Luke 21   At the temple, Jesus sees the people putting their money into the treasury.  His attention is drawn to a poor widow who puts in two coins.. not worth much, but all she had to live on.  Here is one who truly is valued by our Lord.  She is His own and trusts Him to provide all her needs.  This is the faith that our Lord desires from all of us.

The rest of this chapter focuses on the future.  The temple will be torn down, Jesus tells His disciples.  What will happen next?  Watch and be ready, our Lord tells us, " But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing nigh. " 

" Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom."  v10
".. great earthquakes.. plagues.. famines... terrors and great signs from heaven."  v11
"Jerusalem surrounded by armies.. " 
".. great distress upon the land and wrath to the people.. " v23
" signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and waves..." v25
" men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world for the powers of the heavens will be shaken..." v26


"And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory." v27

We are told to pay attention and to recognize these signs.. and to know that the Kingdom of God is near.  Jesus tells us that these things will happen and that we need to be ready and praying.  We need to be alert and not distracted by the things of this world.

We like to think that the time of Christ's return will be soon.. and we may be right,  but we have not begun to see some of these signs that Jesus has told us about.  I have heard that this passage applies to Israel and will happen after the rapture, prior to His second coming.. but I do not know if that is true.
Either way.. we must keep looking up!

Father, as much as we long to see the coming of our Lord, we are not anxious for the terrors to come. Still we rest in You.  You are our Shelter.. our Rock... and in You we live.  The Words of Jesus will not pass away, and we await the fulfillment of His prophecy.  For then, all that is old will pass away and there will be a new heaven and a new earth!  No more tears and no more pain.  No more sin! Eternity with You... that is our Hope.  Far above anything we can imagine.  Make us ready, Lord.  Keep us steadfast in Jesus we pray.  By His Name we come, amen.