“But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”” Luke 21:36 ESV
Reflection: why is Jesus telling all his followers to pray for strength?
If there is one lesson we have learned from the past 5-10 years, is that the world is engulfed in a web of lies. It is hard to find almost anything that you can know for sure is true, that has not been corrupted, or tainted somehow. As soon as you think you have a solid foundation, a truth, you find some new discovery and the story is once again not what you thought. Another lie. And this is not just within the secular world. Sadly, even within the Christian communities we find many false teachings and prophets, leading people astray, away from biblical truths. Away from God. But how is it possible to fool even a Christian, you might wonder? The prophet Hosea spoke about this long ago,
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.” Hosea 4:6 ESV
Lack of knowledge, which means lack of investment by the people. Because gaining knowledge requires work, dedication, diligence, and time. Which takes time away from making money and having fun. From enjoying life. After Jesus spoke about what was going to happen, first to the temple, then to Israel and Jerusalem, and then finally across the whole earth, he also warned his followers from them getting caught up in this life, saying ““But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth.” Luke 21:34-35 ESV. His foretelling here is reminiscent of “in the days of Noah”, becoming dulled by this life. Then Jesus says something very interesting.
“But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”” Luke 21:36 ESV
As asked in the reflection upfront, why would Jesus tell us to pray for strength? Strength for what? It clearly means that his followers will be going through something difficult. Notice that he says “strength to escape all these things that are going to take place”. Now, we can speculate here what he was referring to, that will take place. One obvious possibility is what the book of Revelation chapter 13 refers to as the “mark of the beast”, not being able to buy or sell without this mark. And we can easily see how this system could be implemented now, using digital currency and biometric data such as facial recognition. To participate or opt out of such a system would either allow you to use your money, buy and sell, or be totally locked out, unable to even buy food or medicine. Jesus said,
Pray for strength.
Please understand I am not saying this will happen, nor that this is the mark, but we can easily understand how Christians, or other groups not willing to participate in such a system could be greatly affected. Only a couple years ago saw many that decided not to get the covid shot being targeted and harassed, losing their jobs, not able to get medical care, not able to travel, and so on. We have already witnessed how easily this can be done, and how quickly people get on board with it.
Jesus spoke about what was going to happen, not to scare us, but to warn us, to help us understand how we can be prepared. So that this day doesn’t “come upon you suddenly like a trap”. Instead, he encouraged his followers “Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Luke 21:28 ESV. Let’s follow Jesus, and stay awake at all times, praying for strength, so that we will not fall asleep, nor be fooled by the lies of this world, so that we are able to stand before the Son of Man when he comes.