Watch and Pray

32“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it^e is near, right at the door. 34Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

36“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,^f but only the Father. 37As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.40Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

42“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

45“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. (Matthew 24:32-46)

Thoughts: There are always curious people who want to predict exactly when Christ comes back. There are several who say He should come back now.  The gospel has been preached in every country- with converts in every country (first fulfilled in 1984).  There is a lot of wickedness and the faith of many is growing cold.  There is more persecution in the last hundred years than all the other centuries put together.  But God's timing is perfect.  As someone once said, "The day you think you know is God's day, is the day you are wrong."  People should quit predicting the day and the hour.
    Yet we also have to be aware that others scoff at the idea of His coming back at all.  However, It is hard to separate the teaching of Jesus from his teaching on his coming again.  It is in almost every New Testament book.  We should want a day when evil ends and doesn't triumph.  We should want to let go of this world a bit more, and long to see the face of the One who loves us more than anyone else.  Jesus us tells us to always be watchful, ready, and prayerful.  The Bible ends with the prayer that we should all strive to pray: "Come Lord Jesus."  

Prayer: Lord, we do long for a day when injustice is made just, the haters are condemned, and your true righteousness shows through for what it really is.