Mathew 24:36-51 (Jesus' Return)

Yesterday, we talked about some of the signs of the end (a pretty scary topic, but not so for those who have the Hope of Jesus).

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. ³⁷ As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ³⁸ 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; ³⁹ 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.  I love that Jesus uses a common example from the Old Testament to explain the suddenness of the day when Christ returns for us.  It will be just like any other day -- people are eating, drinking, getting married, and all those other "normal" things.  It could be today! No one, not even Jesus himself knows the day -- only the Father does.   ⁴⁰ Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. ⁴¹ Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
   ⁴² “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. ⁴³ 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. ⁴⁴ So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.   It's good that we don't know the exact date when Christ will come, otherwise, I think we'd all just be lazy -- waiting until the day of to get our act together.  Remember that Heaven is not our only goal!  We have very important work to do here, and we must continue to do it.  But when Christ does come, it will be swift and sudden.  No last minute changes of mind can be made.  We must decide before that time, and if we haven't decided YES to Christ intentionally, the automatic, humanly choice is NO.
   ⁴⁵ “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? ⁴⁶ It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. ⁴⁷ Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. ⁴⁸ But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ ⁴⁹ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. ⁵⁰ The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. ⁵¹ He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  In the meantime, we are to faithfully and responsibly take care of people in Jesus' name!  And that is no light task -- there is a reward promised!  Likewise, if we are selfish and unloving, the consequences are severe.  It is our choice, and a choice we need to make daily.  How can you care for someone today?

Tomorrow, we will look at Matthew 25, which has three parables Jesus uses to describe further what it means for us to be ready for His return and how to live as we wait.  Obviously, if Jesus spoke two whole chapters worth on this topic alone, it is very important.  Oh, how I pray that Lord will open our eyes and our minds to this topic so that we may be able to live accordingly as we wait for Him!  I don't claim to be a Biblical scholar and have all the answers on this very theologically divided subject, but even if we aren't exactly sure what everything means, let us not ignore it completely!  God gave us the gift of a brain, and let's honor Him by using it!  Even in the "harder" passages of Scripture!  Nothing is too hard for us when we have the Holy Spirit who gives wisdom and understanding.  Read, pray, and re-read, and see what He might have just for you this morning!