speculate when Jesus would return? Discuss.
  2. What should Christians be doing as they await their Lord’s return?
  3. What are you doing as you prepare for the Lord’s return? Share.
  4. Do you look forward to Jesus’ return or do you think it will be in the distant future? Share.