Ready or Not

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” Matthew 24:36

There is likely no more universal children’s game than hide & seek. One person is “it” and the others scatter to find the best hiding places. After a predetermined number of seconds, the seeker cries out, “Ready or not–here I come!” The slowest hiders always get caught; they just weren’t ready!

In Matthew 24, Jesus is describing the final years of life on earth. Horrible judgment, death and destruction will mark those days. Save for the mercy of God, no one would survive (Matthew 24:22). The other hallmark of this dark period in human history, however, is the glorious return of Jesus Christ. He will split the clouds and return to retrieve His children and deliver them to the eternal rest He has been preparing for these many years (John 14:3). Of course the question most asked is, “When will that be? When is Jesus going to come back?” And despite the speculations and musings of many philosophers and theologians, Jesus makes this very clear–no one knows. No one knows when He will return. In fact, if anyone ever tells you they do know, you may dismiss them outright, for they are no student of Scripture. Later in the chapter, Jesus, sitting on the very Mount of Olives (Matthew 24:3) to which He will one day return (Zechariah 14:4), challenged the disciples and us. “Therefore, you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (v.44).

Friends–Jesus is coming, that is certain. Will you be ready–or not?

-Pastor Mike