Greetings Flag Branch members and friends and thanks for taking the time to join me, Pastor Jordan, for some Fine Points from Sunday’s service and message “Beginning of Travail Pangs”.
The travail associated with childbirth can be intense, even to the point of death. Some mothers have not survived the sometime arduous and difficult travail of childbirth. Yet, Jesus used this analogy to describe the events and challenges that shall take place prior to His return.
All of the mostly gloom and doom information and news from the 24 hour never-ending news and media cycles is leaving a lot of people, as well as, many Christians feeling fatalistic about the future, meaning and purpose of life. They like many Christians have a feeling that mankind will not survive much longer, Jesus is about to come and the end of the world is near.
The Savior knew some of His disciples would feel that way so He encouraged us to not be troubled when we see the things happening around us that can give us that outlook. Jesus said these things must happen and they have been happening since His time. The main difference between then and now is we are much more aware of the trouble in the world.
Instead of thinking this is the end, which it is not, Jesus said these things are the beginning of travail pangs. The pangs associated with the birth of a child. It is curious that Jesus would use this description of the troubles His people would endure.
The entire cosmos can be seen as a womb for the creation, development and birth of the children of God. As there is travail in bringing forth a human child, the trouble we encounter are the sorrows of bringing forth a divine or godly child. The resistance to that birth is what causes that sorrow.
So let us not be like Chicken Little who was convinced and when around telling everyone that the sky is falling. We are blessed to live in the greatest period in the history of mankind. The progress man has made in raising his standard of living is commendable and worthy of note as the disciples did of the temple buildings in their time.
This is to the credit and genius of our Creator who made us in His image and gave us the ability to do the things we are capable of doing. We are capable of doing much greater things, things we can’t even imagine now. But we as Christians must take the lead in demonstrating to the world how to love and care for our human brother and sisters.
We must not give up and get caught up in this fatalistic culture and way of thinking. We have no way of knowing when the end of sorrows we come nor when Jesus will come and establish His kingdom. We are given the task of telling everyone about the love and grace of God while making this world a better place to live.
It has already been two thousand years since the travail began. Mankind has lived and survived through many horrific and terrible times that may have seemed like the end was near. Yet, Jesus said the end is not yet and these things must happen.
At the end of the travail, hopefully a healthy child is born. As we go through the travail pangs of this life, let’s hope the end is many healthy, holy children of God are born.
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Pastor Jordan
