Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: Matthew 24 and Psalm 24

I suspect the disciples might have regretted asking, “When will this (the destruction of the Temple) happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?”, as it triggered a very long answer from Jesus, filled with plenty of unpleasant truths about what lay ahead of them.

This devotional is too short to unpack the chapter, but we should be very aware, as we read it, that Jesus is answering three questions: a) When will the Temple be destroyed, as He had just predicted in v.1-2? b) What will be the signs of His coming? and; c) What will be the sign of the end of the age? So we can’t read this chapter simplistically and suggest that we have all the answers. He didn’t intend it that way.

What we do know for sure is that the Temple was completely destroyed by the Romans – just as He predicted. We also know for sure that the signs that He said would be “like the pains of childbirth” are all happening all the time and their intensity and frequency are increasing (as birth-pains do) as the centuries pass – just as He predicted – and that His coming is indeed nearer now than ever before.

We also know for sure that we will never be able to predict the Day of His return, because only the Father knows when that will be – so we should stop obsessing about it. And we know for sure that the Gospel has not been preached to all nations of the world yet – a sure sign that Christ will not yet return. His Church still has work to do!

And that actually brings us to the most important point … the point that should truly matter to us. As Jesus said in v.45-46 

‘Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.’

We need to be far less concerned about when Jesus will return, and deeply concerned with staying faithful to the tasks Jesus has given us to do while we wait eagerly for Him to return. That is the whole point of everything He has told us in this chapter: Stay faithful while you wait for My return!

Life Application: Today, focus on staying faithful to the tasks Jesus has called you to fulfil. They may seem minor at times, but perform them faithfully anyway. As you faithfully obey Jesus, remember that by doing so you are thereby actively watching and waiting for His return; and be joyful!