Jesus teaches us to, “Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour” (Matthew 25:13).
This is not the first time that Jesus tries to convince us that we cannot know the timing of his second coming. In the chapter just before this one Jesus is explicit, “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Matthew 24:36). Jesus says that not even he knows the timing. So, it seems amazing to me that so many people are convinced that they know the timing of Jesus’ return and they try to convince you that they too know when the end of the world will arrive.
In fact, there are at least 159 recorded, official predictions of the end of the world since Jesus ascended into heaven.
One of the first was right away after Jesus’ time on earth. The Jewish Essenes, who were like John the Baptist and lived in the wilderness saw the Jewish uprising against the Romans in 66–70CE, and the following destruction of the temple as the final end-time battle which would bring about the arrival of the Messiah.
But, Jesus said, “You know neither the day nor the hour.”
In the years 992-995, Good Friday coincided with the Feast of the Annunciation; which had long been believed to be the event that would bring forth the Antichrist, convinced a lot of people that the end-times would arrive within three years.
But, Jesus said, “You know neither the day nor the hour.”
Martin Luther, the architect of the Protestant Reformation, predicted that the end of the world would occur no later than 1600.
But, Jesus said, “You know neither the day nor the hour.”
In 1986, a man named Leland Jensen predicted that Halley's Comet would be pulled into Earth's orbit and would cause widespread destruction, bringing about the end of the world.
But, Jesus said, “You know neither the day nor the hour.”
And, quite recently, with recent events in mind, some evangelists have speculated that 2028 is the "most likely" year for the beginning of the end of the world.
But, Jesus said, “You know neither the day nor the hour.”
Even with Jesus’ reminder, the recent attack on Israel by Hamas has caused many people to speculate that the end is near. By the way, this is the number one requested sermon topic as of late. The horrible loss of innocent life mixed with the world threat of climate change has caused many people to start searching their scriptures for clues to the end.
Climate change is the beginning of this speculation, finding its prediction in Revelation where “the fourth angel poured his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch them with fire...” (Revelation 16:8)
This is important to this “end times” argument because climate change is actually drying up the Euphrates river as the Bible seemingly predicts. Iraqi officials are predicting the river to be dry by 2040. The farmer’s anguish and fear along the shores of the Euphrates have caused them to interpret their reality in the words of Revelation 16:12 which says, “The sixth angel poured his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up in order to prepare the way for the kings from the east.” Could this be the beginning of the end they wonder?
But, Jesus said, “You know neither the day nor the hour.”
Some think that the attacks on Israel, as predicted in the Bible, have just begun as prophesied in Daniel 11:40, “At the time of the end the king of the south shall attack him. But the king of the north shall rush upon him like a whirlwind, with chariots and horsemen, and with many ships. He shall advance against countries and pass through like a flood.”
But Hamas is not from the north, nor do they have ships.
Could the attack from the north actually be an attack from Russia yet to come? Check out these words from Ezekiel, “Therefore, mortal, prophesy, and say to Gog: Thus says the Lord God: On that day when my people Israel are living securely, you will rouse yourself and come from your place out of the remotest parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great horde, a mighty army; you will come up against my people Israel, like a cloud covering the earth. In the latter days I will bring you against my land, so that the nations may know me, when through you, O Gog, I display my holiness before their eyes.” (Ezekiel 38:14-16)
And though the events of recent times, mixed with these biblical prophesies seem tantalizing, Jesus reminds his followers to “Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour” (Matthew 25:13).
One of the most basic Christian teachings is that we follow Jesus. We listen to him. Jesus is Emmanuel, “God with us.” He was sent to us, to save us, to set us free, and to lead us. Therefore, we listen to him. Other teachings we hear from preachers cannot contradict the words of Jesus. If they do, they cannot be trusted. And, Jesus clearly says, “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son.” He reminds us again to, “Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour” (Matthew 25:13).
Even Jesus does not know when the end is coming. So, the tragic attacks in Israel that caused the horrendous loss of innocent lives at the hands of terrorists, and the continued loss of innocent life in Palestine due to the continuing war against these terrorists might really mean that the end is tomorrow, but it could also mean that the end is 2,000 years from now. In other words, Jesus does not know, and neither do we. But, the one thing that God is awakening within us through these events, the one thing that Jesus does want from us, is for us to remain awake.
“Keep awake,” Jesus teaches. He does not want us to be lulled into sleep. He does not want our lives to be distracted away from the things that actually matter; the things that Jesus cares about. And, all of this speculation and calculating of the end of the world is a distraction. It is a distraction. It can cause people to forget and stop living their Christian lives of love of God and love of neighbor, drawing them to use their resources to build bunkers and stock up on canned goods. Or, it can cause people to simply give up trying to make a difference in this world. “Why do anything, it is all just going to end anyway,” they dismiss. Do not be distracted, Jesus urges. “Keep awake!”
Jesus hopes and prays that we will not be like the bridesmaids who failed to bring extra oil for their lamps, just in case the bridegroom was running late. In the story, when the bridegroom was running late, and they could not keep their lamps lit, these bridesmaids were not able to fulfill their role in the wedding celebration. You see, their role of lamp bearer was more than standing in the wedding hall as some sort of primitive light bulb for the wedding feast. These bridesmaids were essential in the splendor and ritual of the occasion. It is almost as if other people were let down because these bridesmaids were not able to stay awake and be ready for the bridegroom to arrive.
Who would be let down if you stopped caring about God and you stopped caring about your neighbor? Who would deeply hurt you if they stopped caring for you?
“Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour” (Matthew 25:13).
After-all, Jesus graciously makes you the light of the world. “You are the light of the world,” Jesus declares. “A city built on a hill cannot be hid” (Matthew 5:14). You are Jesus’ light shining right here and right now. You are his hands, feet, and heart right here in this corner of the world in which he has placed you. Do not let your light go out! Do not let anyone blow it out! No not fall asleep and forget about who you are. You are Jesus’ light.
With that said, sometimes our lights do go out. Sometimes, we are unable to be the light in the world. Sometimes, we are unable to even get out of bed, and wash the dishes.
There is little in the world that is as hard as having your light blown out. Maybe, it was blown out because of exhaustion. Maybe, it was blown out by someone else who did not want to see you shine. Maybe, it was blown out because you were depressed. Or, maybe someone convinced you to hide it under a basket by distracting you from what is truly important in life.
Sometimes our lights do blow out. Sometimes we do fall asleep. Even the good bridesmaids in our story fell asleep; they just were prepared in case something happened.
And that makes me wonder, how do you stock up on love and kindheartedness? How do you fill a flask full of self-giving? Maybe, it helps to have a savior who continues to pour that love into your soul. Maybe, it helps to have a savior who would go to the cross for you. Maybe, it helps to have some divine, self-giving love stored in your flask so that the Lord might pour it all over you head, hands, feet, and heart when you have run low.
That sort of love, Jesus’ never-ending love, can help us to keep awake.
There is a legend about Martin Luther that I really like. No one knows if he actually said it, but if he did not, he should have. According to this legend, when Martin Luther was asked what he would do if he ever found out that tomorrow was the end of the world, his response was, “Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree."
Because, whether the end is tomorrow or twenty thousand years from now, it is always good to plant some life and some love. Even if the end is hours away, it is still worth it to live in the light and walk in the love. It is always good to promote life until the very end. Jesus did. He loved us to the end. He loved and forgave that thief hanging on the cross next to him in the end. And Jesus gave us life even beyond the end in his great resurrection.
May we all keep awake. May we all continue to plant our apple trees of goodness and love.
No comments:
Post a Comment