Luke 21:34 “But be on your guard~~ so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that close down upon you suddenly like a trap.”
The human mind is corrupt—-even in the nicest person. When you tell an unsaved person that God loves him, he could be thinking, “Of course, I am a wonderful person and my self–esteem is great; why wouldn’t God love me?”
Or maybe, “Well, if God loves me, He would never send me to hell, so I will not worry about death.” In regard to the second coming, a person can argue that He has not come yet, and will not come anytime soon.
Even believers can become skeptical about the urgency of the hour, as is evidenced by their apathy in world evangelism and personal discipleship. They have failed to guard their hearts and thus have opened themselves to crippling and entrapping sins.
Luke 21:34 tells us, “Be continually on your guard.” We are to look forward to Christ’s return as part of our everyday activities. Regarding the signs of His coming, Jesus had just said, “This generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place” (21:32).
His disciples were not to let anything interfere with their primary task of getting the gospel to “the regions beyond” (2 Cor 10:16) where it presently exists. A thousand things would distract them.
When asked when He would return, the primary answer He gave is in Matt 24:14: “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
When a Christian begins to accept the lie that his life does not matter or that he cannot do anything to make a difference in someone’s life or speed the completion of the Great Commission, he can be tempted to live selfishly. His sinful heart will be attracted to fleshly attractions.
Christians can be guilty of the worst sins and justify them with psychological or philosophical arguments. Watch your heart!
When Jesus returns, there will be no warning or time to change. In whatever spiritual state is yours at that moment, you will face the judgment seat of Christ with all its consequences. Do not let this world “close down upon you . . . like a trap.”
“Dear Lord, give me the fortitude to always be on guard against anything that would keep me from honoring You and accomplishing my part in the Great Commission