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“And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.”

Luke 19:11

George Matheson experienced great hardship in his life. He showed enormous academic promise as a young man and was preparing for the ministry when he lost his eyesight. His fiancée was unwilling to marry a man who was blind and broke their engagement. Matheson never married, but he faithfully pastored for many years in Scotland and preached for Queen Victoria when she visited her castle at Balmoral. Today he is best remembered for a poem he wrote on the day of his sister’s wedding which we know as the hymn “O Love that Will Not Let Me Go.”

Matheson wrote, “We commonly associate patience with lying down. We think of it as the angel that guards the couch of the invalid. Yet there is a patience that I believe to be harder—the patience that can run. To lie down in the time of grief, to be quiet under the stroke of adverse fortune, implies a great strength; but I know of something that implies a strength greater still: it is the power to work under stress; to have a great weight at your heart and still run; to have a deep anguish in your spirit and still perform the daily tasks. It is a Christ-like thing! The hardest thing is that most of us are called to exercise our patience, not in the sickbed but in the street.”

One of the main reasons that many people rejected Jesus as the Messiah was that He had not come to establish an immediate earthly kingdom. They had no interest in waiting for the timing that God had ordained—they wanted deliverance immediately. Too often we fail to submit our will to God’s timing for our lives.

“He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.”

Luke 19:12–13

Harry Ironside’s father died when he was a young boy, so he went to work at an early age to help support the family. He got a job with a shoe cobbler who was a devout Christian man. Ironside’s task was to pound the leather for the bottom of the shoes after they were soaked and cut to shape so they would dry. It was a long and tedious task. There was another cobbler in town who skipped that step, using wet leather for the soles. Once Ironside asked him about it, and he pointed out that though the quality was less, it created return business because his customers had to come back for repairs.

When Ironside suggested this measure to his boss, he rejected it—not for financial reasons but for spiritual ones. Ironside wrote, “Mr. Mackay stopped his work and opened his Bible. ‘Harry,’ he said, ‘I do not cobble shoes just for the four bits and six bits that I get from my customers. I expect to see every shoe I have ever repaired in a big pile at the judgment seat of Christ, and I do not want the Lord to say to me in that day, ‘Dan, this was a poor job. You did not do your best here.’ I want Him to be able to say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’”

God has commanded us to be diligent in our work. This is true whether we are at work in the church, on the job, or at home. Every task is worthy of our faithful labor. While the world has devalued diligence and effort, God still sees and rewards those who work faithfully.

“But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.”

Luke 19:14–15

George Bernard Shaw is widely regarded as one of the most influential writers of the English language. His dozens of plays and books made a huge impact on society. But Shaw had no use for God or religion, choosing instead to go his own way. It is said that near the end of his life, he was interviewed by a reporter who asked, “Mr. Shaw, if you could live your life over and be anybody you’ve known, or any person from history, who would you be?” “I would choose,” replied Shaw “to be the man George Bernard Shaw could have been, but never was.”

All of us will one day stand before God to give an account of our lives. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10). We will be measured not by comparing our lives to what others have done, but by how fully we have lived up to the potential that God entrusted to us to use in His work.

God does not give us talents and abilities solely for our own benefit. Each of us have different levels of gifts and resources, and there is coming a day when we will answer to God for how we have used the time and treasure that are His gifts. We are not free agents but servants and stewards.

“Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.”

Luke 19:16–19

There is an old story about a missionary returning to America by boat after many years of faithful service in Africa. When the boat pulled into New York harbor, there was a huge crowd at the docks to welcome it. On that same vessel was former President Teddy Roosevelt, returning from his famous African safari. The crowds cheered and the band played as the people welcomed Roosevelt home. The missionary said that at first he was somewhat disappointed to see the recognition given to the President while he received none, but then he had this thought: the President is home—you are not.

The world may never notice what we do for the Lord. In fact, the more faithful and diligent we are about His business the less popular we are likely to be. Yet God is not interested in whether we become famous and well-liked by the world. Instead He is watching to see whether we have made the most of the talents, resources, abilities, and opportunities He gives to us.

In God’s eyes, small actions done out of love and service for Him matter a great deal. Nothing escapes His notice. Jesus said, “And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward” (Matthew 10:42). Though we think of a drink as being a small thing, the Lord sees even those “little” things and marks them down on our record for when we stand before Him.

“And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.”

Luke 19:20–21

Isidore Baline was born in Russia in 1888 and moved to the United States with his family in 1893, where he was given the name Irving Berlin. Living in abject poverty in New York City, every member of the family, including the children, were expected to work to contribute to their survival. The young boy had little formal education and spent his early years on the streets. In his free time he taught himself to play the piano though he could only play in one key and never learned to read music. Over the next sixty years, Irving Berlin wrote some 1,500 songs, including “God Bless America,” and became one of the most famous and influential songwriters in American history.

All of us have reasons and excuses not to use the talents and abilities God has given to us. The temptation is to hope that someone else will step forward so that we will not have to put forward the effort and exertion to accomplish what needs to be done. But failing to use what we have cheats both God’s work and our own lives. The gifts and resources that we have are not there by accident. God has a plan for us to put them to use in His work.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). No one else is as qualified to do for God the things He has ordained for you as you are. He knew before you were born what He wanted you to do, and purposely equipped you for those tasks. Do not bury the talents and gifts He trusted you to use.

“And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?”

Luke 19:22–23

The British statesman and philosopher Edmund Burke said, “No man ever made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little.” Small things matter, and even if we cannot do a great deal, God expects us to do what we can. A few years ago the English government made one change to their tax collection letters—adding a single sentence—and it increased the clearance rate from 57 percent to 86 percent. The change, suggested by a consultant whose book is called The Small Big, encouraged people to pay by telling them that most other people were doing so. It doesn’t seem like a big thing, but it brought in over 500 million pounds in delinquent tax revenue!

The temptation is for us to focus on the big things and give them our time and attention, while ignoring what seem to be small matters. But there are no little things in God’s kingdom. If we overlook the little things, we miss great opportunities to accomplish things that will matter a lot in the future. “For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth” (Zechariah 4:10). Over and over in Scripture we see small things—a shepherd’s staff, a sling, a boy’s lunch—used by God in powerful ways. We should do our best with whatever we have been given and trust Him to work according to His will in our lives.

“And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.”

Luke 19:24–26

The story of Samson is one of the great tragedies in the Bible. Samson was uniquely empowered by God to fight against the Philistines and deliver the Israelites. He used his great strength to win mighty victories on the field of battle, but his weakness of character led to his downfall. Samson’s desire for Delilah led him to reveal to her the secret of his strength, and she brought in a barber to shave off his hair that had never been cut as part of the Nazarite vow. When his hair was cut, his strength was gone. “And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him” (Judges 16:20).

