It is the same passage with minor variations in Matthew 24 and 25....Mark 13....and Luke 21....three testimonies as to what Jesus answered when He was asked when will all these things be....and what will be the sign of your coming? One can study these chapters for forty years. I know because I have studied them for forty years. I also know that although I understand them more today than I did forty years ago....it's not a whole lot more. The mere fact that interest in these chapters is there....is evidence that the believing reader is on the right track. There is tremendous fulfillment here. This isn't a puzzle where the smartest or the most dedicated find the answer. You can pick many such themes in God's Word and it is the same. It's more like running....where one might be a runner for forty years....but we are running a different race. Paul implores of us through example in 1 Corinthians 9...."So I do not run aimlessly...." Are you a runner? What race are you in? Are you running for a perishable crown....or an imperishable crown?
Mark's chapter on this....often called the Olivet Discourse...because Jesus was on the Mount of Olives when He gave it....is the shortest. And I only want to mention a few verses of it....starting with verse 28....
"Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves. You know that summer is near."
This is pretty easy to discern....this whole past century was and is increasingly one 'sign' after another. The next verse is speaking to you....and to me....and to all believers today....
"So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near, at the very doors."
You've probably not heard those two verses too many times over the years because they are considered problematic in our more reserved churches of today. You see....if the pastor would mention them.....who knows what sort of conclusions the people might jump to....they might even think....and hope.....that Jesus really is near! And that would really put a crimp in the plans for the church's fund raising for the new church building! Who's going to want to serve on the committee with Jesus coming in righteous judgment? The pastor really has no answers to this....so....we skip to verse 32...
"But of that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."
Phew! That was close. No one knows anything! So let's get back to the plans for the new church building that is going to be so awesome that people are going to flock to the church! Unfortunately that would be a flock without a shepherd who warns of anything. "Let's see....where were we....oh....Chapter 14...."
Whoa...wait a second pastor....what about verses 33 to 37?
"Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is..." Verse 33
"Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming-in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning....lest coming suddenly, he find you sleeping....And what I say to you, I say to all; Watch!"
Folks....this is just one short passage of which their are dozens of like messages in the New Testament alone! Can it possibly be more clear as to what we have to do? Paul was comforting the people in Thessalonica as they themselves were experiencing tribulation....this in Chapter 5 of his first letter....
"But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief....therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober." verses 4 & 8
As this morning I scanned over my normal news websites....which I do every morning....I stumbled across some morning show....ABC I believe....the topic of the video was Taylor Swift in Europe....and I just sat there amazed. You would think that there is not a care in the world....with all the laughter and gaiety. And folks this is also in our church sanctuaries every Lord's Day.....before and after the sermon. That there is no vigilance in the unbelieving world is expected....but that the church is just as blind is astonishing! We are truly a small remnant.....few are saved....and there is surely a winnowing ahead. May God add to this remnant....and may we all run together for that imperishable crown!
