“Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. “It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. “Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning—lest coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. “And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” Mark 13:33-37 NKJV
If many of you are like me, you scour the internet looking for sites that are biblically grounded and provide information, teaching, and lately most of all, encouragement for living in the times we find ourselves in. While most of us attempt to put on a brave front, the reality is many of us, myself included, are more than a little apprehensive about what the future holds. Although our government has attempted to sell us on the idea that their desire is to bring us all together, it has become painfully obvious that we are more divided as a country than we have ever been.
The truth is, what we see happening in the world today should come as no surprise to those familiar with Jesus’ teaching about what to expect before He returns. This is, I believe, the whole point of the passage from Mark. If we as a body obey our Lord’s command to watch, His return for us and the end of the Church age should by all accounts be as plain as day. While we may not know exactly what hour of the day He will appear, it certainly seems that Jesus tells us that if we watch for the signs, not only will we recognize the times, but we will see Him coming as well.
“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Matthew 24:44 NKJV
My personal feelings about these passages and the subject of watching, is colored not only by what Jesus says He wants from us, but also what He doesn’t want. What He doesn’t want is to catch us sleeping rather than watching and waiting in expectation of His appearing. In the context of the rapture, I feel rather confident that those who the Lord describes as sleeping are those who choose to ignore the events occurring right now and somehow believe that things are somehow going to return to some sense of normal rather than continuing down the path we have been on the past couple of years.
“knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” 2 Peter 3:3-4 NKJV
One of my favorite subjects, and lately one which I find myself discussing more often than ever, is the fact of just how delusional people will get as Jesus’ return draws near. Now at first that might sound a little harsh but I ask you, with all the signs and changes to our world Jesus’ tells us will occur before He returns, how could anybody possibly believe everything is “continuing” as normal? Yet here we find ourselves at a time when that is exactly what we see. The key might be found if you consider replacing the word “lusts” with “desires”. In that regard, people will be consumed with a desire to return to normal rather than looking forward to our Lord’s return.
When that thought first crossed my mind, and all too often since, I find it so incredibly hard to believe that there are those who would rather return to normal that leave this world for the everlasting joy we are promised awaits us in the next. On the other hand, I feel so blessed to witness a massive shift in the collective thinking within the body of Christ as believers come to the realization of just how close we are to going home. I can’t help but wonder what Jesus feels about this as well considering all he has told us about watching for His return. To see so many begin to focus on “watching” as He instructed us to do must bring Him joy knowing we are anticipating the time when He calls us home.
“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? “Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.” Matthew 24:45-46 NKJV
What is the “food” wise and faithful servants are supposed to be serving? There is no doubt in my mind we are to be encouraging others with the knowledge of just how close we are to the rapture of the Church. The phrase “due season” in the Greek is the word “kairos” which is translated to mean; “a fixed and definite time, the time when things are brought to crisis, the decisive epoch waited for”. Now is it just me or does that not sound like the perfect description of the times we find ourselves in today? By all accounts, the world has arrived at a tipping point by the current “crisis” and the stage seems set for someone to come on the scene and seek to establish himself as the savior of the world.
With all this said, the question I believe we as believers should be asking ourselves is just exactly does God want from us? All I can do today is share with you what I believe God is telling me from these passages from scripture.
One. Watch for His return. Watching is an active pursuit where one is looking diligently in anticipation of our Lord’s arrival. It is not enough to simply be “aware” the time might be near, but to be consumed with watching for that first glimpse of His coming and our departure.
Two. Be awake. Have you ever dozed off and been suddenly awakened by someone standing next to you? It is most often startling and not a little unsettling. Jesus makes the point that when He returns, some will in fact be sleeping and taken unaware. God wants us awake and watching when He returns to take us home.
Three. God wants us to be feeding His sheep. If I have noticed anything in the past couple of years it’s the fact that now more than ever it would appear that the majority of the body recognizes our time is near. We are in the “season” of Christ’s return and we who are aware should be telling those around us of what we see. God’s desire is for us all to be found as wise and faithful servants when He returns.
The most important decision we need to make, however, is to accept the gift of God to us which is salvation through the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. If you have never made the decision to accept that free gift I encourage you to do so today. Simply ask God to forgive you of your sin based on your belief that Jesus died to pay the price for your sin, and turn over control of your life to Him. You can do that right now by praying a prayer just like this one;
"Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe You died for my sins. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and life. I confess You as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank You for saving me. Amen."
Keep watching.