There are opportunities that come to us only once. If we do not respond, we will lose them. Someone said, “The opportunity of a lifetime must be seized in the lifetime of the opportunity.” There is a principle in play that works in every area of life. If we are faithful and diligent with what we already have, our opportunities will increase. If we are not working as hard as we can with what we already have, we have no good reason to think we should be trusted with more. The way to advance in God’s eyes is not to wait around for a major opportunity, but to be faithful in small things day after day.

“And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.”

Luke 19:29–31

Though British monarchs had been entertained by performers and musicians for centuries, the tradition of a formal performance before the head of state is agreed to have begun in 1848 when Queen Victoria attended “The Merchant of Venice” at Windsor Castle. The Royal Command Performance became a tradition carried on by successive monarchs through the years. The invitation to perform for a king or queen is not really a request—it is a command.

God does not ask us to do things, but rather tells us what He expects. He is the great King, and has every right to command us to do whatever He chooses. We do not have the right to refuse, because we do not belong to ourselves but to Him. “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20).

Everything that God commands is our responsibility to perform. God is high and lifted up, beyond our ability to understand. It is not ours to reason or bargain with Him, but rather to obey completely.

“And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;”

Luke 19:35–37

Hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus, the prophet Zechariah was given a prophetic message regarding the nature of His arrival. “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass” (Zechariah 9:9). What we call the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem was exactly what Zechariah had described.

The picture the world has of our Saviour is a distorted one. Many see Jesus as a revolutionary, working against the power structures of His day. Others view Him as a teacher of peace and non-violence. Some look at Him as a deluded man who claimed Divinity. But Jesus Christ is the very Son of God, and He is the one who has been appointed to rule and reign over the entire world. That was not the purpose of His first coming, but those remaining prophecies will be fulfilled when He returns.

Because of the obedience of Jesus Christ to the will of His Father, God has ordained that all creation will one day acknowledge Him as the rightful ruler. “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10–11).

“Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.”

Luke 19:38–40

Because we live in a world that has been cursed by sin, we cannot fully comprehend how the original creation worked together in perfect harmony to praise and glorify God. There are still traces of His design that can be found by those with eyes to see. David wrote, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork” (Psalm 19:1). The things we see in the natural world are only a shadow of what once was, and what one day will be.

All that God made was designed to praise Him. “Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD” (Psalm 150:6). But the height of God’s creation was man, and it is our special purpose and duty to sound forth His praises. Truly we have much for which to be thankful. The grace of God freely given to us is worthy of eternal and unending praise, and that is just the beginning of the benefits we receive from our loving Father in Heaven.

Just as it was in Jesus’ day, if we praise Him as we should, there will probably be some who think it too extreme—but it is not. No amount of praise from our lips can ever be enough. No words of thanks and gratitude can express what we owe to Him, but we should take every opportunity to tell others the wonderful things God has done for us. The praise of a grateful heart cannot be contained. It overflows like a rushing spring that all can see and hear.

“And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.”

Luke 19:41–42

In 1859, Swiss businessman Jean Henri Dunant traveled to Italy to meet with the French Emperor Napoleon III in hopes of reaching an agreement on a business deal. The French Army was on the field in Italy, and Dunant arrived in Solferino at the end of a horrible battle. The Battle of Solferino left forty thousand soldiers dead or wounded on the field. At the time there was no organized effort to care for those injured in war. Dunant abandoned his commercial purpose and organized the local townspeople to provide relief for those wounded in battle.

When he returned home, Dunant wrote and self-published a book describing the horrors he had witnessed and the lack of response. In 1863, he was instrumental in the founding of what became the International Red Cross. Dunant also helped create and promote the Geneva Conventions which govern the treatment of combatants and civilians in times of war. He made a difference because he cared.

Jesus cared about people. He knew their needs and had compassion on them. He was not a harsh and cruel God, but a Saviour who wept for those He came to save—and for those who rejected Him. Often in the Gospels we see Jesus crying, not for Himself, but for others. “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not” (Isaiah 53:3). God calls us to open our eyes to the needs of those around us. Our hearts should break and be full of compassion just as Jesus’ heart was.

“And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought; Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.”

Luke 19:45–46

It took Solomon seven long years of labor to complete the beautiful temple that would be the permanent home for the Ark of the Covenant. At the dedication for this magnificent building, Solomon led the people in a great service of sacrifice, praise, and worship. The Spirit of God filled the entire building in such a powerful way that the priests were unable to continue in His presence. At the conclusion of the service, Solomon prayed this prayer of dedication over the temple: “That thine eyes may be open upon this house day and night, upon the place whereof thou hast said that thou wouldest put thy name there; to hearken unto the prayer which thy servant prayeth toward this place” (2 Chronicles 6:20).

Today, each Christian is indwelled by the Holy Spirit, and our bodies are referred to as the temple of God. And just as the Old Testament temple was meant to be a house of prayer, so too should our lives be characterized by constant, diligent, effective, passionate praying. A. C. Dixon said, “When we rely upon organization, we get what organization can do; when we rely upon education, we get what education can do; when we rely upon eloquence, we get what eloquence can do, and so on. Nor am I disposed to undervalue any of these things in their proper place, but when we rely upon prayer, we get what God can do.” As the temple of the Holy Spirit, it is our responsibility to see to it that our lives are clean both inside and out, and that our days are filled with prayer.

“And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him, And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.”

Luke 19:47–48

According to a study conducted in 2014, almost 100,000,000 Americans attended at least one sports event for which they paid admission, with many of them going to more than game. Millions more attended concerts, plays, and other performances. Billions of dollars were spent to see and hear other people in action. Beyond that, there are daily games, contests, and shows that draw huge audiences both on television and online.

At the same time people are flocking to entertainment and sporting events, many churches are seeing their attendance dwindle. As a result, many are suggesting new methods to attract crowds, trying to create an artificial sense of excitement and enthusiasm that will attract attention. Others are changing their message, abandoning the Word of God for more “relevant” messages that will be better accepted by the world.

These efforts are doomed to failure. Instead we need to go back to what God directed us to do to reach the world. Jesus said, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me” (John 12:32). Rather than finding the latest method to build a crowd, we need to remember that our responsibility is to preach the truth. Interestingly, although Jesus faced severe opposition to His message by those who didn’t see their need for forgiveness, He never lacked for an audience. The common people heard Him gladly. Even in today’s skeptical and cynical age, preaching that focuses on the Lord and His Word will have an effect. On the pulpit at the Pacific Garden Rescue Mission in Chicago is a reminder for those who speak to the men and women there to keep the message focused on what matters most. It simply reads, “We would see Jesus” (John 12:21).

