YOU TOO BE READY

Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps alight.

(Luke 12:35 NASB)

A central theme emerges when we study Messiah’s parables relating the season of His Second Appearance, namely to be sober and alert, (Mat 24:42-51; Matt 25:1-13; Luke 12:35-48). Rightly so, for the apostle Peter prophesied, ‘Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following in their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation,”’ (2 Peter 3:3-4). Being able to ‘wait’ has always been the mark of maturity, standing firm in truth and the promises of God’s Word, even though one has to endure the strain of severe trials and tests, practicing patience towards the failings of the broken people with whom we have to deal during these times, (Rom 5:1-5; James 1:2-4).

These traits, namely to be able to wait, to endure, and to be patient, do not concur with the mind set of this latter-day generation, for immediate gratification of our needs has become a way of living. The apostle Paul warned, ‘that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; holding the form of godliness, although they have denied its power; and avoid such men as these,’ (2 Tim 3:1-5). This self-centered approach colors every aspect of modern-day living, not excluding the way we approach God and walk out our faith.

It is not difficult to recognize that we indeed live in such a time. Not only does the news confirm this state of lawlessness, but we even recognize these traits smack in the middle of many congregations. The affluence lifestyle of many is considered ‘a sign of blessing,’ and a self-centered approach of worship to gratify a personal need for experience and blessing, puts this generation at great risk. Luke actually makes the warning even more clear, ‘Be on guard, that your hearts may not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and the day come on you suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth. But keep on the alert at all times, praying in order that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man,’ (Luke 21:34-35).

There will gradually develop a stark contrast in society as the day of the Lord approaches, for the mainstream will follow the refined deception at work through the drawing power of sensuality and self-gratification (Mat 24:9-13; 2 Thes 2:7-12), while a remnant of faithful servants will marginalize, being sober and alert, unwilling to be drawn in to a life-style of lukewarmness, (Rev 3:14-23). This faithful remnant will increase in holy living, while the majority will increase in lawlessness and sin, (Dan 12:10). This remnant will without doubt be accused of being fundamental, not succumbing to the pressure of ‘political correctness.’

The attitude of a sober spirit is best defined by the apostle Peter when he says, ‘Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were ours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior,’ (1 Peter 1:13-14). Soberness is thus a state of mind, keeping the watchful alert, especially to keep themselves in the truth and their conduct pure and holy in this time of progressive lawlessness.

The prophet Malachi foresaw this final harvest at the threshing floor, ‘For behold, the day is coming. Burning like a furnace, and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze. But for you who fear My name the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall’ (Mal 4:1-2). Moreover, the prophet states, that as this ‘day of the final harvest,’ unfolds, ‘you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him,’ (Mal 3:18).

Let us thus be sober and gird our minds for action, keeping ourselves from being drawn into the river of worries and worldliness, keen in our discernment to separate the truth from the lie, and let us heed the admonishing words of the apostle Paul, ‘But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as helmet, the hope of salvation,’ (1 Thes 5:8).

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 13:35-37)