And Jesus began to say to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. Many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He!’ and they will mislead many. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are only the beginning of birth pains.
The future is full of unknowns. In teaching on the end times, Jesus gave His followers instructions about how to live in them. He reminded them to hold onto His truth instead of being swayed by the teaching of others. He reminded them to hold fast to who He is as the Messiah instead of being misled by others. In a digital age with an abundance of teachers, influencers, podcasters, and news anchors we have plenty of people to listen to. We can pride ourselves on knowing much but Jesus’s call remains necessary for us today. We are still prone to misleading influences. We depend on Christ to guide us by His Spirit in a world that claims to know it all. John 16:13 says “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.” In a world full of things and people that can mislead, Jesus is our constant guide. His Spirit will lead us in truth through chaotic and confusing times.
- Where do you usually turn for knowledge or spiritual insight? What is helpful about those sources? What could be misleading about those sources?
- How are you seeking to hold on to Jesus and the guidance of the Holy Spirit?
- Pray and ask God to guide you and make you aware of ways you may have been misled. Ask Him to guide you in His truth.
