How to live in the last days; Luke 21: 28-38

 At the beginning of the hippie movement in 1965, a rock and roll band by the name of the Who wrote a song called, “My Generation” that helped define the age.  If you were part of that generation, then you knew at the time who the band was talking about.  It meant anyone younger than the age of thirty.  One of the most famous lines of the song was, “I hope I die before I get old.”  I guess thirty was considered old at that time.  But I doubt the band members feel the same way today.

But even though they had a sense of who comprised their generation, the lines became blurred as the hippies grew up and the movement expanded.  Today that generation is still around, having lived twice as long as they said they wanted to live. The point being, that the idea of a generation is kind of an indeterminate designation.  Though it is widely accepted that a generation is about 40 years, no one can say for sure when a generation begins and when it ends.  There are still people living today, for instance, who were part of the generation that lived through WW2. 

The point that I’m trying to make is that when Jesus uses the phrase “this generation” in vs. 32, we’re not really sure exactly what He means.  Because generation can mean people living during a general time period or it can mean people who are closely related in age.  My view, and one that I think is widely shared among Biblical scholars is that generation in this passage refers not to people closely related in age, but related by an age.  People living in a certain age, or an epoch, a time.

And that principle is born out by the question of the disciples which prompted this whole discourse.  It’s found in Matthew’s version, chapter 24, vs.3, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”  As I pointed out last week when we looked at this, I think the key to understanding this passage is that there are three ages presented in the Bible.  There is the ancient age, from creation to the flood.  That age lasted 2000 years and came to an end with a world wide flood which destroyed all  life on earth except for those saved on the ark.  And then there was a second age, which was the Jewish age, from Abraham to the Apostles.  That age lasted for 2000 years as well and came to an end with the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem and Israel.  Millions of Jews were massacred and the remainder dispersed, chased from one country to another, living without a homeland.  And the third age mentioned in chapter 21vs. 24 is the age of the Gentiles. We are living in the age of the Gentiles.  This age has lasted 2000 years as well.  It began with the trampling underfoot of Jerusalem by the Gentiles in 70AD and I believe it’s nearing the end as signaled by the Jews retaking Jerusalem in 1967 and living once again in the nation of Israel.  I believe that 6000 years of human history is fast approaching it’s climax, which is going to end with the destruction of the earth. 2Pet. 3:7  “But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.”

Now with that understanding  it is possible to interpret this passage in a sort of sytematic way.  But let me say as a caveat, that the phrase “this generation” is the source of a great deal of debate in theological circles.  It has put at war various groups from differing camps within the eschatological debate that has been going on for almost a hundred years.  And I don’t intend to get involved in that war this morning.  I think it is impossible to be that dogmatic about a passage which obviously was intended to be somewhat obscure.  So rather than focus on different viewpoints of end time theology, I would like to focus our attention on the point of it all.  What was Jesus trying to say?  What message was He trying to convey during these last hours with His disciples?   I think that is what is important, and not trying to figure out the day or the hour of our Lord’s return, which Jesus says is not our privilege to know. In the parallel account in Mark 13:32 Jesus adds,  "But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.”

So what is the main point that Jesus is trying to make?  I believe that the context of this message, known as the Olivet Discourse, is a message concerning the end of the ages.  I believe that it is clear that Jesus is trying to warn His disciples about the impending judgment of Israel, and how they are to live in the last days.  They were living in the last days before the destruction of the temple, the last days of Israel as a nation, and the last days before there would be a great massacre and persecution of the Jews.  It happened within their generation.  It happened just as Jesus predicted within the next 40 years. 

And I believe Jesus message was intended as a warning for future generations as well.  We are living in the last days of the age of the Gentiles.  We are living in the last hours before the great tribulation, and in the last days before the judgment of God is poured out upon the earth.  So I believe that the message that Jesus gives here is a message which I have titled, “How to live in the last days.”

The way that I have decided to present this last section is to identify some key phrases or thoughts that are strung through these verses to give us something to hang onto as we consider how we are to live in the last days.  And here is what I have extracted from this passage as to how we are to live in the last days;  we need to straighten up, lift up, look up, keep our guard up, sober up, lighten up, wise up,  pray up, and listen up. 

Now let’s  look briefly at each of these.  The first is straighten up.  Jesus said in vs. 28, “But when these things begin to take place, straighten up…”  What things is Jesus talking about?  Well, it’s obvious that He’s talking about the persecution, the distressing signs in the heavens, the fear from natural catastrophes that will take place and so forth.  It stands to reason that in order to straighten up you must first have been bent over or knocked down. 

