Un-crumpled

The 24th chapter of Matthew's gospel presents us with a truly "Rubicon" moment in the life and ministry of Christ.

The years of public ministry are closing, the dark days of Calvary are already casting their shadow, and His disciples are uncertain as to where circumstances are about to take them - do they have a future.

They look around for something rooted deep, and point to the enormous stones and foundation's of Jerusalem's magnificent temple - surely here, they think, is something un-movable, but the Lord quickly corrects them. These very stones are soon to be hurled aside like chaff - the certainties that appeared so set are entirely unable to face the cracking and perplexity which is approaching.

Where do we find ourselves in this present hour? We find all those 'means; which we have taken for granted breaking in the same fashion - nothing appears to be able to stand before the tsunami of human evil and depravity being unleashed amongst us this past week. It confirms that the depth of human wickedness is rooted in our dreadful condition and, when circumstances allow, it rises to overwhelm all deemed just and necessary for civil society.

As the world begins its decent into unprecedented darkness, Jesus tells His disciples to look deeper, beyond the troubles that are now coming upon their day that will then continue in numerous forms across what would become the days of the church age.

What is required of us at this moment as that we become un-crumpled, that we adhere to Christ's call to watch and pray - that we in effect allow these circumstances to work upon us in such a fashion that we raise our gaze and perspective to what these troubles ACTUALLY signal - a far greater age is close at hand, ready to break upon us and transform this benighted sorrow-soaked age into something imbued with a richness and majesty we can barley comprehend - it's magnificence is so profound and enduring.

When we find ourselves despised by this falling regime, we will lift our faces because the hour of our great redemption is about to fall, and heaven and earth will be forever radiated by the glory encountered in God's Slavic work in His beloved Son.

Raise the arms that hang down, find a new strength to walk and run in your lengths, and raise your voices in clear expression of truth and delight - Christ is at the very gates of this plagued city - and they are about to burst open at the majesty of His victory!