“And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders, And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?”

Luke 20:1–2

We are most familiar with the United States Supreme Court as an appellate body, hearing cases from lower courts and rendering a legal judgment that settles the matter. But under Article III, Section 2 of the Constitution, they also have original jurisdiction over certain cases, being the first (and last) court that hears the arguments. These cases are rare and generally involve disputes between two states. Most of those have been over boundary disputes or water rights. Whatever the Supreme Court says is the final decision—there is no appeal possible because of the authority they have been granted by the Constitution.

The Supreme Court may have the final authority on legal matters in America, but its authority pales in comparison to the ultimate authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. His authority is complete and unbounded, rising above all human power. “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18). The Saviour does not need permission from anyone regarding anything that He wills or commands. He has the ultimate authority, and when He speaks, He is to be obeyed.

Jesus Christ is not only the ultimate authority, He is the ultimate judge. “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom” (2 Timothy 4:1). Realizing that we will one day give an account to the Lord who knows not just our actions but our very thoughts should motivate us to live in obedience to all that He says.

“And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me: The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not? But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet. And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.”

Luke 20:3–7

In 1982 a war broke out between England and Argentina over control of the Falkland Islands. During the fighting, the British destroyer HMS Sheffield was struck by an Exocet missile fired by an Argentine warplane. Six days later, despite the best efforts of the crew to patch the hole in the hull, heavy seas flooded and sank the ship. An investigation revealed that though radar had detected the incoming missile, because a plane had not been spotted, the warning was not immediately sounded, and no evasive action was taken.

The great danger facing our society today is not primarily an absence of warning and truth, but rather the refusal to heed the warnings being received. This is true of the lost, who hear the message of salvation and reject it. And it is true of the saved, who read or hear the commands of God but refuse to obey them. The Bible is not filled with suggestions. It is not advice from God, but commandments given for our benefit.

The Pharisees tried to trap Jesus by questioning His authority to speak commands from God, but He undid their trap by pointing out that they had refused to believe the message of John the Baptist before Him. Rejecting the truth was nothing new for them—simply a dangerous and destructive pattern of behavior. It will always prove to be the same for us.

“Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time. And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty. And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.”

Luke 20:9–11

Ever since the Fall, mankind has been refusing to accept the gracious provision God has made for salvation through grace. In this story, which Jesus told to highlight the stubborn refusal of the Pharisees to acknowledge the truth of who He was, the focus at the beginning is on the man who planted the vineyard in the first place—a picture of God. We did not create this world we live in and all the natural beauty and resources that make our lives possible, yet all too often we taken them for granted, offering God no thanks or praise for all that He has done.

Our pride does not like to acknowledge that everything we have and are is the result of God’s grace rather than our own effort. We are often not thankful because we do not want to acknowledge that someone else is responsible. Yet ingratitude is the doorway that leads to downfall and destruction. “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened” (Romans 1:21). The jobs, houses, cars, and clothes that we enjoy are not the product of us creating a vineyard, but of God trusting us to work in His vineyard. We owe Him our gratitude for all that He has provided, and we should use these blessings to honor Him.

“And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out. Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him. But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.”

Luke 20:12–14

In 1833, the United States Supreme Court heard a most unusual case. A man named George Wilson was convicted and sentenced to die in the state of Pennsylvania. Influential friends appealed to President Andrew Jackson, who issued a pardon to Wilson. But the condemned man refused to accept the pardon. The authorities were not certain how to proceed, and the case was appealed all the way to the highest court. In United States v. Wilson, the Supreme Court ruled, “A pardon is a deed, to the validity of which delivery is essential, and delivery is not complete without acceptance. It may then be rejected by the person to whom it is tendered; and if it is rejected, we have discovered no power in this court to force it upon him.” George Wilson was hanged because he would not accept the pardon that was offered to him.

Every man and woman born on Earth is born under a death sentence. Jesus said, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18). They need to be warned to seek salvation while there is still time. God has graciously provided a way of escape from the coming judgment through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but that pardon offered must be accepted for it to have effect.

“So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them? He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.”

Luke 20:15–16

The most famous sermon ever preached in America is undoubtedly Jonathan Edwards’ “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” Edwards had preached the sermon in his own church with little effect, but on July 8, 1741, he delivered the message again at a church in nearby Enfield, Connecticut. The impact was immediate. Though Edwards read his message in a nearly monotone voice, the audience was gripped by such intense conviction that people began to openly weep and cry out to God for salvation even as Edwards preached.

He said, “Your wickedness makes you as it were heavy as lead, and to tend downwards with great weight and pressure towards Hell; and if God should let you go, you would immediately sink and swiftly descend and plunge into the bottomless gulf, and your healthy constitution, and your own care and prudence, and best contrivance, and all your righteousness, would have no more influence to uphold you and keep you out of Hell, than a spider’s web would have to stop a falling rock.”

God’s people in our day need another awakening to the reality and awfulness of the place called Hell. This truth is not popular in our day, but in reality it never has been. Lost and dying men do not want to be confronted with the fact that they will give an account to the God who created them. This certain coming judgment should motivate us to diligently work to reach the lost. “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences” (2 Corinthians 5:11).

“And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.”

Luke 20:17–18

For decades the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team traveled across the country and even around the world. Night after night they played another team known as the Washington Generals; and night after night, the Globetrotters always won. Thousands of games played between the two teams always ended with the same result. Some nights the score would be closer than others, but the ultimate outcome was never in doubt. People didn’t go to the games to see who would win, but rather to be entertained and amused as the result they always knew was coming unfolded.

In our society there are many who speak out and stand in opposition to God. Militant atheists continue their efforts to have every mention and trace of Him removed from public life. They loudly proclaim that God does not exist and trumpet their defiance of Him. When they actually see Him in person, however, their response will be different—they will fall at His feet and acknowledge His authority. “For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God” (Romans 14:11).

Though the Christian life is filled with continuing spiritual conflict, the ultimate outcome of the contest has already been decided. God is the victor. None can stand against Him. Even Satan himself will one day be forced to kneel before God, and all who have refused His free offer of salvation will join their leader on their knees before the God they rejected. The struggle between God and man is truly a one sided contest.

“And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them. And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.”

