The Way to Keep Your Life

Day 105: Luke 17:11-37

"Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it." - Luke 17:33 ESV

Much to our surprise, Jesus uses two of the most terrifying scenes from the Old Testament to illustrate how we are to be ready for His eventual return.

Scene one: The Flood. Many believe there were thousands (some believe millions) of people living on the earth during the days of Noah. They were going about business as usual, stimulating their economy, when the flood came and wiped them out.

Scene two: Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot was deemed a righteous man and was allowed to be spared in the midst of a very barbaric culture. His wife (and daughters) were apparently drawn into the lifestyles of those they were living among. She became an element on the periodic table.

Why would Jesus want us to etch these scenes into our minds when it comes to His Second Coming?

The people in Noah’s and Lot's times were completely unaware of the danger that was about to come upon them. Yet it was very real. We need to know that Jesus is coming to redeem the righteous and judge the wicked. We have to be living lives that are ready for His return.

One day at a time.

"Remember Lot's wife. That means for us that God will bring Jesus Christ again in his good time. We cannot know that time; we dare not speculate about it. We must live so that whenever he comes, at morning, at midday or at evening, he will find us ready." - Barclay, W. (2001). The Gospel of Luke (p. 262)