So although in these last days we may get knocked down, we don’t stay down.  I like how Paul talks about it in 2Cor. 4:7-11 “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”  We can straighten up in the midst of tribulations or persecutions or hardships because we know that we have a higher calling, that there is a greater purpose to our suffering, so that  even in the midst of all of these trials we are manifesting Jesus Christ to the world.  That knowledge should make you straighten up.  Paul said in Phil. 3:10-11  “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”  So straighten up. 

Secondly, Jesus says when these things begin to take place, lift up your heads.  Listen, when the world starts getting you down, you have to take your eyes off of the world. Take your eyes off your circumstances and lift up your eyes to heaven.  Psalm 121 says, “I will lift up my eyes to the hills; from where shall my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber.” 

And I’m going to stretch that phrase to include lifting up one another. Gal. 6:2 “Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.”  Listen, that is the purpose of the church, to bear one another’s burdens.  To help hold each other up.  To come to the aid of those that are hurting, or wounded.  Lift up one another.  Encourage the weak, the faint hearted.

Thirdly, look up.  Vs. 31 says, "So you also, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near.”  Jesus gave an illustration to help the disciples understand what He meant.  He said when you see a fig tree starting to bud then you know that summer is near. I don’t know about you, but I love summer.  Especially when I was a kid, but I feel like the older I get the more I like it as well. I just can’t stand winters anymore.  So every year, I used to eagerly watch for the trees to start to bud.  Because once I saw that happen, I knew that summer was near.

That’s what Jesus is talking about.  There is no mystical message about fig trees here.  It’s just when you see these things happening, be joyful.  Look up!  Jesus is coming back soon!  It’s almost time for the consummation of the Kingdom of God.  You know what He’s talking about?  He said in vs. 27 that the Son of Man will come in the clouds with power and great glory.  What He is saying is “Look up!”  “I’m coming back soon.”  Looking up means to live life with the expectancy of Jesus’ imminent return. 

Jesus could  come back today.  Folks, how differently would we live if we had a real expectation that Jesus could come back today?  Maybe early tomorrow morning.   What would you do differently if you really believed that?  I think one of the most poignant things that I have read was some transcripts of telephone calls from victims of the Twin Towers bombing.  As the buildings were going up in flames, as people were dying all around them and they knew death for them was imminent, those people made phone calls to their loved ones.  They wanted to take those last minutes to reach out to their families.  I think if we lived with the expectation of Christ returning in the clouds in judgment and power and glory with all His angels, I think we would get serious about reaching some of our loved ones with the gospel. I think we would make some phone calls.  I think we would visit some people.  I hope so.  I hope that when He comes He would find us about the business of the Kingdom of God. 

Fourthly, how do you live in the last days? Straighten up, lift up, look up, and fourthly, keep your guard up.  Jesus says in vs. 34, “Be on your guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth.”  We need to live in these last days on guard against the schemes of the devil.  We need to guard our hearts and minds against temptation.  Peter said in 1Pet. 5:8 “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 

Listen, make no mistake.  You are living in enemy territory.  The devil is your mortal enemy.  He wants to distract you, capture you, trap you in some sin, and ultimately to destroy you.  So be on guard.  Be vigilant.  Keep close watch over your souls.

Fifthly, sober up. “Be on your guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness…”  Listen, I’m not going to try to tell you that you can’t have a beer or a drink and be a Christian.  But I am going to tell you this: the Bible makes it clear that we are to be sober.  We are living in the last days.  We are living in a critical time.  Our enemy is fighting  harder than ever, knowing that his days are short.  And so God tells us 8 times in the NT to be sober.  That means circumspect, calm, collected, using sound judgment at all times.  We already saw that we are to be on guard.  Do you think soldiers on guard should drink? Obviously not. 

Peter said in 1Pet. 4:3 “For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.”  Dissipation, by the way, means wasting your resources, squandering money, talents or resources by living for pleasure.  Dissipation is wasting the grace of God by living for pleasure.  That is not why Jesus bought us with His blood.  Our freedom is not for licentiousness.  We need to sober up. 

Sixthly, we need to lighten up. “Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life…”  The worries of life.  I’ve said it before many times, some things aren’t necessarily sins in and of themselves, but they are weights which hinder us and slow us down. Heb. 12:1 says,  “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”   What weights are keeping you from running the race to the fullest?  What weight is holding you back from really living fully for the Lord in these last days?  It may not be a sin in and of itself, but if it’s keeping you from living out God’s purpose in your life then you need to get rid of it.  Lay it aside.  You’re running a race.  You’re almost at the finish line, and some of you are trying to run with a lot of baggage that is slowing you down. 

