I was taking a walk during my lunch hour the other day. I work in a place that has a lot of four- and five-story office buildings around it.
The thought occurred to me, how nothing truly lasts forever. These buildings seem so solid and permanent. But there will come a time when they will no longer look the way they do now. No longer in use.
It's inevitable, it has happened to every great civilization.
Reading Matthew 24 today
" As Jesus was leaving the Temple grounds, his disciples pointed out to him the various Temple buildings. But he responded, "Do you see all these buildings? I tell you the truth, they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!"
Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, "Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?" Matthew 24:1-3 (NLT)
I find the disciples question here very telling. They want to know "when." But Jesus never tells them.
What he does tell them is what to look out for, and what to focus on.
In other words, he tells them how to live, so that the "when" becomes irrelevant.
So what do we focus on? What will truly last?
More on that tomorrow.
