9/23/26
September 11th, 2001.
I was driving to the airport to pick up my boss. I heard on the radio that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. Then, a little bit later, the second plane hit. Then the Pentagon; the war on terror had begun. Jesus warned that this would happen along with several other signs. However, He does not address the nations on how to attack back, but He addresses His followers on how to respond. The reason for this is simple. While nations will and should respond to protect their people and seek to remove the regimes that support such attacks against regular citizens. This is not the true solution to the problem.
Let me make myself very clear. I am NOT speaking against what we are doing in the Middle East. Iran supports these terrorist regimes, and they need to be fought against. It is the government's responsibility to reduce the chance of these terrorist organizations harming civilians.
Getting that out of the way, let me get back to the truth of our text. Jesus doesn't tell the nations how to fight in our text. Instead, He tells His followers how they should fight.
All the things going on in the world Jesus said would come; then He says that when they do, and you are attacked, this gives you an opportunity. Read the opportunity that Jesus speaks of. Luke 21:13 NASB95: “It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony.
The weapon He tells us to pick up is our testimony of the salvation offered and received in our lives by the work of Jesus (Jehovah's Salvation). He is saying, when they come after you, start telling them what I have done in your life. He is not speaking of the worldly blessings that He has given. We see this because, as the text goes on, we notice that many of those blessings will be taken away. Jesus reveals this in Matthew 24:35 NASB95: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.
However, God has been making this clear for thousands of years, as we see. Isaiah 65:17 NASB95: “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind.
So if not a testimony of how He has blessed us with worldly things, then what?
It is the Testimony of our salvation through the sacrificial work of Jesus, the Son of God. Telling someone I was baptized is not telling them how Jesus saved you. We must share with them the conviction of our sin, the repentant desire to no longer live a life of sin. The receiving of Jesus as Lord (His ownership of me). Then His salvation, as He took my place in death. Yet rose again to life to be my living Lord and Savior. Now I am secure in Him. Jesus says in John 10:28-29 NASB95 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
He also reveals this through Paul. Romans 8:38-39 NASB95: For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
That love is in Christ Jesus as our Lord!
So do not fear the terror or the terrorist of the world. Not because we have a government that is presently seeking to stop their attacks. Instead, because Jesus has given His followers the true weapon which will thwart their purpose for attack. Your testimony is the sword that will open up their heart to the salvation of God.
All of this is giving you an opportunity.
Start today by Sharing the Way! Tell them about Jesus!
Luke 21:13 NASB95: “It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony.
Love Brother Scott