Matthew 24:36-44 - March 11, 2010
Matthew 24:36-44 - March 11, 2010
"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 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. Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."
Matthew 24:36-44
"Keep watch" our Savior says. Jesus wants our complete attention to an important matter. The reason for this alertness is that we don't know when he will be returning. The time is unknown. Only God knows when this event will take place. Since God has not revealed the time of the Last Day and Jesus' return, it cannot be predicted. Jesus says, "You do not know on what day your Lord will come." To insist that we do or can find out is sinful. However, the uncertainty connected with this lack of knowledge about the Last Day is no reason for carelessness or indifference. The very opposite is true. Uncertainty calls for increased watchfulness.
Jesus says, “The Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Human nature likes to postpone things; we procrastinate, putting off things as long as we can. The dangerous thing is to postpone and procrastinate over things which are important for our souls. We think, "Perhaps next year or when I get older, I'll be able to devote more time to spiritual matters." or "Maybe tomorrow I'll have more time for my Christian duties and responsibilities." Jesus says, "Not tomorrow, but today! Tomorrow or next year may be too late!"
Keeping watch means focusing on Jesus and what he accomplished for our salvation. It means recognizing that our sins separated us from God, but comforted with the truth that Jesus reconciled us to God by his death for us. Keeping watch for Jesus’ return means that we confidently anticipate that he is coming to take his believers to be with him in heaven. Thus we watch and wait for the appearance of our Savior, for then the goal of God's gracious purpose for us will be accomplished. We will live and reign with the Lord eternally.
Dear Jesus, direct my heart and mind to the truth of salvation that you won for me. Keep me watchful for your second coming. My comfort and hope is in your glorious return, when you will take me and all believers to heaven. Amen.
Today's Devotion is brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
