Lk.21:34-36 – “But be on your guard, so that your hearts will not be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that this day will not come on you suddenly, like a trap; for it will come upon all those who live on the face of all the earth. But stay alert at all times, praying that you will have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Jesus warned His disciples and all of those who have come after them about the importance of staying ready for His return? What did Jesus mean by these warnings? What would cause someone to not be ready? Jesus clearly tells us in this passage; He said dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life can disqualify us. The reason He chose these three is that they all deal with the heart. Dissipation simply means wasting your life on foolish pleasures that have no eternal value. Drunkenness is obvious, drinking destroys marriages, families, careers and just about everything it touches. Drinking just a little has never been worth it to me, the consequences of where that can lead are quite painful. Then Jesus said worries could put us in a place so that we are not ready for His return. Worry and fear come when we are not walking in fellowship with the Lord. Drawing close to Him is where we are immersed in His love; His love drives out all fear. Here is how Barclay describes this warning.
“As Christians we must never come to think that we are living in a settled situation. We must live our lives in a permanent state of expectation.….We must live forever in the shadow of eternity, in the certainty that our actions will determine our fitness to appear in the presence of God. There can be nothing so thrilling as the Christian life.”
So thinking about this warning Jesus began with the wasting of our time. This happens when we have not tasted the pleasures of the coming kingdom for ourselves. His Spirit is breaking in on us today, delight yourself in Christ. Draw close to Him in worship and you will find the pleasures that are pouring out of the coming kingdom, He is more than enough. Drink of His goodness, take in great droughts of His living water. Instead of delighting in beer parties you will delight yourself in His great love.
Amen!