Luke 20:19–20

James Taylor was a big fan of the preacher John Wesley. He was a frequent attender when Wesley preached, especially at outdoor venues. Taylor did not go because he was a believer eager to be inspired and uplifted by the message. Instead, he went because he was a scoffer, and he enjoyed hurling insults—and sometimes rotten vegetables—at the preacher and the crowd. Just before his wedding in 1738, James Taylor went to hear Wesley again, intending to mock as was his habit. But that day Wesley was preaching from Joshua 24 on the topic “As for Me and My House, We Will Serve the Lord.” The Holy Spirit used that text and the impending wedding to bring conviction to James Taylor (grandfather of the famed missionary to China Hudson Taylor) and he was saved.

Many times we hear the Word of God, but are listening for the wrong reasons. We are tempted to apply the truths we hear to others rather than taking the message to our own heart and life. We are tempted to doubt whether the Bible really applies to every situation in our lives. We are even tempted to doubt whether what God says is true. Instead we should be like the Bereans and be careful listeners and students of the Word. “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11).

“Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no? But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me? Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar’s. And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.”

Luke 20:22–25

When Jesus’ enemies were trying to trap Him into giving them a reason to turn Him over to the Roman authorities as a traitor, they focused on the responsibilities of citizens and subjects of the Roman Empire, particularly regarding paying taxes. If Jesus supported paying the tribute, the Jewish patriots would turn against Him; if, on the other hand, He said not to pay, the Romans would be outraged. Jesus avoided the trap by pointing out that we have responsibilities to both civil government and to God—and that God always must come first.

An American preacher named Samuel Davies visited England prior to the Revolutionary War. He visited with notable religious leaders, including the Wesley brothers, and was even invited to preach before King George III. During the message, it is said that the king began talking to his wife about something Davies had said. The bold preacher stopped his message and then said, “When the lion roars, the beasts of the forest tremble; when Jehovah speaks, let the kings of the earth keep silence before him.”

It is not possible for human authorities to change what God has decreed, although that does not stop them from trying. And it is not within the realm of human authority, which is appointed by God, to compel people to go against God’s law. We do have a responsibility to “render unto Caesar” but it is subordinate to our duty to “render to God.” It is never right to violate His commands, no matter what a human government may say.

“Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him, Saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man’s brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.”

Luke 20:27–28

In September of 1862, General Robert E. Lee led the Army of Northern Virginia into Maryland hoping that victories in the north would encourage other nations to recognize the Confederacy and put pressure on the Union to end the war. Lee laid out an ambitious and risky strategy, dividing his army into three units and sending them different directions in hope of catching the Union Army, under General McClellan, off guard.

Lee’s detailed battle plan, Special Order 191, told exactly what he planned to do. Mistakenly, one copy was left behind and discovered by a Union corporal. Yet despite receiving full details of the Rebel plans, General McClellan delayed his response, waiting almost a full day before responding. He had all the information he needed, but because of McClellan’s delay the Battle of Antietam failed to be the smashing victory it could have been. Historians still debate the reasons for McClellan’s failure to act on the information he was given, but there is no question about the negative result.

The Lord has given us all that we need for the Christian life in His Word. When we fail to believe and act on the truth of the Bible, we always go astray. We forfeit the possibility of victory when we fail to take advantage of the wealth of information provided for us. God has given us knowledge of the enemy’s plan of attack and how we can defeat him: “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Corinthians 2:11).

“There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children. And the second took her to wife, and he died childless. And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died. Last of all the woman died also. Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife.”

Luke 20:29–33

The Sadducees of Jesus’ day were proud of their intellectual accomplishments. They viewed themselves as superior to the common people, thinking their education and adoption of elements of the Greek and Roman societies elevated them above others. Yet when they attempted to trap Jesus, as they did in Luke 20, they found themselves hopelessly tangled in their own arguments. The best that they could come up with did not challenge or stress Him in the slightest.

God is far above us, and it is the height of folly to imagine that we can contend with Him. James Weldon Johnson’s poem “The Prodigal Son” begins with these lines:

Young man—
Young man—
Your arm’s too short to box with God.

The only proper response to the Lord is to bow before Him in submission, recognizing His Divine authority and to do whatever He says. Nothing else will do. Job said, “I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand” (Job 9:2–3).

Human knowledge has increased greatly in the past few decades. Year after year new discoveries are made, bringing advances that man has never known before. Yet all of those are old news to God. Nothing ever occurs to Him, surprises Him, or forces Him to rework His plans. Our fallen nature and our pride do not like to admit that anyone is superior to us, but God is far beyond anything we can imagine.

“And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.”

Luke 20:34–36

In 1899, poor health forced D. L. Moody to end his evangelistic campaign in Kansas City and return to his home by Massachusetts. Moody told his family, “I’m not discouraged. I want to live as long as I am useful, but when my work is done I want to be up and off.” The next day Moody realized he was dying. He said, “Earth recedes, Heaven opens before me! It is beautiful. It is like a trance. If this is death, it is sweet. There is no valley here. God is calling me, and I must go.” Death is still with us, but its power over the Christian has already been defeated—and one day death will be gone forever.

Because we have not known life without death, it’s hard for us to picture what things will be like when it’s gone and no one ever dies again. The moment that Adam ate the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, death entered into the world, just as God had warned would happen. From that moment on, every person who has been born has faced the certain prospect of dying. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” (Hebrews 9:27). Many face that prospect with fear, but those of us who have trusted Christ as Saviour have the certain assurance that we will live forever, because the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus ended the power of death to harm those who have placed their trust in Him.

“Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.”

Luke 20:37–38

By some counts, there are almost one thousand names and titles used for God in the Bible. Each of these descriptions tell us more about His nature and character. The expression Jesus used in Luke 20, calling Him “God...of the living” is a powerful one. There have been many deities worshiped by men throughout the years. But all of the worshipers of those false gods have perished. Only Christians have the assurance that because He is God not only of the past, but also of the present and future, we can look forward to eternal life.

God is the God of the living because He is also the God who conquered death. It was not enough for Jesus to die for us, but He also had to rise from the dead, proving His victory over the grave. It is the resurrection of Jesus that promises us eternal life. And without that resurrection, which ensures His promise that we too will be victorious over death, we have no basis for hope in either this life or the next. Paul wrote, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (1 Corinthians 15:19).

I read about a young preacher who was facing his first funeral service. Trying to be sure he would say what he should, he began searching the Bible to find what Jesus said at funerals. What he found was not a message of comfort, but triumph. Three times Jesus came in contact with dead people—and He brought all three back to life! The future may be unknown, but it is nothing to fear.

