 |
| image by Emiliano Spada |
"But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."
Matthew 24:36-44
When we say we are waiting for what is promised we say that we look forward to Christ's return and all that this means for the follower of Jesus. It would be great (or so we think!) if we knew exactly when he is coming, and though we are told of conditions and events that would characterize the last days, the Father has not seen fit to reveal his plan for this - not to humans, to angels, or even to Jesus himself!
Trying to predict when Jesus will return has occupied some people's time and attention for centuries. Even those who don't try to predict a specific date (such as Harold Camping a couple years ago) try to read world events and ascertain a time. Indeed this has gone on for as long as the church has existed (see 2 Thessalonians).
Jesus uses Noah's time as an example. Noah's building of the ark in response to God's instruction has often been seen as an analogy for the church: an instrument of salvation that provides deliverance from the judgment to come. What is interesting to note is that it was not Noah's job to keep an eye out for rain or swollen rivers. It was his job to believe God that a flood was coming and as such to build a boat and gather animals. Likewise, it is not our role to keep our eyes on the sky but rather to keep our hands in the earth. Blessed is he who is found so doing... Because we don't know when but we do know that we must maintain a constant state of readiness.
Take some time to consider the following. Perhaps it would be helpful to record your responses in a journal.
What might God's choice not to reveal the date of his coming tell us about where he wants us to focus our attention? What are some things we should be doing because Jesus is coming?
Here is a prayer in response to today's text. You can pray this as your own or use it as a prompt for a spontaneous prayer.
Our Father and Deliverer whose coming we look forward to, it is our joy to be your people bearing witness until you come! As we wait for you, help us to be faithful with the work you have called us to as your people here on earth. May our anticipation of our future deliverance never deter us from being your hands and feet to the world around us now. Help us to live in such a way that more come to know you as Lord as that day approaches.
No comments:
Post a Comment