Lately on social media there have been a lot of talk about the recent solar eclipse and the hurricanes that have engulfed Florida and Texas. There has also been a lot of biblical controversy about what these events could possibly be leading up to. Here’s what Luke 21:25-28 says…
“There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (NIV)
For those who haven't heard, most individuals believe that the solar eclipse, which was on August 21, ties in with the first 10 words in this particular set of verses and within the 21st chapter of Luke. Additionally, others think that the recent hurricanes, Harvey and Irma, fit in with the next couple of sentences. However, what people don’t realize is that with the Bible you can’t just stop at one verse when you think you’re right, you have to keep reading.
The first point I would like to make is that just because bad things are happening, it doesn’t mean it’s the literal end of the world. It’s as simple at that. Later on in this set of verses, it states that Jesus will be seen by coming in a cloud with power and great glory. For one, Jesus didn’t come back with the solar eclipse or with the hurricanes. Secondly, these catastrophic events that the Bible is talking about will happen all over the world, not in just one specific country.
Furthermore, we are called so many times to be prepared for the actual day of Christ's coming. John wrote in Revelation 22:12-13 which Jesus stated, “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” (NIV) Jesus is coming to save the world with His eternal and everlasting power. He is all powerful, always has been, and will always be.
Before I get into a whole other rant about Jesus’s coming, I want to just make every reader aware that no one truly knows when He is coming. To place this in context, we, as people on earth, may have a plan for what's going to happen tomorrow, but God holds our tomorrow and will change it if he so desires. God is the only one who knows when He is coming. In fact, His holy Son doesn’t even know when He will return. To support this claim Matthew 24:36 states, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (NIV)
For everyone who is reading this now with the “well what do we do now if Christ isn’t returning yet” question, here’s my answer. Live your life by faith and worthy of the calling you have received. Live your life with full abandon for the Lord. Live your life by helping those in need and spreading the good news of Jesus Christ, because when He comes there will be judgement on everyone. So give your life to the Lord and praise Him in everything you do.
