“Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’ ” Mark 13: 35-37, NIV.
Dear LORD, as we gather around Your Word to study, please come close to us and bless us. This we ask in the holy name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
One of the most hope-filled, long awaited, and dearly beloved, events among Christians, has been the return of Jesus Christ to our world. Many saints have fallen asleep in the hope that the next voice they will hear awaking them from sleep, will be the voice of Jesus Christ at His return. Others have faced martyrdom holding on to the “blessed hope,” of the Lord’s return. Many have comforted one another with the words, “For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry” (Hebrews 10: 37). Many spouses who have been married for the greater part of their lives, when faced with the impending separation caused by death, have done so with the words, “Good night my love, I will see you in the morning.”
But while this event represents hope for many, it is dreaded by others. Jesus, who promised to return and take us home to be with Him, left us this promise with the desire that it would bring us joy, not fear; hope, not despair; something to look forward to, not something to dread. And in His infinite wisdom, He did not leave us a date, but signs and warnings, so that the day of His return need not come upon us unawares. Several chapters in the Bible are dedicated exclusively, to the description of the conditions that will exist prior to His return. The Savior’s desire is that when He returns, we will be ready and waiting.
Nevertheless, we have not been content to “Watch and Pray,” as enjoined by the Savior. We have preferred to set our own dates, and suffer our disappointments. Today, let us consider some of the advantages of not knowing a specific date; and how watching and praying, can be a blessing to all of us. The most obvious reason why I believe not setting a date is to our advantage is the fact that many of us tend to procrastinate. We live our lives leaving for tomorrow things that we could take care of, today. Unfortunately, many chores are either not done well because we did not have sufficient time to do them, or not done at all; because the time we calculated for getting them done was not sufficient. The Lord created us and He knows how we function. In mercy He did not leave us a date.
The Savior has given unto His people a life-style to keep us healthy, and to share with the world, while we await His coming. This life-style entails justice, mercy, and temperance, in all things. It is one of the greatest gifts that He has given to His people. In spite of this, many have decided to live as if saying, “And I will say to my soul, ‘ “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ ” Because the Lord knows us better than we know ourselves, He has not given us a date. He wants us to always live in readiness, by always doing the things that we should. This is not for His sake, but for ours. He wants us to be always ready! He knew that many of us would, “take [our] ease,” until just before His coming, and then, get ready. But then we would have missed out on the abundant life He came to give us at His first coming. In order for us to have the best of both worlds, He did not give us a date, but encouraged us to watch for the signs!
Prayer keeps us in communication with the Savior. In His great love towards us, He has arranged things in such a way, that if He should come at “evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn.” Or, “[i]f he comes suddenly,” we will be ready to meet Him in peace! Let us follow our Lord’s advice, and “Watch!”