“What is he saying?” my husband asked. “Lightbulb bump,” our toddler grandson repeated. He had just heard me relay a message from his mother. The lightbulb in the guest bathroom is out, and the sun shades on the back porch were bumping all night in the wind. Would he change the bulb and roll up the shades before evening? Thomas officially combined the two into one request. Lightbulb bump. It made perfect sense to him. How could Poppy not understand what he was saying?
We’ve all been misunderstood. It can be comical or downright frustrating. Imagine God, who through His Son said He is the Truth. (John 14:6) God who has always existed, who created humans in His image for fellowship and worship, who abides by His Spirit in and with His children- imagine what emotions stir in His divine breast when we fail to hear Him, though we have His Word made flesh, preserved in the pages of scripture for all time.
Jesus said, ”Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.”
He continued, “Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life.
Don’t let that day catch you unaware, like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth.
Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.”“
Luke 21:33-36 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.21.33-36.NLT
It’s easy to miss that third warning. We see the carousing and drunkenness and click our tongues and carry on without noticing how Jesus equates being obsessed with this life with substance abuse. We see in several other Biblical translations phrases like “hearts weighed down with the anxieties of life,” (NIV) or “hearts weighed down by self-indulgence and worldly worries.” (AMP)
We also find “hearts loaded down with wasteful living,” (NIRV) and “hearts grieved with busynesses of this life.” (WBMS)
Now our defenses are up and we’re leaning into the victim mentality. Surely God doesn’t condemn those of us who are working hard, doing all we can to make ends meet. Surely we’re not going to be judged for enjoying a little self-indulgence. What is Jesus saying? As drunkenness dulls the senses, so our concern for this day to day life can so consume our thoughts that when Jesus returns, we’ll be caught completely off guard.
”But take heed to yourselves and be on your guard, lest your hearts be overburdened and depressed (weighed down) with the giddiness and headache and nausea of self-indulgence, drunkenness, and worldly worries and cares pertaining to [the business of] this life, and [lest] that day come upon you suddenly like a trap or a noose;“
Luke 21:34 AMPC
https://bible.com/bible/8/luk.21.34.AMPC
”Jesus said, “Don’t misunderstand why I have come.
I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.
I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved.
So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven.
But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.“
Matthew 5:17-19 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.5.17-19.NLT
Taking a knee and pointing to heaven is no longer enough. All people used to understand what this meant- All Glory To God- but no more! What was once universally perceived as humbly giving honor to God has morphed into more of taking a bow while waiting for applause, a victory stance of sorts. In His sermon on the mount, Jesus opened with a series of blessings to attain followed by a purpose statement for every believer.
”“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.
No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.
In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.“
Matthew 5:14-16 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.5.14-16.NLT
”But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me.”
Luke 21:13 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.21.13.NLT
Jesus was in the temple teaching when his listeners became distracted by the ornate stonework around them. Though not the temple of Solomon, it was surely wondrous to behold. Still, He would not be upstaged by the brick and mortar dwelling place meant to point all people to Him!
”But Jesus said, “The time is coming when all these things will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!”
“Teacher,” they asked, “when will all this happen? What sign will show us that these things are about to take place?”
He replied, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and saying, ‘The time has come!’ But don’t believe them.“
Luke 21:6-8 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.21.6-8.NLT
Me! You’re supposed to be looking for Me! Jesus goes on to describe a time of wars, earthquakes, famine, plagues, and persecution. He points to signs in the heavens, betrayal and murder, calling them days of God’s vengeance when the prophetic words of the Scriptures will be fulfilled. (Luke 21:22 NLT)
So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!”“
Luke 21:28 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.21.28.NLT
”By standing firm, you will win your souls.“
Luke 21:19 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.21.19.NLT
”All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.“
Jude 1:25 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jud.1.25.NLT
”“You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power.
For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”“
Revelation 4:11 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/rev.4.11.NLT
”There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.
However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ.
That is why the Scriptures say, “When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.”
Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world.
And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.
Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.
This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching.
We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.
Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.“
Ephesians 4:5, 7-16 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/eph.4.5-16.NLT
”Since all these things are on the verge of being dismantled, don’t you see how vital it is to live a holy life?
We must be consumed with godliness while we anticipate and help to speed up the coming of the day of God,“
2 Peter 3:11-12 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/2pe.3.11-12.TPT
We must keep our eyes on Jesus and keep pointing others to Him until He comes again. Make no mistake, He is coming.
”“Look! I am coming soon!
I bring my rewards with me. I will reward each person for what they have done.“
Revelation 22:12 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/rev.22.12.NIRV
Jesus, Only Jesus
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