Today in my reading of Luke 21 I was struck by this verse before us now. Not so much as what it directly says but what it says in context of the rest of the chapter.

Luke 21:25-28,31,

"And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; "men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. "Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near… So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near."

            Here in context of Jesus giving instruction and teaching of the “end times” and of His return He says don’t give into “carousing, drunkenness, and the cares of this life.” It is odd that just before this first word of application, in teaching about the “powers of the heavens will be shaken”, “waves roaring”, “distress of nations”, “sings in the sun, moon and stars…with fear and the expectation of those things which are coming”, that Christ says don’t give your heart over to, too much entertainments and drinking.  In verse 34 it says, “that Day come on you unexpectedly”, which is referring to verse 27 “they will see the Son of man Coming.” It is in the context of all this disaster and fear of the end times that Christ says don’t give in to, too much TV watching, easy living or going to the dance clubs, or spending to much time with the golf clubs.

            It is odd because I would have expected Jesus after talking about the disasters and fear of the end that Christ would say something like, “don’t give your heart over to fear and despising God in the mist of trouble, but trust in Me.” But Jesus doesn’t, He says something to the opposite.

            First, in light of this I take it that Jesus is saying; even though there will be lots of bad things happing in the end, yet it is not as though the whole earth will be burning in flames and people not yet dead are hiding in mountains starving to death.  I say this because the only basic application here in Luke 21 is Christ’s saying not to give your heart over to trivial entertainments, drunkenness and amusements (verse 34). Therefore in the end times in the mist of lots of bad and disastrous things happening, there will still be lots of wealth, entertainments and worldly cares to steal our hearts away. This will be especially true in nations such as America and other more prosperous nations.

            This is why I am writing this little article. I wish to spur my fellow saints in fighting the battle our Lord and High Captain said we were to fight.

Luke 21:34, " But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly”(NKJV)

Luke 21:34, “But give attention to yourselves, for fear that your hearts become over-full of the pleasures of food and wine, and the cares of this life, and that day may come on you suddenly, and take you as in a net:” (BBE)

Luke 21:34, "Watch out! Don't let me find you living in careless ease and drunkenness, and filled with the worries of this life. Don't let that day catch you unaware”(NLT)

             I believe the meaning of this verse is quite clear. Christ is saying I am supposed to be every thing to you. You are to “love” Me “with all our heart.” You are not to have our “heart”, “weighed down”, “over-full” with the things of this world. And notice Christ is not just speaking against obvious sins, but things, which are ok in and of themselves. Such as having some wine is ok, as Paul tells timothy to drink some with his meals, but too much wine to the point you are “drunk” is a sin. It shows to all in our over indulgences, especially our God and Judge Jesus Christ that you “love” with your “heart” alcohol more than Him and the Glory He displayed in the Cross.   Food and business is a good thing, we need them to live on this earth. But giving into over eating is sin, which shows to God He is not first on your mind, thoughts and desires. Watching TV (some programs) is not a sin, but watching more TV compared to how much you spend reading your bible, prayer and meditation deeply on Jesus Christ and His Glory and you will find Christ coming “on you unexpectedly”, as the verse states it!

           In the book of Luke this is not an isolated theme to the writer but mentioned several other times. Such as the parable of the sower in chapter 8 tells us that, “Now the ones[word of God] that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.” God tells us in Matthew 13:23 that the people who produced real fruit had one basic difference than the rest who not, they “understood(matt. 13:23)” the word of God and others did “not understand(Matt 13:19)”. Thus we must conclude the minds and hearts of the people in this verse, were in such a high decree, immersed in the hobbies and entertainments of life, that it made them unable to “understand” the worth and Glory of Jesus Christ. See to them Christ was not their, “all in all”, other things were. For these in Luke 8:14, the direct cause was worldly entertainments, worries of common life issues, and hobbies, which stopped them from understanding the truth of the Glory of Jesus Christ. Even though this is referring to unbelievers the same can be applied to believers, for in our first text in Luke 21 the message Jesus gave was to believers! Which is why John Owen says,  “most of our spiritual decays and barrenness arise from an [excessive] admission of other things into our minds.” Jesus Himself warns not only unbelievers but also believers of being too occupied with entertainments and the cares of life.

Matthew 24:12,  "And because lawlessness [wickedness] will abound, the love of many will grow cold.”

