The following is from Matthew Henry on the last 5 verses of Luke 17.
“When God's judgments are laying all waste, he will take an effectual course to preserve those that are his, by remarkable providences distinguishing between them and others that were nearest to them: two in a bed, one taken and the other left; one snatched out of the burning and taken into a place of safety, while the other is left to perish in the common ruin.”
Destruction has come and is yet to come on this earth, but God preserves His Own.
“…and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.”
Luke 17:33b
The world ignored the preaching of Noah and his massive visual aid, but 8 souls were saved. Abraham prayed. Just Lot and his two daughters were delivered from the fire and brimstone that rained on Sodom and Gomorrah. Others slept on, spiritually unaware and dismissive of the coming judgment of God. Believers were warned by Christ Himself that the Temple would be destroyed. Josephus claims that in AD 70, 1.1 million people were killed in the siege of Jerusalem.
The Great Tribulation will come. Those who have received Christ will be snatched away from the coming judgment.
Rest assured God does and will preserve those that are His. If God does take you to Heaven, it is your time and He is keeping you from the evil one. God preserves your precious soul for all eternity.
“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.”
Psalm 116:15
Yes, we suffer in this life but rest assured Satan can do nothing to you that God does not allow. You are His and He will preserve you.
“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Matthew 10:28
The battle is so much bigger than what is happening right in front of us. It is a spiritual warfare, a battle for the souls of men.
We talk about how it will be too late for the lost and yes, this is the greatest sadness one can know.
But it will also be too late for you to give that Gospel tract, too late for you to point that coworker to a saving knowledge of Christ, too late for you to share the love of God with your family.
Is this a message of doom and gloom? I think not, or I would not be sharing it. It is rather a message of hope. There is still hope today. Our hope is Jesus Christ. His saving power is the hope for the lost. The only hope. And there is still time to share this good news today. Still time to reach the lost.
The return of Christ will be so quick. There will be no time to go get your “stuff.” No time to even look back. No time to persuade those you have lived with, worked with, and shared your days with to go with you.
For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. Luke 17:24
You may be snatched away quickly from this earth one day but until then God has a work for you to do.
As a young pastor’s wife I sat pondering the coming of Christ one day. I wrote the following words to a song.
While it’s day we must work, while it’s day.
Souls must be saved
While it’s still day.
Night is coming on.
The harvest must be done.
Tomorrow will be too late.
This is the day.
The time is now for them to hear,
Salvation’s message crystal clear.
The task is ours.
We’re in the place.
This is the hour.
Lift your eyes to the fields
You will see.
They are white and ready
To be reaped.
Will you rise and go
To reap the harvest sown?
Hear the Master say,
“This is the day.”
When our work here is done
We’ll go home.
Will you miss your friends
Your family?
You must reach them now.
Jesus comes quickly!
Tomorrow may be too late.
This is the day.
🙏🏻 O Lord, give us a heart for souls today. For your sake and the gospel’s help us to take the time to reach the lost. 🙏🏻
Loser Bible Study Series Theme Verse:
“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.” Mark 8:35
“Lose” from the Greek word “Apollymi” means “to destroy fully.” It is translated lose in Luke 17:33b, our verse for today.