The 21st chapter of Luke is one people remember as the one where Jesus talks about the times of the end. However, Jesus always makes a way for us to remember what is truly important. Tending to the conditions of people’s hearts is always more important than asking the questions of when, why, and how about time. People and their eternal well-being will always trump material possession & anything else this world tries to put in the way of a right relationship with God and others!
The first story in the chapter is about a widow who was very poor on earth. She had lost her husband and had lost almost everything, but she had not lost her heart to give to the One who gives all things. Little did she know, her Messiah was there that day to see her! Jesus saw the hearts of every human being and loved pointing out righteousness because He Himself is the perfect example of Righteousness.
Personally, I am going into the financial services industry, and it can be scary because there are quite a few ethical dilemmas I can face; however, if I remember that giving and receiving in the purview of the widow, who was poor in earthly terms, but abundantly rich in the Holy Spirit, I know I will be guided along the right paths. I am a simple man with a heart for using all the talents, treasures, and gifts in the realm of giving and receiving to the Lord. Money is just another thing. It is simply a mode of exchange. If you look at the various things in today’s world as an exchange of good will and things we need, the Lord will start to turn your heart to be thankful for the people who provide what you need!
I will also point out something that I learned from chatting with a dear friend the other day. Those of you who debate about when the rapture is (regarding the times of the end discussed in the second part of Luke 21), I would urge you to stop and think of this. The story of Philip in Acts 8 talked about how he was caught up in the Spirit, after the baptism of an Ethiopian Eunuch and brought to another place while he was still alive. Additionally, when people die who knew the Lord, their soul is taken to be with the Lord. So we are really missing on a true biblical truth: the rapture is every day. Who knows, there might be a noticeable widespread rapture some day, maybe not. However, I think it is awfully self-righteous of us to think we “deserve” to escape earthly trials, trouble, turmoil while others are left to deal with terrible things. God didn’t even spare His own Son from the most horrific death imaginable and the daily reminder that some people would never accept Him for who He was. People will never fully accept you for exactly who you are; but, Jesus KNOWS YOU! He calls you by NAME if you are there to listen! He accepts you because He knows what it feels like not to be accepted! Praise God.
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