A Thief in the Night

One of the great themes in the Bible is the second coming of Jesus. Again and again, the Word of God urges us to be ready for that day. Paul wrote, “The day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2).

Thieves come unexpectedly, usually when people aren’t anticipating them and most often when people aren’t ready for them. If your home has ever been burglarized, then you know something of the shock and hurt of the experience.

You know that thieves have a remarkable ability to carry out their criminal activity undetected. In March 1990, two men posing as policemen gained entry to the Gardner Museum in Boston, handcuffed two security guards, and made off with artworks valued at $500 million, including masterpieces by Rembrandt and Vermeer. Although the FBI says it knows the identity of the art thieves, the stolen paintings have never been recovered, and no charges have been pressed.

The thieves came in the night, and an outwitted museum suffered a great loss. Paul says that for those who aren’t ready, the return of Jesus will come as an overwhelming surprise. Even though the Bible clearly outlines the signs preceding Christ’s coming, masses of people will not be prepared for history’s greatest event. Just as people weren’t ready for the Flood in Noah’s day or for the first coming of Jesus, the vast majority are going to be surprised by Christ’s return.

The purpose of this life is to prepare for the life to come. Rightly understood, all of the business and the busyness of life on earth are provided to us as a means of readying us to meet Jesus at His return. What are you spending your time on? What are you devoting your energies to? Jesus is going to return to this earth.

Don’t let His return take you by surprise.

To live in preparation for the Second Coming is to live with Jesus in your heart. The second coming of Jesus is the one event you want to be ready for!