This week’s devotions are based on the Week 1 “A Savior Born for You! (WATCH HERE)
Don’t be ignorant!
Matthew 24:37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
They knew nothing?!?
For over 100 years the word of the Lord had been on the earth that he was sending a flood to destroy the wicked people that had strayed so far away from the Lord. While there is no evidence, I can’t help but think that people heard about Noah building an ark in the middle of the desert. The makers of the movie Evan Almighty capture what is probably a similar reaction as the real Noah had when he was building the original ark. This guy was crazy.
How could the novelty and abnormality of Noah’s action NOT circulated around the civilizations of the time?
What we do know is people “knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came.” Jesus tells us this. So ignorance prevailed around the world and the waters of the flood caught all but eight people off guard. As a result they perished.
Ignorance is not an excuse.
We have no reason to be ignorant of the reality of Jesus’ second coming. For not just 100 years, but 2000 years the message of Jesus and his promise that he will return has been circulated around the world. Especially in our era of digital Bible’s and translations in nearly every language of the world, ignorance is hard to justify.
Willful ignorance is even worse. To know something and then choose to ignore it puts one in a grave danger. Unfortunately there are many around us that will choose to ignore Jesus as Savior and also to ignore Jesus’ second coming. Perhaps we can look at the numbers of people that choose to ignore the real meaning of Christmas and conclude, “If they have no idea of the real meaning of Christmas, how will they ever understand the reality of that same child returning to judge the living and the dead?” They won’t.
So first, don’t be ignorant. Be aware. Jesus’ promise still stands. He is coming back. To remind us daily he has given these words:
Matthew 24:4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains. 9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
All around us the “signs” are happening that remind us that Jesus is coming back. Only read or listen to the news and multiple things Jesus said would happen are happening. Each time is a call from ignorance to awareness, “Oh yeah, that’s right…Jesus could come back at any time.”
When we live in awareness instead of ignorance, we can use the information we know to share with others. The Lord has entrusted us with the promise of Christ’s second coming and privileged us with the opportunity to share this promise with others. Christmas is a great time to discuss spiritual things for today and transition from the manger to the promise of the future coming of the Christ-child.
Apply: When you hear Jesus’ words about what is to come, how does it change your interpretation of the news? Who in your sphere of influence might God use you to dispel ignorance with awareness?
Prayer: Jesus, thank you for coming in the manger of Bethlehem. Lead me to always be aware of and ready for your coming again. AMEN.