When Foundations Shake: Facing Uncertainty with Faith

Can our cherished institutions and long-held securities truly stand the test of time, or are we merely clinging to illusions of stability? Join me, Chuck Warnock, as we explore the moments when the unthinkable becomes reality, and how such upheavals can transform our understanding of security and faith. Reflecting on the 2008 collapse of Lehman Brothers, we draw parallels to a powerful passage from Mark's Gospel, where Jesus foretells the destruction of the temple, reminding us that even grand structures are transient. Through these narratives, we are encouraged to question where we place our ultimate trust and to confront the seductive allure of false prophets that emerge during times of crisis.

As we navigate life's uncertainties, we find solace in Jesus' message of hope and renewal. Let's contemplate experiences where the seemingly unshakeable facets of our lives—be it relationships, careers, or institutions—begin to crumble, and discover how faith can guide us through despair. Embracing God's transformative power, we explore how new life emerges from turmoil and affirm a belief in new beginnings rising from endings. Together, we share a prayer for strength and offer a daily reflection guide for those seeking deeper spiritual insight during challenging times, encouraging listeners to see crises as opportunities for renewal and hope.

Go to chuckwarnock.com for written transcripts of these messages. Thank you!

Chapters

• 0:00 Finding Hope in Times of Upheaval
• 7:48 Embracing Hope in Turbulent Times

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Welcome to God's Time where we explore how ancient wisdom speaks to our modern lives. I'm Chuck Wanock and I'm glad you're here with us today. What in your life feels absolutely secure? Maybe it's your career, a relationship or an institution. You've always counted on that sense of security, and what happens when it crumbles is what we're exploring today. Let me take you back to a September morning in 2008. Thousands of employees are streaming into Lehman Brothers' gleaming headquarters on 7th Avenue in Manhattan. This glass and steel skyscraper has long stood as a symbol of financial might. Founded before the Civil War, lehman had survived the Great Depression, two world wars and countless market crashes, but by nightfall, this 158-year-old institution would declare the largest corporate bankruptcy in American history. Imagine those employees carrying boxes of personal belongings from their offices. They must have been thinking how could this happen to an institution that survived the Great Depression? Where do we go from here? Today's gospel reading speaks directly to moments like these, when what we thought could never fail does, and in Jesus' response we'll find surprising hope for our own times of upheaval. We're in Mark's gospel, chapter 13, verse 1. We're in Mark's Gospel, chapter 13, verse 1.

Speaker 1: 1:45

Jesus and his disciples are in Jerusalem during what will be the final week of Jesus' life. They have just left the temple after a series of confrontations with religious leaders. As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him look, teacher, what massive stones, what magnificent buildings Do you see? All these great buildings, replied Jesus. Not one stone here will be left on another, everyone will be thrown down. Now picture yourself standing there. The temple isn't just any building, it's the building. Its massive stones, some weighing over a hundred tons, seem to proclaim permanence itself. This is where heaven and earth meet. This is where God dwells earth meet. This is where God dwells. To help us grasp what the temple meant, imagine the pride Americans feel in the Statue of Liberty, the awe that tourists experience at the Great Pyramids, or the reference of standing in Notre Dame Cathedral. Now multiply that feeling by tenfold and that's what the temple meant to the Jewish people.

Speaker 1: 3:08

The disciples are stunned by Jesus' prediction. Later, sitting on the Mount of Olives, looking at the temple across the valley, they ask him privately Tell us when will these things happen and what will be the sign that they are about to be fulfilled? Jesus said to them Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name claiming. I am he and will deceive many. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places and famine. These are the beginning of birth pains.

Speaker 1: 4:02

Notice what Jesus does here. He doesn't give them a detailed timeline of the end of the world. No-transcript proves temporary. First, he warns them about where they seek their security. Those massive temple stones seemed indestructible, just as Laman's gleaming headquarters seemed permanent. But Jesus reminds them, no earthly institution, no matter how grand or essential, can provide ultimate security. Secondly, jesus calls for vigilance and discernment. Watch out that no one deceives you.

Speaker 1: 4:49

Times of upheaval often produce false messiahs. In Israel's case, there were charismatic religious figures promising to bring in God's kingdom and political zealots offering simple solutions to complex problems. Jesus warns that, especially in times of crisis, knowing whom to follow is crucial. Third, when Jesus speaks of wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes and famines, he isn't giving us a checklist for predicting the end. Instead, he's teaching us how to keep it together when our world is falling apart. Do not be alarmed, he tells his disciples. These things will happen, but they're not the end of the story. And this brings us to Jesus' most surprising message, one that speaks powerfully to our own times of upheaval. These catastrophes, jesus says, are not death throes but birth pains, are not death throes but birth pains. Think about that metaphor. Jesus could have called this a time of disaster, a catastrophe or a judgment, but instead he chooses an image of new life emerging through difficulty. Now the temple would indeed fall, just as Jesus predicted.

Speaker 1: 6:20

In 70 AD, roman legions dismantled Jerusalem's great temple stone by massive stone. The sacred vessels were carried away to Rome as spoils of war. The emperor Domitian even had the scenes of Israel's defeat carved on the arch of Titus. Later you can still see them today. But something remarkable happened. From this devastating loss emerged new expressions of faith that would transform the world. Jewish communities, scattered throughout the Roman Empire, developed vibrant new ways of preserving their faith. Synagogues became the center of Torah study. The early Christian church, forced beyond Jerusalem's walls, spread throughout the Mediterranean world and beyond.

Speaker 1: 7:16

What does this mean for us today, when our own foundations seem to be shaking. Jesus' words offer both challenge and comfort. He challenges us to examine where we place our ultimate trust. He reminds us to discern carefully whom and what we follow and what we follow, and he offers hope that what looks like an ending might actually be God's new beginning.

Speaker 1: 7:48

Right now, you might be experiencing your own version of watching the unshakable crumble. Perhaps it's a relationship you thought would last forever, a career that seemed secure, an institution you trusted, a certainty that's now in question. Remember Jesus' words. Do not be alarmed. The uncontainable God is on the move, bringing new life into being, even through our times of deepest upheaval. Would you pray with me when we are tempted to despair? Remind us that you are the God who brings life from death, hope from despair and new beginnings from painful endings. In Jesus' name, amen. Thank you for spending time with us in God's Word today. If you'd like to go deeper with this passage, I've prepared a daily reflection for the week ahead. There are questions that you can answer during each day of this coming week to give you further spiritual guidance. You can find them on my website at chuckwarnockcom, and tune in next week again here on our podcast as we consider another passage from the life of Jesus Until next time when your world feels like it's falling apart, remember God is still holding it together.