“And he said unto them, How say they that Christ is David’s son? And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Till I make thine enemies thy footstool. David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?”

Luke 20:41–44

The promise that God made to David concerning the future of his family was given without qualification or limitation: “And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever” (2 Samuel 7:12–13). While some of that promise was fulfilled through Solomon, the unending rule could only be fulfilled by Jesus.

When Jesus came the first time, He was recognized by a number of the Jewish people as the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies regarding the Messiah. But many others rejected Him, despite His ability to trace His ancestry on both His mother’s side as well as on Joseph’s side (though of course He was not related to Joseph because of the virgin birth). The future ruler of Israel had to be the Son of David, and Jesus is.

None of the prophecies about the coming of the Messiah were unfulfilled in the birth, life, ministry, death, or resurrection of Jesus. Yet there remain many prophecies for the future, including the physical reign of Jesus Christ on Earth. The New Testament points out the fulfillment of prophecy, many times, not only to validate the office and work of Jesus, but to give us faith and confidence for the future. The same God who promised an heir to David, and delivered, has given us certain and unshakable promises we can trust.

“Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples, Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts; Which devour widows’ houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.”

Luke 20:45–47

One of the clearest pictures of the lengths to which people will go in order to gain approval from others—and the consequences—is found in the history of the early church. The book of Acts records the story of the wonderful generosity of Barnabas, who sold his land and gave the money to the apostles to meet the needs of the poor of the church. His example of compassion and giving rightly earned him great appreciation. A man named Ananias along with his wife Sapphira decided that they too wanted the praise Barnabas got, but they were not willing to match his generosity.

When they sold their property, Ananias brought part of the money, but presented it to Peter as if they were giving everything to God. They wanted the credit for great sacrifice without actually making the full sacrifice. Peter was alerted to the scheme and confronted Ananias. He did not condemn the failure to give everything, but rather the deception. He said, “Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God” (Acts 5:4).

Both Ananias and Sapphira perished because they were more interested in gaining the praise of men than they were seeking the approval of God. Whenever our great desire is to be thought well of by others, we are on the path to trouble. Seeking praise leads us to cut corners and lower our standards, and frequently lures us into sin.

“And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.”

Luke 21:1–4

Dr. George Truett told of a church meeting where he had been asked to assist with a fund raising campaign for a church that had been struggling financially because the people would not give. He said, “It was the slowest and most reluctant giving I have ever encountered.” When he finished his exhortation and the pledges were taken, they had less than half the money needed. Dr. Truett said that an elderly couple in the back then volunteered to sell their house to make up the difference—they had been offered exactly the amount remaining that needed to be raised for it the day before. But in less than five minutes, the previously stingy congregation rallied to pledge the entire amount so the couple could keep their home. The sacrifice of that couple motivated them to give.

When we realize that all we have belongs to God, it is impossible to justify refusing to give. Sometimes we make the excuse that we do not give because of our lack. But in reality, even small gifts have a big impact. The British statesman and philosopher Edmund Burke said, “No man ever made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little.” The Lord after all does not need our money. We are not helping Him when we give. He is far more concerned about the condition of our heart than the size of our offering.

“And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said, As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

Luke 21:5–6

Charles Spurgeon told of a man who came to him and said that he had been a Christian for forty years, but had never been baptized. Spurgeon said, “I felt grieved that he had so long been disobedient to a known duty, and I proposed to him that he should be baptized at once. It was in a village, and he said that there were no conveniences. I offered to go with him to the brook, and baptize him, but he said, ‘No; he that believeth shall not make haste.’ Here was one who had willfully disobeyed his Lord, for as many years as the Israelites in the wilderness, upon a matter so easy of performance; and yet, after confessing his fault he was not willing to amend it, but perverted a passage of Scripture to excuse him in further delay.”

When we do what God says, we receive the reward of obedience. When we choose instead to go our own way, we receive the penalty of disobedience. In almost every case the problem is not one of knowledge, but of will. It is usually not that we do not know what we should do, but that for one reason or another we do not want to do what God says. Instead we choose to go our own way. Both the Bible and history are filled with examples of the tragic results of persistent disobedience to God. It always leads to destruction. God is not impressed with our rationalizations and excuses for failing to do what He says. He does not grade on a curve. Nothing less than full and complete obedience is what He deserves and what He demands.

“And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.”

Luke 21:7–8

In December of 1985, thousands of people living in and around Washington DC received exciting news in the mail from a company called Flagship International Sports Television. They were told that they had been selected to receive free tickets to the upcoming Washington Redskins and Cincinnati Bengals football game. All they had to do was show up at the Washington Convention Center where after a free brunch they would not only receive their tickets but also be entered into a drawing for free tickets to that year’s Super Bowl as well. Roughly one hundred people responded to the offer, but when they arrived at the convention center they were arrested by U.S. Marshals and Washington D.C. police officers. The notices had been sent to criminals with outstanding warrants whom the police had been unable to find.

Satan has been using deception against God’s children and lost people alike ever since the Garden of Eden. He does it because it works. “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:4). He presents offers that look tempting on the surface but conceal death and destruction within. As Dr. John R. Rice used to say, “All Satan’s apples have worms.” God gives us the duty and responsibility to be alert to what is going on around us so that we are not deceived and led into sin.

“But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.”

Luke 21:9–11

The message of Jesus to His disciples (and to us) regarding the future was not that everything was going to be fine and that there would be no problems to worry about. Instead He said that there would be wars, natural disasters, and all kinds of trouble. Yet despite that grim prospect, He commanded them not to be gripped by fear. Many times we view fear as caused by our circumstances; but in truth, fear is found in our heart, not in what we see around us.

Peter learned this lesson well. When Herod began to persecute the church to stop the spread of the new religion, he first killed James, and then he arrested Peter, intending to kill him as well. The church stayed up all night praying the night before Peter was to be executed. But as for Peter, he went to sleep! In fact he was sleeping so soundly that when the angel came to rescue him, he had to give Peter a good whack to wake him up. “And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands” (Acts 12:7).

Our confidence and lack of fear is not found in the knowledge that nothing will ever go wrong, but in the faith that God is in control. Whether He delivers us by a miracle or welcomes us to Heaven, He makes no mistakes.

“But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake. And it shall turn to you for a testimony.”

Luke 21:12–13

When Mary came to the throne of England in 1553, her greatest desire was to see the nation returned to her Catholic faith. She launched a wave of persecution against those who would not profess allegiance to Rome. Hundreds were killed, leaving her with the name “Bloody Mary.” Two of the victims martyred by Queen Mary were Nicholas Ridley and Hugh Latimer. Both had preached fearlessly under the reign of Henry, but Mary regarded them as heretics.

