MARK 13:33-37 – “Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning—lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.””
THEME OF THE DAY: LIVE DAILY READY. In today’s scripture, our Lord gives us three simple, short, and direct commands. They are to be on guard, keep awake, and stay awake (twice). The message from Jesus is obvious; stay diligent in watching for His return and be vigilant in fighting everything and anything which draws our attention from watching for that day of all days – His appearing in the sky. The repetition Jesus makes about living prepared for His return places a tone of seriousness on the preparation. Rightly so for the Apostle John also tells us of the seriousness of living prepared for our Lord’s return and what will happen if we don’t – “And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming” (1 John 2:28).
The following story is a wonderful illustration to live daily ready for our Lord’s return – A man was visiting Switzerland. While touring through a mountain town, he got off the beaten path and ended up at a gate leading to a very large and beautiful mansion. Looking through the fence, he was amazed at the pristine landscape and impeccable cleanliness of the place. An elderly man approached him from the inside asking, “May I help you?” “Oh no”, was the reply, “I was just admiring the place.” The visitor was asked, “Would you like to come in for a tour?” Seizing the opportunity, he entered, and asked, “Are you the owner?” The man smiled, “No, I am the caretaker and have been so for many years.” Curious about the owner, the tourist asked, “Is the owner here?” “Oh, no, he rarely comes, maybe twice a year.” The man listened and then stated, “But this place is perfect. Everything is so beautiful and well-kept. Are you expecting the master of the house soon?” The caretaker smiled, “I never know when he is coming.” The quick reply came, “But this place looks so ready as if he would come tomorrow.” This time the caretaker corrected him, “No, sir. I don’t keep it looking like this in preparation for his visit tomorrow. I keep it this way in case he comes today.”
It’s a good illustration of keeping our minds, hearts, and lives properly focused on our Lord’s return, not tomorrow, but today. After all, today just might be the day we meet the Lord. Live ready. Live ready daily.
PRAYER: Father, may I keep my heart in heaven as I live in the world, mindful of seeing Jesus at any moment.
REFLECTION: We live on a battlefield, not in a playground, demanding the constant guarding of our hearts.