Be Ready

Be Ready

Matthew 24:30-36, 43-44, NLT

Then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven. 32Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. 33In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door. 34I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place. 35Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear. 36However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. . . . 43Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. 44You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.

Setting the Scene

This passage looks to the Second Coming as a time of judgment. When Jesus spoke of the anguish “of those days” (Matthew 24:29, NLT), he was talking specifically about the end times (see similar wording in the Prophets: Isaiah 34:4; Jeremiah 3:16, 18; 31:29; Joel 3:1; Zechariah 8:23).

Coming persecutions and natural disasters will cause great sorrow in the world. When believers see these events, however, they should realize the Second Coming is near and look forward to Christ’s reign of justice and peace.

Although Jesus told about events that would precede this time of triumph and judgment, describing in some detail the Coming itself, he said, “No one knows the day or hour when these things will happen.” Jesus did not mean to stimulate predictions and calculations about the date of his coming but to warn his people to be ready.

The Second Coming and the angels’ gathering “[God’s] chosen ones” will happen suddenly, in the blink of an eye. Because no one except the Father knows when Christ will return, believers must be constantly ready for him to come.

Jesus commanded his followers to “keep watch” (Matthew 24:42). This is an Old Testament concept, arising out of the necessity of maintaining a constant vigil on city walls against marauding bands. It also refers to the spiritual vigilance needed to keep people from wandering away from God. This is an active, not a passive, command. Believers are to be ready for Christ’s return at any moment.

Getting Personal

If you knew Christ would be returning tomorrow morning, how would you get ready?

What is a healthy balance between focusing on the end times and actively serving God from day to day?

Jesus’ disciples fully expected Jesus to return in their lifetimes, so we might be tempted to wonder if he will ever come back. But if we knew the precise date of the Second Coming, we might be tempted to be lazy in our work for Christ. Worse yet, some might plan to keep sinning and then turn to God right at the end. Instead, we must live as if Jesus will return today.

Talking to God

Ask the Lord to help you steer clear of the tendency to get bogged down in predicting or calculating the time of his return. Instead, ask him to help you be wise in being with him and serving him from day to day, so that you will always be ready for his return.