Beginning of Birth Pains
Mark 13:3 – So while he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, 4 – “Tell us, when will these things happen? and what will be the sign that all these things are about to take place?”
verse 5 – Jesus began to say to them, “Watch out that no one misleads you. 6 – Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and they will mislead many 7 – When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come. 8 – For nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines. These are but the beginning of birth pains.
Yesterday I received a text message from my oldest daughter. She had some amazing news to share. As those of you who’ve been following my blogs know, she and her husband announced over Christmas that they were going to have a baby – and now almost 3 months later she was excited to tell me that she felt the baby moving! These were not the birth pains – but this is what she told me next: ‘I’m half-way there dad!’
Why share all this with you? Jesus used the imagery of pregnancy as a gauge so we can know how close we are to the end. “For nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines.’ What does that tell you? We are way past the half-way point. Once the birth pains start it’s only a matter of time before delivery happens. It’s critically important to not be deceived into thinking the arrival of Jesus has already happened.
Go back to the verses at the beginning of this blog. The disciples came to Jesus privately. That’s what we should be doing: Spending quality private time with Jesus. The more time we spend following Him in prayer, Bible study, and in acts of love for others, the more protection we will have from imposters who will come on the scene pretending to be Him. Let’s endeavor to know and love Jesus more today!
Where two are gathered 