LUKE: YEAR OF OUR LORD - WEEK 29 - KEEP YOUR SHIRTS ON; KEEP THE LIGHTS ON…

The last couple of weeks have been pretty stark when it comes to the messages we find in the Gospel of Luke. And today is no different. There is a clear warning to us in Jesus’ teaching in Luke 12. BUT - there is always a flip side. As some may hear the message and fear, it is my opinion that those who are true disciples of Jesus will find encouragement.

This message is about the end - a hotly debated subject in Christian circles. Some believe in a pre-tribulation rapture (a “catching up” of the Church before the Great Tribulation), some believe in a mid-tribulation rapture. There is a pre-millennial concept of the coming of Jesus, the post-millennial concept, and the a-millennial view. Some of us just have concluded that we are pan-millennials - that no matter what happens, it will all “pan out” in the end.

But it doesn’t matter what your view of the end times before Jesus comes back is, I think we all can admit that we’re closer this week than we were last week!

It seems as if the people of God are paying closer attention to what’s happening in the world; and as I have recently mentioned, I believe that we who have enjoyed a relatively easy path for our spiritual journey here in the Western World may very well be heading into a time when we understand more and more what Christians throughout the world and throughout history have had to endure.

So the question of the day is: if Jesus were to come back today - WOULD YOU BE READY?

AND if Jesus waits to come back until after you die, you still will stand before the Judge of the Universe and the same question applies: WILL YOU BE READY?