Christ is Coming – Are You Ready?

We are to be fully prepared for Christ’s return:

As you might know, the Bible seems to be somewhat ambiguous when it comes to the Lord’s return. Some verses tell us to look for various signs and the like, while other verses tell us the Parousia will come as a complete surprise. These sets of passages may seem to conflict, but they are nonetheless both true. Let me share some texts from each emphasis, and then speak to how we might proceed.

Look for the signs

Each of the Synoptic Gospels features this teaching of Jesus. Here is how Mark puts it, in part:

Mark 13:3-8 And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?” And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.

Mark 13: 24-27 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

He will come like a thief

Here are some texts which speak about his coming as being quite unexpected:

Matthew 24:42-44 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.

Revelation 3:3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.

Be ready!

I am not here interested in coming up with some foolproof theological solution to this seeming conundrum. It seems to me that the best way we can respond to these two sets of biblical data is this: we should simply be ready, regardless of when he might come.

As we have just seen, Matthew 24:44 tells us that we “must be ready”. Other passages say the same thing. Consider what we find in Revelation 16:15: “Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”

We are to keep alert and stay awake. Another verse that commands us to do this is Luke 12:35. It says this: “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning.” That seems like pretty good advice to me. And it is not just good advice, but a direct command from Jesus.

The context of that verse is Luke 12:35-48:

“Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

 

Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, 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 does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

In his expository commentary on Luke, R. Kent Hughes has some helpful things to say, so let me quote from parts of his remarks on this passage:

Arnold T. Olson wrote:

 

“Ever since the first days of the Christian church, evangelicals have been ‘looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.’ They may have disagreed as to its timing and to the events on the eschatological calendar. They may have differed as to a pre-tribulation or post-tribulation rapture—the pre- or post- or non-millennial coming. They may have been divided as to a literal rebirth of Israel. However, all are agreed that the final solution to the problems of this world is in the hands of the King of kings who will someday make the kingdoms of this world his very own.”

 

This agreement regarding the sure return of Jesus Christ to judge the living and the dead comes from the overwhelming evidence of Scripture. There are 260 chapters in the New Testament, and Christ’s return is mentioned no less than 318 times in those chapters. Statistically, one verse in twenty-five mentions the Lord’s return. The only books that don’t mention the second advent are Galatians (which is focused on refuting the Judaizers) and the tiny letters of 2 and 3 John. Jesus himself spoke often of his return. He followed up his challenge to take up his cross and follow him by warning, “Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:38). Later, in the Olivet Discourse, he announced, “And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven” (Mark 13:26, 27). In the upper room on the eve of his death he promised, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also” (John 14:3)….

 

At this point in the Gospel of Luke, we find the first extended teachings on the second coming as Jesus warned his followers to be ready. The positioning of this warning in the flow of Luke’s context is very natural and revealing. By recounting the parable of the rich fool, Jesus warned against material greed. He followed this with the exalted warning not to worry over material things. And now Christ challenged his hearers to be ready for his return. Jesus saw readiness for his return as the antidote to greed and worry.

He then looks at this important idea of how we are always to be ready for his return:

Jesus recommended a manner of readiness like that of faithful, devoted servants: “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks” (vv. 35, 36).

 

A Hebrew wedding celebration could last several days, so that the time of a master’s return could be anyone’s guess. But the uncertainty did not put off these excellent servants. Though it was late at night, they were “dressed for action.” That is, they not only remained fully clothed in daytime wear, but they had their waists girded, with their long robes tucked under their belts, making it possible for them to move quickly to the door. They were prepared.

 

The night was also kept bright because they vigilantly replenished the oil in their lamps and trimmed the wicks for maximum light. They were awake and alert. These servants were remarkable. They did not give in to fatigue, they displayed no irritable grouchiness, they did not have an “attitude.” Rather, they kept a bright house and bare legs so they could spring up to give their master a joyous reception.

 

That is how Jesus’ followers are to wait for him. It is not to be a passive, lethargic wait but one filled with active service, continual preparation, and joyous anticipation.

 

What a lovely scene greeted the returning master. Warm light streamed from the windows, breathless, smiling, eager servants bearing shining lamps gathered at the door, and no doubt there was a choice nocturnal snack on the table (my revisionist mind imagines peanut butter cookies and milk). “Welcome home, master! We’re all so glad you’re back. Here, give us your robe. Sit down. Let us wash your feet. You must be so tired.”

 

This was lovely indeed. But even better was what happened to the servants! Jesus went on: “Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them” (v. 37). The master was so moved by their faithfulness that instead of sitting down at the table, he dressed himself to wait on them (the same word in Greek as when the servants were “dressed for action”), made them recline around the table, and served them! What joy is portrayed in this night feast! The girded, bare-legged master setting dishes before his servants, refilling their cups, happy—even uproarious—conversation floating from the well-lit house.

Are you eagerly anticipating his return? Are you ready for his return? Are you prepared for his return?

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