Outcomes
There are so many things not in our control, but our fate is not one of them.
Then he told them a parable: ‘Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. ‘Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.’ Every day he was teaching in the temple, and at night he would go out and spend the night on the Mount of Olives, as it was called. And all the people would get up early in the morning to listen to him in the temple. - Luke 21:29-38
Once again in Luke's Gospel, Jesus is warning of the time when all will pass away.
He offers a short parable that simply says the signs are around us that the end is coming. But what are we to do about it?
One thing is to be alert. But there is actually good news here. Pray, he tells us, that we will have the strength to escape this. It takes strength to avoid the trappings that lead us to give up what is given to us as a gift, God's grace.
When it comes to how we choose to live our lives, we do have a lot of control. We can choose to over indulge and increase the risk of all sorts of diseases, or we can show restraint, avoiding the temptations and reducing our risks.
In the end, the outcome is the same, but the timing and pain involved can be different.
We can choose to give in or we can be strong. Unfortunately, we tend to realize it when it is too late.
More to come...