When we look at the world superficially, we see beautiful and splendid things. But in reality, everything is fragile. Even the magnificent temple would fall. Our vision is temporary; God’s is eternal. The disciples wanted to know what the signs were that would lead to Jesus’ coming again. The signs of his coming would be calamitous: deceit, wars, natural disasters, and famines. Jesus taught his disciples not to worry about all these signs, because these things must happen. They would occur because God deemed that they would. These may seem like the end of all things, but they will actually be birth pains. Childbirth is very painful. But something beautiful comes from it. These signs would be horrifying, but the kingdom of God that these would usher in would be beautiful beyond belief.

It would not only be the natural world that would roil in chaos. Jesus’ disciples would also face many hardships. They would be persecuted, jailed, even killed. They would be hated and betrayed. But Jesus encouraged them with the promise that if they stood firm to the end, they would be saved. Their hardships would be testimonies to the world of Jesus’ salvation.
Application: Father, help me to keep my eyes firmly on you in this chaotic world. Help us to know this life is but birth pains.
One Word: These are the beginnings of birth pains