"Take heed, keep on the alert; for
you do not know when the appointed time is. It is like a man, away on a journey,
who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each
one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay on the alert.
Therefore, be on the alert - for you do not know when the master of the house is
coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, at cock-crowing, or in the morning
- lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say
to all, 'Be on the alert!' " Mark 13:33-37
When I was a teen I worked at a horseback ridding stable. The owners
participated in Endurance Riding (they're like a cross country trail ride, very
taxing on both horse and rider) and would go out of town every now and again
leaving me in charge of everything at the stable. During the time they
where gone I made sure the horses where fed, watered, groomed, and that the barn
was in tip top condition; along with leading trail rides. I
looked forward to hearing, "Well done, April!" and they would reward
me with some type of a bonus for my diligence during their absence.
To Jesus it was so important that we be on the alert for His coming
that He made the statement to, "keep, stay, and be on the alert!," four
times in the above five verses. And when Jesus ascended into heaven
He said, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has
fixed by His own authority ..." (Acts 1:7) We don't know when He is
coming; this He has made clear. However, we do have His promise that
He is coming back for us and He promises that we will not taste of His
wrath.
We are to be diligent in working, watching and keeping ready for His
return; which draws nearer day by day. And when He comes for us we will
hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" The Bible also
says He will reward us with crown(s) for our faithful diligence; but let us
not make this our focus. Let our focus be to, "stay on the alert!"
beloved.
Have a joyous day in our
Lord!
April
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