"RAISE YOUR HEADS"

Luke 21:25-36

When you have weather like we do this weekend, it's hard to imagine that a full-blown winter with the mounds of snow, biting winds, slippery streets, icy sidewalks, is just around the corner. In fact, there are probably those who are saying to themselves right now, "Don't even talk about it!" for fear of jinxing the pleasant conditions. And yet, experience has taught us that, regardless of how things feel today, it doesn't necessarily mean that weather conditions will be the same next week at this time. Here in Wisconsin, at this time of the year, you can have record breaking warm temperatures one day, and a few days later, have blizzard conditions. But we also know from experience that, though the winters seem long, there's always the promise of springtime to look forward to, which helps us make it through the next four months.

Imagine, however, if there was no promise of Spring this time around-that this winter would just go on and on and on without there ever being a hint of warmer temperatures, a gradual thaw, and green foliage. That's probably a very depressing thought, as well as a frightening one. But, it's a notion that we are able to scoff at because, not only do we know from experience that the change of seasons is inevitable, but even God's Word, which never lies, assures us of the same. As the Lord promised Noah and his family after the great flood, "While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease," (Genesis 8:22).

But there is something else of which God's Word assures us, just as certainly-something which we cannot fully relate to based upon our own lifetime's experience. Jesus says in today's text, "There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken." And a parallel account from one of the other Gospels reveals even more detail: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places... And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold," ( Matthew 24:7, 10-12).

We listen to that description and we might be thinking, "It's already happening." And, to some extent that's true as we think about the headlines. But the text indicates that the signs which will immediately proceed the return of Christ will be beyond any kind of human experience. For, that passage goes on to say, "Then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be,"(Matt. 24:21), and again, "people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world."

It is an overwhelming description. It is the beginning of the end. And the terror of those events will be of such a magnitude, that Jesus goes on to say, "And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short," ( Matthew 24:22). We can be thankful that, like our winter weather, this tribulation will not go on incessantly. There will be an end to it. Otherwise, the terror of those end-time occurrences would be enough to shake the faith of even the strongest Christian. But, for our sake, Jesus says, those terrible days will be cut short.

Nevertheless, here's the thing we must be aware of: as surely as winter brings cold and snow, so certain and inevitable is the fact that the things of which Jesus speaks here are indeed going to happen. Even though none of us have ever lived through a catastrophic event that comes close to resembling this dreaded picture-even though world events at the present time may be horrible and alarming-the things of which Jesus speaks to us today cannot begin to compare with anything in our human experience. Nevertheless, it will happen. We have God's Word on it.

Now, for many, those end-time events will only drive people deeper into their own fear and despair. Instead of bringing them to their knees in prayer, they will only turn aside in mindless, irrational panic. Others will simply become all the more confirmed in the philosophy by which they've always lived their lives-that of, "eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we may die."

And it will be all too tempting for the remaining Christians to cave in to the same kinds of fear and self-indulgence. After all, it's hard enough right now to go up against the mainstream of things. It's difficult for us not to conform our lives to the current lifestyles. We don't want people to ostracize us, ridicule us, or turn our backs on us because of our beliefs. Many, if not all of us, have friends and acquaintances who aren't Christians, who do not share the same inflexible faith that we do. And, if the truth be told, it's a lot easier to just join the crowd and share the common views of the vast majority of the people in this world.

It is an extremely difficult thing to remain steadfast. And it's not going to get any easier. And God knows that.

That is why He has spoken to us today in His Word, as He did. He wants us to know exactly what is in store for us so that we can never say, "I didn't know this was coming," or, "I wasn't prepared for this." Listen to the words of the Epistle once again: "Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope," (Romans 15:4).

When the world is crumbling around us-and it will-we can say, "This is just what God said would happen." When the moon and the sun begin to be darkened and the stars are falling from the skies-as frightening as those events will surely be-we can say, "This is exactly what Jesus predicted."

But, instead of running in aimless panic in an attempt to escape this upheaval, instead of huddling in fear, hoping that the calamity will just go away, we as Christians will be able to, "straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." Everything that we had hoped for, everything that God meant His beloved to know and experience, everything that your Baptism and the promises of God's Word assured you, will then come to pass.

We will be delivered from the pains of sin and corruption, from tragedy and death. "For God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away," (Rev. 21:4). The promise of heavenly glory is going to come to pass; there is no doubt about it. Those who believe in Christ as their Savior will not perish but have everlasting life.

And God wants you to hear that promise that is tenderly made in the midst of the loud commotion of a shattering world. Listen to His voice, assuring you, "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away."

People, that promise is yours, not just on the awesome, final Day-that promise is yours right now in whatever other tribulation, calamity, or heart-rendering temptation you might be going through. Never do we have to worry that any of these things have left us without hope. You belong to God. His purpose is that you spend eternal life with Him. And He will uphold your faith, to guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus until life everlasting.

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