Photo by Rev. Eradio Valverde, Jr.
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5 One day people were standing around talking about the Temple, remarking how beautiful it was, the splendor of its stonework and memorial gifts. Jesus said, 6 "All this you're admiring so much - the time is coming when every stone in that building will end up in a heap of rubble." 7 They asked him, "Teacher, when is this going to happen? What clue will we get that it's about to take place?" 8 He said, "Watch out for the doomsday deceivers. Many leaders are going to show up with forged identities claiming, 'I'm the One,' or, 'The end is near.' Don't fall for any of that. 9 When you hear of wars and uprisings, keep your head and don't panic. This is routine history and no sign of the end." 10 He went on, "Nation will fight nation and ruler fight ruler, over and over. 11 Huge earthquakes will occur in various places. There will be famines. You'll think at times that the very sky is falling. 12 "But before any of this happens, they'll arrest you, hunt you down, and drag you to court and jail. It will go from bad to worse, dog-eat-dog, everyone at your throat because you carry my name. 13 You'll end up on the witness stand, called to testify. 14 Make up your mind right now not to worry about it. 15 I'll give you the words and wisdom that will reduce all your accusers to stammers and stutters. 16 "You'll even be turned in by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. Some of you will be killed. 17 There's no telling who will hate you because of me. 18 Even so, every detail of your body and soul - even the hairs of your head! - is in my care; nothing of you will be lost. 19 Staying with it - that's what is required. Stay with it to the end. You won't be sorry; you'll be saved. (Luke 21:5-19 The Message Bible)
Welcome to Monday, dear Friend. Blessings wiithout end be upon you, and then share them! Give of yourself and love that blesses.
My favorite pastor as a child was The Rev. Refugio Castro, an American Indian/Hispanic from Oklahoma. He and his family were down-to-earth and I related well to him as pastor. His sermons were great and he made being in church fun. He and his family would go on vacations, take pictures and at church suppers he would show us slides of their vacation fun! A new concept for this boy. I had not yet realized that pastors were appointed by a bishop and could be moved at any time. And, as the bishop would have it, the day came when during a worship service the announcement was made that Rev. Castro was moving. I had never cried during worship before, but I did that morning. The news hit hard as they were totally unexpected. Life was changing right in front of me and I had no control over it. My world would be different sooner rather than later. The only saving grace of this move was that he was moving from our El Buen Pastor UMC, to the El Buen Pastor UMC of Houston and I did not know that we would also be moving to Houston one day not long after.
The moving of a pastor is difficult enough, but imagine being told that your church, as you knew it, a building filled with tradition and memories, would one day be no longer there. I once tried telling one church that because of our growth we should relocate to a bigger site and man the people reacted like I wanted each one to cut off one of their fingers during worship. One angry member said, "Every brick in this church is sacred; and not matter what this building becomes I would still come here every Sunday." I replied, "Well, if it gets torn down, you can take a load of bricks and build an altar in your home for you to worship and pray to."
In the same way, Jesus sorta ruins their tourist vibe by declaring "the time was coming when every stone in that building will end up in a heap of rubble." They want to know when this would come and ask for clues tp know when such a thing would happen. They want to know the timeline, to predict the catastrophe, to control the uncontrollable. But Jesus doesn't give them a schedule—He gives them something better: a perspective that enables them to endure when everything falls apart. The photo above was taken by me when Nellie and I were in Jerusalem some years ago. The stones are what is on the ground where the temple once stood.
Jesus warns against two temptations when facing upheaval. First, don't be deceived by false messiahs and panic-inducing voices: "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not follow them." When the world shakes, deceivers multiply, offering false hope and fear-based predictions. They claim special knowledge about the end times, creating urgency and anxiety. Jesus says don't follow them. Second, don't be frightened by disasters: "When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away." Nation will rise against nation, there will be earthquakes, famines, and fearful events. These aren't signs that the world is spinning out of control—they're birth pangs indicating something new is coming. Jesus isn't minimizing suffering; He's reframing it. These upheavals aren't evidence that God has lost control but that history is moving toward its appointed climax.
Jesus then addresses personal persecution: "They will seize you and persecute you... You will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name." Following Jesus doesn't exempt us from suffering—sometimes it guarantees it. Family members will betray each other, friends will turn into enemies, and some believers will be put to death. This isn't a distant possibility but a present reality for millions of Christians worldwide. Yet in the midst of this sobering warning, Jesus makes a stunning promise: "But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict." When we're called to testify under pressure, we won't be alone. The Holy Spirit will provide exactly what we need exactly when we need it. Our job isn't to script our defense in advance; it's to trust that God will speak through us in the moment.
Jesus concludes with two seemingly contradictory promises that hold the key to enduring faith: "All men will hate you because of me" and "Not a hair of your head will perish." How can both be true? Some will be put to death, yet not a hair will perish? Jesus is distinguishing between physical harm and ultimate harm. Our bodies may suffer, but our souls are secure. Temporary persecution cannot touch our eternal life. The final command ties it all together: "Stand firm, and you will win life." The Greek word for "stand firm" means to endure, to remain under pressure without giving up. Winning life isn't about escaping suffering but about remaining faithful through it. This passage challenges our cultural Christianity that promises comfort, success, and smooth sailing. Jesus promises exactly the opposite—upheaval, persecution, betrayal, and suffering. But He also promises His presence, His words, His protection of what matters most, and ultimately, life that cannot be taken away. When the world shakes and everything we thought was solid crumbles, we stand firm not by predicting the future or controlling our circumstances but by trusting the One who holds the future and walks with us through every storm, even the moving of your favorite pastor to another church.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, when the world shakes and persecution comes, help us stand firm without fear, trusting that You will give us the words we need, protect what truly matters, and bring us safely to eternal life—in Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: In the midst of current upheavals—whether personal, cultural, or global—practice standing firm by choosing daily to trust God's promises rather than being consumed by fear or drawn to panic-inducing voices predicting the end.
I love you and thank God for you! You matter to God and also to me. Use your unique gifts to bless the work of Jesus in your world.
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
