Not One Stone

Daily Reading: Matthew 24

Scripture Focus: There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down. (Matthew 24.2)

Devotional Thought: I'm not as fascinated with the sensational events that many expounders of scripture define and describe. When it comes to the "End Times," there are two certainties: 1) Jesus is coming again, and 2) I need to be ready. Everything else is speculation! (OK, that's hyperbole, but not by much!)

In Matthew 24, the disciples were concerned about the End Times, and they asked Jesus a threefold question: "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" They were concerned about the destruction of the actual physical temple that Jesus had just described, the indications of his return to establish the Kingdom, and what things would look like at the end of the age.

In response, Jesus said, "There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down" (Matthew 24.2). We can understand Jesus' statement on at least three levels:

· First, the temple before them was destroyed. In AD 70, the Roman commander, Titus, besieged Jerusalem and razed the temple. Not one stone was left upon another. Jews still mourn this at the Wailing Wall.

· Second, we can understand Jesus’ statement in the fact that "the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved..." There is a day in the future when the stones of the temple - along with all other stones - will pass away.

· Finally, these words remind us that whatever you and I build, if we're not building on Jesus, it will be destroyed at the last day (Matthew 7). Not one stone will remain.

He's coming. Are you ready?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for the assurance that you are coming again and that your Kingdom will be established forever. Help me to be ready for that day and to help others be ready as well. Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 95.1-5

1 Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;

let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!

2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;

let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

3 For the Lord is a great God,

and a great King above all gods.

4 In his hand are the depths of the earth;

the heights of the mountains are his also.

5 The sea is his, for he made it,

and his hands formed the dry land.