The encouragement of realistic expectations
by Pastor Joshua Pfeiffer
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Jesus says, ‘Take note, I have told you beforehand’ (Matthew 24:25).
Have you noticed that the extent to which we expect something to be a certain way can affect our experience of it when it comes? I remember travelling with a guy in Europe who expressed disappointment just about everywhere we went because he had particular ideas that the realities didn’t meet. I was only 18 and, in my naivety, had very few expectations, and strangely, this seemed to allow me to enjoy it more than my fellow traveller! Or take a more serious example. Many struggles in married life come because we have unrealistic expectations about how things should be. If you enter married life seriously expecting to have major challenges sooner or later (because you’re two sinners being put together), it will go a long way to getting through those moments when they come.
There is a thread in Jesus’ teaching, especially when it comes to the end times, where he does something like this. He wants to prepare his disciples for things to come so they’re not taken off-guard and can better deal with them. Notice our verse where he explicitly says that we shouldn’t be surprised when all sorts of trials and temptations come our way because he has ‘told us beforehand’. The longer text for today is to do with false prophets – and even false messiahs – coming to lead people astray. These figures may even be able to produce real supernatural signs of sorts that the naive may think automatically authenticate their message. In contrast, Jesus wants to fortify his disciples for what’s coming. In a strange sort of way, he provides encouragement by giving realistic expectations.
It’s not uncommon to hear Christians bemoan the times we live in, either in wider society with its increasing secularism or in the church with all our internal problems. Sometimes I wonder whether there isn’t a connection between our surprise at these things and our decreasing biblical literacy. After all, there isn’t anything happening today that Jesus and his apostles didn’t tell us beforehand. The more the horizons of our expectations are shaped by God’s word, the more prepared we’ll be for what lies ahead.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for everything you reveal to us in your word about what we can expect during our lives in this world. Encourage us with these realistic expectations and help us by your Spirit to live faithfully whatever the future holds. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
Joshua is married to Kimberley. Together they have four children. He is a pastor of the Lutheran Church of Australia and previously served at St Paul’s, Nundah, in Queensland, and Bethlehem, Adelaide, in South Australia. Currently, he is pursuing doctoral studies at Concordia Seminary St Louis, USA, and enjoying the adventure. He posts videos on a YouTube channel called Kairos (www.youtube.com/JoshuaPfeiffer).
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