After a brief show trial, they were condemned to be burned at the stake. As the watching crowd stood by, the two men went to their fate. The executioners used green wood which would burn slowly to prolong the suffering of the condemned men. As he waited for death Latimer called out, “Be of good comfort, Mr. Ridley, and play the man! We shall this day light such a candle by God’s grace, in England, as I trust never shall be put out.”

None of us enjoy enduring hardship or suffering, but God regards these tests as both necessary and valuable: “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” (1 Peter 1:7). In addition to strengthening our character, trials present us with an opportunity to show to all around us that faith is real. Our faith is not just meant for the church and home, but for the hospital, the unemployment line, and the cemetery. Whatever hardships we may face, even the threat of persecution and death, let us be found faithful.

“Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.”

Luke 21:14–15

The great issues of life are all determined in the heart. When our hearts are right, our outward attitude and conduct will be as well. When our hearts are wrong, it will come through. Jesus warned His disciples of the need to have their hearts settled before the days of trouble came. Many times we fail to pass a test or resist a temptation because we have not previously settled our hearts regarding a matter. The time to choose to do right is before the challenge comes, not when we are facing it.

Daniel was ripped away from his home and family as a young boy and taken hundreds of miles away from home. He was placed into a carefully designed program meant to take his devotion away from his nation and his God and turn him into a loyal subject of the Babylonian Empire. They changed his name, his clothing, his schooling, and even tried to change his diet. Their program had a great success rate, but it did not work on him, because Daniel’s heart was settled. “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself” (Daniel 1:8).

When we are put to the test, what we love most is revealed. Most of the other Hebrew young men who were taken to Babylon apparently went along with the program of their captors, but Daniel and three of his friends did not. They loved the God of their fathers more than they loved comfort or success or even life itself.

“And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls.”

Luke 21:16–19

One of the most important traits of the Christian life is patience. We live in a “hurry up” world. It takes too long to cook a meal, so we have microwaves. It takes too long to go to the bank, so we make deposits with our phones. It takes too long to develop a skill, so we have apps to help us along. Yet nothing of lasting value can ever be accomplished unless we are willing to invest the time, diligence, and effort to achieve it—and the lack of patience is one of the greatest enemies of doing things that matter.

Patience is most put to the test when we encounter difficulties and tests that seem to have no end. That is when we have the greatest opportunity to demonstrate our faith in action, as we faithfully work and wait to see what God will do. George Matheson said: “To run with patience is a very difficult thing. Running is apt to suggest the absence of patience, the eagerness to reach the goal. We commonly associate patience with lying down. There is a patience which I believe to be harder—the patience that can run. To lie down in the time of grief, to be quiet under the stroke of adverse fortune, implies a great strength; but I know of something that implies a strength greater still: It is the power to work under a stroke; to have a great weight at your heart and still to run; to have a deep anguish in your spirit and still perform the daily task. It is a Christ-like thing!”

“And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.”

Luke 21:20–22

In 1876, a wealthy businessman named Charles Taze Russell became convinced that the Lord would return to Earth in April of 1878. He sold his businesses, worth millions of dollars in today’s money, and used the money to fund various publications promoting this doctrine. Russell began preaching and teaching that time was short, and that people must repent. Many believed Russell. Some even put on white robes and went and stood on hillsides on the appointed day, certain that the Lord was about to return. Of course Jesus did not come back then. Russell wasn’t just wrong on the date itself; his entire doctrine was built on a false basis—that it is possible to know exactly when the Rapture will take place.

The Bible instructs us instead to be wise, using the time that we have to the fullest for God. We will not know the moment of His return, but we certainly can and should understand the events that are unfolding around us and what they mean. Jesus warned His hearers—who would still be alive when the Roman army came to subdue Jerusalem some forty years later—that they should not expect Divine deliverance, but should rather flee from the coming violence of war. The plan of God is not for us to know His schedule for the end time events, but it is also not for us to be blindly ignorant of what we see happening around us. We need to be careful students of the Scriptures to rightly grasp what is happening, and what is coming next.

“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.”

Luke 21:25–26

During World War II, American military hero General George Patton was interviewed following the successful invasion of Sicily. The dashing Patton was renowned for always being on the attack. When the interviewer praised his courage, General Patton replied, “Sir, I am not a brave man. The truth is, I am an utter craven coward. I have never been within the sound of gunshot or in sight of battle in my whole life that I wasn’t so scared that I had sweat in the palms of my hands.” The difference between Patton and others was not that he was never afraid, but that he was not controlled by his fears. In his autobiography Patton wrote, “I learned very early in my life never to take counsel of my fears.”

The Bible does not promise us that nothing bad will ever happen to us or that things will always be easy. Instead it tells us that there will be trouble and pain. But it does promise that we can have victory over our fears. The first step is to recognize the source of fear. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). Fear does not come from God. But the Holy Spirit gives us what we need to overcome our fears and do what He has called us to do without regard to whether we understand how things will work together. That is His responsibility, and in faith we conquer our fear by relying on God to do all things well.

“And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”

Luke 21:27–28

The Irish evangelist Dr. Henry Guinness used this illustration of the Second Coming. “I heard The Messiah with great delight last evening. Now if a man had asked me after the performance had proceeded a couple of hours how long I thought it would continue, I would have answered, ‘About five minutes.’ ‘But,’ the man might have expostulated, ‘how can that be? It is in full swing, has been going on for two hours, and I see no reason why it should not continue for two hours longer. How do you know it will be over in five minutes?’ Then I should have answered him, ‘Because I have the score.’”

There are even more promises in the Bible regarding the Second Coming than there are about the first appearing of Jesus. In the 270 chapters of the New Testament, scholars find more than three hundred references to the return of the Lord. We may not see many signs of hope in our world. It may seem like things are getting darker and darker, and there is nothing good to which to look forward.

For the Christian, the days may be dark, but there is a bright light at the end of the book where the Bible tells us that Jesus is going to come back. There have now been almost two thousand years since Jesus returned to Heaven, but the promise made that day will be kept. “Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).

“And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.”

Luke 21:29–31

In the time of Christ, the Mount of Olives, which Jesus often crossed going to and from Jerusalem, had many fig trees. They were a staple of the Jewish economy, providing one of the major cash crops on which the people depended. One of the signs of the coming summer season, which Jesus used to illustrate future events, was when the leaves emerged on the fig trees. These were the last trees to bud in the late spring, so when the leaves appeared it clearly indicated that the change of seasons was at hand.

