CONNECTING POINT: Ready or Not

A burglar broke into a house late one night. He shined his flashlight around,

looking for valuables, when a voice in the dark said, ‘Jesus knows you’re here, and

he’s coming back.’ He nearly jumped out of his skin, clicked his flashlight off, and

froze. When he heard nothing more, after a bit, he shook his head and continued.

Just as he was pillaging through the jewelry box on top of the dresser, clear as a

bell, he heard a voice.... saying, ‘Jesus is watching you, and he’s coming.’ Freaked

out, he shined his light around frantically, looking for the source of the voice.

Finally, in the corner of the room, his flashlight beam came to rest on a parrot. ‘Did

you say that?’ he angrily replied to the parrot. ‘Yep’, the parrot squawked. I’m just

trying to warn you that he is watching you, and he’s coming.’ The burglar relaxed.

‘Warn me, huh? Who in the world are you?’ ‘I'm Moses.’ replied the bird.

‘Moses?’ the burglar laughed hysterically. ‘What kind of people would name a bird

Moses?’ ‘The same kind of people that would name their Rottweiler Jesus.’

          The subject of Jesus Christ and His Second Coming is met with both hope

and skepticism. For the Christian, this foundational belief is the culmination of

salvation, for we are not only forgiven and redeemed through Christ’s atonement

but promised eternity in heaven, which includes the “Day” when Jesus returns to

the earth to judge the world and fulfill our salvation. Another interesting Biblical term for the

Second Coming is the “Day of Our Salvation.”

          The skeptic generally mocks the notion of Christ’s return due to their

disbelief regarding the claims of Jesus being the Messiah. Some of the strongest

critics came from within the Jewish religious community; large numbers of

Pharisees and Sadducees opposed Jesus. Suffice it to say, this kind of attitude is

what Jesus warned of in Luke 12, “The Lord answered, ‘Who then is the faithful

and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them

their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the

master finds doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of

all his possessions. But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a

long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and

women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. The master of that servant will come

on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour, he is not aware of. He will

cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.” (Luke 12:42-46). In

typical fashion, Jesus used another two parables to make the point be ready for His

return. The danger of becoming weary while waiting for Christ’s return or cynical

about His return because it hasn’t occurred yet is why we must stay on guard

(vs. 35-26).

          Three thoughts to keep in mind: First, the ready are prepared. Jesus describes

His return to be “as a thief in the night” (vs. 40) will happen unexpectedly.

          Second, the ready will be rewarded. In verses 42-44, Jesus metaphorically

describes how a master will reward his manager for wisely caring for those he’s

been entrusted to. Jesus then describes the repercussions of a careless manager unprepared for the master's return. One day, everyone will stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

          Third, the ready will be patient. Following Christ can create relationship division (vs. 51), but patience is required. According to 2 Peter 3:9, Jesus is coming back, but God is patient, allowing anyone to repent.