The Unknown Hour

(Today's reading Exodus 39-40; Matthew 24:1-22)


The disciples ask Jesus two questions in Matthew 24. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (v 3) And so He gives them two answers. His answers are a source of confusion for many people. First we must understand that Jesus is dealing with two events; the destruction of Jerusalem (which occurred in A.D. 70) and His return. Once that is firmly in place in our minds, the text becomes clearer and easier to understand.

He gives them lots of "signs" to look for when the destruction of Jerusalem is near. He tells His disciples that when they see ‘the abomination that causes desolation’, they are to leave Jerusalem at once. No packing your bags, no grabbing a coat, no taking household items; He tells them to hit the road. He says that it will be difficult for pregnant ladies and nursing mothers. He tells them that hopefully it will no come in winter time. It is recorded that the Christians in Jerusalem remembered His admonitions and left the city in plenty of time to make an escape. This event forever established Christianity as a separate religion from Judaism. No longer was Christianity viewed as a sect of the Jewish faith.

The answer to the second question (what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?) is found in verse 36 (I know, you had to read ahead). He tells them that "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father". Jesus makes it clear that even He doesn't know when the Father will send the Him back to end the age. He tells His disciples to live everyday in expectation of His return. "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come".  He says, "stay ready"! Many people run around predicting His return; they use the verses that deal with the destruction of Jerusalem to justify their claims. If Jesus doesn't know, who do they think they are to try to give dates for His return?

Here's the message for us. He is coming back! Hallelujah! At just the right time, the Father will turn to the Son and say... "It is time, go get your people and bring them home". That day is sure, it will come and the Apostle Paul tells us that it will go like this...
According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. (1 Thess 4:15-17)

There it is... the clearest scripture we have that deals with what will happen on the day of our Lord's return. He will come down. The dead in Christ will rise... first. Those that are alive will join those resurrected and meet the Lord in the air. And we will be with Him forever. That is fairly simple and very clear. Whatever you have been taught in the past; if it conflicts with this, you need to discard it. Paul is very concise and clear and leaves no room for misunderstanding. Write this promise on your hearts. Make it a daily execise to think that this might just be the day that Jesus takes you home with Him. Live like today is your last day to do something for Him. (I am talking to me firstly) 

What kind of life would you live if you knew this was your last day here? What would you say to those you love the most? What fence would you mend? Think about it... and then do it. As Micheal Jackson put it...
I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror
I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways
And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place
Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change

Make a change... today.