CAN YOU PAGE THE ANESTHESIOLOGIST?
- Key Verse
"You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end." (Matthew 24:6)
READ TODAY'S PASSAGE-
READ THE CHAPTER
Central Truth
Just as surely as Jesus came, He is coming again. The Lamb will return as a Lion, but not before there is much trouble.
Reflections
Early in my preparation for this devotional, I found this quote: "Matthew 24 is a crucial passage for understanding the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ; however, it is one of the most difficult in the whole of Scripture and has been an exegetical battleground with no absolute consensus even among those who take the Bible seriously as God’s Word."
Great.
After considering a crash course in the Second Coming or trading with the lucky chump who got the passage announcing the birth of the Messiah, I decided to press on, hoping to find something I could speak to with a shred of credibility.
Then I saw these words: BIRTH PANGS. I'm an expert in birth pangs, having experienced them six times. Fortunately, I am also a six-time acquaintance of the master of “pang” disguise, the anesthesiologist.
The individuals who will experience the things Jesus is speaking about in this passage should be so lucky. Jesus was asked: When will You return? What will be the sign of Your coming? What about the end of the age? He answers by describing the birth pangs: many will come to mislead you (ouch), there will be wars and rumors of wars (can you page the anesthesiologist?), nations will rise against nations, kingdom against kingdom (are you sure you hit the epidural space?), famines and earthquakes (OK, I am sure to need another dose). These birth pangs signal an imminent delivery of tribulation.
The truth is that there is no anesthesia for these pangs! In fact, death isn’t even an option, though many will wish for it (Revelation 9:1-6).
Great. Now what?
First, be reminded that this passage is speaking of events leading up to Christ's return, and if our Pre-Tribulation scholar friends are right, then believers will already be home with Him. Let’s pray for that! Second, remember that whether or not we are out of here, many whom God loves will not be. Let’s speak to them. We must compel them to consider the Divine Physician, who is far better than any anesthesiologist . . . birth pangs or not.
Discussion Questions
1. Have you trusted in the One who loves you and is coming again?
2. Do you know God's Word so that you are not misled by false teaching?
3. Are you sharing the hope of Christ with those who need to know Him?
FAMILY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. God has given us many great people to guide and direct us, but who should we look to for ultimate guidance and truth?
2. Where do you go to get that guidance and truth?
Katie
March 30, 2010 09:18 AM
I've been anxious about current events in this country and the world but reading this passage is comforting to me. "See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place"
Ann Silva
March 31, 2010 06:41 AM
Great job Alex! I love question #3, a great reminder to thank Him for the hope He has given me and ask Him who can I share it with today. You encourage me friend, :)
Millye Hale
March 31, 2010 06:48 AM
Wow! What a treat this morning. Great analogy-- one in which a lot of us ladies can identify - husbands too if they were so lucky to have a front row seat in childbirth! While God's truth is comforting to me not to be frightened, I am reminded with a sense of urgency for all those that I love that are not patients of our Divine Physician.
Ghost Writer
March 31, 2010 07:09 AM
I am your ghost writer not ghost editor..and I Love you. (12 words)
Burke
March 31, 2010 07:27 AM
Great devo Alex. Thank you. I'll keep checking comments... No doubt the Ghostwriter will defend himself! :-)
Lucina Thompson
March 31, 2010 08:20 AM
Who better to speak on this subject of birth pangs?? I loved your devo and know that while you are not only acquainted with the physical ones on this earth, you know exactly who can deal with those to come! God is the Great Physician--what a great picture to pull it all together. I LOVE you dear friend.
Connie Blair
March 31, 2010 08:37 AM
Alex, this was beautiful! Well said. I love how you intertwine humor with absolute truth. I can hear your voice and laughter come through the page. A great reminder! Thank you for tackling this difficult yet essential chapter! You made it a blessing! Great way to start the day.
Jay Burns
March 31, 2010 08:44 AM
Alex...great word picture regarding the pangs...I don't even like to think about it! In these weird, frustrating, and disturbing times the ONLY comfort I find is when I am in His will and remind myself that He is in control, no matter what this crazy world looks like...thanks for the great devo. Jay
Ted Schweinfurth
March 31, 2010 08:56 AM
So good (I think you tapped in to the real "ghost writer" to help you with this one) (the other one is pretty good too). Thank you.
Liz White
March 31, 2010 09:06 AM
I was wondering who would have to handle these difficult prophetic passages...Alex,you did a wonderful job laying the ground work. Having studied Revelation in Precept (it takes 2 years!) I know it took a lot of discipline to stay out of the controversy and find the nuggets of truth that speak to your readers. Thanks for this good word.
Sheri
March 31, 2010 09:28 AM
Great job Alex - the analogy is so fitting, and the truth and hope in Christ's return gives great comfort!
Kathy Fehlbaum
March 31, 2010 11:53 AM
Thanks for great food-for-thought, and for the reminder(discussion question 2)to keep learning more of God's word to safeguard our hearts from false teaching. What a luxury to live in a time and place where we have freedom of access to the Bible -- on paper, online, in churches, at home -- I pray we'll take advantage and get it in us!
David
March 31, 2010 12:29 PM
Alex! PREACH sister PREACH! What a joy it is on one hand, to know am SAVED, love and serve God! On the other, is the sadness of those we know and love, that refuse to accept that Jesus is Lord, our Savior and Messiah! I PRAY that God will open their hearts, to receive His Word of truth! Thank you for the reminder of Proverbs 18:10! PRAISE GOD AMEN!
Susan Coy
March 31, 2010 09:58 PM
Alex, BRAVO...you write, speak and live with credibility. Give my best to your ghost writer/editor, but you don't need his help...you do just fine on your own :)
JP
March 31, 2010 11:47 PM
Now we know who has been writing TW's sermons! Great job! Praying now that we would be reminded of our returning Savior when all is not as it should be.
Sue Bohlin
April 2, 2010 03:14 AM
Alex, I LOVE LOVE LOVE it when people write things that make me laugh out loud! Thanks for the endorphin rush. And for the insightful devo. Bless you!
Robin Howard
April 7, 2010 10:16 AM
LOVED the analogy and the way you handled the controversial passage! No matter what, God is in Control and we are not to be frightened of all the uncertainty and toilsome times, now or in the future. I am also challlenged to share the hope I have with those who don't! Miss seeing you. Thanks for sharing from your heart and making me laugh too!