The plan of God for the future is settled and certain, but He has not chosen to reveal His timing to us. Jesus said, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only” (Matthew 24:36). Many have set specific dates for the Lord’s return in violation of His Word, but they have all been proven wrong. Some of us remember the smash best-selling book from years ago called “88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988.” Millions of copies were sold, but the follow up called “89 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1989” did not sell nearly as well.

The point of the parable of the fig tree is not to set a date for the Lord’s return, but to remind us that it is both certain, as summer has always followed the leaves, and will not be long delayed. Remember that God’s timing is not ours, and what seems many years to us is but a moment to Him.

“Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.”

Luke 21:32–33

From the time of Aristotle until the 1800s, the belief in spontaneous generation of life was widespread. The leading scientists thought that living things could come from dead matter. The teaching was commonly accepted and few even thought of challenging it. Then the great scientist Louis Pasteur conducted a series of experiments that conclusively demonstrated that life did not spring from dead matter. By sterilizing and sealing his test subjects, Pasteur showed that despite what had long been confidently believed, life only comes from other living things, just as God described in His Word.

Over and over throughout history the things that many, or even most, people believed have been proven to be false. Seemingly solid scientific and historical knowledge has been shaken as new discoveries have undermined what was previously thought to be certain. Those who trust in the Word of God never have that problem. Though what God said has been challenged by skeptics and doubters through the centuries, it has never wavered and never been proved false. That is because it is completely true.

The Word of God is a reflection of the nature and character of God. It never changes, and it is never in error. There are no mistakes in Scripture, and no one who trusts in the Word of God will ever be shaken when it proves not to be true. That is the basis on which our faith rests—and it is solid and trustworthy. “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (2 Timothy 2:19). Faith is only as good as the object of belief, and faith in the Bible is never in vain.

“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”

Luke 21:34–36

According to the Greek historian Herodotus, when Cyrus marched on the city of Babylon, he was unable to breach the walls or defeat the defenses of that great city. Unsure of how to proceed, he withdrew the main body of his force, leaving a token siege around Babylon. Finally he came up with a plan. The great Euphrates River flowed through Babylon, providing it with a source of fresh water that allowed them to stand off enemy armies.

Cyrus moved far enough away from the city so his workers could not be seen and then began digging great basins near the river. The work took months, but when everything was finally ready, they breached the river banks and diverted the flow of water away from the river bed. Under the cover of darkness when the drop in the water was not seen, the army was able to creep under the wall of the city in the nearly dry river bed and conquer the strong citadel.

We must never let down our guard. There is never a day that passes without the threat of an attack from Satan. Peter warned, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). I imagine that when the Holy Spirit inspired him to write those words, Peter remembered the night when his guard was down and he denied the Lord three times. Thank God for His grace that restores us when we do fall, but it is better to never let down our guard.

“Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them. And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.”

Luke 22:3–6

During the second Persian invasion of Greece by Xerxes, the vastly outnumbered Greeks led by King Leonidas of Sparta held the narrow pass at Thermopylae where they were able to hold off the Persians who could only attack in small groups. For two days the Greek forces held firm, until a local Greek man named Ephialtes led the Persians to a path that allowed them to attack the Greeks from behind. Leonidas and most of his men perished because they had been betrayed.

There is a war taking place in our world between light and darkness, between good and evil, between God and Satan. Every one of us who are saved has a duty and responsibility to perform in this war, yet too often we find ourselves fighting for the wrong side. “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4).

The church is not making the impact it should on the world in large part because too many Christians are not engaged in the battle. There is no place in God’s plan for non-combatants. Every Christian is called to active resisting Satan and stand for truth: “Fight the good fight of faith…” (1 Timothy 6:12). Even worse there are some who are helping the enemy. Though we do not like to think of it that way, when we allow unconfessed and continuing sin in our lives, we are siding with the enemy. We cannot truthfully profess loyalty to Christ while privately making friends with sin.

“And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.”

Luke 22:10–12

In his book Prayer, Asking and Receiving, Dr. John Rice told the story of his decision to go to Bible college. Times were hard, and his family had no money to pay for his tuition. After praying for God to meet the need, Dr. Rice rode his horse to a small bank to see if he could borrow the money for the first semester until he could get a job at the school to pay it back. The banker simply asked how long he needed the money and approved the loan. A man standing nearby protested that the banker had just told him he was unable to make six month loans due to the bad economy. The banker explained that John Rice had done him a favor (Dr. Rice had helped him with his peach trees), and he was making the loan.

God knows what we need before we need it, and He knows how those needs will be met. We do not often see His plan revealed ahead of time. Usually it is only in looking back that we are able to see how God arranged every detail to accomplish His purpose and provide for us. God never fails His children. David wrote, “And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee” (Psalm 9:10). God has never faced a challenging problem. He already knows the solution even before we seek His help.

“And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

Luke 22:14–16

What we commonly call the Last Supper was the observance of Passover by Jesus and His disciples in Jerusalem the night before Jesus’ crucifixion. Though He had told them that He would die in Jerusalem they did not really understand what was about to happen. But with full knowledge of the plan that His Father had set in place even before the creation of the world, Jesus celebrated the feast that commemorated the deliverance of Israel from Egypt and foreshadowed His death as the Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world.

In the Jewish culture of Jesus’ day there was a wonderful feast that accompanied the celebration of a wedding. Friends and family would gather and spend time together enjoying a special meal—one they had looked forward to since the wedding had been announced months before. Though they did not know exactly when it would happen, they eagerly anticipated the announcement of the arrival of the bridegroom.

The Bible uses this as a picture of what will happen after Jesus returns. There will be a great feast, and it is one that not only we but the Lord Himself is eagerly looking forward to celebrating. “And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God” (Revelation 19:9). We have an appointment with our Saviour. Though we do not know exactly when it will be, we know it is certain. This truth should encourage us every day.

“And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.”

Luke 22:17–20

In France, in the early 1960s, a new form of crime emerged. Daring thieves began stealing valuable paintings and holding them for ransom. The so called “art-napping” trend followed the rise in the value of paintings during the 1950s. The owners of museums and collections were faced with a difficult choice. They could either pay for what was rightfully theirs in the first place, or perhaps lose it forever. Many of them paid to have their paintings returned, thinking that it was more important to have the masterpieces back than to have the money it would cost to recover the items.

We belonged to God by right of creation, but sin separated us from Him. Lost people have no hope of saving themselves. The only hope is for the price for our sins to be paid for us—but that price is far more than any amount of money. Peter wrote, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19).

