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The signs that would precede the coming of the Son of Man in his glory would lead individuals to fear and nations to dismay. Anticipation of what was coming, without any context to interpret it, would lead only to a fear so great that some would die of fright. The signs themselves were so unsettling that they didn't leave anything on earth to which people could cling. Even the powers of the heavens would be shaken. But in spite of all of this apocalyptic drama and regardless of how it would affect those with no context to understand it the followers of Jesus were called to a different response.
But when these signs begin to happen,
stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand.
What exactly was it that allowed Christians to see the same things that the rest of the world saw and respond with confidence and hope rather than fear? In the first place, it was the fact that Jesus had provided the context in advance. They were able to understand that even extremely unsettling events with after another could be a part of the divine plan. But even so, the signs would be so significant that the temptation to be afraid would exist even for Christians. They would need to practice in advance by going to God with potential sources of anxiety.
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God (see Philippians 4:6).
If Christians merely lived like everyone else, and dealt with their anxieties in the same way, then they would be in the same situation as everyone else at the coming of Jesus. The day would catch them by surprise like a trap just as it would others. The anxieties of daily life could either be occasions of grace and growing in relationship with Jesus or they could be distractions from such growth. They could either keep individuals ego bound and self-referential or cause them to open their horizon to Jesus. Self-medicating with carousing and drunkenness might seem to work for a while but would prove to be mere distractions that were unsustainable. Distraction could not ultimately insulate anyone against the coming of the day that would assault everyone who lived on the face of the earth. Christians were meant to be ready to face that day because of the way they lived, not in fear, but in trust that they put into practice each day leading up to it.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you (see First Peter 5:6-7).
According to Jesus, being ready to meet him when he came again was not something Christians were meant to take for granted. They were meant to prepare by prayer. Then would be able to escape the tribulations that were coming by divine assistance and finally stand before the Son of Man with divine strength that was itself his gift.
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