“Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.  And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

Matthew 24:30, 31

Now Jesus turns to his disciples who have been listening and probably a bit confused.  Jesus is planting in their minds the broad sweep of history.  He assures them that even though it looks like life has no meaning at times, we can rest assured that this age will come to an end by the full reign of the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  That is what it is all about!

The followers of the Lamb are the center of God’s loving care, not the world that is passing.   They will all be gathered to Jesus, their Lord, to live with Him forever and ever.  Jesus does not explain what will happen to everything else, his eye is on the followers of Jesus, like the men before him, his disciples.

Jesus calls his followers, “his elect.”  That is who they are!  They are the apple of his eye, the center around which all activity on earth and heaven move.  They will be with Him forever and ever.

When will this happen?  Jesus has a comment about that.  “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.  Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”

Matthew 24:32 – 35

As the significant events unfold during that week of Christ’s Passion He assures us that he will never leave nor forsake us.  When we see him hanging on the Roman cross, dying between two common criminals, we do not despair because we know that God is working out our salvation.   We hope in him, and in him alone.

I sometimes feel overwhelmed by a world that, on the surface, makes little sense.  I need to remind myself that behind everything God is at work, bringing full salvation to all who believe.  As the news pours in about struggles and hopelessness, I am reminded that this will pass away.  But, as Jesus assures us, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”  I cling to him, not to this world.