“Tell us, when shall these things be?” (Matthew 24:3)
Man has an insatiable appetite for wanting to know when Jesus is coming again. We have heard all sorts of speculative forecasts into future events related to His return and the end of the world. In the mid 1980’s three comets were supposed to line up in perfect order and then, watch out, the following October the second coming would take place. The date came and went and as you know, nothing happened. The forecasters said, “Oh, we miscalculated by a year. But, watch out next year.” I can almost hear that woman’s voice on my GPS in my car: “Recalculate. Recalculate. Recalculate.”
Jesus gave His disciples two pieces of advice which would serve us well to heed. First, He said, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” (Matthew 24:36) God alone knows the date of the return of Christ. Man’s speculation from ignorance only confuses folks and never helps. The second piece of advice is,“Therefore, be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” (Matthew 24:44) Our concern is to be ready all the time. Be expecting Him any hour of any day or night.
Could Jesus return in 2016? He could, but I am not speculating. He could return today, tonight, this month, this year or next year. Someone reminded us that we are not on the time and place committee. We are on the welcome committee. We are to be ready.
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