Mark 13:32-34
Some
people just can’t seem to show up on time. No matter the importance of the
events, even weddings, some people have their person, internal clocks set in
such a way that they are always late. For some it is an unconscious thing. They
don’t even realize it. They aren’t in a hurry, and just get sidetracked. They
live in a bubble where not time exists, or so it seems.
But
the funny thing about these types of people is that when they have to wait for
someone else, they get impatient. When the lateness gets in the way of what
they are wanting to do, then suddenly they notice that the other person is three
minutes late. There are few people I have come across in my life that like to
be held up by another person. We all think our time is valuable.
The
exact timing of the events described in our passage is undefined. We don’t know
the day. This means the event isn’t driven by some celestial event, even blood
moons. There is no calendar on earth that can help pinpoint the climax in
advance. This held true to the destruction of Jerusalem and it holds true to
the Second Coming of Jesus. The universe is not a clock ticking on a wound up
spring that will someday run out of energy to continue ticking. We can’t locate
the spring and determine how many days we have left.
Many
well-meaning people have tried to set the day of Jesus’ return. Every one of
them has been disappointed when the day arrived. We can’t know the day or hour.
It is a fact that only the Father knows at the time Jesus was answering the
question. Remember, Jesus set aside some of the rights and privileges of being
Deity when He added humanity to His being while He fulfilled His mission here
on earth. When He walked here, He didn’t use all the knowledge that He had. He
chose instead to rely on the Holy Spirit to give Him direction and guidance.
The Holy Spirit spoke at various times, giving Him insight.
So
we can’t know the exact timing of these events. But that doesn’t mean the
events will take us by surprise. No one is surprised by a surprise birthday
party that they know is coming that evening. When you know it is coming, in the
exact moment it happens you might be startled, but not surprised. Your reaction
will be very different than for someone who had no idea it was coming. People
have had heart attacks when the shock is too great.
But
Jesus return won’t take us by surprise. We know it is coming. That is why it is
important to stay alert, always watching, always ready. We can watch for the
signs He has outlined in the Scriptures. We can pay attention to His
promptings. We can continue to demonstrate His care and concern for His people
and those who don’t yet know the Good News that they can be set free from sin’s
grip on their lives.
We
know everything we need to know about the end times. Watch! We don’t need more
details. Be alert! We don’t need any charts, graphs, timelines, pre-mid-post,
pre-post-amillennial. Don’t be deceived! Be ready.