3/23

Luke 21:34

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."

Jesus was speaking of the times of trouble that would come upon the earth just before His return. He said there would be distress among the nations in perplexity, and that men's hearts would fail them for fear of what was coming upon the earth. But that is when believers should straighten up and lift up their heads. Their redemption will be at hand.

Jesus warned us not to fall into the patterns of the world. The Greek word translated "dissipation" refers to a headache or sudden pain. In this case it may be a hangover. When times become difficult, people will be tempted to escape into drunkenness. The relief is only temporary and then we find our hearts weighed down with a hangover. We are worse off than we were before. Imagine seeing the Lord return while your head is throbbing from a hangover.

We can also become caught up with anxiety, watching the news nonstop, and talking about all the things that should be different. God's Word tells us to cast all our anxiety on the Lord and let Him sustain us (Philippians 4:6; Psalm 55:22). Those cares only distract us from God's call on our lives. Whether we are trying to escape through alcohol or getting an ulcer from watching the news, these responses do not demonstrate trust in the Lord or being about His work until His return. How much better it would be to be joyfully serving Jesus at the moment we see Him! Instead of feeling like we're being caught in a trap, we will experience at that moment the glorious conclusion of a life lived in love and trust in our Creator.

Consider: Watch yourselves! Don't give the devil a foothold (Ephesians 4:27). Stay in the Word, prayer, and fellowship.