Matthew 24:32-51
Saturday, 13 February 2021
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” -Matthew 24:42
Most of us don’t like to be taken by surprise. But there are situations in life that meets us quite unprepared and unexpected- which drive us to our wits end. Becoming perplexed, we look for immediate solutions. But the Second Coming of Jesus Christ is the ONE event we cannot afford to be unprepared. There is no running about to fix the situation so better be prepared for it!
The answer to a few questions can better prepare us to focus on this expected great event:
When will Jesus be coming?
1 Thessalonians 5:2 says: “…for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” (cf.2 Peter 3:10, Revelation 3:3). No one can precisely tell when a thief tries to break into a house - because the day and hour is unknown. In Acts 1:7 it is recorded Jesus telling His disciples: “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.” So instead of assuming or being indifferent, God expects us to be prayerful and watchful always. God is not pleased with unprepared people for they will be placed amongst the hypocrites. Verse 51 says, “He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites...”
What signs are we to look out for?
Even though the exact time is not known, Jesus mentioned what signs to look out for - Many will come in His name, claiming to be the Messiah. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. Famines and earthquakes in various places will be on the rise. People will be persecuted for His name. False prophets will appear trying to deceive. Wickedness will increase and the love of most will grow cold (vs.4 - 13). When we see the above signs know that the Lord’s coming is near!
What happens to the unprepared?
He repeatedly warns us how it will be at the coming, Verse 40, 41 it says “Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.” We are certain that we do not want to be left behind! Jesus warns us not to be like the people during the time of Noah who even after seeing the signs failed to prepare themselves (vs.37,38). A few studies tried to estimate the time Noah took to build the ark, and their estimate was between 75 - 100 years! Which means 75-100 years of warning! Yet people chose to reject the warning and ended up getting destroyed in the flood.
What happens to the prepared?
Like how the Master puts the good servant in-charge of all his [master’s] possessions (Vs.45, 46, 47), we would rise with him to glory (1 Thessalonians 4:17) and be rewarded (Matt.16:27).
How do we prepare ourselves?
By being watchful, by being ready! That means willing to be sanctified—set apart for God’ purpose. Our sanctification is the will of God. (1 Thessalonians 4:3). We cannot indulge in darkness such that we will be surprised when He [Jesus] comes. We need to be the children of light and children of day. We cannot be like the others who are asleep but instead be awake and sober.
Brethren, are you ready for the return of Christ? If not, repent of your sin, and trust in Christ today. For the time is near. So let’s prepare ourselves!
Think on: “But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place and to stand before the Son of Man.”