When You See These Things

​Luke 21:28 ~ “Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
 
There will come the days of tribulation that will encompass the entire world and bring to an end the wickedness of earth and establish forever the kingdom and reign of the LORD Jesus Christ. Before that time, circumstances will become so dreadful for God’s people that it will seem as if the entire world has taken one great stand against those who belong to Jesus. In Luke 21:12-13 Jesus says, “But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness.” There is a tendency to think of hardships and persecutions as contrary to the Divine will, as if they were outside of the sovereign control of the Almighty. Yet it is through these things that the sifting of the world takes place, revealing those who belong to Christ and those who do not. It is also a time for true believers to show their faith and bear witness of Christ. We are reminded in Mark 13:13, “And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” Are you prepared to walk with Jesus in times like this?
 
As we look to our text today, we first read, “Now when these things begin to take place.” And this is where we start: there is a certainty of troubled times. It does not say “if” these things take place, or “perhaps” these things take place. It is a definite promise of the LORD that times of trouble will happen. If we take just a casual glance at the history of the church from the day of our LORD’s ascension, we will witness a great hatred from the world for those who belong to Christ. Acts 8:1 states, “And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.” We find this to be true later in the church when Paul wrote to the Thessalonian believers, “Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring” (1 Thessalonians 1:4). And, like birth pains that indicate the coming of a child (see Matthew 24:8), these sufferings and persecutions will only grow in intensity until the LORD returns.
 
So, then, what is a Christian to do when these times come upon us? How should we consider such suffering? Many might think that to hide is the only prescribed method of dealing with such tribulation. But our text today continues with this, “straighten up and raise your heads.” These commands of our LORD must be obeyed. It is as if the LORD is talking to those who are bowed down with the weight of grief and sorrow, and it could be that very condition that the LORD would find some in. Yet He commands His people to “straighten up.” This means to look up with elation! Let joy lift your drooping shoulders and hope strengthen your spine. You might hear the psalmist in your heart even now crying out, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” (Psalm 42:11). And then we are told to raise our heads. This is to take an exalted posture. This is just the opposite of a defeated stance, where there is no victory and no triumph. For in Christ, we have the victory! 1 John 5:4 declares, “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”
 
And, beloved, we can straighten up and raise our heads because of the final statement of our text today, “your redemption is drawing near.” Every sorrow brings us through more “birth pains” which indicate the coming of eternal life, and every day brings us closer to the return of our King, the LORD Jesus. All those who despise and reject our LORD will be vanquished and all who belong to Christ will rise up in glorious victory. And though we haven’t entered into the greatest days of difficulty, even now we can look upon the challenges and persecutions laid upon the church and know that our redemption is near at hand—for it is promised by Him who cannot lie. Let us, then, look up in joy and lift our heads in victory, for, as Peter says, “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8-9).
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

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