Christians are constantly warned in the New Testament to conduct their lives with a view toward a very specific day in the future. In this text, spoken by Jesus in the temple a day or two before His crucifixion, He referred to it rather ominously as "that day." In Mat. 24:36 we are told that no one, except God the Father, knows when that day will be. But Paul declares in Acts 17:31 that its time has already been fixed in God's mind. Each day we all move one day closer to that unique day, unique because it is the last day of the existence of the universe. Scientists theorize that the universe began with a "big bang." Whether or not that is true, we are assured it will end with a "big bang." It is written that "the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat," (II Pet. 3:10). Personally, I am not so concerned about whether the universe began with a bang as I am about being prepared for its certain termination with a big bang.
The preparation of His disciples for that cataclysmic day is the focus of Jesus' concern in Luk. 21:34. He has told us it is certain and has also shown us something of the decisive events that will occur therein. Thus we know it is not only the day when the universe will be destroyed, but the time when Jesus' disciples will forever be separated from those people who will be consigned eternally to a prison of darkness and torment. Jesus wants us to prepare for that day by becoming His disciples and remaining loyal in that relationship. This unceasing loyalty, however, requires concentrated effort, indicated by the warning to "be on guard." Day by day there are things and conditions that tempt us to come to them for indulgence, drawing our attention away from our commitment to be disciples of Christ and also away from the relentless flow of time toward the appointed day when it all comes to an end.
Jesus singles out three such distractions, which may be something more of categories than specific entities. First, He calls attention to being weighed down with dissipation. This refers to overindulgence in activities that produce physical pleasure. It is evident that worldly values center on the aim of enjoying life physically as much as possible day after day. One's life can easily become devoted to pursuing pleasure to the extent that nothing else matters. Any talk of controlling physical indulgence so that the soul can be conditioned for God's purposes seems folly. The interpretation of life as indulgence in pleasure is manifestly the prevailing view in our present world.
Second, Jesus emphasizes the allurement of drunkenness. The primary reference is clearly to alcohol. This is specific, but its magnitude is such that it alone will sidetrack countless multitudes from preparation for the final day. Intoxicating drink has been, and probably always will be, the destruction of untold millions of lives physically, domestically, socially, and spiritually. It is likely that Jesus also includes in this warning other chemical substances which have the same, or worse, numbing effect upon one's spiritual conscience.
Third, Jesus points out the danger of the worries of life. There is a burden of work to be done continually to carry on civilization, and people must train themselves and exercise their skills to accomplish it. Jesus knows this and approves the Christian's participation in it. His warning, however, is directed against making this involvement the sum total of our ambition and energy.
