In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of our response to Jesus' challenge in Luke 21:28 to "look up and raise your heads" because our redemption is drawing near. The speaker highlights that where we choose to look determines our character and behavior. Jesus understands the suffering and darkness of our times and calls us to turn our eyes upon Him. By fixing our gaze upon Jesus, we can experience His peace, strength, and joy, and be lifted out of despair and darkness. The speaker encourages us to speak aloud Jesus' words and promises, praise Him in song, and absorb His nature, love, and imminent victory.

God lives and works today. This knowledge must become a reality in our lives, today as never before. Otherwise, we will be hopelessly lost amid the distress, doubts, anxiety, and despair of the world. Listen to the following meditation by Basilia Schlenk called, How to Fight Against Despair. How can we escape from the despondency of life, and how can we overcome our anxieties? These questions are of utmost importance, especially for our times, because now, more than ever before, the powers of despair are gaining the upper hand. Many people, even Christians, are being caught up in the grips of depression, confusion, and despair. At home and at work, in an every facet of life, we're confronted by the horror of darkness and sin, which only brings an unspeakable affliction. But now the Lord Jesus has a word for us. Everything depends upon our response. If we take up Jesus' challenge, we are anchoring ourselves to a solid rock. We will have the strength to endure the present times, be strong and comforted. A blessing for others, and be able to win many souls for the Lord. When Jesus challenges us in Luke 21 verse 28, Look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. He is telling us how decisive it is where we look. We can remain gazing at the horrible circumstances, at the darkness which surrounds us today, and at everything that oppresses us and drives us to despair. Or we can look up in a different direction. Whatever we look at becomes imprinted upon our being. It determines our character and our behavior. What a consolation it is to know that Jesus knows how much we all must suffer under the pollution, violence, and darkness of our times. In His great love He is calling to us in these His own words, Raise your heads, turn your eyes upon Me. We should look to Him in faith and fix our gaze upon Him. Then something of Jesus' nature, His peace, strength, and joy will stream into our hearts. No one is able to behold Jesus without becoming captivated by Him and His love. And that's true happiness. To look upon Jesus in faith means to speak aloud His words and promises. It means to praise Him in song. And in so doing, we absorb something of His nature, His might, His love, and His imminent victory. Yes, whenever we fix our eyes upon Jesus, we will be lifted up, freed from all despair, and drawn out of the darkness that threatens to engulf us. Truly there's something to be gained by it, for then we will experience Jesus' victory, today and in the times to come. My thankful heart I give you. You have been listening to a program written by Basile Schlink of the Little Land of Canaan. To learn more about how God lives and works today, visit us at our website, www.canaan.org. That's K-A-N-A-A-N dot org. If you contact us, we would be happy to send you a free inspirational booklet. If you do not have access to the web, please contact this radio station for our postal address. God bless you.