[Steve Myers] Things are heating up in the Mideast. Once again, Hamas and Israel are battling each other. And someone asked me a question the other day...if this is related to what we find in Luke 21. Luke 21, of course, describes a time that seems to be connected to what's happening today. It says this in verse 20. Luke 21:20, it says, "When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know its desolation is near." Now, of course, it's not surrounded by armies right now. We're not quite there yet, but it certainly is one of those things that we recognize. This is prophecy, and this is coming, and Jerusalem is a hot point. Israel is an issue in the Mideast. And there's gonna come a time that people are going to take sides and armies will mount against Jerusalem.

So as we begin to see these things happen, it is a precursor. It is a precursor, and we're given instructions by Jesus Christ for the perspective that we should have. Just a couple of verses later, Luke 21:36, Christ says this, "Watch therefore, and pray always." So we keep an eye on events that are happening around Jerusalem. That is true. So we watch the news. But more than that, Christ says this, "Watch, that you may be counted worthy to escape these things that will come to pass and stand before the Son of Man."

So when we see these kinds of things in the news, it should be one of those things that remind us, be watchful. But not just news, be watchful for our own lives. Make sure our spiritual house is in order. When we see world events begin to spiral out of control, we better make sure we're close to God. We better make sure we're putting on the character of Christ so that we can stand when He returns.

That's "BT Daily." We'll see you next time.