3 Steps You Can Take While You’re Waiting

How expectant are you for Christ’s return? In Matthew 24, Jesus is on the Mount of Olives with His disciples. He issues them three descriptions of His return, each one carrying a haunting theme. (1) Be Prepared, (2) Be Watchful and (3) Be Ready!

We begin with a reference to the past.

“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matt. 24:37)

So what were the days of Noah like? What were people doing? What was important to people? Genesis chapter 6 tells us.

“The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.” (Gen. 6:5)

Step 1: Be Prepared

Before the flood, people’s hearts were set on their own sinful desires. They had forgotten God and saw no need for him. “For in the days before the flood…” (Matt. 24:38) Before the flood, everyone was eating, drinking, marrying and giving in marriage. What does this mean exactly?

In short, everyone will be having a good time. Everyone will be celebrating. For most people on the earth, life will be pretty good. They’re eating and drinking which sustains life. And they’re marrying and giving in marriage, which sustains humanity.

In the last days, people foolishly were looking toward a long, full life that would not come to pass. Like the days of Noah, “…they knew nothing…” (Matt. 24:39), going about their lives, while Noah was getting prepared.

When “…Noah entered the ark…they knew nothing about what would happen…” (Matt. 24:38-39)

Even though Noah had told them what God had said, they ignored the warnings and continued their sinful and selfish ways. Jesus tags this description with a key warning.

“That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matt. 24:39)

Step 1 Core Instruction – Preparing

If the last days are to be like the days of Noah, then to survive the last days, we’d be wise to follow Noah’s example. Like Noah, the disciples and all Christians have received God’s advanced warning. With that advanced warning, there is work to be done. Christians ought to be prepared for the Lord’s return.

Step 2: Be Watchful

Next, Jesus gives a couple of examples from daily life in first-century Jerusalem; “Two men will be in the field…” (Matt. 24:40). Just a regular workday doing what they do every day. All of a sudden, one of them is taken. This would have been sobering to the original audience and should be to us as well.

If you can’t picture it, place yourself in the field and ask these two questions.

1. While working together, did you ever share the Gospel with the man who was left behind, or did you remain silent about your faith in Jesus?
2. Will your coworkers be left behind knowing that they rejected the opportunity you gave them to accept Christ?

Next, we have “Two women will be grinding with a hand-mill…” (Matt. 24:41). Again, just a regular first-century workday doing what they do every day. All of a sudden, one of them is taken. Again, questions should come to mind about their relationship, to both convict and motivate.

• Did the Christian woman ever share the Gospel with her workmate, while they were grinding flour together?
• Did she reject the Gospel or was the Christian woman silent about her faith?

Where is Jesus going with these examples? We need to keep our eyes wide open for His coming, which also relates to final opportunities to share the Gospel.

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” (Matt. 24:42)

Step 2 Core Instruction – Watching

If there are two people working together and one of them is keeping watch for something to take place, the other person might not notice. And yet, if a Christian is living in a watchful state, the people closest to them might notice and ask questions.

Furthermore, we don’t exactly what will come right before Christ’s return. What if there’s a moment to point and say, “See, this is what I’ve been telling you about all along! Do you believe yet?”

If the Gospel groundwork has been unpacked over years of working together, there may be one last opportunity for them to accept Christ, even if it’s right before He shows up. Christians ought to be watchful for the Lord’s return.

Step 3: Be Ready

Next, Jesus uses a metaphor to speak of things to come.

“If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming,” (Matt. 24:43)

• Caveat: Some of you who read all of Matthew 24 at the beginning may have been put off slightly. Jesus is about to refer to himself as a thief which may have felt odd; perfect Jesus saying He’s a thief? I assure you, as we unpack the text, that His example fits very well!

In verse 43, Jesus adds a bit more context about the homeowner.

“…he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.” (Matt. 24:43)

If a homeowner knew his house was going to be broken into, he would likely leave a lamp lit with plenty of oil. Moreover, he’d position himself in a secure position where he could hear and see anything that might be approaching his home. The homeowner likely wouldn’t sleep that night.

Think about it; if you knew for sure that tonight was the night that your home was going to be broken into, would you be able to sleep? Each and every minute that passed would be more important than the last; knowing that you were one more minute closer to the thief’s arrival.

Step 3 Core Instruction – Readying (Yourself)

Jesus ends this metaphor in verse 44 with direct instruction that few could miss.

“So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” (Matt. 24:44)

A Christian should be like that homeowner who is waiting for the thief’s arrival. Consider Jesus’ instruction related to the previous warnings, that readying ourselves isn’t just about waiting. It’s not about relaxing or performing some hobby to pass the time.

Being ready means being alert, being in a position of good vantage point and being in a stance that is ready for action. Christians ought to be ready for the Lord’s return.

Join the Conversation, Leave Your Thoughts

• What should we be doing personally to prepare for Christ’s return?
• What should the local church be doing to prepare?
• How are we, as the wider Western Church failing to prepare?