In an interview with Fox Business, Economist Harry Dent remarked about the economy, “Since 2009, this has been 100% artificial, unprecedented money printing and deficits; $27 trillion over 15 years, to be exact. This is off the charts, 100% artificial, which means we're in a dangerous state…I think 2024 is going to be the biggest single crash year we'll see in our lifetimes.…If I'm right, it is going to be the biggest crash of our lifetime, most of it happening in 2024 (https://www.foxbusiness.com/media/us-economist-predicts-2024-bring-biggest-single-crash-lifetime).”
This is how our world works. Highs and lows. Takeoffs and crashes. War and peace. Poverty and prosperity. Every civilization that has impacted history has gone through the cycle of nations. As Scottish historian and writer Alexander Fraser Tytler puts it, nations go through a cycle of beginnings to endings. A popular quote going around right now is, “Hard times create strong men, and strong men create good times, good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times.”
It seems like our society has passed from the strong men creating good times to the weak men era. Everywhere we look, things like inflation, economic uncertainty, upheavals of social normality, and civil war are surrounding us. And it’s easy to fall into a state of worry, or tribalistic thinking as things spiral in ever worsening situations.
Yet as things worsen around us, as believers, we are called to endure such things, as we look forward to the full victory of Jesus at his return. And as we face a new year, the approximately 2,029th year since Jesus arrived that first Christmas Day, the call on our lives to endure is ever more present.
So as we look to another year of uncertainty, let us stand firm on God’s word as it direct our lives. Today we’re going to look at Jesus’ words from Luke chapter 21, starting in verse 25. And as we look to Luke 21:25, we’re beginning in a section of Scripture that has overlaps in both Matthew and Mark’s Gospels. This moment we’ll be looking at, comes on the eve of Jesus’ trial and crucifixion.
Jesus has been teaching everyday at the temple and when asked about the end, his words point back to Daniel’s vision in chapter 9 of that Old Testament book. Jesus tells those who are gathered that the future Church will be persecuted, the temple will be destroyed, and the Gentiles will trample Jerusalem under their feet for an unknown time.
It’s after this that we pick up Jesus’ words in chapter 21, verse 25. Let’s read it together.
“25 And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
In the time following the destruction of the temple, which is the fulfillment of Daniel’s vision in chapter 9:26 of his writing, the world will be in distress until the arrival of the Son of Man.
In Luke’s recording of Jesus’ words about the end, the focus isn’t on the details. This is the work of the Holy Spirit, who uses the uniqueness of individuals to craft purposeful retellings of the events of Jesus’ life. Matthew gives us an abundance of detail in what to expect before Jesus’ return. In that Gospel account, a reiteration of Daniel’s vision is relayed to the people.
But Luke’s account strips it down to the idea that there will be distress, fear, and foreboding, before Jesus’ return. This fear and foreboding will sweep over the whole world, and all creation will be affected, from the earth itself to the heavens. Yet to the believer, Jesus first gives encouragement to know that these things will take place. The turmoil of the world, should never astound us, it should never take us by surprise, because our Lord, who knows all things, has already informed us that these things will occur. So following this encouragement, Jesus also issues a command to hold our heads up and straighten up our posture. This is a sign of confidence and victory. Those who look down or slink back, do so because they are defeated, but the follower of Jesus is not defeated, because their King is returning and his full salvation is on the horizon.
So Jesus calls his people, in the midst of fear and foreboding, to have postures of preparedness and victory, which is the antithesis of the non-believer, who has no option but to fear. It’s here that Luke places the Fig Tree lesson. Let’s read it, starting in verse 29.
“29 And he told them a parable: ‘Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.’”
The lesson focuses in on the believer paying attention to the world around them and being knowledgeable of what events must occur before the return of Jesus. God desires us to have the knowledge to help us endure our circumstances. This is why God’s prophetic word is so important. It let’s us know before something happens, that it will happen. It let’s us know looking back on events, that God had spoke of these things. God’s prophetic word gives us trust in what he has previously done, and assurance in his future work.
So for the believer, as we await the return of Jesus, we must seek to have an understanding of the basic biblical prophetic framework of the events that surround Jesus’ return. These can be found in the book of Daniel chapter 9, verses 24-27, and Matthew chapters 24-25.
These prophetic words of God are then emphasized by Jesus to be trustworthy. In fact they are more secured than heaven and earth itself. Whereas the current state of heaven and earth will pass away, Jesus’ words will stand secure.
It’s here that Luke gives us one more moment of teaching from Jesus before moving on to the lead up of the crucifixion. Let’s read starting in verse 34.
“34 But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Luke ends Jesus’ teaching with Jesus calling on the believer to seek holy living. This is done by rejecting the trappings of the world that lull us into a stupor. Momentary fame, fortune, and pleasures, lead us to a place where we cannot hope to be ready for the signs of Jesus’ return. So instead, Jesus calls us to be awake and seek God’s strengthening that we would be ready for his return. We are to have the same mindset as Luke told us Jesus had early in his book. When Jesus is about twelve years old, he stays behind in Jerusalem to speak with the religious leaders. When his family realizes he isn’t with them, they return, find him, and ask him why he has put them in such distress. Jesus’ reply is one we ought to have when others around us are in distress. Jesus replied to his earthy parents, as the New King James Version puts it, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business (Luke 2:29b NKJV)?”
Jesus is calling us to be about our Heavenly Father’s business, which in not worrying, not fretting, but watching, waiting, and pointing others to the return of our Lord and Savior.
Beloved of God this is how we should usher in the new year, with calm and comfort. There maybe a crash the likes none of us have ever seen. There may be a social upheaval, that turns over the traditions of our forefathers. There may be a political rift so large, that civil war breaks out. But in all of it, our God reigns. He stands from eternity past to eternity future fully in control of the history of humanity. Nothing is out of his control and nothings surprisers him.
2024, like every year since the dawn of creation has been known to God, so we can trust that he is working things out for his return.
As we sing our next song, my challenge for you is to take the blank piece of paper in your bulletin, and list all the things that desire you to be fearful as we enter into the new year. Medical issues that call you to wonder if you’ll make it another year. Social issues that make you wonder what is going on with our youth. Political issues that make you think everything’s rigged. Financial issues that make you think you won’t be able to provide. Or maybe family issues, where there’s broken relationships that need to be mended or people who you know don’t know the Lord. All of it could await us in the new year, so write those things down that are weighing on your mind, God knows what troubles us, let’s be honest with those troubles with him.
Then as you leave today, wad up that list and toss it in the trash can. God’s got it, we don’t need that kind of stress, because our God’s in control. Leave it behind as you exit here and enter a new year.
Let us be a people who’s posture is of victory, because Jesus has already won the war and he is assuredly returning. Amen.
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