Luke 21:34-36

³⁴ “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. ³⁵ For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

A universal experience for all people is the day in and day out cycle of life that brings highs and lows.  This day in and day out cycle of “life” has the potential to distract us from the main point of life.  The main point being that Jesus is real, He is alive, He is working in the world now from His Father’s side, and will one day return in judgment.

In Luke chapter 21, Jesus is speaking about the coming destruction of the temple in Jerusalem which took place in 70AD and His second coming to earth which has yet to come.  These are really, really big events!  Huge events!  And yet, Jesus knows that men and women tend to overlook future events and are consumed with the here and now.  I imagine his listeners enthralled by Jesus, the Son of God, speaking to them of future judgment.  I’m guessing in the moment they are thinking there is no way that they will get sidetracked.

Although not explicitly laid out in the Scripture, I’m sure there were many that years later did not heed Jesus’ warning, but were in fact “weighed down” by the here and now.  Jesus lists three things in life that can weigh the heart down and cause our day of judgment to come like a trap.

Dissipation:  self-indulgence.

Drunkenness

Cares of this life

I find a common theme running through these 3 issues:  focus on now, no vision for later.

Let’s face it, there are times when God “feels” more real than other times.  I find that these times are when the “big picture” of God’s redemption story for my life is in full focus and the day in and day out details are secondary.  Don’t misunderstand, the day in and day out activities of work, family, friends, etc. are important, very important, but without God’s big picture plan can easily become all consuming.  And all consuming leaves us sleeping as Jesus explains in verse 36.  So, what are we to do?

V36 Stay awake at all times, praying….

Let’s make a point to keep the main things the main things:  Jesus died for me, Jesus’ promises are sure, His promise is for a future reality of judgment…….and then glory.  –  Shane