"For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."
Matthew 24:27
This is talking about the Second Coming, and how it will be super obvious--observable to everyone. It's interesting because we also read in 1 Thessalonians 5:2 about the Second Coming, and also in several other places, that the Lord will come "as a thief in the night." Out of context these verses seem to contradict each other.
2 Peter 3:10 is probably a good clarification. It tells us that the "day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night" but also tells us that some other pretty dramatic things are going to happen at the same time... so it seems like the idea is that the day will sneak up on us, and we won't necessarily know that it is coming, but that *when* it comes, it will be obvious, and everyone will know that it is happening. Perhaps like sneaky lightning from a storm you weren't expecting, but which strikes your house... or a thief that comes to your house and you realize that he is there because he opens up the side of your house, and you realize you've been essentially living in a dollhouse the whole time. ... A surprise, but also something life-changing that you can't possibly ignore.
Christ isn't going to come unrecognized this time. He isn't going to sneak in and stay in the background. The event may well sneak up on us, if we aren't on the same page with the Lord and paying attention, but we definitely won't sleep through it when it happens. So, hey... today, let's make sure that we are working to be ready for that day, whenever it is, and stay ready so we will be able to welcome that day when it comes rather than mourn over all the things that we should have done, if only we had known. :)
Matthew 24:27
This is talking about the Second Coming, and how it will be super obvious--observable to everyone. It's interesting because we also read in 1 Thessalonians 5:2 about the Second Coming, and also in several other places, that the Lord will come "as a thief in the night." Out of context these verses seem to contradict each other.
2 Peter 3:10 is probably a good clarification. It tells us that the "day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night" but also tells us that some other pretty dramatic things are going to happen at the same time... so it seems like the idea is that the day will sneak up on us, and we won't necessarily know that it is coming, but that *when* it comes, it will be obvious, and everyone will know that it is happening. Perhaps like sneaky lightning from a storm you weren't expecting, but which strikes your house... or a thief that comes to your house and you realize that he is there because he opens up the side of your house, and you realize you've been essentially living in a dollhouse the whole time. ... A surprise, but also something life-changing that you can't possibly ignore.
Christ isn't going to come unrecognized this time. He isn't going to sneak in and stay in the background. The event may well sneak up on us, if we aren't on the same page with the Lord and paying attention, but we definitely won't sleep through it when it happens. So, hey... today, let's make sure that we are working to be ready for that day, whenever it is, and stay ready so we will be able to welcome that day when it comes rather than mourn over all the things that we should have done, if only we had known. :)
No comments:
Post a Comment