Daily Lesson for December 14, 2015

Today's Daily lesson comes from Matthew chapter 24 verses:

15 "So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak . . . 23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it . . . 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather."

These words were first recorded on the threshold of the fall of Jerusalem in 70AD. Soon the emperor would lose his patience with Jewish rebellion and the Peace of Rome would turn to all-out war.  In the late winter and early spring of 70AD Roman soldiers led by the future Emperor Titus began their great siege of the city. As a part of his strategy, he allowed thousands of pilgrims to enter Jerusalem for the Passover Festival and then barred their exit, putting stress upon the food supply.  After months of starving the Jews Titus then sacked and pillaged the city, reducing its great Temple to ash and rubble, and enslaving thousands of its citizens. The Jewish historian Josephus estimated that a million Jews died in the city.

In the days and years leading up to the siege, many false-messiahs arose promising to deliver the people from the Roman onslaught.  Jesus did not promise such a thing. Jesus' word was flea; he told his followers that when they Roman legions marching towards Jerusalem then they should know the die had been cast.  They should head for the hills.

One thing we have to know is that there are just some circumstances and events that God isn't going to save us from -- even vile and calamitous ones. False messiahs and their public relations team will tell us that what we need to do is pray this prayer or pay this money and just stay right where we are and wait for God to change things. But the real Messiah is telling us to get the heck out of Dodge while we still can.

Here's a word to the wise: when things are south, and you can see the legions marching in, don't wait for the siege and the calamity to make your decision. Don't be foolish and don't trust in deliverance from on high. You have Jesus' permission -- no, even more you have his advice: flee now while you still can.  Otherwise, you may not survive; and even if you do you'll be a slave.