“By your endurance you will gain your lives.”
- Luke 21:19
“Can you talk to me about the war in Israel?” Said one of my youth at work. As any good youth pastor, and not having a clue what they already understand, I asked them to share first. Thus started a long conversation that night about war, faith, and how this whole world seems to be “screwed up,” to use the youth’s words.
Upon hearing their a little overly simplified view, and near conspiracy theory about the United States involvement, I went into sharing about what I know. A long lesson on Israel-Palestine history, and responding to their rebuttals later, we came to a deeper heart-level issue for the youth… faith. Mainly, how hard it is to have faith and endure in faith in this life.
This is a legitimate and ongoing problem for so many, it may be one of those few universal human issues, how does one have faith in someone they cannot see? How does one keep faith when what they do see is war, violence, pain, suffering, and so on? Jesus knew this concern well and sought to address it, especially when it came to foretelling the end of Jerusalem.
The End as we know it:
This is where I encourage you to pause and read Luke 21 for yourself. As you read it though I believe it is best to read this not as our present or future times, but read it as if you were Peter, James, John, or any other disciple, hearing this from Jesus. Read it as a dude from Israel two thousand years ago who knows only life under Roman occupation.
When we jump into their sandals, we start to see this text without nuclear bombs and modern politics, but instead, as a challenge to endure in faith even as the world as you know it ends. You see, the disciples would have had a smaller picture of the world, they likely would have been born and died in the same town, or even house, until Jesus invited them to follow. So for them, these teachings were not about the end of the world, but about the end of their nation and systems as they knew them.
He tells them that their beloved Temple is going to be destroyed. Jesus says that many false messiahs will come proclaiming doomsday to be there, but that they should be ignored. Further, there are going to be wars and famines, but don’t worry too much, for before those come Christians will be persecuted. Then Jerusalem will be surrounded, destroyed, and taken over by Gentiles. There will be signs in the skies and seas about these events.
Jesus also shared many points to encourage them too. That not a hair of a true believer's head will eternally perish. These events mean that redemption is near, it will be actualized in due time. Further, the persecution is really so they can witness to the powerful about the greater power of Christ. To add to that, the words will not be of our own but rather given to us to speak boldly.
So we see a whole lot about the end, that tends to grab our imaginations and perhaps we hyper-fixate on those details. While Jerusalem is crumbling though Jesus assures his disciples that they won’t perish but be empowered for this moment. All these events are controlled and watched over by God, there is but one task He charged to His disciples. It was not to witness, for He empowers them in that. Instead, He charged them to endure.
Endurance:
While the disciples may see their treasured Temple and the city destroyed at the hands of the Romans (which did happen in 70 A.D.), and while their world would fall apart, they were asked to endure. I take this as a challenge to endure in following Jesus, sharing His good news through words and deeds, and ultimately trust in God. Their challenge was to endure in trusting God even as the city of God was destroyed. So many of the 1st-century believers would fulfill this, John likely even lived long enough to witness the destruction of Jerusalem and then live out his days in exile.
The same challenge remains for us today. We could read Luke 21 and walk away scared and nervous about the end times and begin creating survival plans, or we could take up Jesus’ challenge to persist in faith and obedience. We can seize opportunities to witness about Jesus, who He is what He’s done for us, and what He is going to do. Knowing that the end is according to God’s plan and any plan we create will ultimately lead us nowhere.
We walk in faith. We do life with Jesus in arms reach and listening for the opportunities He presents before us. Friendships that are equal parts missional as they are relational. For the character formation that comes as we endure through challenges and suffering. Staying faithful when everything around us makes it easier to give up.
Endurance to the end is about steadily and steadfastly walking with Jesus.
Final Blessing:
So what about the war today? What about Israel and Palestine? What about Ukraine and Russia? What about all the various end-times preppers and “prophets”? While all these are valid concerns, my rebuttal challenge as it appears in Luke 21:19 is, what about endurance of faith? Our real lives are not yet here, so we must endure until that day comes when we are joined with Christ in the Kingdom’s fullness! We walk with faith, letting Him give us the words to speak, and leaning into the opportunities laid before us to witness.
Now may the Lord of Life and Redemption be with you in every step, every breath, and every heartbeat of your journey!
Comments