This verse in Matthew gives us a parallel and full warning of Jesus Christ’s words in Luke 21:34. Because 5 verses early in Matthew 24:7 it says,  “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.” Thus we are dealing with the same thing, in the mist of the distressing times, which will come at the end of this age, the Lord Jesus Christ warns us that “because of wickedness, the love of many will grow cold.” But we have already learned what this wickedness will cause the church to suffer. It will cause our “heats” to be “weighed down” and “over-full” with drunkenness, trivial entertainments and hobbies, and the cares of life. Notice what is being “over-full” and “weighed down” with this world, it is our “hearts”! Notice what grows cold in Matthew 24:12, our “love” for God grows “cold.” It is a indictment against the American church when we consider Gods #1 commandment, “love your God with all your heart(Matthew 22:37).” Now consider, Luke 16:13, "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." God has only given you one heart! God designed the heart. Jesus being God Himself, in this verse tells us a very important limitation, which He designed into the heart. The heart can only truly “love” one thing with all its strength at a time. Which is why St. Augustine said, “Thou madest us for Thyself, and our heart is restless, until it rest in Thee.” Which is also why Matthew 6:21 states, “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Notice it does not state “where your treasureS”, but “treasure” singular and there only is your heart also, singular.

You cannot “Love” Jesus Christ with all the strength of your heart and also love entertainments, your families, your our life and your hobbies with all your heart. God made the heart so that this is impossible. I believe St. Augustine put it best when he says, “He loves thee too little who loves anything together with Thee, which he loves not for thy sake.” Which is to say, love God with all your heart and work everything else in your life so that it is centered on your # one love, the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore if you love with all your heart this world’s entertainments and hobbies and cares, meaning you spend more time and strength watching movies, TV, video games, fishing, gill outs on the back porch, suffering the internet, than you do pursuing knowing and Loving Jesus Christ with the meditations of your daily thoughts, reading your scriptures, praying in deep communion, sharing in Jesus focused encouragement with fellow believers, singing songs in your heart to God, then you will find your heart is “over-full” with this world. And if your heart can only have One rightful or main “treasure” at a time, then it means you fail obeying the first and greatest commandant given by God. Thus you will find that if your heart is not here and now by faith completely treasuring Christ, you will find neither your heart nor body in heaven loving Christ either. This I fear will be the indictment of many in America, if not most, when they find the lord explaining, on that great day, why He never knew them. (Matthew 7:23) Many will find that when giving themselves over to entertainments, hobbies and jobs, that in return their “love” for God grew “cold” and their love for this world, without them hardly knowing it, grew “hot”. “Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”, (Matthew 7:23, NIV). What this means is that being a Christian is not a coasting down the river of life, but a hard fight against the current of this world every day of our lives. God above all things requires our hearts “love” Him above everything else all the time. This means every day we must fight to think lovingly about Christ, more than any thing else. We must fight the excessive ease and comfort and purse the Living God with all our strength. Meaning we must give the most and best meditations of our heart and mind to God. When we have spare moments do we think about Christ, do we recall memorized scripture and dwell on how infinitely greater is Christ’s Glory than this world? Are we setting enough solitude time devoted only for pursing a closer fellowship with Christ everyday, several times a day? If our thoughts, time and desires were added up at the end of the Day, would loving thankful thoughts toward Christ be the most compared to all our other thoughts? When I say this I am mostly referring to every time during the day where you have a spare moment or moments, or make spare time for the Living God. Is the Great God and Savoir Jesus Christ “all in all” in our desires and thoughts, or is the TV show you just watched more exciting to you than your God? What do you really love the most? God is not in the dark, He knows perfectly what you think and enjoy the most! Him or other, what will it be for you? God is not asking for perfect living but is asking that when it’s all said and done that it is clear you “Love” and “treasure” Jesus Christ above everything, including your own life. Psalm 63:3, “Because your love is better than life.”

Matthew 24:12-13,

“The love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”

The person who has been truly saved will endure to the end, and never fall way, this is backed by the infallible promise of God Himself (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)! Which is why the scriptures also say, 2 Peter 1:10, “Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure.” Meaning don’t sinfully assume your totally saved and then go about half heartedly pursuing God, for if you do might come to find your “love” for God as grown “cold” along with your possibility of entering heaven as well! Which is why we don’t look back after putting our hand on the plow, but with all our strength, while humbly relying on God, strive to lose our lives in this world, by letting it go, so we might find it in Christ forever in heaven. This is not a solo journey but is a community and local church project. “Exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,” Hebrews 3:13-14. Which leads us to our first text. 

Luke 21:34, (NKJV)“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.”

But what does it mean to “take heed to yourselves.” It means we actively and diligently pursue to turn away form too much entertainments, hobbies, food, leisure, cares of life, and instead actively purse the Living God, out of holy love and gratitude. This is done by knowing Him in knowledge and then in joyful overflow into loving actions toward Him first and also then to our neighbors.

Timothy 4:13-16,

“give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine…Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself [life] and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.”

“Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

The Grace and Peace of Jesus Christ be with His Saints forever. Amen! Oshea