The enormity of our debt to God because of sin demanded a payment beyond human comprehension. But Jesus willingly paid it for us. Every day of our lives should be lived in gratitude to the Lord for His sacrifice.

“And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.”

Luke 22:24–26

On the night before the crucifixion, when Jesus was talking to the disciples about how He was looking forward to Heaven and explaining once again His role as the sacrifice for sin, the disciples were arguing over which of them should have the most prominent role in His kingdom. They were filled with pride and came into conflict. The Greek word translated strife indicates not just a conflict, but an eagerness to do battle.

At the root of our strife is the insistence that pride makes on having preeminence and having our own way. “Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom” (Proverbs 13:10). It is hard for us to overcome pride because it appeals to us so much. Benjamin Franklin wrote, “There is perhaps no one of our natural passions so hard to subdue as pride. Beat it down, stifle it, mortify it as much as one pleases, it is still alive. Even if I could conceive that I had completely overcome it, I should probably be proud of my humility.”

We do not often recognize pride in our own lives, though we easily detect it in others. Rather than humbling ourselves as God commands, we indulge our pride and feel much better about ourselves than we should. This inevitably brings us into conflict with those around us and destroys the unity that should characterize Christians. When our focus is on ourselves rather than on God, we will find it easy to fall into the trap of pride.

“For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

Luke 22:27–30

During World War II when England was under siege and it appeared that the Germans might invade at any moment, the British military urgently needed the support of the mine workers who dug out the coal that fueled the war effort. Winston Churchill met with the labor union leaders to urge them to encourage their men to work diligently. The gifted orator described the great parade that would be held in Picadilly Circus when the war was won. Churchill said that after the soldiers and airmen and sailors, the great line of workers would follow. “What did you do during the war?” they would be asked and the answer would be, “We were deep in the earth with our faces to the coal.”

There is little fame or glory in this world for servants, but God sees those who are faithful even when they are not noticed by others. Even more He sees into our hearts and knows not only what we do but what motivates what we do. Jesus, the Lord of Heaven and Earth, was willing to humble Himself and bow down as a servant. The example of Jesus washing the feet of the disciples in the Upper Room is more talked about than copied. Too many of His children are not willing to pick up the towel and serve. Instead we want to be noticed and receive service from others, but that is not the pattern Jesus set for us.

“And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.”

Luke 22:31–34

Before John Hinckley, Jr. shot President Ronald Reagan, in March of 1981, in an assassination attempt, he was virtually unknown. Yet in the aftermath of the near killing of the president, a thorough investigation revealed that Hinckley had actually been working on an attack that would make him famous for quite some time (he thought it would attract the attention of an actress). Photos of events held by the previous President, Jimmy Carter, revealed Hinckley in attendance. He had been looking for an opportunity to strike for some time, and took it when it was presented.

Every Christian has a real, active, evil opponent who is always working against us and looking for an opportunity to strike. In our own strength we have no hope of defeating him. However, God does not send us into this conflict alone. He gives us armor that is able to protect us from attack—and we need it. “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). Any day we do not put on our armor is a day when we are headed for defeat. The devil doesn’t fight fair. He does not wait for us to get ready before he attacks. He does not give warning of his intentions. He uses every weapon at his disposal to bring us down. That truth should make us sober, active, aware, and alert every day.

“And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing. Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.”

Luke 22:35–36

In faith and obedience, Abraham took his promised son Isaac to Mount Moriah to offer him as a sacrifice as God commanded. He had waited and hoped and prayed for decades for the birth of a son that had been promised to him, but even with all that Isaac meant to him, Abraham did not hesitate to obey God. After Abraham built the altar and placed Isaac on it, God stopped Abraham, providing a ram for a sacrifice in a beautiful picture of Jesus serving as the substitute for our sins.

When the sacrifice of the animal was complete, Abraham rejoiced in what God had done: “And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen” (Genesis 22:13). The name Jehovah-Jireh has a dual meaning, both “God sees” and “God provides.” Our good God not only sees our needs, but He stands willing and able to meet them as we cry out for His help.

Someone once described an atheist as, “A man with no invisible means of support.” When we trust in God we are not foolish, but faithful. He has all of the resources available to go above and beyond any need we will ever face. The great burdens and struggles that challenge us do not tax His abilities. He never has to call for backup or dip into a reserve fund. He is abundantly able to provide all that we need. Our responsibility is to act in faith, believing He will provide.

“And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,”

Luke 22:39–41

One of the most famous human figures in all of Greek mythology was the great warrior Achilles. His exploits were told by Homer in the Iliad. Achilles had no equal on the field of battle and could not be defeated. According to the legend, his mother had dipped him in the River Styx when he was a baby. But since she held him by his foot, his heel was not protected, and eventually Achilles died after being shot in the foot with an arrow. Even today we speak of the “Achilles’ heel” as a place of vulnerability.

As Christians we do not need or believe in mystical waters or legends to protect us—but we do have an enemy fighting against us on a daily basis, and we do need God’s protection. That protection is found in prayer. Over the years I’ve counseled many Christians who have been ensnared by sin. I’ve never yet met one who fell who was diligently and regularly praying for protection from temptation. That is our greatest defense, and yet it is one we all too often neglect.

We simply do not take Satan as seriously as we should. He is not a comic figure with a forked tail and a pitchfork. He is a powerful being created by God who has turned that power to evil ends, and we have no hope of fighting him in our own strength. Even, “Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee” (Jude 1:9). We must pray.

“Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”

Luke 22:42–44

In the Garden of Gethsemane, on the night before His crucifixion, Jesus poured out His heart in prayer to His Father. He knew what He would face the next day. As agonizing as the physical suffering of the cross would be, it was nothing next to the burden of our sins that He would take on Himself. Yet even in that moment of great struggle, Jesus did not use prayer as a way to insist on what He wanted. His prayer was in complete submission to God’s will. He wanted what His Father wanted more than what He wanted, even though He knew what the Father’s will would cost Him.

Many people struggle with knowing how to make the right decisions and do what God wants. If we are to know His plan, then we must be willing to do it even if it is not what we would choose. The Christian who wants God’s will must be a student of God’s Word. On the subject of making decisions George Muller said, “I do not leave the result to feeling or simple impression. If I do so, I make myself liable to great delusions. I seek the will of the Spirit of God through, or in connection with, the Word of God. The Spirit and the Word must be combined. If the Holy Ghost guides us at all, He will do it according to the Scriptures and never contrary to them.” If we are obeying what we know from the Bible, we will be doing what God wants us to do.