“When these things (difficulties/distress in the world and environment) begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:28)
Dear Jesus, you know us well—better than anyone, including our beauty and our brokenness. And you love us with an everlasting, unwavering, more lavish than we can imagine love. If we pondered and prayed nothing else today, we could go ahead and tag a big Amen on this prayer, and get on with the day of worshipping you and serving our neighbors. But there is more.
Thank you a gazillion times over for the gift of perspective-adjustment you are always giving us in your Word. This one verse (Luke 21:28) was timely when you spoke it, and will remain so until your return. Life between your resurrection and return—the whole period, has been and will be marked by difficulty and distress. But this is in response to the victory you already won, not with a view towards it.
Hallelujah, the “big war” is over between your Kingdom and the devil. Your cross accomplished that (Col. 2:15; 1 John 3:8). The devil is filled with fury because he knows his remaining time is short (Rev. 12:12). He is defeated, but not eradicated, but he is defeated. How then do you want us to live in our broken world until your return? What attitude, posture, and emotions are called for until that Day?
We could sit down, and bury our heads in vexing and fear. We hunker down, and devise a plan of survival and attack. We could cower down, and debate which conspiracy is most to blame. Or, Jesus, as you command, we can “stand up and lift up our heads” with hope and joy, because your return is sure and soon. Jesus, you are our life, and we are to live on mission until the Day of all things new, period. So Very Amen.