Our son and his family are flying to Florida to visit with us! Two days ago, with his Daddy’s help, our three year old grandson, Sam, called me.
When I answered the phone his excited voice shouted, “Mamawl, I’m Coming!” I said, “When will you get here?” He replied, “I don’t know, my Daddy does.”
Last night, we sat at the airport waiting for their flight to arrive. Suddenly, I saw little Sammy, running across the floor laughing with excitement, his arms outstretched yelling, “I’m HERE!”
One of the most sacred promises that every child of God clings to is the promise of Christ’s return. Throughout History, Christians have boldly stated that the time is at hand; “maybe even today could be the day!” Two thousand years ago, the apostles said the obvious signs of the times point to the soon return of Christ (I Peter 4:7; I John 2:18)!
Like Christians today, the Apostles not only based their presumption on current events but on the scripture. As we see the state of world affairs, we can say with more confidence than any other time in History that Jesus’ return is at hand.
Matthew 24:36-44 says the busyness of our lives is, itself, one of the harbingers of Christ’s soon return. The scripture states that Jesus has told us, “I’m coming!” Jesus said that no man knows the time or the day, only the Father, God.
Thessalonians 5 acknowledges that there would be those who look for Christ’s return and those who shrug and go about their business. Today, we see a great lethargy in God’s people. Note that in the parable about the 10 virgins obviously, those whose lamps had gone out once had lamps that were lit. (Matthew 25:1-13).
I must regularly examine my own heart and set my eyes on the goal of being found living fully for my Lord when He returns. Commitment is a personal matter; Satan desires to weaken my relationship with Jesus. One of his most useful tools is lethargy; he is aware that I can be easily ‘busied’ and even more easily bored.
I must examine my own life and honestly make an appraisal; am I committed to an intimate relationship with Christ? Or has the busyness of life used up the oil in my lamp?
When ‘the Father’, at last, says, ‘it’s time, my son’, and Jesus appears in the eastern sky shouting, “I’m HERE!”, I don’t want to be out hunting for oil to put in my lamp—I want to be ready.
Mark 13:32-33 “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.”
Prayer: Father, help me to hear the voice of your Holy Spirit so I know the direction for my life. I want to be busy about your business when the shout comes to call us home. I love you. Amen.
Scripture References:
I Peter 4:7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.
I John 2:18 Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.
Matthew 24:36-44 36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour[b]your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Matthew 25:1-13 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’
12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.