Daily Devotional

This verse is the end of a parable in which Jesus is telling his disciples about watching for the return of the Master, alluding to His return, Jesus’ second coming. We are reminded here to be ever-watching and ready for Christ’s return lest we be caught unprepared. We cannot be ignorant of the times around us, the various signs that steadily point to His ever-nearing return. These times should lead us to remain steadfast in Christ as the day draws near, but also drive us to spread the Gospel with even more fervor as we see the day drawing closer.

There is great debate among Christians on the exact timeline of the end times. Are we, the believing Church, raptured out before the great tribulation, or sometime in the middle, or not till the end? These ideas are often referred to as pre-trib, mid-trib, and post-trib, and honestly, it can be a very interesting study and debate. However as I read Revelation, and other verses in Luke, Matthew, Thessalonians, Ezekiel, and others, my fear is that the Church is relying on a pre-trib rapture to get us out of here before everything goes south. This seems to me as kind of a get-out-of-jail-free card, and easy button, which if true, would be awesome. But if it doesn’t come in the beginning, are we, the Church, ready for it? I don’t think so.

This verse for me serves as both a hope of promise, but also a warning to be ready, it may get bad beyond our wildest imagination, and yet as believers, we have to be able to stand for Christ through it. In Matthew 24 Jesus says that in those days there will be false prophets and false christs, even showing great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Don’t be fooled, Jesus came the first time humbly as a lowly baby, but when He comes again, He is coming in power and authority. Matthew 24:27 says “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” In other words, there will be no question when Christ comes again, if you have to wonder if it’s Him, then it isn’t, there will be no doubt.

So as we see the days growing darker and more evil, we need to make sure our light is burning all the brighter for the cause of Christ. God is the only one Who saves, but it has been appointed to us, to spread the Gospel, so that they may know and believe. But also Church, you need to be ready, you need to prepare for it to get bad, to stand firm for Christ in the midst of persecution that we are not accustomed to here in the west. And if covid showed us anything, it showed us just how unprepared the western church is to face adversity. And covid was nothing compared to what is foretold to come in the end. So watch, wait, proclaim, pray, and prepare for the return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.