¨So when you see standing in a sacred place the desolating abomination spoken of by the prophet Daniel (let the reader note).¨ Matthew 24:15 (Byington)
When we read certain texts in the Bible like ¨love your neighbor,¨ we are able to take it to mean many things. We can understand ¨love¨ to mean have compassion, care for, have patience with and a number of other things. But when we read other texts we tend to think that there is only one intended meaning. This may happen with this mention of Daniel´s warning of the abomination which causes desolation.
Now not only do we have Daniel´s warning over this upcoming event, but now Jesus is sharpening our awareness of it. Therefore the level of importance we should place upon this point should be significant. But if we look around, it seems each division of the churches of God has their own translation of it, and they are all firmly defended. So, should we think that our brother is then wrong or should we lift up the definition to the Lord for His approval instead of that of men?
It may be important to say that any instruction from the Lord should direct us further towards God and closer to Christ. So then if we are accomplishing this instead of asserting ourselves, then His efforts are paying off.
On the topic of the Abomination which causes desolation, if we have agreed to let men have their various views or give the Lord the credit for the power and direction they may hold, then we could venture forth yet another view in the hopes of lifting up our Lord a little higher.
Throughout Matthew 24 Jesus is talking of the love and hearts of people. He talks about some going astray and some growing cold. Now He speaks of an abomination standing where it should not be.
Not long ago perhaps the churches were able to agree that the heart of all people was a shrine. It was a temple which was dedicated and directed to the worship of God alone and His Son who died for us. People were honest and realized that if they were left to their own, they would take things for themselves and run with them. The fallen human nature does not bow naturally to the will of God and needs help in overcoming our tendency of the flesh.
Now however, people have a completely different approach. We like to stand each one to have his or her final say. ¨This agrees with me,¨ we say or ¨I can buy that.¨ We all say, ¨I believe this,¨ or ¨I trust in that.¨ We are all basically saying that the bottom line comes down to us. We also say that it is OK for the other one to believe as he or she thinks is best. But what we are doing is shifting the bottom line from God, to us.
Dear Lord, You have warned us of the tendencies of our hearts. You have warned of the troubled times we would have to suffer before Your return. Most of all You tried to share with us the urgency and importance of not letting ourselves go off to anything other than You. Please help us keep clear who will have the final say. Please show us the importance of seeking You and Your will over the tendencies of our fallen nature. Do not let us place more importance on our own preferred thoughts and judgments but look first and always unto You. Teach us to lift up what we can and can´t see and bow always to God for everything. Keep that shrine inside our hearts swept clean and solely devoted to You alone and leave no room in it for self.
In Jesus´ name we pray,
Amen
Searching For Christ 
Leave a comment