Monday, May 13: Matthew 24– Then the end will come…

Two verses flashed as if highlighted on my page. It is as if God said, ‘Meditate here’, …he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come (13-14).
Given all the troubles God explains will happen as the end draws near, the Lord reinforces, he who stands firm to the end will be saved. It is not the person with the wildest testimony or the person who stands one day at a crusade but the one who stands firm to the end who will be saved. Stick with Jesus. Stay with Jesus and finish well. That’s what I heard. Don’t grow lazy, don’t slack off in your faith… finish well, finish strong, stand till the end!

So many speculate when the end will come, when Jesus will return, some people even make loud and bold predictions about when Jesus will return. Verse 14 seems to give a pretty compelling precursor to the end; this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
I hear Jesus saying if you want the end, the consummation, the return of Jesus to happen, then fulfill the task of taking the Gospel to the whole world… to the ends of the earth… to every nation, tribe, language and tongue (Rev 7:9).
For me, rather than speculate about when Jesus will return, it makes sense to do what He has commended (go to all nations baptizing… Matthew 28:18) because then He promises He will return!

Lord, give me strength not only to stand to the end, but to be laboring to see Your name reach the ends of the earth all the days You give me this side of eternity. Amen.

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