If He Had Known, He Would Have Watched…

“Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”  Matthew 24:42-44

Reading the above verses this morning reminded me of a recent incident where several of our neighbors were victims of car thefts. Although there was evidence of our own vehicles being opened, apparently we had nothing that interested the robber. Nonetheless, since that time, it has become a practice to lock our vehicles. I am sure if our neighbors had only known of the thief’s intentions that night, they would have been watching as well as taken necessary precautions to prevent him from being successful. But, no prior notice was given, and besides, who would have thought something like that would take place on our country road?

The above verses can serve as a two-fold warning. To the unsaved, are you watching for Christ’s return? If you have never repented and trusted Christ alone to save you, why do you wait? As the above verses tell us, Christ is coming back and the time of His coming is not known. As a thief in the night, so will the coming of the Lord be unannounced…unexpected. Do not put off coming to Christ!  “(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)”  II Corinthians 6:2

To the saved, are we watching with excitement for our Lord’s return? Are we daily striving to live in such a way that would be pleasing to the Lord, or will we be ashamed at his coming? Since we do not know the hour Christ will return, nor do we know our last hour here on earth (if we should die before His return), should we not desire to daily abide in Him? I John 2:28 says, “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.”  Although each of us will fail at times, may our goal be one of close communion with God through a consistent prayer life, reading and meditating on and obedience to Scripture, as well as the immediate confession of sin.

“Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” I Thessalonians 5:6

~ Rachel ~