Friday, Luke 21

Keep Your Expectation Sharp!

In the early 1950’s, when I was 5 or 6 years old, my family would drive to what was then called Huskerville, a very small community along NW 48th Street, now known as Arnold Heights / Air Park. We would go there to visit my mom’s brother and family. At that time, Lincoln had a large Air Force base, and Huskerville was used as military housing. (My uncle was not military; he was a carpenter by trade.) The poor, barrack type housing my Uncle, Aunt, and cousins lived in has long ago been torn down but the little white church still stands on NW 48th at the very north edge of the housing area.

Of the many memories of Huskerville, one has remained vivid all these years . . . the drive back to Lincoln at night. As we drove home, I loved to stare out the car window at the sky stuffed full of stars (Andrew comes by it naturally!) and at the distant lights of downtown Lincoln, watching to see how soon I could see the State Capitol Building. At that time, the State Capitol Building was still a “tower on the plains.”

I would think, God you’re everywhere out there . . . You are so big! I would think about the end of the world, about Jesus coming back. I wasn’t afraid. But why did I think those thoughts at age 5 or 6? Something I heard my parents or grandparents talk about or because of the effect of World War II, which had ended 5 or 6 years before? I don’t know. But I have felt from a very young age that I would see Jesus’ return in my lifetime. Only God knows.

Luke 21:9-12 and 20 describe the world we live in today! Every generation has said the same thing, I’m sure. The Message Bible says “this is routine history and no sign of the end.”

Verses 34-36 in the Message Bible read, “But be on your guard. Don't let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping. Otherwise, that Day is going to take you by complete surprise, spring on you suddenly like a trap, for it's going to come on everyone, everywhere, at once. So, whatever you do, don't go to sleep at the switch. Pray constantly that you will have the strength and wits to make it through everything that's coming and end up on your feet before the Son of Man."

My New Living Translation footnotes for those verses say “Don’t let your mind and spirit be dulled by careless living, drinking, or the foolish pursuit of pleasure. Don’t let the cares of this life weigh you down. Be ready to move at God’s command.”

Let’s not be dulled by the cares and worries and things of this world, lulled into ineffectiveness! Let’s keep our expectation “sharp!” Let’s be ready to move at God’s command! Let’s do battle in prayer for many salvations . . . for the return of the backsliders . . . to encourage each other to walk in unity and to walk in the power and authority purchased for us by the blood of Jesus!

Until His return . . . keep your expectation sharp . . . and look up . . . for your (our) salvation is near!