What I say to you, I say to everyone: Watch!
Here the Teacher tells His students to be watchful for His return - You do not know when that time will come. Be on guard! Be alert!
No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Why the counsel to be constantly watchful for the Second Coming? What difference could living in such expectancy make in our lives?
Perhaps the wisdom of the Teacher’s counsel is best understood by asking this question: What would we do right now, if we knew that today was The Day of His return?
Would we make any changes? Tie up any loose ends? Tidy up here and there?What if today was The Day?
We suspect there would be a flurry of activity.
Apologies to those we wronged, fences mended! Restitution for past misdeeds if possible! And prayer…plenty of prayer!
If today’s The Day then of course it’s too late to make much progress in becoming more like the Teacher. Too late to do anything about all those lost opportunities.
Only time to rely on the mercy and grace of the Savior and trust Him! Oh, the things we would do if we knew He was coming today!
This is why the Teacher tells us to live always in watchfulness for His return. It changes everything. Especially our urgency about praying!
Watch and Pray – they go together!
Are we listening to the Teacher? It’s what good students do!
Great thoughts on applying these verses to ourselves.
ReplyDeleteI had a science teacher who said "If you don't remember anything else form my class remember this: Plan as if you will live forever, live as if you'll die tomorrow." (Yep, that's all I remember from his class!)
Spiritually shouldn't we do similar? Use our talents to serve in the Kingdom planning to do so however long we live.
Yet at the same time being ready always to hear the trumpet call. Living as if every day may be our last!