A Dash of Salt

He's Coming on a Cloud

The War on Terror. Global warming. Iraq.  Palestine.  WMDs.  MAD.  Earthquakes.  Famines.  Katrina.  Tsunami.  Chaos, catastrophes and calamities.  The world's a sad, sad place. 

Yet in spite of all of this, be at peace and be encouraged because Jesus is in charge and He's coming back. 

I don't mean to trivialize any human suffering.  Read Luke 21:5-38 and think about what Jesus has predicted will happen.  As you thoughtfully read this chapter, what discourages you?  What do you see that gives you hope?  How should you and I respond to Jesus' prophecy of his second coming?

The bottom line is this: the human race cannot destroy itself and this planet.  The End will occur when Jesus returns.  Until then we must work for peace and justice and protect the environment as stewards of God.  But remember that we cannot annihilate ourselves into extinction. 

Of all the things Christ could have preached about during his last week on earth, why do you think He chose to talk about the End Times?  ("The Olivet Discourse" -- as this passage is known since it was taught from atop the Mount of Olives overlooking Jerusalem -- was given just a few days prior to the Last Supper and Jesus' crucifixion.)

What's After Forgiveness?

What a feeling of relief when we know we've been forgiven!  Now what are we supposed to do?

Think about how various people reacted to Jesus healing the paralyzed man in Luke 5:24-26.  Why did the man continually praise God?  What was he grateful for?  Do you think fully realized that he had been not just healed but also forgiven?  Notice Luke’s colorful language to describe the crowd’s response: “amazement took them all” (literal translation).  What did the crowd of onlookers say?  How did they respond?  Why were they afraid?

Compare Colossians 1:10-14 and Ephesians 4:31-32.  How should Christians respond when we know that we have been forgiven? Forgiveness inspires worship and more forgiveness.  Pass it on.