Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.

                                                                                                            Matthew 24:42-44

Today: Read Matthew 24

I have to admit that I have never had much of an obsession about the second coming of Jesus. I know that He will return someday but I believe all of us have things that we should be focusing our attention on today and each day that we live. With that being said, there doesn’t seem to be a shortage of people who do focus on prophecy and the issues surrounding the end times. In our passage today, Jesus provides us with valuable information regarding His own return. The Bible can shine a light and give us clarity on a topic so often distorted and misrepresented.

But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. 

                                                                                                                 Matthew 24:36 

No one knows when this event will take place. Anyone who claims to have that privileged information is misinformed. Scripture instructs us that not even the angels nor Jesus know the hour. This information resides with God the Father alone. This truth should eliminate any, if not all, of the speculation that exists in our world today. Knowing that God knows the hour, frees the church up to focus on what has been entrusted to us, preaching the gospel to all creation.

For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.

                                                                                                            Matthew 24:37-39 

Jesus uses an illustration from history. The coming of Christ will be like the days of Noah. Eating, drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage are all phrases pointing out that the normal ebb and flow of life was taking place in those days. The people neither understood nor expected that a flood was to come and put an end to life as they knew it. Likewise, Jesus’ return will also come as people are going about their normal routines.

Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.

                                                                                                       Matthew 24:40-41

These verses reveal the spiritual reality that not everyone will be ready for Christ’s return. One person being taken and one being left behind is a reference to the rapture of the church. Those who have been born again and belong to Jesus are those who are prepared. They are sons and daughters of God and heirs to His kingdom therefore the day will not catch them by surprise. Even though the specifics behind Jesus’ return are hidden to all of us, the expectation of His return should be ever present in the heart of a believer. Those that are left are those who are not saved and have no place in the kingdom of God. Tragically, many people live out their entire existence on this earth without even a passing thought or care about what lies beyond this life. Upon Christ’s return, not everyone will be ready. This is a reality we should all consider.

Jesus concludes with an admonition for us to be alert and ready for His coming. For the very reason that we do not know the timing, we should continue to run our race as we look forward to the day when all things will be made right. Rather than speculate on the timing, we should care enough about the spiritual well being of our family members and neighbors that we are willing to do whatever is necessary to lead them to Jesus. This should be the mission in the life of every believer.