Jesus gave the familiar parable of the soils in Luke 8:14.  He said, "The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.”  Lighten up, let go of the worries, riches and pleasures of the world so that you might bring forth fruit.

Seventh, we need to wise up. “Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth.”  Did you ever set a trap?  I trapped once or twice when I was a boy.  My dad always warned me to be careful because I could lose a finger setting the trap.  The spring was so powerful and the jaws of the trap slammed shut so fast that it was very dangerous. 

Jesus likens the last day, the day of judgment coming like the jaws of a steel trap, slamming shut the door before you can react.  Jesus said that His coming will be like the lightning flashing in the evening sky, lighting up the sky from one end to the other in an instant, in a blinding flash.  Jesus said in Matthew 24 that He is coming at an hour that you do not expect.  Peter said He is coming like a thief.  It won’t be announced.  Jesus talked about the sudden destruction that is coming.  The trap is that those people who have succumbed to the allure of this world, to dissipation and drunkenness and drugs and debauchery will suddenly find themselves mourning at the sudden appearance of Christ in glory.  Wise up. Don’t be caught outside the door.

Eighth, how do you live in the last days?  Pray up.  Vs. 36, "But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."  Listen, you won’t be able to stand in that day if you are not leaning on the strength that God supplies.  We need to be prayed up if we expect to be able to stand up in the last days.  Ephesians 6 is the chapter which describes  the armor of God.  And in all the armor we have only two pieces of equipment that are offensive, that are weapons.  One is the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.  And the second is prayer. 

Eph. 6:18 says,  “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.” To live in these last days we need to pray all the times in the Spirit.  We need to be praying for one another all the time.  We need to pray for our children all the time.  We need to pray for our wives or husbands all the time.  Paul said in the next verse to especially pray for him that he would be given the words to say.  We need to pray for our pastor all the time. 

Listen, I don’t dare think that I am holier or more righteous than any of you simply because I am a pastor.  I’m just like you are.  I bleed, I get sick, I get disappointed, I get tired, I even get backslidden sometimes.  But one thing I think I do have that perhaps you don’t have.  And that is I am the subject to a special strategy of Satan due to my position to destroy me, to destroy my family, to destroy my testimony, to tempt me to be unfaithful to the gospel. I know my weaknesses, and I know how hard Satan is trying to defeat me.  Because if he can cut off the head, he can kill the body.  I covet your prayers.  We need to pray up.

Finally, number 9, we need to listen up. Listen up. Vs. 37 “Now during the day He was teaching in the temple, but at evening He would go out and spend the night on the mount that is called Olivet. And all the people would get up early in the morning to come to Him in the temple to listen to Him.”  You want to stand firm in the last days?  Then attend to the teaching of God’s word.  Don’t neglect coming to church.  Don’t neglect coming to Bible study.  The word of God is truth.  The word of God is life.  The word of God is eternal. Jesus said in vs. 33, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” The word of God is our strength.  The word of God is our comfort.  The word of God is sufficient for every need. 2Tim. 3:16-17 “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;  so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”  You could translate it better, “so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 

Listen, I am all for private devotions.  I think everyone should have a quiet time and study the word of God on their own.  But I want to impress on you the necessity of corporate worship.  But it’s not just a time to get together and listen to a speech and maybe hear some songs.  But God has called preachers to teach the word, to rebuke, to convict, to encourage in ways that don’t always come out of your personal Bible study.  When we study our Bibles we tend to gloss over some areas and dwell on others that happen to appeal to our interests at the moment.  But a God called preacher is going to preach the word of God in such a way that will exhort you to action, that will convict you of sin, and build up the weaker elements of the body. 

Paul exhorted a young preacher by the name of Timothy to “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.”  I’m afraid that time has come.  It is the last days, and such a great deception has occurred that if possible even the very elect would be deceived.  False prophets have risen.  Church’s lamps have gone out.  Christian’s love has grown cold.  And people have turned away from the truth and turned aside to teachers that tickle their ears with stories and jokes and nice sounding platitudes. 

If you are going to live in these last days for the Lord, then you need to come together with the body of Christ and strengthen one another, fellowship with one another, and submit to the preaching of the truth of God’s word from a pastor who has been appointed and annointed to preach the gospel. 

Well, there you have it.  We are living in the last days.  Christ is coming back soon.  It could be today.  Maybe tomorrow morning.  Let’s live like it’s our last day on earth.  Let’s be ready when Jesus appears like lightning in the clouds, with all the angels of God with Him.  On that day, the whole earth will be shaken, and every eye will see Him, and all who have not trusted in Him will mourn.  Let us be ready.  Let’s pray.