November
19, 2000
Mark 13:1-8
As [Jesus] walked away from the Temple, one of his disciples said,
"Teacher, look at that stonework! Those buildings!"
Jesus said, "You're impressed by this grandiose architecture?
There's not a stone in the whole works that is not going to end
up in a heap of rubble."
Later, as he was sitting on Mount Olives in full view of the Temple,
Peter, James, John, and Andrew got him off by himself and asked,
"Tell us, when is this going to happen? What sign will we
get that things are coming to a head?"
Jesus began, "Watch out for doomsday deceivers. Many leaders
are going to show up with forged identities claiming, 'I'm the
One.' They will deceive a lot of people. When you hear of wars
and rumored wars, keep your head and don't panic. This is routine
history, and no sign of the end. Nation will fight nation and
ruler fight ruler, over and over. Earthquakes will occur in various
places. There will be famines. But these things are nothing compared
to what's coming."
"THE MESSAGE"
=======
1.
If you have not already done so, run, don't walk, to get "The
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy." This is a must read for
folks who don't want to panic. It cannot be synopsized other than
by the number 42 - when you read it you will find out what that
means.
2.
So what impresses you these days? There has been a lot of press
recently about elections. Does that impress you to the point of
calling the latest evidence of human error a world-shattering
crisis? Are you tied to one outcome or the other to such an extent
that you would put yourself in the category of "I'm the One"
who knows what is coming down the pike. Wasn't it President Ike
who put Justice Warren on the Supreme Court - the future is always
open to change.
3.
An earthquake which shakes us to our very foundations is nothing
compared to the shaking and sifting of our lives, individual and
corporate, to come. This seems to call for a word of "thanks"
in the present and an assurance of "trust" in days to
come. This is the time to practice both.