The parable of the wedding feast [Mat 22:1-14 – the guests of honour at a prince’s wedding decline the invitation and the king sends for people who were initially unworthy to attend the event to come and replace them. As they are about to eat, he spots someone without wedding clothes amongst the guests and asks: 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' Unable to answer, the guy is tied up and thrown into the 'outer darkness.'] reminds us that it is not all to enter into the kingdom of Heaven; there is also a dressing, a code of conduct and a protocol to observe. We do not do what we want in God’s presence. We are not saved to live the life that we want and do things our way.
Mat 24.1-2, “Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, "You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down." This is a stern reminder of the fact that all the wonderful things that we presently admire in the world will pass away. They will all disappear one day. Jesus’ answer is an invitation to set our hearts and attention on that which is timeless.
Mat 24:12-13, “Because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” I had never paid attention to the beginning of verse 12 which actually has a causal relationship with what follows. The love of many waxes cold BECAUSE iniquity increases. Come to think of it, when I look at my own life, I realise how true this is and how much I need to persevere and guard my heart. For many years I strived to live like the early Christians, widely opening my door to brethren. I thought every Christian was filled with the love of Christ and wanted to please the Lord just like me. However, after many blows, some of which even nearly costing me my life, I became disillusioned and now handle Christians with very long tweezers. Likewise, I have seen many Christians withdraw into themselves after being offended and wounded in the church: love grew cold… This is why we really need to contain lawlessness as much as possible by engaging in spiritual warfare in order to push the territorial boundaries of wicked spirits as farther away as possible.
So, Jesus announces the end to His disciples and describes its warning signs. The thing seems settled. Yet, He tells them (24:21-22): “Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.” In other words, although the thing is inevitable, they still have a little room for maneuvering. This gives me a brand new perspective on irremediable events and situations. I realise that God always gives me an area, however small it may be, where I can act in prayer. He tells them to pray that those calamities should not happen in winter or on a Sabbath because He knows that God will grant their request. This reminds me of when the Lord decided to punish David after the census (2 Sam 24). It was impossible to avoid the chastisement and it would have been totally pointless begging for the Lord’s mercy. However, God left him the choice of the punishment (just as Jesus left the choice of the day and season to the disciples): "Shall three years of famine come to you in your land? Or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days' pestilence in your land? Now consider, and decide…" David chose the pestilence…
May God grant you Peace and Grace this week.
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