Watch Out

Yesterday I preached on the Scripture Mark 13: 24-37. This is known as part of the "mini-apocalypse" of Mark, and a Scripture I have avoided for years. Because I've always been afraid of the apocalypse and what it might mean. I know there are some out there who embrace it wholeheartedly, but I'm not one of them. I've been told we should wait expectantly for Christ to return and all things will pass away, but I'm having a pretty good time watching my kids grow, and I really want to coach their soccer teams, and I want more time with those I love. So I struggle. Yes, I want Christ to return and make all of the pain and tears to go away, but I don't want life to end.
So as I was reading in Mark, it began to make sense. The metaphor Jesus uses is the fig tree budding. That is a sign of new life, not a sign that is normally associated with the apocalypse. And I love signs of new life. If it is someone learning and their mind becoming active, that is a sign of new life. Green grass poking through. Its one reason why the season of spring is so appealing, because new life is all around us.
But here in Advent, that is hard to find. As people pepper-spray one another to get the best deals at Wal-Mart, everyone's anxiety level and blood pressure rise with the coming of the Christmas season. Politics are heating up and will only become more vicious. Where are the signs of new life?
There is a reason Christmas is in winter. Because it is dark in winter, and the light of the world is coming. If there is already light everywhere, a new light doesn't make that much of a difference. It would be like if you turned on a flashlight outside during the day, it wouldn't help you see any better. But that is exactly what Christ is, a light. And a light shines brightest in the darkest places. Our darkness of despair was so tremendous. Kind of like the darkness and deadness of winter. But Christ breaks through. And there are still more dark places in the world, and Christ's light will break through there too.
In the CEB, verse 33 in chapter 13 of Mark says, "Watch Out! Stay Alert!" This isn't a call for vigilance, it is a call to keep your eyes open for the light of the world to shine in the darkest corners. You may be the one that carries that light there. You may be the one who notices. But all of our lives should point to the signs of new life, and say, Come, Lord Jesus, Come. Bring your light, because sometimes we can barely see.