42 “THEREFORE KEEP WATCH (Be Watchful), because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” Matthew 24
Jesus was speaking to His disciples at the Temple, where they’d drawn His attention to the impressive buildings and no doubt His answer shocked them to the core.
2 “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “TRULY I TELL YOU, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” Matthew 24
The Romans would eventually come in AD70 and ransack the religious centre of the city of Jerusalem and the Jewish nation. The Jews couldn’t imagine such a terrible thing would happen, but it did. However, by then a new dispensation had begun, that was centred on the person of Christ and not on a religious edifice. It’s easy to become focused on magnificent man made objects and systems here and miss out the truth, which is often more elusive. (God is shaking many things around us in these days)
At the end of Matthew 24 and the beginning of chapter 25, the Lord gives us three examples of people who should have been watching for His coming, but were in danger of being caught out.
43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. Matthew 24
The house owner had no idea when the thief was coming and was therefore liable to be robbed of his valuables. Derek Prince said that he believed that people (church members) who weren’t awaiting the Lord’s return could never be truly holy. They were distracted by other things.
45 “Who then is the FAITHFUL AND WISE SERVANT, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Matthew 24
The Lord gave the servant a trust, but because he was away a long time this servant neglected his duties and ‘Lived it up’, enjoying the things of this life.
48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. Matthew 24
Chapter 25 continues with the account of the five wise and five foolish virgins. They all became drowsy and were sleeping when the bridegroom arrived, but five were completely caught out, because they had ‘No additional oil for their lamps’. Oil usually represents the things of the Spirit, they had no spiritual resources to call upon in the hours of darkness.
11 ‘Later the others also came. “Lord, Lord,” they said, “open the door for us!”
12 ‘But he replied, “Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.”
13 ‘Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. Matthew 25
WAITING WILL OFTEN EXPOSE WEAKNESS! We can’t afford to become slack in our daily walk, we need to keep the Lord in the forefront of our lives. He waits to see how we’ll react when He doesn’t come to our expectations. He is faithful, but there will be times when we’re left to wait alone, we mustn’t give up but stay watchful until He makes Himself known.
May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.