IT SHOULD NOT FRIGHTEN US [LUKE 21:34-36]

IT SHOULD NOT FRIGHTEN US [LUKE 21:34-36] 

“But watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36 RSV). 

The prospect of standing before Christ at the final judgment should not frighten us. Jesus was alerting us so that we might examine our lives regularly and always be prepared to meet Him face-to-face. This exercise of self-examination can help to strengthen our spiritual lives. Jesus longs to shower us with blessings but He awaits our invitation to come into our hearts (Revelation 3:20), a decision of our free wills. No matter how many times we may have asked Him in previously, Jesus never tires of our invitations. 

Christians know how easy it is to be lulled into complacency by the demands of our daily routines. Everyday tasks and responsibilities seem to take precedence over our love for Jesus. By forgetting to stay alert, we become spiritually vulnerable. Our good intentions to ready ourselves through prayers, liturgy, and Bible study are choked off by our busyness. 

Scripture speaks poignantly to us “… as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature” (Luke 8:14). When our fruit is examined, hopefully it will be found mature. Scripture is unequivocal that we will one day meet Christ. The crucial question is: “Will we be ready to stand before the Son of Man?” 

Today marks the close of the Church Year. It is, therefore, an opportune time to make a small retreat, either by going to our churches or by secluding ourselves in the privacy of our homes. Review the past year. Have we grown closer to the Lord, stayed about the same, or drifted away from Him? The purpose is not to become elated or discouraged or guilty about the state of our lives but to evaluate the past in order to better plan the future. Try to assess your position before God. Tomorrow begins a new liturgical year, a time for a fresh start. 

Jakarta, 30^th of November 2013 

A Christian Pilgrim