Recently, a thief propped a metal ladder against the back of a restaurant early one morning. He scaled the ladder, reached the roof, and entered the eatery hoping to plunder the place. He couldn’t have known, however, that the restaurant’s owner was waiting inside. The restaurant had been burglarized three times in previous weeks, and the owner refused to become a victim again.
Jesus told a similar story as He talked with His disciples. He said, “If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into” (Matthew 24:43). He continued by saying, “You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected” (Matthew 24:44).
Although no one except God knows the exact time when Jesus will come back from heaven (Matthew 24:36), the Bible encourages us to live watchfully. It also gives us clues about what will happen before Jesus returns: wars, natural disasters, and persecution will escalate, and false religious leaders will infest the world (Matthew 24:7-9, 23-24).
Despite these events, we don’t have to cower as we watch and wait (Romans 13:11-14). Rather, we can joyfully anticipate Jesus’ return and let it inspire holiness in our lives. Peter supplied us with a few pointers on how best to do this: pray faithfully, love deeply, and share generously (1 Peter 4:7-9). This is how we glorify the One we’re waiting for.
Jesus will come as unexpectedly as a thief in the night. Ready, or not, we’ll leave this earth to join Him on that day (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Fortunately, we can rely on God to “keep [us] strong to the end so that [we] will be free from all blame” when Jesus returns (1 Corinthians 1:7-8).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Genesis 43:1-34
More:
Look up John 14:1-4 to see where Jesus will take us when He returns.
Next:
Are you looking forward to Jesus’ second coming? Why, or why not? How should you respond when you hear someone predicting the day of Jesus’ return?
Gary Shultz on January 27, 2014 at 6:28 am
Thoughts nicely woven into life’s fabric.
jennifer benson schuldt on January 27, 2014 at 4:27 pm
Thanks Gary!
tom felten on January 27, 2014 at 8:26 am
Jen, it truly changes our perspectives when we “live watchfully.” I’m reminded of M.R. DeHaan’s saying: “Perhaps today.”
jennifer benson schuldt on January 27, 2014 at 4:34 pm
Tom, I love the first few verses of the book John as they relate to this topic. Jesus said: “When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” Sometimes I think about this when I pick my kids up from school. They know they can depend on me to be there, and we can depend on our Heavenly Father to come back and pick us up (when the time is right) as well.
roxanne robbins on January 27, 2014 at 9:27 am
I really appreciate, Jenn, your emphasis on Matthew 24:44 and the importance of standing guard as we become aware of ways enemies (and/or the enemy) tend to attack.
jennifer benson schuldt on January 27, 2014 at 4:40 pm
Thanks Roxanne. Every day we are a bit closer to His return, and yet it seems like fewer and fewer of us are expecting Him to come. (Matthew 24:38-39)
Mike Wittmer on January 28, 2014 at 5:43 pm
You left us hanging, wondering how the story turned out. That’s okay, because we know how the other, more important story, ends.
jennifer benson schuldt on January 31, 2014 at 7:54 am
Hi Mike,
I had to dig back through my notes to see how the story ended. Unfortunately, the intruder and the restaurant owner got into a scuffle. The business owner claims the thief had a sharp object in his hand–the owner shot and killed the criminal. At the time when I wrote the article, no charges had been filed. It’s a sad ending for the offender.
Winn Collier on January 28, 2014 at 8:13 pm
It’s interesting to me how this future return of Jesus has become a source of angst and fear among some Christians when in Scripture it was always a signal of hope. We’ve missed something, haven’t we?
jennifer benson schuldt on January 31, 2014 at 8:00 am
Yes Winn, great point. In some ways, we may equate Jesus’ return with death, which certainly has some scary aspects–the letting go of our known world, the loss of a physical body, the parting with some loved ones. Fortunately, there is so much that we gain–experiencing a new closeness with God, reunions with fellow believers, the glory of heaven. 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18