What other scriptures emphasize being prepared for the Lord's coming? Luke 12:38—The Touchstone Verse “Even if he returns in the second or third watch of the night and finds them alert, those servants will be blessed.” The call is simple: stay awake, stay ready, no matter how long the night feels. Echoes in Jesus’ Own Teaching “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come… For this reason, you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.” “Be on your guard and stay alert! For you do not know when the appointed time will come… What I say to you, I say to everyone: Keep watch!” • Matthew 25:1-13 (Parable of the Ten Virgins) Five wise, five foolish—the only difference was preparation. Jesus drives it home in verse 13: “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” Snapshot of the Early Church’s Urgency “The Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night... So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober.” “The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber… The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near.” Grace teaches us “to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope and the glorious appearance of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” Apostolic Warnings: It Will Be Sudden “The Day of the Lord will come like a thief… Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to and hasten the coming of the day of God.” “Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who remains clothed, so that he will not go naked and let his shame be exposed.” Personal Readiness Checks “Be patient…for the coming of the Lord is near… Behold, the Judge is standing at the door.” “Therefore prepare your minds for action, be sober-minded, and set your hope fully on the grace to be given you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” “Remain in Him, so that when He appears, we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming.” Community Readiness “Let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds… and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Putting It All Together 1. Stay spiritually alert—every watch of the night matters. 2. Live visibly holy and self-controlled lives; preparation shows. 3. Encourage and exhort fellow believers; readiness is contagious. 4. Keep your hope fixed on the “blessed hope”—His promised, imminent return. The consistent thread from Genesis to Revelation is clear: the Lord will come suddenly, and His faithful servants are called to be ready, watching, and working—no matter which watch of the night He chooses for His glorious arrival. |
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