末世系列（一） 不受騙，不驚惶（路21:5-11）
人類真是很好奇的生物，他們不停地探索身邊事物的意義。他們很有趣，祇選擇性地承認自己有限認知能力得來的片面真相，而在更宏偉的真理面前，卻傲慢地否認它！現代人覺得【聖經】是二千年前的產物，當中的故事和教訓，對當今的世代，毫無參考價值。例如《創世紀》中人物的歲數：亞當活到930歲（創5:5），最長壽的默突舍拉969歲（5:27）等，現代人都認為是無稽之談。十七世紀偉大的科學家如牛頓，把【聖經】族譜裡人物的年歲疊加，算出地球的年齡不超過六千歲！可見【聖經】真的不可信。除了對「世界末日」的預言例外！
現代人真奇怪，即使他們認為大部份【聖經】的內容不可信，但很多人卻對當中記載的「末世言論」，鍥而不捨地研究。除了「好奇」和「貪婪」之外，我實在找不到更合理的解釋！要知道「末日」是一門大生意，可以出版書籍，拍攝電影，售賣「末日逃生包」等，是一個很有潛質的市場。近日以色列與哈瑪斯的衝突，便引發了不少人士在社交媒體發表「末日」的言論了，可見這市場有多龐大！
所以，耶穌基督便借用人類的好奇心，啟示有關末日的訊息。但好奇的人，祇關心「發生的時候，將有甚麼先兆」（路21:7），但在最重要的真理面前，無動於衷！末日的真理是甚麼？耶穌說：「至於那日子和那時刻，除了父以外，誰也不知道，連天上的天使和子都不知道。」（谷13:32）。面對末日最重要的態度就是「你們要謹慎，不要受欺騙…切不可跟隨他們」（路21:8）；「不要驚惶」（21:9），有多少聽眾領會得到呢？
親愛的弟兄姊妹，你謹慎嗎？你能不受騙、不驚惶嗎？若望宗徒說：「在愛內沒有恐懼，反之，圓滿的愛把恐懼驅逐於外」（若一4:18）。若望宗徒的忠告，對你有啟發嗎？
天主保祐！
Eschatology I: Don’t Be Deceived, Don’t Be Terrified (Luke 21:5-11)
Humanity is a curious animal. They keep searching for meanings of things around them. They are funny in that they selectively acknowledge the partial truth they obtain from their limited cognitive powers but in face of a grander truth, they arrogantly deny!Modern people think that the Bible was written two thousand years ago. Thus, its stories and teachings are totally irrelevant for modern people. For example, the ages of people in Genesis: Adam died at 930 (Genesis 5:5) and Methuselah, the longest living man, had lived 969 years and died (5:27) etc. Modern people would dismissed them as fairy tales. Sir Isaac Newton, the greatest scientist in 17th century, once added up the ages from genealogies in the Bible and came up with the age of the earth to be less than 6,000. The Bible is not worth believing in except for doomsday prophecies!
Modern men are strange. Even though they reject almost all the contents of the Bible as incredible, many people continue to do researches on eschatology. Besides curiosity and greed, I cannot think of a more reasonable explanation! You should understand that “doomsday” is a big business. You may publish books, make movies and sell “End Time Survival Kits” etc. to meet the demands of a lucrative market. The recent conflicts between Israel and Hamas have triggered a flood of “doomsday” posts by KOL’s on the social media. Now you know how lucrative this market is!
In the gospel text today, Jesus only mentioned the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple and not the end of the world. It was sufficient to draw the attention of those who were speaking about how the Temple was adorned. Just think about it, what buildings on earth could stand forever? Even the still standing Great Wall is just 2,500 years old and China a mere 5,000. Who can guarantee that it shall not fall in 10,000 years?
Thus, Jesus Christ made use of the curiosity of humanity to reveal what would happen on the last days. Curious people only care about “When will this happen? And what sign will there be” (Luke 21:7) but untouched before the most important truth! So, what is the truth about the end days? Jesus says, “But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mark 13:32). The most important attitude to confront the end time is “See that you not be deceived … Do not follow them” (Luke 21:8); “Do not be terrified” (21:9). How many among my readers have heard and understood?
Beloved brethren! Are you prudent? Can you be not deceived, not terrified? John the Apostle says, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18). Do you find inspiration in the advice of John the Apostle?
God bless!
生命恩泉
Picture Credit:jesuswalk.com
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