THE GREATEST SURPRISE OF ALL TIME
In December 1999, I noticed that so many Christians expected that the year 2000 would usher in something dramatic and momentous in the history of mankind. The calculation was that the advent of Christ was 2000 years earlier, and the Biblical events prior to Christ’s advent appeared also to fit into the 2000 years frame. They reasoned that another 2000 years would certainly bring something serious. In fact, many were expecting the second coming of Jesus.
I knew they were wrong because such widespread expectation would not exist when the second coming would happen. In fact the reverse would be the case. Read what Jesus said in Matt. 24.42-44:
Watch out, then, because you do not know what day your Lord will come. If the owner of a house knew the time when the thief would come, you can be sure that he would stay awake and not let the thief break into his house. So then, you also must always be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you are not expecting him.
Brothers and sisters, the Lord’s second coming is meant to be the greatest surprise of all time. Your best bet as someone who has been graciously informed of this secret is to remain rapturable all the time.
Here is another Biblical tip on how to achieve this:
For you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord will come as a thief comes at night.
When people say, "Everything is quiet and safe," then suddenly destruction will hit them! It will come as suddenly as the pains that come upon a woman in labor, and people will not escape.
But you, friends, are not in the darkness, and the Day should not take you by surprise like a thief. All of you are people who belong to the light, who belong to the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, we should not be sleeping like the others; we should be awake and sober. It is at night when people sleep; it is at night when they get drunk. But we belong to the day, and we should be sober. We must wear faith and love as a breastplate, and our hope of salvation as a helmet. (1 Thes 5.2-8).
If this sounds old fashioned and alarmist to you, or if it just does not sound like the Christian messages you are used to, please meditate on this passage:
<i>To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: "This is the message from the Amen, the faithful and true witness, who is the origin of all that God has created. I know what you have done; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were either one or the other!
But because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am going to spit you out of my mouth!
You say, 'I am rich and well off; I have all I need.' But you do not know how miserable and pitiful you are! You are poor, naked, and blind. I advise you, then, to buy gold from me, pure gold, in order to be rich. Buy also white clothing to dress yourself and cover up your shameful nakedness. Buy also some ointment to put on your eyes, so that you may see.
I rebuke and punish all whom I love. Be in earnest, then, and turn from your sins.
Listen! I stand at the door and knock; if any hear my voice and open the door, I will come into their house and eat with them, and they will eat with me. To those who win the victory I will give the right to sit beside me on my throne, just as I have been victorious and now sit by my Father on his throne. "If you have ears, then, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches!" (Rev. 3.14-22)
I knew they were wrong because such widespread expectation would not exist when the second coming would happen. In fact the reverse would be the case. Read what Jesus said in Matt. 24.42-44:
Watch out, then, because you do not know what day your Lord will come. If the owner of a house knew the time when the thief would come, you can be sure that he would stay awake and not let the thief break into his house. So then, you also must always be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you are not expecting him.
Brothers and sisters, the Lord’s second coming is meant to be the greatest surprise of all time. Your best bet as someone who has been graciously informed of this secret is to remain rapturable all the time.
Here is another Biblical tip on how to achieve this:
For you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord will come as a thief comes at night.
When people say, "Everything is quiet and safe," then suddenly destruction will hit them! It will come as suddenly as the pains that come upon a woman in labor, and people will not escape.
But you, friends, are not in the darkness, and the Day should not take you by surprise like a thief. All of you are people who belong to the light, who belong to the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, we should not be sleeping like the others; we should be awake and sober. It is at night when people sleep; it is at night when they get drunk. But we belong to the day, and we should be sober. We must wear faith and love as a breastplate, and our hope of salvation as a helmet. (1 Thes 5.2-8).
If this sounds old fashioned and alarmist to you, or if it just does not sound like the Christian messages you are used to, please meditate on this passage:
<i>To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: "This is the message from the Amen, the faithful and true witness, who is the origin of all that God has created. I know what you have done; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were either one or the other!
But because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am going to spit you out of my mouth!
You say, 'I am rich and well off; I have all I need.' But you do not know how miserable and pitiful you are! You are poor, naked, and blind. I advise you, then, to buy gold from me, pure gold, in order to be rich. Buy also white clothing to dress yourself and cover up your shameful nakedness. Buy also some ointment to put on your eyes, so that you may see.
I rebuke and punish all whom I love. Be in earnest, then, and turn from your sins.
Listen! I stand at the door and knock; if any hear my voice and open the door, I will come into their house and eat with them, and they will eat with me. To those who win the victory I will give the right to sit beside me on my throne, just as I have been victorious and now sit by my Father on his throne. "If you have ears, then, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches!" (Rev. 3.14-22)
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