“Take heed, watch and pray, for you do not know when the time is.” Mark 13:33 (Read v. 24-37)
Yes, Jesus is coming again! He said: “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars of Heaven shall fall, and the powers in the heavens shall be shaken. And then they will see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then He shall send His angels and shall gather His elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of heaven”
Though we know neither the day nor the hour, we know by the times that Jesus’ return to judge the living and the dead is close at hand and could come at any moment. The tribulation described has taken place and the gospel of forgiveness and life in Messiah Jesus has been published among all nations (v. 10). The time is near!
Are we ready for that day? Jesus admonishes us to “take heed, watch and pray, for you do not know when the time is.” Jesus warns us lest that Day should find us unprepared and not looking for the return of our God and Savior and not walking in the true and saving faith in Christ Jesus.
Since we know not the day or the hour, we would be wise to watch and pray in anticipation of Christ’s return. We watch and live in the expectation that Jesus could return at any time. We pray that He who raised us up from spiritual darkness and death and brought us to trust in Christ Jesus for pardon and peace would preserve us in that faith unto Christ’s return – that He would guard and keep us from all the assaults of the devil, the world and our own corrupt and sinful flesh and keep us trusting in Jesus’ shed blood for forgiveness and life.
To be ready for that Day, we heed the message of God’s Word and live in continual repentance. We acknowledge our sins and disobedience to God’s commandments but take hold of the comfort of forgiveness and life offered to us in the Gospel for the sake of our crucified and risen Savior, Christ Jesus (cf. 1 John 1:9).
Jesus is coming soon, but we can be ready and rejoice at His coming because He has won for us forgiveness and life everlasting.
Come, Lord Jesus. Graciously keep me from all evil and grant that I live in continual repentance, placing all my hope and confidence in You and Your blood shed for me upon the cross. Amen.