“Nations will go to war; conflicts will break out between nations. You can expect massive earthquakes, food shortages, and deadly pandemics globally. On top of that, there will be terrifying phenomena visible in the sky. And soon after, you will be hunted down, detained, and punished simply for believing in me.”
This is what Jesus told the disciples who had asked when the end of the world would come in Luke 21. It was Jesus’ apocalyptic statement.
Something similar began in 2020 as well. The COVID-19 pandemic affected the entire world, and around 8 million deaths were associated with the pandemic in the years of 2020 and 2021. The whole world was in lockdown. We couldn’t see friends, go to work, visit cafés, or restaurants— not even attend church on Sundays.
Just as the world was starting to recover, Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, causing massive destruction and leading to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of civilians and military personnel. The war continues, forcing an estimated 41 million people to flee from their homes.
What about the climate crises happening in many parts of the world? Extreme weather and natural disasters—including heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires—highlight escalating environmental chaos.
Tonga is one of the continuing victims. The sea level is slowly rising every year, causing the islands to lose their coastline and land to live on. For many Tongans, this is a daily battle for survival against the rising tides, happening right now in their lifetimes.
The reading from Luke today is very powerful, but let’s shift our attention to a more personal level. Instead of thinking about the global end, let’s focus on our own lives and struggles. Simply put, instead of talking about ‘giant forest’, we’ll focus on the individual tree.
The loss of a loved one; a business or career breakdown; serious family conflict; a terminal health issue, deep and lasting depression, etc. They might have felt like the end of the world to some of you.
I’d like to reflect on today’s passage from Luke through the lens of our own personal troubles and turmoils and find out what God really wants us to do when our own personal “end of the world” moments arrive.
Our job no. 1: “Stop Being Afraid”. Jesus said in verse 9, “Do not be terrified.” Stop being afraid. Do not fear”. These were the words I said to my son repeatedly as I taught him to ride a bicycle for the first time. He was so nervous and afraid I had to tell him the words and hold his bicycle behind him.
God gave Joshua the same words when he was chosen as a new leader for his people in the Old Testament. “Joshua, do not fear. Joshua, do not be afraid.” We know that fear paralyses us; fear stops us from moving forward. But the key message was the one that follows those repeated words.
Whenever God spoke to Joshua, He always included the promise, “Do not be afraid, because I will be with you always.” When God says, “Do not be afraid,” it is not just a suggestion or simple encouragement. It is His divine promise that He will always be with us.
It is a direct invitation to trust the God who is in complete control. Because of this, you can’t have fear and trust in your heart at the same time. You must choose one over the other.
Our job No. 2: Jesus promises in verse 19, “By your endurance you will gain your lives”. To endure means to keep going, and you can only keep going if you have hope. So, hope and endurance work together. They are two sides of the same coin. You can endure difficult times because you have hope. You give up when hope is lost.
Remember, hope doesn’t come easily or naturally. Hope is not just a feeling; it is an intentional choice you must constantly make. We choose to hold tightly to God’s promises in hope.
Our last Job. No. 3: After Jesus talked about all sorts of scary things that would happen, he didn’t say, “Be careful, or you’ll be in trouble.” He said instead, “This will be your chance to tell the Good News.”
The question is, how exactly can we bear witness and tell the Good News to others during the time of turmoil and chaos?
Many of you will remember the terrible day: September 11, 2001, when the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre in New York collapsed. Immediately following those attacks, there was a clear increase in people going to church and religious places. Diverse religious groups reported a temporary surge in attendance, as high as 25% during the final weeks of September and early October 2001.
Why did this happen? After such a huge tragedy, after they felt like the end of the world was approaching, they were desperate for answers and comfort. They were seeking the meaning of life and wondering: “If God truly exists, why did He allow such a terrible thing?”
Well, that is precisely where you come in. You see, you are the people who believe God is real and He cares for people. When terrible and scary things happen, the world needs to hear that message. They need to experience comfort and assurance in their challenging lives. And they need to hear it from you. They need to hear you speaking about God’s love.
People out there need to hear from you that God is real, He is in control, and He is always a good God. Even if they are not gathering here at church, we are still called to share the love and grace of Jesus Christ with them. Jesus even promised to help us find the right words when we need them!
When we see major problems in our society—when people feel vulnerable to a new virus, when we witness long-standing injustice, or when we see others struggling with their personal ‘end of the world’ moments—friends in Christ, these times are a great opportunity for us to share our faith.
We must share the truth that God came to save us and bring a full life to everyone. We have a sacred responsibility to tell them, “God is real. God saves. God lives.”