Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 21 : 8-19 "A BIBLICAL WORLD-VIEW NEEDED"
Day 258 – Luke 21
Text: Luke 21 : 8-19
A BIBLICAL WORLD-VIEW NEEDED
The Disciples had learned many deep and important lessons concerning faith in God! They had discovered many great truths concerning the Kingdom of God! They had learned to have an ever-deepening faith in their Master. Each day, every day saw them learn deep lessons! Some of these lessons were difficult to grasp let alone yet master. Relentlessly, their Master kept teaching. The Disciples needed to have a faith and a Biblical world-view as well.
If some people were to ask us what kind of a world-view we possess, what would we say? Unfortunately, few have developed a world-view that enables them to see life from a Biblical perspective.
WHAT WILL THE WORLD BE LIKE IN THE FUTURE?
A child’s perspective of the world is often imaginary and unrealistic. That is understandable. Their knowledge level is limited and thus they would not be able to come up with an adequate world-view!
Young people may not be able to have a truly Biblical world-view too! When one is young, the desire and drive to succeed can be very strong. Many think in terms of achievements and success.
What about adults? Not very many people have spent time cultivating a Biblical world-view! Many are just so caught up with the mundane things of life to the point that they are not able to add a spiritual perspective at all! There is some kind of a world-view, but that perspective is usually not well defined or well developed!
A WORLD IN TURMOIL
Jesus sought to teach His Disciples how they should see the world! His view-point must have been most startling. At first glance Jesus’ teaching concerning the world appears very dismal. At a deeper level, we will recognize that His perspective, His world-view was indeed accurate and very sobering as well!
“But when you hear of wars and commotions,
do not be terrified;
For these things must come to pass first,
But the end will not come immediately.”
Luke 21:9
What a shock the Disciples must have had when they heard these words from the mouth of their Teacher! WAR! COMMOTIONS! Who would not be shocked by these words!
Everybody wishes and dreams about peace on earth! Many work hard at promoting peace! Yet, the sad fact remains that wars have been a blight on humanity since the very beginning! Jesus’ world-view considered the fact that WAR would engulf many nations!
A world-view that includes the possible prospect of war is breath-takingly deep! Does our world-view include the possibility of war? (Even as we read this passage, we are aware of the fact that war was declared on terrorism by the United Nations. The declaration made by the UN is that of a protracted war against acts of terrorism. If terrorism cannot be wiped out by offensive means, then we are talking about the kind of war that Jesus understood would engulf the world. Jesus was absolutely right in His world-view)!
“THE END WILL NOT COME IMMEDIATELY…” Luke 21:9
“The End…” – what sobering words those are! These words reveal a perspective that not everybody will agree with!
There are some who think that life is just “cyclical”. The world will go through various cycles! Every generation will go through similar cycles.
There are others who believe that life as we understand it will go on interminably. There will be some changes, but life goes on forever!
The view of the Lord Jesus was quite different. How shall we describe His world-view? The following points may be highlighted:-
1. It is in part cyclical. Ecclesiastes 3 teaches us that life must be interpreted and understood in terms of seasons. Time and seasons must be part of the way in which we understand life.
2. However, Jesus also saw life as having an “End”. This tells us that His view of life was both cyclical and linear. Life as we know it may seem interminable and cyclical. But there will come an end. There is a terminal point somewhere!
3. However lest there be misunderstanding, Jesus added, “But the end will not come immediately.” Of course Jesus had to add these words to His teaching, otherwise people could be panic-stricken!
Does our world-view include a terminal point?
“DO NOT BE TERRIFIED…” Luke 21:9
Nobody is ever fully ready to face the fact that war is going to be a part of the world’s scenario. It is understandable that people can be terrified with the thought of the prospect of war.
Jesus was not teaching His Disciples about warfare. He was simply teaching His Disciples that in their view of life, they must include the prospect of war!
War will come! War is ugly but inevitable! War brings untold suffering to victims especially! War will always be a spectre that haunts mankind!
Jesus knew that war would come to Jerusalem as well. He knew just why war would be waged against the Jews. Sin is the deep, underlying reason why war was always be on the horizon!
“THESE THINGS MUST COME TO PASS…” Luke 21:9
How chilling these words are! “Wars and commotions…” All in the plural! Jesus taught these things with calmness of soul. Prophetic studies must be studied with a deep faith in God! Does our faith enable us to be strong enough to accept Jesus’ world-view?