TUESDAY: IT’S GONNA HAPPEN

May 16, 2023
2 min read

Luke 21:10-19

10 Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven. 12 “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. 13 And so you will bear testimony to me. 14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15 For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 Everyone will hate you because of me. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 Stand firm, and you will win life.

Jesus tells us many things that will occur before He returns:

Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. I am used to seeing nations at war with each other. Seeing the kingdom of evil rising against the kingdom of God affects my daily life.

Fearful events and great signs from heaven. While I see many people perishing in these events, I shouldn’t be surprised or shocked that they are happening. Again, these events are sweeping and widespread, and could occur right where I live.

They will seize you and persecute you on account of my name. The time will come when speaking the name of Jesus will be against the law. This affects my testimony and my witness.

THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS: Have I thought about how I will respond when these things occur? It’s one thing to see them from afar; it’s quite another when they happen to me.

I have a choice to make regarding my witness and my testimony. I can choose to do whatever it takes to avoid these situations by being silent, or I can publicly confess Jesus as my Savior. In a society where fighting for one’s rights is commonplace, Jesus states that He will defend me by giving me words and wisdom that none of my adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.

Lord, You have promised me eternal life. What then, shall I fear? Please guide me to stand firm, so that I will win life.

May you be blessed,

Chaplain Wayne Ruckman