“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Luke 21:25-28

The news over the weekend out of Israel has been troubling, to say the least, but for those of us who follow Christ, our perspective should be different.

Read through those lines above. It is not if these things will take place or not, but they certainly will take place as the “powers of the heavens” are shaken. Are we living in those kinds of days?

1967’s Six-Day War when Israel was surrounded by its enemies got my Dad’s attention and turned his heart to Christ. It wasn’t the end, but like so many other things we’ve witnessed in our lifetimes, every scenario should lead us to “straighten up and raise our heads because our redemption is drawing near.”

And so while we wait, I am reminded of John’s prayer from nearly 2000 years ago – “Amen. Come Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20b).